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Webcasting around the world from the desert metropolis of Phoenix, Arizona. This is the dividing line. The Apostle Peter commanded Christians to be ready to give a defense for the hope that is within us.
Yet to give that answer with gentleness and reverence. Our host is dr. James White director of Alpha Omega ministries and an elder at the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church. This is a live program and we invite your participation.
If you'd like to talk with dr. White call now at 602 9 7 3 4 6 0 2 or toll-free across the United States. It's 1 8 7 7 7 5 3 3 3 4 1 and now with today's topic. Here is James White.
No, it's not an April Fool's joke just because it is April 1st. We are getting a little late start today simply because well Because we're a small ministry and had to get some things done. Basically, that's all there is to it.
It is 130 in Arizona and Oh starting next week, isn't it? Yep. Yep starting next Tuesday Y 'all are gonna y 'all play with your clocks again on the 6th. I think isn't that the date when y 'all do it? Yep, I think so and so.
You know, we're not gonna play with ours. Y 'all do your thing and figure out when we're on and we're just gonna be on at the same time each week and Unless we're not and and we let you know like we did today.
Let folks know when we were going to be on when when the delay was going to be over with we have 33 Participants in channel which would include two programs. So I guess that's 31 folks in there at the moment.
So Welcome to the dividing line. We're not here. Thursday evening was off in the Bloomington normal area Calvary Baptist Church, which is right on the edge of the campus of Illinois State University and Had a wonderful time there with Jerry McCorkle and Pastor Wingate and the folks at Crossroads Flew out there spoke with some pastors first in the afternoon on Thursday and this funny I was talking about open theism and ended up Actually talking a little bit more in the question answers about gods and generals than I did open theism it actually did fit in when you think about it because There's this this one line in the in the film that just simply wouldn't fit in an open theistic universe and specifically it was after a A man asked him how he could remain so serene with bullets and shells whistling past his head.
Jackson replies my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I don't concern myself with that but to be always ready whenever it should overtake me.
That is how all men should live then all men would be equally brave and that of course Doesn't exactly fit within the context of an open theistic perspective. In fact, it's interesting to note that Jerry McCorkle had played a section of the debate with John Sanders in the Sunday evening service at the Calvary Baptist the week before I came and Had played the section where in cross-examination Dr. Sanders specifically made the statement that God does not know the hour of our death.
He has not fixed that and in fact, I would assume it would be a surprise to him especially in the in the context of deaths that are not You know foreseen coming due to disease or something like that Tragic accidents and things like that.
God is just as surprised by these events and I guess when especially when you go into battle it could hardly be much of a much of a Solace or support for Christians in in Iraq today In the armed forces to believe that God doesn't know what's going to happen today.
You're walking into the unknown and he's there and he'll be just as shocked as you are whatever happens this. Yeah, that's Yeah, that's sad. Yes as someone in channel said the open theist Jackson. Well, I just do my best.
I asked God to look out for me, but he's probably busy dodging bullets, too. Which is probably quite quite the case but anyways we talked about that and then I had the opportunity of going on campus at ISU on Thursday evening and Basically just did a lot of it was very interesting.
There was a number of times when I just had the opportunity of answering questions and these are our college age kids. Young people young adults kids, you know shows how old I am. Well when when I'm starting to realize I have to be really careful when speaking to younger audiences what illustrations I use.
Because you know what some of the stuff I raise from my youth They no longer have the World I'm talking about. It's a it's a reminder that with each passing moment You get older and older thankfully, we're all doing that the same rate, but anyways, and so there was lots of questions and answers and it was very very interesting in every single Opportunity either it was either raised publicly or it was raised afterwards.
The question was asked what about the unevangelized specifically the Question of you know, what about the pygmy in Africa type situation and It was very very interesting to me that that was just Absolutely a constant question.
I I must have exegeted Romans one seven eight times During the course of this particular trip. So it's very very interesting. Obviously, that's something very much in the heart and minds of of people there were a number of questions about Islam.
We we met in one of those lecture rooms on the campus and Where the the professor is sort of down in the pit shall we say and then there's I think there was about seven eight Rows of seats theater style seating overheads and things you could use to do lecturing and things like that was very very comfortable and questions about Islam questions.
It was funny. We were talking about Saddam Hussein and Islam and then the very next question was well, could you could you explain? Limited atonement and so it was. You've got to be ready to go any direction when you just basically say, you know throughout your questions there and of course before each one I would say, you know, there are certain subjects that I will I will immediately pass on such as eschatology don't even bother and That gets some interesting reactions from folks.
But anyway, it's the Thursday. I was great Friday night on the subject of inclusivism and Then had questions afterwards Saturday man, I spoke a lot didn't I? Saturday morning and Saturday evening. We a Saturday evening.
