Joel Osteen, who has one of the largest congregations in America, has said in this recent interview that he believes Mormons are Christians because they believe in Jesus. Is this true? Are Mormons Christian?
Brigham Young himself issued a challenge
"Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it and see if it will stand the test," (Brigham Young, May 18, 1873, Journal of Discourses, vol. 16, p. 46.)
So we need to do that! What Beck, said we would normally hear in our churches every Sunday. The question is whether the Mormon Jesus, is the same as the Jesus of the bible. Here we will see it is a entirely different Jesus.
The Jesus, of Mormonism is a created being and the spirit brother of Lucifer (Jesus is the literal spirit-brother of Lucifer, a creation (Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15).
This could not be further from the truth when we look at sacred scripture where we see Jesus is eternal, immutable and the creator of the universe:
1-(Colossians 1:15-17)
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
2- (John 1:1-3 ESV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made."
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."
The bible is clear that Jesus is not some created, dependent being, but rather the eternal creator and sustainer of the universe. While Mormonism teaches Lucifer, and Jesus, are brothers, the bible says Jesus, is the CREATOR of Lucifer and Lucifer's very existence depends on the eternal, unchanging Son of God
Mormons says that God sent his son, but who is the Father in Mormonism?
1-"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see," (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
2-"The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's," (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22; Compare with Alma 18:26-27; 22:9-10)."
3- "Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38).
Does Holy Scripture teach that? I would say absolutley not!
"He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16-who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen."
According to this verse no one ever has. Or can see God the Father.
4- Exodus 33:20But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."
5-John 1:18"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known"
6-1 John 4:1"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
These verses contradict what Mormon theology teaches about the Father.
Lastly, Mormonism teaches that there are more than one God:
1- The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35)
2-"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see," (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345)
3 -Bruce McConkie states that God became a God by being saved by obedience to laws.
"The Father is a glorified, perfected, resurrected, exalted man who worked out his salvation by obedience to the same laws he has given to us so that we may do the same," (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1985, p. 64).
If this is true then the Father was once like we are now and himself would have needed a creator to bring him into existence. However Holy Scripture is clear that there is only one God in existence:
1-Isaiah 43:10"Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me."
2-Isaiah 44:6"I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.
"Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one."
In conclusion it is clear that Mormonism and Christianity are NOT the same and the Mormon doctrine of God is COMPLETELY different from the historic Christian faith.
I did not write this to bash Mormons because I love them and have family (Who are probably reading this) who are Mormons yet I love them dearly.
However I do not love Mormon theology because it's teachings on the doctrine of who God is are opposed to and an enemy of Holy Scripture.
Pray that God would let you encounter Mormons so we can share the gospel of grace with them. Warn your Christian friends so they are not deceived or confused by the similar language Mormons use but import different meanings into the words.
I Love Mormons, I am not anti-Mormon, but I do believe we need to speak out and let people know it is a different gospel.
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Dr. R.C. Sproul gives this informative and important lecture!
Granted that Scripture is the Word of God, how do we know which books belong in Scripture? In this lesson, the concept of canonicity is explored in order to equip Christians to better defend the truth of the Bible.
@ 40 seconds in Jennifer, says that she has people who give her spiritual guidance and the Pastor Bob, is not her Pastor and so should not be advising her.
Response
There are a few things that need to be clarified:
1-Bob, does not have to be her pastor in order to speak truth into her life. Bob, seems like he cares for her and it is out of a sense for love that he is going after her to try and properly exegete the text and tell her what the bible clearly says about this issue.
2-As a Christian we have duties to stand up for truth. Even if Jennifer, never repents of her lifestyle, the fact that she is claiming that the homosexual lifestyle is not a conflict with scripture then she is misleading people. The fact she is a celebrity means she will influence many people and thus needs to be publicly challenged on her claims. To sit by and not stand up for truth and let people be decieved maybe easy, but it is NOT loving!
2 Corinthians 10:5
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
@ 1:37 As pastor Bob is talking about the woman caught in adultery Jennifer, interrupts and says that it is a massive implication to say one can not be a lesbian and a Christian.
Response
Can one live in outright sin and rebellion to Christ and still be a Christian?
While it is true that in this life we will never get to a point of perfection and be sinless, we are to repent from sinful behavior and be grieved and broken over our sin. The scriptures tell us this repeatedly!
(1 John 1:6-7 ESV) "If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."
