WALKING The COVENANT WAY: PART 2 of 8: the ADAMIC Covenant

~ by James Fire

INTRODUCTION: So with all the needful preliminaries established, we can now focus on these covenants found in Holy Scripture. We will find some similarities among them as well as some significant contrasts. Some require man’s obedience, others are based solely on the sovereignty of GOD, apart from any requirements from men.

The pattern of all the covenants of the Bible is that (1) GOD establishes His promises of blessings (2) man sins by breaking the covenant (3) GOD judges the sin (4) GOD then provides redemption based not on man’s performance but upon His own mercy and grace.

Throughout Scripture we understand that sin always bears bad fruit and destructive consequences from which man is helpless to redeem himself, so GOD in His grace steps in and makes provision!

All of these covenants were initiated by GOD, never by man; they are all binding, in the sense that none can be abrogated and nullified by the will or intent of man – he can certainly disobey a covenant, and thereby in a sense ‘break’ it (ISA 24:5), but not destroy it. And as with the case of the Mosaic Covenant, even disobedience didn’t destroy it; the disobedience simply resulted in the people of Israel being escorted off the land by the courtesy of Assyrian or Babylonian soldiers and their chains!

I think we may find that after examining all of these covenants, we’ll be able to realize that their ultimate fulfillment is found not in any tribes or people of men, but in the Son of man, the LORD Jesus Christ Himself.

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A TTUF Interview with RUSS MILLER of CreationMinistries.Org

INTRODUCTION: It's my delight and pleasure to present this interview with a real warrior for Christ and His Truth, Russ Miller! I've read many of his books, watched his DVDs and online videos, attended a few of his conferences (haven't yet done the Grand Canyon Tour with him - not yet!) and have found his information accurate, his assertions valid, his heart to be humble, sincere and valiant for the truth.

Russ by this time in life could be relaxing on easy street, with a financially comfortable and restful retirement. Instead, he serves the LORD across this nation, proclaiming the glory of GOD both in His creation and in His redemption!

It's an honor to present to you our TTUF readers, this 30 question interview with Russ Miller!

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NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 31

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez, and James Fire

NUMBERS 31: “VENGEANCE IS MINE, SAYS The LORD” James Fire; check out the video teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: In the minds of people the world over, and in the dogmas of various religions, the portrayal of GOD’s nature is fashioned, not in truth, but by the imaginations and, or the desires of mankind.
Some believe God to be vindictive, blood thirsty and vengeful; others see God as a loving grandfatherly sort.
Scripture tells us that GOD is love and seeks to save sinners (1 JN 4:8; EZ 33:11) and that He is also holy and will not leave sin unjudged or unpunished (1 PET 1:16; EZ 18:20). He freely offers His grace and truth, His peace, and tender mercies, to the meek and contrite, those who repent and turn to Him for salvation.
He will also render justice, judgment, and wrath upon the proud and the rebellious here on what I call “planet Rebel”, who refuse to obey the Gospel:

2 THESSALONIANS 1:7b-8
…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

GOD is both Judge and Savior. Yet this world thinks that it can thumb its nose at GOD, mock His Word, ridicule, and persecute His people, and they believe that they can commit all manner of atrocities with absolutely no accountability. This is why evolution is so popular: if that theory is true, and there is no GOD, then there’s no accountability to GOD and no judgment!
“Therefore I can do whatever I want”, they say boastfully.
They couldn’t be more wrong! As I’m often saying. “There is no such thing as eternal injustice!”

Vengeance belongs to GOD (DEUT 32:35; PS 94:1); He owns vengeance, It has GOD’s Name on it – and He isn’t interested in selling!

Balaam as you recall tried to curse Israel not once, not twice, but three times – but the Spirit of the LORD wouldn’t allow it; instead GOD put His words in Balaam’s mouth and this prophet for hire spoke blessings instead, not blasphemies over Israel. Once he, king Balak and all the other kings of the surrounding tribes realized they failed, they all went home.

But Balaam had a backup plan which we already read; we saw how it was carried out in

NUMBERS 25.