I believe is when I addressed baptism regeneration had some Church of Christ folks there. That was interesting and then yesterday morning spoke on Peace with God justification by faith things like that wonderful groups.
It's been interesting I was that this is the fourth time I've been to Calvary Baptist Church and that that means by far They are the pretty much most churches don't have me back very often. Other than the Church of God in in Massapequa.
No, Hicksville. It's on Hicksville Road, but it's in Massapequa. They they have me back has had me back probably five or six times. Folks in normal have had me in four times and but most other folks you know just once and then that's that's more than enough and now thank you for visiting goodbye and So It's it's neat to watch the Lord work in these places because I've seen I've gotten to know people I've developed real good friendships.
Jerry McCorkle and and Chris Jenkins was the one who first brought me in there. Some of you know who Chris Jenkins is and I've gotten to know some folks. Rob Hogan's this big huge dude. This dude is he's not overly tall, but he's just so incredibly strong.
He can do 225 on the bench 40 times 40 repetitions at 225. I am NOT at all worried when Rob Hogan's is in the audience because I figure he's gonna he's gonna take good care of me and But you know when I first met these folks, they were much younger now.
They're getting married. They're having kids. Rob's become a deacon there. You see the change over time. It's really neat to come in like every Year year and a half and see all this stuff developing over time.
It's really really neat. So Anyways, that was a real good opportunity and since we weren't on the last two times now that we've been on or we weren't on Thursday because I was there and Yeah, Theo said he could do that.
Somebody check for a gas leak at Theo's house. He's he's lost his mind. Anyways. Strange stuff. We weren't on Thursday night. So the last time you're on was a week ago with Peter from the the UK and I want to again.
Thank Martin David's for making Peter available to us and having that that kind of Very encouraging program. It was very encouraging to me to hear How the that New Testament in the language of the people was used By the Lord to bring spiritual life.
I think that is just absolutely a wonderful Testimony to the power of the Word of God the fact that God can save God miraculously put that Scripture there and What a what a incredible thing just think how widely dispersed The Scriptures are now in so many different languages and how the Lord can use that it's a it's a tremendous thing the power of the Word of God to do that and and Again, we we want to continue to pray for Peter pray for his safety.
There were there are a number of things that that Peter didn't say that that are still going on and and we need to pray for him and And for his ministry and for all people like him there are obviously many others out there that we do not know about and then though the program before that which we've not had any opportunity of commenting on was our debate on.
Well, what was it on it was supposed to be on? The exegesis of John chapter 6 verses 35 through 45 and initially, I had challenged a a non reformed individual in pal talk by the the Nick that he uses is Jade minor and He had accepted and But then He said well, you know the timings not good for me.
Would you allow someone to take my place followed by a name of Lou rug, which is Louis Ruggiero who who I said well, you know fine. I my assumption Of course is that if you're gonna get someone else take your place.
You've already checked to see if their positions the same as yours as far as I can tell that's not what happened. As far as I can tell Mr. Ruggiero his position is is different than the individual. I know to know is Jade minor so That seems a little strange to me.
But the point was my desire has always been to have a meaningful interaction based upon the text of John chapter 6 Let's follow the teaching of Christ. Let's follow the order in which he spoke. Let's follow the solid rules of hermeneutics, let's interpret the scripture and Lay our traditions out there to be examined etc.
Etc. Etc. Well most of you know that though we have sought that kind of Interaction in in many venues. It does not seem to be forthcoming. I can't help but to think of of a Individual who has written to the ministry through our website and some of you who know You there's a contact page on the website and you can choose a subject and and basically those are then Sorted sort of automatically and sent to particular volunteers.
If you think that I just sit around all day long Answering emails just waiting with my you know, wringing my hands waiting for somebody to send me an email that's really not how it works and This individual has been writing to the ministry Over and over again always writing to me and the email then goes directly to One of our volunteers because he always uses the same topic line.
So it's just automatically sent to him and the volunteer keeps saying well, I'll tell you what send he what he's saying is you keep saying you've never heard a Decent exegesis of John chapter 6. Well, I would like to present you with one And so the volunteer said okay send it in.
We'll take a look at it. Well, I'm not I'm not gonna talk to you I'm only good. I am only going to dialogue with James Wayne and well, actually if Your exegesis makes any sense and this particular individual Mike Porter is certainly well trained enough to determine Whether the exegesis has any merit or value to at all you would not believe the kinds of things That are sent to us That have no value and no merit at all.
But certainly mr. Porter is in a position of being able to determine such things. He said to him look Senate send it to me I will then pass it on to To James White and we can go from there. He just simply would not Do so just just keep sending emails address or speaking as if I'm the one reading this stuff Just ignoring all the responses.
He got me eventually. Mr. Porter just said look We've told you to send it in. I'll take a look at it. If you won't do it, just stop writing, you know that kind of thing, you know, very very common Type of a situation we encounter.