(1 John 2:3-6 ESV) "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."
(1 John 3:7-10 ESV) "Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."
The verses are very clear that to walk blatantly in sin and to make a PRACTICE of sin, demonstrates that you are not a follower of Christ.
@2:00 Pastor Bob, hits the nail on the head. Jennifer, before was asking why she was in the hot seat and why was Bob, not in the hot seat because he had sinned before as well.
Response
The reason why is that Jennifer, does not acknowledge that homosexual behavior is a sin! Jennifer, will not acknowledge she is in sin and earlier argued that the bible and homosexuality were compatible. It is AMAZING she does not catch this!
@4:05 Ted Haggard, joins the conversation and after a few remarks goes on to say that why both Jennifer, and Bob, have good points the main thing that needs to be emphasized is a personal relationship with Jesus.
Response
Sadly this seems to be the battle cry in American evangelicalism and it is absurd! In order to have a relationship with Jesus, we MUST believe certain doctrinal truths.
They point out on page 134, that in order to be regenerated one must believe certain things:
1-The need for salvation (Human sinfulness)
2-Must believe in ONE God
3-Must believe that salvation is dependent upon God's grace
4- Must put there faith in Jesus to save them.
5- Jesus is God (John 8:24)
6-Jesus was raised physically from the dead (Romans 10:9-11)
To stress that Christianity is just about relationships is to mislead people. I know that today doctrine is considered to be a "dirty word" but one can NOT be a Christian without believing certain truth's and one of them is confessing Jesus as Lord!
I would again point back to:
(1 John 3:7-10 ESV) "Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."
@4::30 Ted, goes on to say that we all have sinned and he accepts us all anyway and the journey will not be complete until we see him face to face.
Response
While it is true of course that we all sin, as I have said numerous times that we should be grieved over are sin, turn from are sin, and should not make a PRACTICE of sin! Ted is confusing the fact that we all do sin with Jennifer, who refuses to acknowledge that she is in sin and will live blatantly rebellious to what Christ has told us in His word. Please look at a few of the scriptures I posted earlier in 1 John which speak to this issue.
@4:45 Ted, then says that while both have sinned they should not judge eachother which Jennifer agrees with
Response
The amazing thing is that a minute ago when Bob, said she was in sin she said that she did not agree that homosexuality was a sin, and now she agrees to what Ted, was saying in that she was in sin.
Larry, picks up on what Ted, missed and pointed out that Jennifer, did not think she was in sin. Jennifer, as we see is confused and ends up saying contradictory things depending on the situation:
1- When Bob, says she needs to repent she says it is not a sin
2- When Ted says we should not judge each-other because we all sin she agrees fully with him and wanted to know why Bob, called her out on sin if he was a sinner to
If Jennifer, wants to maintain that homosexuality is not in conflict with Christianity, then she needs to stand on that and be able to defend it when we put her beliefs under biblical scrutiny.
If She agrees that it is sin then she needs to explain the scriptural admonitions given in 1 John about how Christians are suppose to live lives that are not in darkness but rather in the light.
@ 5:40-6:36
Pastor Bob, does a great job here explaining that to be a sinner or to commit a sin as we all due is NOT the same as having sin rule my life:
(Romans 6:6} "We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin."
(Romans 6:1-4 ESV)
"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
(Galatians 5:24) "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
(Galatians 2:20) "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
(Romans 6:13 ESV) "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness."
@6:50 Jennifer, says she is not trying to tell people to walk her path
Response
There is more to it then that. Jennifer has made a living singing songs about Christ and having a biblical worldview. She is now living a life that is blatantly in conflict with what she has made her living doing and whether she likes it or not or agrees with it or not she is sending a confusing message to people.
On top of it she claims that her views somehow line up with biblical theology!
@7:00-8:15 Ted, talks about the sanctification process and points out that we all have sins we struggle with and gives an example of three people where one struggles with smoking, the other with drinking, and the other with sexual sin and they are all convicted and want to stop.
Response
Ted, seems oblivious to the fact that Jennifer, does NOT think she is in sin and is NOT convicted to stop and that is the difference. Of course we sin but as has been pointed out Ad nauseam we do not continue to PRACTICE sin and let it rule our lives. I am baffled as to why Ted, can not see this?
Secondly, Ted, says that we should not be just calling out one sin. He again completely misses the point. The problem is Jennifer, is a public figure and has a big following and claiming the homosexual lifestyle is consistent with biblical theology.
