A TTUF LOOK at REPENTANCE – WHAT IS IT and IS IT NECESSARY?

~ by James Fire

In this day and age, sound doctrine is not being tolerated by the professing/apostate church in startlingly increasing degrees (2 TIM 4:3); likewise, there are legitimate and necessary contentions for “the faith” in our stand for the truth that must happen (JUDE 1:3). Additionally, left and right there are disputes between Dispensationalists and Covenant Theologians (TTUF will be doing an article or possibly a three-part series on Dispensationalism in the near future); between Calvinists and Armenians, between Baptismal Regenerationists and strict Blood atonement salvationists, Baptists (Cessationists) and Pentecostals (Non-Cessationists) and so on and so forth.

Then we have this issue of repentance – some say that a soul cannot be saved until they repent, while others say the Gospel doesn’t contain the pre-requisite of repentance. What is the truth of the matter?

While I hold no pretentions that I will solve this debate for everyone, I will share my views on what I believe the Scriptures teach, in the hopes that those who are uncertain and need instruction will find this article useful and encourage them in their own study of this doctrine.

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GENESIS – An Expositional Overview of the Beginning of God’s Revelation: Chapter SIXTEEN

Contributing commentaries by Sonny Islas and James Fire

Studies by Ray Stedman – It All Depends on Me

GOD’S WAY OR THE HARD WAY? GENESIS 16:1-16 – by Sonny Islas

Listen to the audio presentation of this teaching (and others as well!) here.

In Genesis 16 we’ll find that we can either do things God’s Way or we can do things our way (which then leads to learning the hard way). God made a promise to Abram (which automatically includes his wife Sarai because they are one; Matt 19:5) that He would bless them with a child (aka the Son of Promise). But because Sarai was unable to bear children, she devised an evil plan that painfully flopped. Sadly, Sarai and Abram had to learn the hard way because impatience and desire took the place of God’s way and timing.

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The TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – Chapter SEVEN

~ by James Fire

Introduction: From Chuck Missler’s study in REVELATION we have these insights:

Chapter 6 concludes with the statement, “For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” This next chapter seems to respond to that question.

In each of the major series of “sevens”—the seals, trumpets, and bowls—we notice that there always appears to be an inserted parenthetical passage between the 6th and 7th of each series. Having completed 6 of the 7 seals, Chapter 7 pauses for some amplification before we continue with the 7th seal in Chapter 8. Israel is the centerpiece in the Old Testament; and it now re-emerges as the centerpiece of God’s climax in Revelation. (It is also the centerpiece in the New Testament, but there is a lot of misunderstanding just how.)

It is interesting how Israel, again, is at the center of world events today. Chapter 7 deals with the “sealing” of the 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes.

REVELATION 7:1-17

Basically then, this chapter and others that insert these parenthetical events between the 6^th and 7^th seals, trumpets and bowls are a kind of dramatic pause that focuses attention on some things that the Holy Spirit deems worthy of His time to reveal, and for us to study.

So, let’s find out what we may, by the Spirit of GOD Who inspired the Scriptures, may we be granted understanding by the same Spirit.

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GENESIS – An Expositional Overview of the Beginning of God’s Revelation: Chapter FIFTEEN

Contributing commentaries by Sonny Islas and James Fire

GENESIS 15:1-6 Faith Conquering Fear  and

GENESIS 15:7-21 The Furnace and the Lamp  – both by Ray Stedman

Chapter Fifteen – by James Fire - here is the video teaching recorded at ETERNAL LIVING WORD Church.

In this chapter the LORD appears to Abram; this is the second time that He does so, the first time in Chapter 12:7, but that was about 12 years ago.

The LORD always appears when He is most needed, not necessarily in a vision, but His presence that gives us peace when we are afraid and need comfort, or through the revelation of His Word to grant us guidance when we are confused and need direction. Scripture states that He is a very present help in time of trouble (PS. 46:1).

Here the LORD’s Word comes to Abram and He declares Who He is and what He intends for this man, the father of the faith, whose example we follow as we walk by faith and not by sight (2 COR 5:7). And the LORD God declares the same to us, His children.  We know Who He is; our Abba Father, our LORD Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit our Comforter – and we know He has blessed and awesome plans for us (EPH 2:10; JER 29:11).

GOD brings a glorious revelation to Abram here, and we recognize the binding oath of a covenant which is known as the Abrahamic covenant, the central focus of this chapter.

There are seven covenants in the Bible that the LORD makes with the people of this world, four of which are made explicitly with Israel alone (Abrahamic covenant, Palestinian – or Land Covenant, Mosaic and Davidic covenant); the other three (Adamic, Noahic and the New Covenant) are made with all humanity and not limited to Israel.

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The JUDGMENT SEAT Of CHRIST – PART 3 of 3

By Lambert Dolphin

Bema Now

I woke with a start Sunday morning about 5 AM with a verse of Scripture in my mind,

“...we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses (tsĕdaqah) are like filthy (menstrual) rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, (‘avon) like the wind,
Have taken us away.”

It’s from Isaiah 64 I found out after consulting Blue Letter Bible. I did not at first realize that the closing chapters of Isaiah were addressed to Israel. I thought about the Judgment Seat of Christ which all followers of Jesus Christ will experience when they die or at the Rapture of the true Church.

When any follower of Jesus (who knows Jesus personally) dies (or “died”) he or she leaves earth’s constrained 4D space-time domain and time travels (I believe) to a great event in the heavenly places called the Bema (the Judgment Seat of Christ).

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GENESIS – An Expositional Overview of the Beginning of God’s Revelation: Chapter FOURTEEN

Studies by Ray Steadman:

GENESIS 14:1-16 – When You Need A Friend 

GENESIS 14:17-24 – The Peril of Victory 

Contributing commentaries by Sonny Islas and James Fire

Chapter Fourteen – by Sonny Islas

GENESIS 14 - MELCHIZEDEK BLESSES ABRAM                                                      

LORD give us the ability to really follow the story line in Genesis and to understand the role every main character play and how all that is written points to Jesus and His great story of salvation. Also, help us to apply all the practical principles that we run into. Amen.  

Genesis 14 is made up of two main events: 

1. Lot (Abram’s nephew) is kidnapped and is rescued by Abram. 

2. A very interesting individual named Melchizedek steps on the scene for the first time. He is a type of Christ (we’ll cover more of him in a moment)

The chapter begins a war and multiple raids: A powerful king named Chedor-laomer and his royal buddies (3 other kings) who are just, conquering, plundering and sweeping cities until he messed with the wrong guy – Abram and his God!

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