Well those of you who heard the debate Know that it was not a debate. You cannot even begin to to engage a debate when you never even bother to offer a Meaningful exegesis or even a semi Even make an attempt To deal with John 6 37 to 49 instead.
We heard basically what mr. Ruggiero decided to debate was his view of Christian anthropology from a Pelagian perspective and he took great offense that I identify his position as Pelagian. Well, I'm a Calvinist.
Should I take offense at that? A number of these folks in pal talks start channels in pal talk like Calvinism Christian psychosis, you know and identifying his position as Pelagian which it is is somehow supposed to be offensive.
Could not figure that one out either but anyways I'm sorry. Some of you are really upset with me with that. Anyway It is just a way of speaking that I have anyway. There was no there was no discussion whatsoever of The text instead there was this well, let's hammer Proverbs 1 20 Proverbs 1 29 shows that there's a choice in godliness.
And you know if we want to debate the issue You know the the temptation was there just forget about John 6 and go ahead and try after having basically being Precluded from having an opening statement because you know, there's a tremendous amount of disrespect you show for everyone your opponent and your audience.
When you decide you're going to debate a different topic than what you were invited to debate. Because you're showing disrespect to your opponent because if he sticks to the subject No debate is going to take place and you're showing disrespect to the audience because it's very confusing to hear two completely different debates that are not related to one another and so When I had presented an exegesis of John chapter 6 and then my opponent goes off into NaNa land and starts talking about you know choice and all the rest of this stuff as if somehow.
Well because of 2nd Timothy 3 16 through 17, I can do this. In other words, I can ignore the exegesis of John 6 not offer you any exegesis that assume that my exegesis of every other passage I cite is correct.
And string together whatever verses I want to do Isogetically to create my position. Well, that's what all the cults and isms do. That's not exegesis. That's the whole point. I mean, that's that's basically an open admission.
I can't do exegesis. I'm incapable of doing exegesis. I have my tradition. I can string my verses together. Don't ask me to do anything beyond that that in essence is is what we were told openly on on the on the program, so We had you know Proverbs 1 129 thrown out there and and this this means they chose yet says they show did not choose to fear God.
That's a historical statement. Someone wrote to me and it was a good good point. Some wrote to me and said after they listen to the program. I wonder what mr Ruggiero would do with the words of the Prophet at Jeremiah chapter 32 beginning at verse 38.
They shall be my people and I will be their God and I will give them one heart and one way. That they may fear me always remember the fear of the Lord is a choice. That was that we heard that in fact someone someone counted 74 times in the course of the debate.
I saw someone doing this when it was replayed in Paltalk 74 times mr. Ruggiero said the word choice and It's a choice. Well, listen to what God says about This this covenant that he is going to make with his his people.
And it says that they may fear me always. I'm gonna give them one heart that they may fear me always. God has to give us a heart to fear him. For their own good and for the good of their children after them I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good and I will put the Fear of me in their hearts.
So that they will not turn away from me. Well now wait just one minute. I thought we heard over and over and over again. It's a you have a choice you and then we heard you are worthy. There's the plagianism coming straight out.
You are worthy your choice. Well, yeah, it is your choice. The problem is the enslaved heart will always choose to rebel against God until God takes out the heart of stone. Puts in the heart of flesh.
Which is what we have here in Jeremiah chapter 32 when God puts the fear of him into the heart. Then they will not turn away from him. I haven't had a chance to ask. Mr. Ruggiero about that, but given the answers that I got I think the answer would go somewhere along the lines of yeah but Proverbs 129 says it's a matter of choice and that's about as far as we would get I just.
It was very very disappointing and I did mean it very sincerely when I apologized to anyone who tuned in Who were actually thinking that there was going to be something of benefit as far as an actual exchange.
You know, there wasn't quite obviously it was obviously not mr. Ruggiero's perspective to do so. However the next day When I went into pal talk mr. Ruggiero did private message me and inform me that he had embarrassed me.
That he had destroyed me in the debate even said James. I was I was embarrassed for you. At how poorly I did so mr. Ruggiero seems to think that. That he was just Overwhelming in in that debate most folks I've talked with were wondering why we had bothered and and and I was too.
But I guess we again have illustrated sadly that there is no meaningful exegesis of John chapter 6 verses 35 to 45 that actually follows meaningful hermeneutical canons and rules. And that does not then result in the perspective of the reformed position, but we will continue to look.
For some some individuals who might be able to maybe take a little better shot I I don't know but we will continue to try maybe have some comments about those things. One eight seven seven. Well you sometimes you don't need the one so eight seven seven seven five three thirty three forty one eight seven seven seven five Three three three four one in fact got a call today while I was waiting on getting something done at the house someone had some questions on the King James issue.