As Christians we MUST publicly address these claims and challenge them. It is not a personal attack but rather defending biblical theology from those who want to distort it and potentially lead others astray!
(1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ESV) I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
This is written TO Christians! The attitude that we all sin so who are you to judge is confused and an enemy of Holy Scripture! It is our job to judge wicked and evil behavior and stand up for truth and if need remove those who claim to be a Christian from the flock.
To not do as instructed in 1 Corinthians 5 is to be blatantly rebellious to the scriptures and assumes we know whats best rather than trusting in our Sovereign God, who told us what to do.
@8:50 Larry ask's the pastor if he feels bad when he hears that homosexuals have been murdered or kill themselves.
Response
This is a "appeal to pitty". No Christian should ever hate someone. This is often brought up and it is used to get pitty and to make one feel as though if you do not agree with the homosexual life style that you are a bigot and Larry, even said that Bob, had a part in it when homosexuals are murdered or kill themselves.
Let me make two points:
1- We are to love all people including homosexuals. Why we do not agree with the behavior we love them and treat them like everyone else because they are made in the image of God.
2-When homosexuals claim the name of Christ, and claim that the homosexual lifestyle is not in conflict with the teachings of scripture then we MUST confront the claims!
As John Calvin said:
"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent."
We must be willing to defend God's word from all those who would attack it. When atheists or skeptics attack Holy Scripture they are on the outside and we can know what to expect. The greatest danger are those who are in the body of Christ, and are misleading and poising other members in the body.
@9:00 Larry, ask's pastor Bob, if he ate shellfish because in the OT there are passages about eating shellfish. Pastor Bob, say's God changed his mind in the NT
Response
I was shocked when I heard him say this. God did NOT and can NOT change his mind! To even suggest a thing would be to strike a blow at God's very nature and attributes.
I know pastor Bob, was not trying to do that but to claim God changes his mind will question numerous attributes of God. Lets look at why God can not change his mind:
Biblical Basis
(Numbers 23:19) "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?"
(James 1:17) "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
(Malachi 3:6) “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."
(1 Samuel 15:29 ) "And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.”
In order to change your mind you would need to be given information you did not at one time have. However God is omniscient meaning he knows ALL things and thus can NOT change his mind
(Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV)
"remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,"
(Psalm 147:5 ESV)
"Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure."
Here is a fantastic book on God's attributes! I can not underscore how important it is for us to get the attributes of God right.
@10:15 Larry, points out the obvious that If God can change his mind on the shellfish then why can't he change his mind on homosexuality?
Response
Pastor Bob, got himself in a pickle with his answer and that is why I would refer those reading this to the links and scriptures I posted.
The answer to Larry's question is that God did NOT and can NOT change his mind. Israel was under a theocracy, meaning God himself was their ruler. He instituted certain civil and ceremonial laws for them to practice to keep them set apart from the surrounding pagan nations. God never changed his mind but from the foundations of the world knew how he would accomplish his will.
When Christ came he fulfilled the law:
(Matthew 5:17 ESV)
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
Far from "changing his mind" Christ, accomplished the mission that was set forth before him!
I know pastor Bob, was not trying to demean or take away from God's attributes at all and I am not going after him personally because I believe he is a man of God, and a great bible teacher. It is the answer he gave that I am demonstrating is not biblical and will cause major problems theologically down the road if one holds this view.
Here is a short video of Dr. Michael Brown explaining why we can eat shellfish today and homosexuality is still wrong.
@10:30 Larry ask's pastor Bob, if God can give new revelation (such on homosexuality now being ok) to which Bob, essentially defends the cessasionist view that God is not still giving new revelation.
This of course would open up another WHOLE can of worms and maybe a future blog post. I would hold to the cessaionist view. Please read this article so you have a correct understanding of what this view is.
It does not say God can not do miracles or heal people today. Sadly many people will have a completely false view of this position and reject it and they do not know what the view teaches.
@ 1:30 Larry, ask's her if her being a homosexual was a choice to which she say's she does not know.
Response
Homosexuality is a behavior of a male or female. People are not born 'Homosexual" or "heterosexual" as though we are two different classes of people but rather we are born male or female! As of now the evidence does not show homosexuality is due to biology because if it was we would expect to see the same behavior with identical twins, but we do not.