He persuaded king Balak to turn his loose Moabite women loose on the Hebrew men encamped around the Tabernacle, to seduce them, and while in sexual ecstasy, they brought out their idols and they all committed spiritual fornication as well as physical fornication.

Once that happens, Balaam realized, a curse on Israel wouldn’t be necessary, for GOD Himself would judge His people – the false prophet no doubt believed GOD would wipe them all out – but as always, GOD tempers His judgment: He targets only those who committed this atrocity and preserves the righteous (2 PET 2:9). And the LORD is going to judge Balaam, just as He is going to judge the Midianites!

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CROSSING The T’s STUDY in 2 TIMOTHY – Biblical Precepts and Principles for Pastoral ministry: CHAPTER THREE: Parts ONE & TWO

INTRODUCTION: In this and in the next (and last) chapter of 2 TIMOTHY Paul issues warnings of darker days, followed by exhortations to continue in “the faith” (vs.14; in order to counteract such darkness) and to be watchful (2 TIM 4:5; in such times of darkness).
Rebellion against and intolerance of the pure doctrine of the Word will be the modus operandi of these last and dark days – not just by the rebellious world, which is understandable, but even by the professing, visible church – which is truly dismaying (as distinct from the possessing (of the Spirit) church, invisible – as being present throughout various churches who represent a righteous remnant, and who will endure faithfully to the end, keeping “the faith”).

These things are representative of “the beginning of birth pangs” that the LORD spoke of (MATT 24:8) concerning “the last days” which will increase more and more as we draw nearer to the coming of the LORD.
An interesting note: “beginning” here can also mean “beginner” as the Greek word used is arche – also defined as a leader, ruler, magistrate, etc.
Egypt had its angel of death judging that nation for its rebellion against the LORD and unwarranted persecution of Israel. I can see where the LORD allows fallen angel overlords to unleash their chaos in this evil time.

We’ll examine the complexion of the last days; the descriptives used are alarmingly familiar to us in the 21st century. We’ll also examine the oppossers of GOD, who resist the truth.

Paul is nearing the end of his letter to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith; the words are all the more potent because he is also nearing the end of his earthly life. The last thing he expounds upon in this portion of the epistle is about the Scriptures, “all [of the] Scripture” and its authority.

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NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 30

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez, and James Fire

NUMBERS 30: “KEEP YOUR PROMISES TO GOD” Sonny Islas; check out the video teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: NUMBERS 30 serves as a good reminder for us - that we ought to be men and women of our word. Especially when it comes to making any type of promise to the LORD. We ought to be marked by honesty, personal integrity, sincerity, credibility, and trustworthiness. In the Old Testament, to make a promise and keep it spoke of faithfulness and loyalty to God.

One thing to keep in mind is that vows were not commended by God. Promises made to God were optional as a way to dedicate oneself to God a little more. No one was under any obligation to make a promise to God. BUT - keeping vows freely made, was commanded by God.

NUMBERS 30 consist of the Law (or rules) concerning vows (oaths or promises).

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WALKING The COVENANT WAY: INTRODUCTION: Part 1 of 8

~ by James Fire

Previously in DISCIPLESHIP 102, How To Study The Bible, we briefly examined the various dispensations and then the covenants found in the Scriptures. The dispensations aren’t explicit in their labeling as the covenants are (at least some of these are named as such); nevertheless we observe that every so often GOD issues new orders and responsibilities to man, which he eventually fails, which brings about new orders and responsibilities. These are various managements or economies (the Greek word for dispensation actually means, “economies”.

We will at some point review bible scholar Charles Ryrie’s incredible book entitled Dispensationalism (which he revised and expanded). I know many (not all) in the Calvinist camp disparage the idea of dispensational theology, but I think Dr. Ryrie answers the critics quite credibly – at least to my own satisfaction. I’m looking forward to doing a TTUF report on his work, using it as a basis to conduct my own articles.

We’ll begin with what we have already under the covenants section from that work, and then build on them in detail in subsequent articles (very likely to treat one covenant per article).

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