If you would like to call in we have about 38 minutes 36 minutes or so actually left in the program today. So feel free to call in on those subjects as well pretty much open lines if you would like to ask some questions.
I'm fairly Fairly warmed up shall we say on? Answering questions after this past weekend because I I couldn't you know it was coming from every direction look at that 90 degrees. It's only 153 in the afternoon, and it's already 90 degrees here in Phoenix.
Something tells me the summer is headed our direction, and that's that's just how it goes. I guess eight seven seven seven five three Three three four one is the phone number. Do not delay if you would like to be a part of the program today.
If you if you put it off. Well, you know. We can we won't probably be able to get to you by the way if you're a praying person. If you support our ministry with your prayers. Or in any other way do not forget about this coming weekend.
Major major doings shall we say on? Friday night the debate against the dr. R. Dennis Potter and the subject Did Christ's death save anyone the issue of substitutionary atonement. Interestingly enough dr. Potter says that his favorite ancient heretic is Pelagius and so I Well I can tell you what the tell you right now in fact I guess I'll go ahead and tell you right now what the debates going to be about.
I'm going to present a a Presentation on the biblical basis of substitution and Especially the the Greek preposition who pair 2nd Corinthians 521 passages like that that clearly present the concept of substitution and then I will Having established that biblical basis address dr. Potter's Insistence on the innocence principle which he develops in an article on his website that basically questions the the Propriety of an innocent person suffering for a guilty person and In essence I will basically say that when our philosophical constructs Run up against the God breathed scriptures we need to abandon our philosophical constructs and construct something that is consistent with God's revelation and That is the direction.
I'm going to be going and I don't know if there's going to be much in the way of Meaningful interaction at that point we'll find out, but that's a Friday evening in fact I just yesterday now that I think about it.
There was a Yeah, the Salt Lake Tribune Saturday March 29th 2003 had a brief little article about The debates and it was fairly fair. It's just more of an announcement type thing if you're up in the Salt Lake area would like to Get some more information.
You can call 801 532 5066 that's 801 532 5066 these are gonna be at 7 p .m. In the Orson Spencer Hall Orson Spencer Hall boy is that a Mormon name Orson Spencer Hall on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City, Utah, that'll be 7 o 'clock on Friday and Then 7 o 'clock on Saturday evening, which is during the general conference same location I will be debating Roberts and Janice on the subject of the mass as a Propitiatory sacrifice, so those are the debates coming up of this coming weekend and Would appreciate your prayers for safe travel and health and All those things that you need when you travel up there of course the recording of the debates.
Make sure that the things that go well because we don't just want the people that are there to be able to benefit from these Particular debates, but also all the rest of you that cannot necessarily just drop everything and head off to the University of Utah for the weekend.
We want you to be able to listen in as well through the mp3 page video audio tapes whatever other formats there are out there and we want the recording to go well because these are of course important issues and The hope is that we might be able to continue this kind of series type thing in October With a two-night debate series and one on the subject of Roman Catholicism.
Maybe other issues as well, but at least for now one of Roman Catholicism one on Mormonism. It is very very unusual to have this kind of thing going on. I'm very thankful to Christ Presbyterian Church Pastor Jason Wallace Mike up there who helps him do a lot of stuff as well.
Organizing these things putting these things together. It takes a lot of work it takes a lot of I'm not sure how to describe it. It's it's hard to get folks to do this kind of thing. I mean, it's very unusual for this kind of thing to take place anywhere in Utah, especially with Mormonism.
Just simply isn't. You know, that's that's just DVDs. No, we don't do DVDs. Sorry. It's we'll catch up with that technology someday, but not not yet. That's for sure it's pretty unusual to have these types of debates with with Mormons and So to have this taking place.
Pastor Wallace has demonstrated himself to be exceptionally capable of Getting past objections and things like that. So we're very thankful that he's doing that and so anyways. Eight seven seven seven five three thirty three forty one.
We have one caller online. We'll go to Randy in just a moment after we take our break. But you can get in while the break is on at eight seven seven seven five three three three four one. We'll be right back.
Man such a rare. Today many stop strong and true quickly fall away.
Is the Mormon my brother? Bethany house publishers presents James White's book is the Mormon my brother. In television campaigns parachurch events and clergy fellowships all across the United States Mormons are presenting themselves as mainstream Christians.
Is it unloving or backward to say they aren't real Christians. In Contrast to Christian monotheism the belief in one God Mormonism teaches that God was once a man who lived on another planet and was exalted to the status of God.
And that Mormon men can also become gods upon death and resurrection. In his book is the Mormon my brother James White demonstrates how this fact alone means Mormons and Christians are irreconcilably at odds.
At faiths most basic level is. The Mormon my brother is now available from Alpha and Omega ministries book ministry. You can order is the Mormon my brother from our website. That www dot a o m i n dot o r g answering those who claim that only the King James Version is the Word of God.