Secondly, as Dr. Frank Turek, points out that it would seem hard for homosexuals to pass there genes on being that they can not procreate with the same sex. (http://www.crossexamined.org/blog/?p=214)
@ 1:45 Jennifer, says love is a choice but not sure about her sexuality
Response
This would bring up another excellent point. Even if a person was born a homosexual, the fact that love is a choice does not mean they have to act on their feelings. As a Christian the bible is clear that homosexuality is a sin:
Lev 18:22 "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."
Lev 20:13, "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltiness is upon them"
1 Cor 6:9-10, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
Rom. 1:26-28, "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."
Biblically there is no question as to what the Christian position is and so if a person was born gay and are a Christian, they should NOT act on those feelings. Remember that if we belong to Christ that we are NOT our own!
(1 Corinthians 6:12-20 ESV)
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
As a Christian, the bible is the authority. Jennifer, herself said love was a choice and just because you have certain desires it does not make it right to act on those desires. We have fallen in Adam, and so we inherit his sin nature and we have desires to do all kinds of evil things that we can not act on:
Romans 7:5 "For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death."
Romans 8:4 "in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."
(Romans 7:22-25 ESV)
"For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin".
@ 5:50 into the interview Larry ask's Pastor Bob how he knew he like women and if he made a choice to be heterosexual
Response
This is baffling to me. How do men know they like women? Because it is the obvious design of man and woman! Not to sound crude but the male penis was NEVER intended to go into the rectum which is what gets rid of the bodies toxins and poisons. Nature itself speaks pretty clearly that men and women are suppose to be attracted to eachother or we would not even have people here to ask the question!
Secondly, the plain facts about homosexuality really speak for themselves!
3-Norman Geisler, and Frank Turek wrote a book called "Legislating Morality". On page 132 of their book they have a chart in which they show statistics taken from Omega Study Results, a study comparing obituaries of 6,737 homosexuals to a sample of heterosexuals, the results speak for themselves ( Note LTSP refers to long term sexual partner)
Married men
The average live to be 75
Percent living past 65 80%
Single or Divorced Men
Average age 57
32% Percentage living past 65
Homosexual Men
Without Aids
Average age 42 and only 9% live past 65
Homosexual Men
Without Aids Average age 41
With an LTSP 7% live past 65
Homosexual Men
With Aids an LTSP Average age 39 Less than 2% make it past 65
The source is Paul Cameron PhD, William Playfair, M.D., and Stephen Wellum, The longevity of Homosexuals: Before and after the aids epidemic,” The Omega Journal of Death and Dying 29:3 1994 249-272
It is not rocket science here Larry!
@ 6:50 Larry, suggests that because God is omnipotent that he therfore created homosexuality.
Response
This is absurd! Homosexuality is a behavior, NOT a thing that is to be created. People acting on their own free will act in ways that will either bring glory and honor to the Creator, or they will use their free will for evil.
The bible is clear that God did not create evil in the sense of moral acts:
James 1:13 "Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one".
James 1:14 "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed."
@ 7:30 Jennifer claims that the greek words for homosexuality did not exist.
Response
This is nothing more than a smoke screen. The fact that a language may not use the WORD "Homosexual is irrelevant. The bible does not use the word Trinity, nor is the word "Bible" or "Monotheism" used.
The word does not have to be their but rather the concept. Just as the word "Monotheism" is not in the bible does not negate the bible clearly teaches that only one God exists and has revealed himself in three persons.
Let us look at
Rom. 1:26-28, "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."
Whether the Greek has the word "homosexual" or not is irrelevant. One can read the passage and understand it is DESCRIBING homosexual behavior.
Sadly the Pastor does not catch this and responds by saying he believes the word of God is inspired which did not at all address her question and the objection that she raised.
The well known singer and Christian music artist Jennifer Knapp, reveals that she has embraced the homosexual lifestyle. I am going to be breaking down the different segments of this interview as I see some things that should have been clarified but do to time was not able to have the attention it deserves!
Lets jump right in with Part 1:
At 5:45 minutes in Larry ask's if her view of homosexuality is in anyway a conflict with her or if she thinks the bible speaks against it.
Response
Jennifer, says that anytime we read a book we read it through our own life experience and what we want to bring out of it.
Is this how we should be reading the text? The question should NEVER be "What does the text mean to me", but rather who is the author?, who is the audience?, and what is he saying to the people whom he is writing to? Word's have meanings and we can not just interpret them in anyway we want.