James White in his book the King James only controversy examines allegations that modern translators Conspired to corrupt scripture and lead believers away from true Christian faith. In a readable and responsible style.
Author James White traces the development of Bible translations old and new and Investigates the differences between new versions and the authorized version of 1611. You can order your copy of James White's book the King James only controversy by going to our website at www dot a o Min dot org.
What is dr. Norman Geisler warning the Christian community about in his book chosen, but free a new cult secularism false prophecy scenarios. No, dr. Geisler is sounding the alarm about a system of beliefs commonly called Calvinism.
He insists that this belief system is theologically inconsistent. Philosophically insufficient and morally repugnant. In his book the potter's freedom. James White replies to dr. Geisler, but the potter's freedom is much more than just a reply.
It is a defense of the very principles upon which the Protestant Reformation was founded. Indeed it is a defense of the very gospel itself in a style that both scholars and laymen alike can appreciate.
James White Masterfully counters the evidence against so-called extreme Calvinism. Defines what the Reformed faith actually is and concludes that the gospel preached by the Reformers is the very one taught in the pages of scripture.
The potter's freedom a defense of the Reformation and a rebuttal to Norman Geisler's chosen. But free you'll find it in the Reformed theology section of our bookstore at a o min org.
The pilgrims progress. It's not an easy way. It's a journey.
And welcome back to dividing line. We're about halfway through if you want to get on today at seven seven seven five three thirty three forty one before we go to our first caller. I Wanted to mention as well many of you over the years have asked about a book that I wrote Man Thirteen years ago now.
It was my introduction to the doctrines of grace called God's Sovereign Grace. It was a Blue colored book published by crown publications, and then there was a second book called drawn by the father which was just on John 635 through 45 also a crown publication and All the crown books went out of out of print a number of years ago and the supplies dried up.
And then we had the problems With the republication of those books, but as of just a few weeks ago God's Sovereign Grace is now back in print in a new edition. It's the same text is identical text, but It's not been updated or anything like that, but it's still the same Friendly introduction to the doctrines of grace and what we're going to do starting Lord willing next week hint hint hint is Right at the same time that that came back into print along with the drawn by the father is available as well.
We received two cases of the original printings of both books the problem is those books are now 13 years old as far as the printing goes and they've been stuck in a box for 13 years and While we probably could get away with it.
I don't feel that it would proper to sell those original books as new books Just because they're that old. So what we're gonna what we were going to make available to folks is a special offer Like I said Lord willing starting next week.
Where when you order one copy of the new edition of God's Sovereign Grace, we will add while supplies last an Original copy so you'll actually get two copies one the new printing one the old printing because these books especially God's Sovereign Grace Drawn by the father are the books that get given away.
I've talked to so many people Yeah, I had that book once I really enjoyed it gave it somebody never got it back. So here you've got a way of giving it away and yet also keeping it. So Let's the be watching for that special offer for God's Sovereign Grace and drawn by the father on on the website.
Hopefully as early as next week. It's gonna be a tough weekend to get things done. But as long as we can get some books ordered in we'll probably be able to get fairly quickly. And I know that a lot of you have asked over the years about those books when you could get hold of them again.
Well, they're gonna be available here very soon. So actually they are available. We just need to order the supplies in so keep that in mind. All right, eight seven seven seven five three thirty three forty one.
Let's go ahead and head off to Colorado and talk with Randy. Hello Randy doo-doo-doo. Hello Randy,. I Don't hear Randy. And maybe Randy doesn't hear me. I'm singing. Oh, no, I'm sorry. Let's keep trying to get Randy up there in Colorado.
Do I can hear you? Hey, there he is. It's just a matter of making sure the fell on the other side of the wall turns the right buttons and can try you there I hear you now.
Well, of course, there's a nasty trick moving the times to this time because now I'm in my office.
And I won't be able to call very often. I think there's a deliberate plot. I won't be this way next week. It was just this week.
All right. Well, hey, my question was regarding the the latest scud missile fired by the KGB camp. Have you seen? David Sorenson's touch not the unclean thing.
No, I I really try to avoid that area as much as is humanly possible outside of. Talking to honest hearted folks who actually are are confused or really just want to know the truth. After eight years of having my book in print I Quite honestly have determined That a person who adopts that perspective Probably isn't going to listen to almost anything.
I have to say to him anyways, and so I just sort of avoid it. What's uh, what's the new scud scud missile about it? You know, it's the typical.
Received text. There's nothing new. I haven't actually read the book yet. I've just been looking at some material, but the reason I brought it up was they had a full-color ad in Christianity today. Oh.
Now you got some money on my attention. And I was just wondering if you'd heard of the author David Sorenson. He's a pastor and I don't know Minnesota or somewhere. No, no, I've not heard of. Well, he's 20 ,000 copies is what he said.
And I guess he's used the money to pour all the revenues into a full-color ad opening at the big time because it's right right. There in Christianity today. Who's it published by. I think it's self-published through his north north star or ministries or something like that.
It's not a major publisher. Well, that's that's exactly what Gail Ripplinger did. She self-published as well and and Made a bundle in the process and I guess that's how you have any units she moved. Oh.
The last time I cared to even Have any type of contact if people could know it was well over a quarter million moving toward half a million. And since you're self-published, I mean there's there's a major league profit In that kind of in that kind of a situation.
So no, no, those those books will sell and they'll sell big there's no two ways about it and There was talk Bethany has been sold to Baker and so I don't know if this talks going to continue or not. But there was talk about 10th anniversary Edition of the King James only controversy.
Okay, and so obviously if that talk came into fruition Then I'd have to go back out and Dive back into what has been published since I put my stuff out and there's there has been you know I mean, you've got Ruckman's attempted response, which is only continues to prove that there's absolutely not a single Rational element to the man's thought there's the very weak attempts of people like da wait and others And then these these books as well them.
I mean they keep cranking them out. So I'd have to you know, probably spend a couple hundred bucks to go track down all that Stuff again, and then you know, there probably wouldn't be almost anything new there other than just simply multiplying examples That you know would only make the book about another 50 pages thicker as far as just providing Answers to maybe particular issues that were not addressed in the initial printing something along those lines.
But the other question I had was do you have a target release date for the hunt book yet?
Or what's the status of that one? The status is we're just about done. I was I was talking with my good friend John Sampson last night My my now American formerly British friend who? Became a citizen recently.
We were driving back from my class. I teach for Golden Gate. He's been we've been carpooling. Well, he's been I've been carpooling with him. Basically. I don't think he wants to drive my Geo Metro, but anyways We were talking about that just last night, and I I sort of put together.
I have I think Yeah, I have 5 ,000 words left to write which is not much that's only a Presentation and a half and I can't write it yet. Because if I as I've mentioned on the air before this is a give-and-take Situation and I am now in the situation where I'm all caught up.
I'm waiting for Dave Hunt to send one last series of seven 500 word statements and then I'll be able to write my last series of seven 500 word statements and then a 1500 word epilogue or closer to the whole thing and That will not take very long.
I think it took me a day and a half to do my seven 500 word ones Before and then 1500 word closer I already have a number of hundreds of words of that already written quotes that I wanted to use From elsewhere in the book, so it won't take very long and then.
That the problem is this is a Multnomah book, and I don't know How Multnomah operates? I don't know how many all I'm used to is is Bethany house basically and and so I don't know what their Publication schedule looks like so I couldn't even begin to give you a meaningful Suggestion because they certainly haven't given us a publication date.
I'm just sitting here waiting on the last of his materials.
The final comment. I just say I've enjoyed the Senate school classes on the web from PRBC. Also. Mm-hmm. Listen to the synoptic series and enjoying that so remind the listeners that that's available to well.
Actually, we've moved those to a separate page and just this morning. I wrote the text for a little page. We're going to put on that wherein. Basically, I'm just going to be asking folks. Please remember This is a this is a Bible study class and there are times.
I just want to talk to my own folks and please don't hold me to the standard that you would expect me to have in doing a debate or Presenting a paper at ETS or something like that. Sometimes I just want to talk to my own folks.
I'm an elder in that congregation. Sometimes I need that freedom and unfortunately some folks will just jump all over me. Because I don't use the same Standard in a Bible study class that I would in presenting a scholarly paper writing a book and I'll be honest with you.
It sort of bugs me and We've almost pulled them. I've been that close to just simply putting them behind a Password protection and giving that password to the members of PRBC and leaving it that. But so many folks have said what you've said that I'm trying to make it through the complainers So that those who are blessed by them will continue to be blessed by them.
So I'll consider this a vote on the plus side. Okay, thanks a lot. All right. God bless eight seven seven seven five three thirty three forty one. That's the number that Jeff in Pasadena, Maryland, which I bet you folks are always sending things to the wrong place and you live in Pasadena, Maryland.
Price send them off to California all the time. I bet that happens. Yeah. Gotta specify. I bet you do. I bet you do. I'm doing good what we do for you, Jeff.
Well, are you familiar with the work of Gerald McDermott or some of the works of his work? Gerald McDermott, he's got he's the most recent one. He's got one with Jonathan Edwards. Jonathan Edwards scholar.
Okay. He's not the only one that's shooting around the idea, but the fact that The fact that the other got God God has revealed himself to Do to these other religions and actually Gerald McDermott would say that Jonathan Edwards believe that Jonathan Edwards looked at the Indian Christianity actually so far with.