To justify her position that the bible does not condemn homosexual behavior she has to appeal to interpreting the bible through her own life experiences and what she wants to get out of it rather than researching who the author is, who his audience is, etc. Unfortunately this is what happens when one abandons good hermenudicts (The art and science of biblical interpretation) and interprets scripture through their own frame work of "what they want to get out of it."
Dr. Geisler does a great job in explaining why Mormonism is NOT Christian. It can be very confusing because Mormons will often times use the same terminology and language that Christians use but they are importing different meanings into the words.
They fully reject the doctrine of the Trinity which says there is only one God who exists and it is the Triune God of the bible who is one in essence and three in person. Mormons believe that there are many gods and that one day we can become gods through obedience to the scriptures and good works. This of course is polar opposite to what scripture teaches that there is only one God in existence:
1-Isaiah 43:10 "Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.
2-Isaiah 44:6 "I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.
"Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one."
I am not "Anti-Mormon" but I am "Anti-Mormon" theology because it contradicts and confuses biblical theology and the person of Jesus Christ and who God is.
I am going to break down this video and point out some logical fallacies made.
A logical fallacy Clearly defined is a error in reasoning used to support or refute an argument, excluding simple unintended mistakes
The first 1:30
Here the argument is made that homosexuals should have the same rights as other Americans and if they are denied marriage then the discrimination is comparable to that of the 1960s and even earlier where black people were not given basic human rights.
Begging The Question
This is where one assumes what it is they are trying to prove. The reason the opposition is even having a debate is over whether being gay is a choice or whether one is born that way biologically. Whoopi starts from the hidden premise that gays are born that way, without addressing the question, are they born that way?
This argument is fallacious because being Black or White is not a choice, a person can not change who they are biologically because it is intrinsic to their human nature. So here they have confused a person’s essence with ones function. A persons behavior is not always a direct result of there nature. For example, some people shoplift, but shoplifting is not intrinsic to a person’s nature, but is an example of how they have used there free will to do a bad act which is a function of there free will.
Another point to be made is that the scientific evidence is far from conclusive that a person is born gay. Of course pursuing the same sex is not against the law, but trying to redefine marriage by marrying the same sex is.
Secondly gays have the same rights as everyone else; they are allowed to get married, just not to the same sex.
1:30-2:00
Appeal To Pity
An appeal to pity attempts to persuade using emotion—specifically, sympathy—rather than evidence. Playing on the pity that someone feels for an individual or group can certainly affect what that person thinks about the group; this is a highly effective, and so quite common, fallacy.
Nobody on the other side of the debate believes that gays should be lynched or shot in the street; this is Whoopi at her best trying to cloud the argument by appealing to emotions.
What about a Father that wants to marry his daughter who is over the age of 18 and is still married to his wife, should he be allowed? If not why not, who are we to discriminate? If the argument is that we should legalize certain behaviors because people should not be discriminated against, then where do you draw the line? Eventually unless you want complete chaos, then the man that wants to marry his goat is going to be discriminated against, the question is what is best for society as a whole, not the particular individual whose behavior will have an adverse effect on society.
3:00
reductio ad absurdum
1. (Philosophy / Logic) a method of disproving a proposition by showing that its inevitable consequences would be absurd
This applies when Whoopi states that “If you do not approve of gay marriage, then do not marry a gay person”.
I wonder what Whoopi would say in the 1800s to a slave owner who told her that he was doing nothing wrong by owning slaves and she should keep her nose out of it, after all, if you don’t like slavery don’t own a slave!
Same thing for drugs or prostitution, who are we to try and outlaw prostitution, if you don’t like it, don’t get a prostitute.
This type of logic is infantile at best. Again as a society we have a responsibility to do what is in the best interest of the people.
4:20
Red Herring
Explanation
The red herring is as much a debate tactic as it is a logical fallacy. It is a fallacy of distraction, and is committed when a listener attempts to divert an arguer from his argument by introducing another topic.
When did somebody bring in religion other than Whoopi? One does not need religion or the bible to demonstrate that homosexuality is bad for society and will have negative affects on the society as a whole. Here I will give a few stats from Dr. Frank Turek and Dr. Norman Geislers book “Legislating Morality”
On page 132 of their book they have a chart in which they show statistics taken from Omega Study Results, a study comparing obituaries of 6,737 homosexuals to a sample of heterosexuals, the results speak for themselves ( Note LTSP refers to long term sexual partner)
Married men
The average live to be 75
Percent living past 65 80%
Single or Divorced Men
Average age 57
32% Percentage living past 65
Homosexual Men
Without Aids
Average age 42 and only 9% live past 65
Homosexual Men
Without Aids Average age 41
With an LTSP 7% live past 65
Homosexual Men
With Aids an LTSP Average age 39 Less than 2% make it past 65
The source is Paul Cameron PhD, William Playfair, M.D., and Stephen Wellum, The longevity of Homosexuals: Before and after the aids epidemic,” The Omega Journal of Death and Dying 29:3 1994 249-272
The stats speak for themselves; one does not need to bring in religion or the Bible to demonstrate that homosexual behavior is bad for society.
This brings me to another point. Homosexuality has certainly not been shown to be something biological but a choice. However, let’s say a person is born with certain homosexual tendencies why would that be any kind of argument to promote homosexual relationships? What about those born with a propensity to violence, does the cop let the wife beater off because it was in his genes and he just can’t help it? How bout the person born with a propensity to abuse alcohol, should he be let off if he gets caught driving drunk, after all he was born with the bent towards alcoholism?
Of course not, this in called the Naturalistic Fallacy, that is it feels natural or normal it must be morally acceptable, the reasons shown above demonstrate that even if a person was born as a homosexual ( which the scientific evidence does not support) that still would not be a reason to promote same sex behavior and certainly not marriage.
4:36 -5:00
Begging The Question
Whoopi and her co-host again begs the question, the abortion debate is centered around whether the baby in the womb is a human and if so, those who are pro-life say then it is not the woman’s right to kill the baby. Whoopi doesn’t address the argument as to whether the baby is a separate human in the womb and jumps right to her conclusion that a woman should have the right to do what she wants with her body, but again that is the debate, is it her body? If the baby in the womb is a separate person, then it’s not her body but the body of a separate human that she wants to eliminate and outside the womb there is a term for this, we call it murder.
5:45
Whoopi brings in the church and state argument, but as shown above one does not need to bring in the bible nor religion to demonstrate homosexuality is harmful to society, and just as we do not promote drugs and other activities that will devastate a society, neither should we promote sexual behavior that also has bad effects on society. I just showed the stats of the health of those who participate in this, there is so much more on how children are affected without a mom and dad growing up.
7:00
Whoopi is right, this issue has many ramifications to come and she should pay attention to the research done and educate herself before arguing from nothing more than “outrage”.
7:20
Straw Man Fallacy
A straw man argument is one that misrepresents a position in order to make it appear weaker than it actually is, refutes this misrepresentation of the position, and then concludes that the real position has been refuted. This, of course, is a fallacy, because the position that has been claimed to be refuted is different to that which has actually been refuted; the real target of the argument is untouched by it.
She again confuses a person’s essence with a persons function. Being blond or having white skin is not a choice; neither does it deal with moral choices, sexual behavior does.
"Uploaded by rfvidz on May 28, 2011 Atheist and Oxford professor Dr. Peter Atkins (a chemist) debates theist and also Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox (a mathematician and philosopher) on God, science, and atheism. Dr. Atkins gives an emotional, arrogant, and bigoted presentation, while Dr. Lennox responds rationally and analytically. Dr. Lennox has soundly defeated atheist Richard Dawkins in three debates, and was voted a winner against his debate with Christopher Hitchens. Now watch as he defeats Dr. Atkins!"
I also recommend you watch Atkins debate with Dr. William Lane Craig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpPwfJO_DNE
Alvin Plantiga, on "Closer to truth" (I believe the host is agnostic) being pressed on arguments for the existence of God. Dr. Plantinga does a great job. Crystal clear arguments!
I am wondering how many well known evangelicals will be speaking? This is NOT good!
For clarification, I have no problem working with other faiths on certain issues like abortion, sanctity of marriage, etc. But as Christians we can not ban together with those of other faiths under the same banner in worship because we do not have the same God, and we are not to be unequally yoked in worship with non-believers
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"
15-What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
This is a paper I wrote a few years back at bible college
My Prolegomena Paper
In my Prolegomena, I will be defending the preconditions for the following statement: “The Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, without error in all that it teaches”. I will not be defending the statement, but only the preconditions that make this statement possible.