Well, and I'm trying I'm working on a paper and I'm trying to shoot these ideas around in my own mind and I've got my own opinion according to Romans one, right? Well, let me when you say.
Revealed himself to other to or through other religion. Well, I I don't I can't see how Jonathan Edwards Would have agreed with that statement. Jonathan Edwards I would I would assume and I haven't read anything on his doctrine of general revelation outside of what has come up and just my general reading of Jonathan Edwards, but My response would be that Revelation is is of course of two sorts.
You have general or universal revelation, which which is as you mentioned Defined for us in Romans chapter 1 the concept that God has clearly revealed himself Through what has been made that men are on Apologia there without an apologetic there without an excuse.
But what he has revealed in The general creation is his divine power and eternal attributes and what is Demanded of man as result as they honor him as God and give thanks. And so in light of that, that's certainly not the issue of the Trinity or the cross or salvation.
It's a it's a general revelation of God's existence that men then Suppress according to Romans 118 they hold it down an unrighteousness now. There are truths In every well almost every religion, I guess you could say there are some religions have no truths at all.
But but the vast majority of men's religions when man engages in Idolatry he does not do so in such a way that he twists every single thing that can possibly be twisted in the sense that Look at Mormonism.
Mormonism is is a polytheistic religion. It is it is certainly far removed from biblical Christianity yet Mormons will speak of the necessity of morality the necessity of being chased in sexual relationships and and the importance of the family.
You know all sorts of issues like that. You certainly can't deny that there are our truths in regards to many religions will say you shall not murder. You are to protect life all the rest these kinds of things and so if a person were to say Can you find truths like that in man's religions?
Well, of course you can but is that is that because there has been a special revelation from God. That has become a part of that religion. That's separate from his common grace his revelation in in general revelation or even a borrowing from Christianity you look at Islam and obviously Christianity had impact upon the formation of the Quran and the hadith and in Islamic Morality and things like that.
So let me let me.
Let me just read this real quick sentence. Do you then ask you a question? He says in his introduction. He says those who have been schooled in the stereotypical Edwards will find it even more remarkable that he believed that some non-christians Worshipped perhaps without knowing it the true God.
Now that's what his whole book space though. And then this is that new New material regarding Edwards because nothing along these lines have been written. The other question I guess comment on that, but the other question will be in regards to Romans 1.
I Take that to mean that In relation to other religions, my friend has I don't know if he's calling the term But he would say they're masks of atheism the religions people are surprised. That is the way people are suppressing the truth of God.
I would agree with that.
Yeah, I would agree that that man's religions is part of the means By which he suppresses the truth about God so as to engage in idolatry. It's the twisting of the creature creation Distinction and without a quote from Jonathan Edwards I can't really comment on it outside of the fact that he certainly would have agreed that Romans 1 is teaching that very thing and how an Indian who is Worshipping a hideous idol is in some way shape or form in reality worshiping the true God.
I can't begin to Imagine what the source of that would be. He is giving evidence. However of of his Being created in the image and likeness of God because he worships he cannot help but worship. But it is a twisting of that image and a desecration of that image that is seen in in the Native American religions as in popular as it is to say that today in reality the level of Native American religion is no higher than that of Central Africa or Aboriginal people at all and Despite Hollywood's desiring to turn into something it really never was but anyways without a quotation from Edwards I really can't comment on it and remember a lot of these books grew out of a some sort of a doctoral dissertation somewhere and Remember the standard argument in regards to a doctoral dissertation is it needs to add?
To the knowledge base in other words it needs to be unique and hence you're always looking for some new way of looking at things and Sometimes the new way of looking at things will get you published, but it may not in reality Accurately represent what you were talking about at all.
Edwards scholar who actually society ETS is a good friend of mine teaches at Lancaster Bible College. He's good friends with John. Yeah, I know no toys about it well.
I I certainly would be interested in seeing what is being discussed. I mean, I I'm I don't have any Capital invested in the infallibility of Jonathan Edwards any more than anyone else. In fact I think that Edwards missed the boat on For example trying to figure out the relationship of Adams will to God's will and ended up contradicting himself and even Jonathan Gerstner who certainly loved Jonathan Edwards Admitted that here we see the the great intellect of spinning in circles because I think sometimes Edwards should have listened a little more closely to Calvin's statement that where God makes an end of speaking social we and You can speculate beyond that but sometimes that speculation can become rather dangerous and you end up in a mass of Contradictions, so I don't have any any capital invested in in Edwards.
You know going off the the deep end on something I'm just not. I've just never heard that before and hence would want to want to see what they're talking about.
Okay. All right, you appreciate it and I certainly enjoy the broadcast off of your Sunday school program so great.