“Prolegomena” is Greek in origin and means “that which comes before”. Prolegomena assumes and relies on the assumption that apologetics has already been done. Therefore, with prolegomena I am seeking to give rational arguments to defend a certain approach to theology and to demonstrate that the God, Who exists, is the God of the Bible.
To do this, I will be defending three categories. One is the metaphysical argument for not only God’s existence but also for the notion that the God, Who exists, is the One revealed in the Bible. Secondly, I will demonstrate through Epistemology that absolute truth exists; therefore, we can test historical claims such as Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Lastly, I will deal with linguistics demonstrating that God-Talk is possible, and that we can make meaningful statements about God.
Metaphysical Argument
I will start with the Metaphysical Argument for God’s existence. If God does not exist, then everything else in our approach to theology fails. All of our Prolegomena rests on the belief that God exists and that the God, Who exists, is the same as the God of the Bible. This argument is the foundation upon which all others rest upon.
The Vertical Cosmological Argument
There are many arguments that could be given to prove God’s existence such as the Teleological Argument, the Axiological Argument and the Ontological Argument. All of these, when conjoined, make a very strong cumulative case for God’s existence, but perhaps no single argument is stronger for demonstrating God’s existence than the Vertical Cosmological Argument. I will lay out the argument in eight premises and go over each in detail.
1.) Something undeniably exists.
2.) Nothing can not cause something.
3.) Something necessarily and eternally exists.
4.) I am not eternal and necessary.
5.) Whatever is not eternal and necessary needs a cause.
6.) Therefore, there is an eternal and necessary cause for my existence.
7.) This eternal and necessary cause must be all-powerful, all-knowing, all-perfect/good
and personal.
8.) This eternal and necessary cause is identical to the being described as God in the
Bible. [1]
Let’s look at the premises one at a time in more detail.
Premise 1: Something undeniably exists.
In order to deny this, I would have to exist, which would end up being a self- refuting statement like: “I can not speak a word in English”. To deny this truth, I would be affirming it because I must exist in order for me to deny it.
Premise 2: Nothing can not cause something.
Since nothing is nothing, nothing can do nothing, nor can anything come from nothing. Thus, from nothing, nothing comes, but the fact that I exist demonstrates my cause of existence can not be from nothing, since nothing can be the cause of something.
Premise 3: Something necessarily and eternally exists.
From nothing, nothing comes, but something exists {I exist}. This demonstrates that something must necessarily and eternally exist. For there could never be a time when nothing was the cause of something; therefore, something must exist necessarily and eternally. There are several things we can conclude that will follow necessarily from this premise, such as this being must be Pure Actuality or Pure Existence with no potentiality since a necessary being can not, not exist because there is no potential. If there was potential, then this being could have the potential to not exist, but a necessary being can not cease to exist. Therefore, this being must be Pure Actuality. It follows necessarily that since this being, has no potential to not be, this being must also be changeless, non- temporal and non- spatial since both time and space involve change{moment to moment}. However, this being is before space, time and matter thus outside of them. This being must also be One, because if there was another being that was Pure Actuality with no potential, you would not be able to tell them apart since they would differ by nothing. Not to differ by something, is not to differ at all, and if there can be nothing to differentiate between two beings that were Pure Actuality, then there must be only one being. This being must also be simple, not composed of parts, since there is nothing to differentiate within the essence of the being. Because this being is simple, it follows that He must also be indivisible because this being has no parts to be divided up. This being must also be infinite since it is potential that limits a being. However, this being has no potential- thus no limits. This being must also be uncaused because to go from potentiality to actuality involves change, and since this being has no potential and is changeless, it must be necessary and uncaused.
Premise 4: I am not eternal and necessary.
I did not cause my own existence. I have the potential to not exist and whatever has the potential to not exist is not a necessary being. I am contingent, finite and change from one state of actuality to potentiality; therefore, I am not eternal and changeless.
Premise 5: Whatever is not eternal and necessary needs a cause.
As shown in Premise 4, I am only potential existence. Whatever is only potential existence is either uncaused, caused by another or self caused. It can not be uncaused because as shown in Premise 1, something can not come from nothing. Nothing can not be the cause or ground of potentiality to actuality. It was also demonstrated in Premise 4 that I am not eternal and thus need a ground for my being. Premise 1 also demonstrated that potentiality can not be self- caused because I can not cause my own existence before I exist. Therefore, the only other option is that I was caused by another.
Premise 6: Therefore, there is an eternal and necessary cause for my existence.