All right. Thanks a lot. I'll let I'll let mr. Broyles know who does all the work and putting them together that his work is is appreciated. Thank you much. Thank you. God bless Alrighty eight seven seven seven five three thirty three forty one.
I guess there's still probably a little bit of time. You could sneak in I believe the phone lines are open. I don't see anything on my screen that says otherwise and so if you still want to sneak in we probably have about Five minutes so we could talk with you if you had a question today on the program.
Maybe in regards to a specific textual variant. I I ran into one. In fact, I'll go ahead and share that with you if nobody calls in. And and this is I've shared this with the channel, but hopefully the other listeners who don't spend a lot of time the channel will Catch something of benefit from this too.
I I run Bible works right up there on my screen. It runs all the time. I mean I have a powerful enough computer that I don't you know we're past the stage now of having to worry about how many programs generally you have running and So I keep Bible works up there all the time and when I need to look something up I just pop it up on the screen because generally I'm answering an email.
Writing an article so you can cut and paste and you can look at the Greek text look at the Hebrew text. I have the current edition of The Bauer lexicon on there and and low Anita and holiday and and you know.
All that stuff is right there in front of me. So it's real easy very convenient to use but there's one thing that Bible works doesn't have and Bible works doesn't yet have and I have told the folks of Bible works.
Oh, please Give this to us. I would love to have it. Though there aren't a lot of people who would really care about one or the other Bible works does not have the textual variations listed on the Greek text and So I got blindsided by something today.
Not today last week and I found it absolutely Fascinating and it was in. Let's see if I'm just doing this off top my head. Did it to be. It's in Luke chapter 23 and It is one of the quote-unquote seven sayings From the cross, it's Luke 23 34 and a Presbyterian pastor friend of mine from back in Florida wrote to me and pointed out that the first section of Luke 23 34 is a fairly major textual variant and In fact, we just posted in the channel if you look at Luke 23 34 The words but Jesus was saying father forgive them if they do not know what they are doing.
That section is a major textual variant the last part of the verse and they cast lots divining up his garments among themselves is not. But the first part of the verse is a major textual variant. It is bracketed in the UBS text and It is absent from a wide variety of ancient witnesses.
Now the majority of texts have it but when you go back into the ancients testimony P75 does not have it the second that the first corrector of Sinaiticus and and this is this is important when you're looking at texts as a whole not just words or phrases.
But a whole block of text like this is Early translations into other languages likewise do not have that section and I Had never seen it There I'm sure there are lots of textual variants I've never sat down examined, but I had even even when I wrote the Potter's freedom I responded to Norman Geisler's comments on this.
But I had not looked at the textual variant itself and part of the reason for that is because I've become Dependent on the computer text and if the computer text when I'm reading obviously whenever I open the text itself.
Whether it's the UBS text and that's your own text. I'm gonna look at the textual variant very variant marks. I'm gonna look down to buy on the page I'm gonna evaluate the you know the various positions so on and so forth, but if it's not there What happened well how many of us have heard this text over and over and over again?
I mean I think back to the To the Easter musicals that we would do Years and years ago, but I was at a very large Southern Baptist Church. And there were you know you this you would spend months preparing these major musicals with hundreds of musicians and all the rest of stuff and it's part of the Seven sayings from the cross, and we've just heard over and over again that and I had never heard myself any sermon on This passage that even raised the issue that even noted now by the way The most ancient texts of this particular passage Do not contain these words and Very interestingly I pulled up the parallel.
This is something's very important when studying Synoptic texts like this Matthew Mark and Luke and Bible works can do this for me. Thankfully I pulled up the parallel. So you can examine this passage in its parallel and Mark and Luke and While the and they cast lots dividing up his garments among themselves is parallel as I recall just off top my head in Matthew the first part of the verse has no parallel and I I again.
I'm just admitting. I was completely had never heard any discussion of it completely caught unaware and Even though I had written a response to dr. Geisler's use of it obviously when I looked at the text I did so within The context of a computer version which did not have the variance at the bottom of the page, so what does that prove?
That proves that even when like myself you love examining things like textual variations and and manuscript evidence and and Enjoy having that opportunity and have studied those things and taught those things all the rest of stuff.
Still you have your traditions. You are you are influenced by how you've heard texts used or how you have not heard them used shall we say and so here we have a situation where I just had not looked down at the bottom of the page or mainly had looked at it on a screen where that information wasn't to be found anyways and As a result just was not even aware of it and Would have to really if I was going to do another edition of the potter's freedom.
I'd need to note that In the discussion that's found there as well, so there's just a little lesson don't become dependent upon That computer thing unless it gives you all the information you need And that certainly is experience.
I've had well. Thanks for being patient with us today. We got started a little bit late But that's God's providence and God's blessing in some ways next dividing line is when Thursday evening 5 p .m..
Mountain Standard Time. We'll see you then God bless.
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