Adding an infinite series of contingent causes never answers what the ground of being is since it can not be finite, contingent changing beings. It must be grounded in a infinite unchanging being.
Premise 7: This eternal and necessary cause must be all- powerful, all- knowing, perfect and personal.
This being as we have shown is Pure Actuality and as was stated earlier it is potentiality that puts limits on beings. Since this being is limitless, all concepts of finitude must be dropped showing he has infinite power and knowledge.
Premise 8: This eternal and necessary cause is identical to the being described as God in the Christian scriptures.
The God described in the Bible is eternal (Colossians 1; John 1; Hebrews 1:2), changeless (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 6:18), infinite (1 Kings 8:23, Isaiah 66:1), all- powerful (Hebrews 1:3; Jeremiah 32:17) and all- loving (John 3:16; 1 John 4:16). As shown in Premise 3, there can not be two identical beings because there would be no way to tell them apart. Since this argument demonstrates a God that is the One identical to the One revealed in the Christian scriptures, the God of the Bible exists. [2]
[1] Douglas E. Potter, A Prolegomena to Evangelical Theology (Charlotte, NC: Southern Evangelical Seminary, 2009), 36.
[2] Douglas E. Potter, A Prologomena to Evangelical Theology (Charlotte, NC: Southern Evangelical Seminary, 2009), 36-38.
For centuries orthodox Christians have taught that the Holy Scriptures are inerrant. Skeptics, on the other hand, claim that this doctrine is meaningless, saying that the doctrine of inerrancy has died the death of a thousand qualifications. How should Christians respond? In this lecture, Dr. Michael Horton explains what inerrancy means and shows how and why it remains a defensible part of our confession.
This is the debate that changed my life. I grew up in a Christian home with great Christian parents but did not know there was actual evidence and arguments to support the Resurrection of Jesus.
When I came across this debate on TV I thought Christians just had blind faith and the Atheist had facts and science on his side.
After watching this debate I knelt down and asked forgiveness of my sins and unbelief and from that moment on my life radically changed!
I know some people think I focus to much on theology and apologetics and not enough on the heart but they go hand in hand!
I could not apply it to my heart because my mind was not convinced. After seeing there were good reasons to believe then I was able to fully trust in Christ and embrace him as my Lord and Master.
Amazing that there are still skeptics that do not think Jesus ever existed. Thankfully apostate and well known NT historian and agnostic (He says he is an atheist in regard to the Christian God) has written a book taking on the "mythicists" and defending the historical fact that Jesus did certainly exist.
I am not claiming he believes in Christian theology but rather Jesus as a historical figure that really existed.
We need to pray for Dr. Ehrman that God would grant him repentance and he would embrace Jesus Christ as his Lord and Master.
"Paul knew Jesus' brother, James, and he knew his closest disciple, Peter, and he tells us that he did," Ehrman says. "If Jesus didn't exist, you would think his brother would know about it, so I think Paul is probably pretty good evidence that Jesus at least existed," he says. -Bart Ehrman
"Many of us grew up celebrating Easter as the holiday where a cute bunny rabbit brought chocolate and treats for everyone to eat. Now don’t get me wrong, I’d be lying if I told you there was no candy involved in my Easter weekend, but that’s not what it’s all about. Easter is actually the greatest love story ever told. Mankind was lost – headed for destruction, but because God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will never die & have eternal life. And like the good Shepherd, Jesus laid down His life for the flock. He didn’t have to – but He did. That is why we celebrate - Happy Easter."
I like Beck and have a few of his books on political issues. Beck, is a Mormon and does not hide it. Why I like him as a person we need to examine Mormon beliefs in light of scripture. In fact Brigham Young himself issued a challenge
"Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it and see if it will stand the test," (Brigham Young, May 18, 1873, Journal of Discourses, vol. 16, p. 46.)
So we need to do that! What Beck, said we would normally hear in our churches every Sunday. The question is whether the Mormon Jesus, is the same as the Jesus of the bible. Here we will see it is a entirely different Jesus.
The Jesus, of Mormonism is a created being and the spirit brother of Lucifer (Jesus is the literal spirit-brother of Lucifer, a creation (Gospel Through the Ages, p. 15).
This could not be further from the truth when we look at sacred scripture where we see Jesus is eternal, immutable and the creator of the universe:
1- (Colossians 1:15-17 ESV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
2- (John 1:1-3 ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
3- (Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV)
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
The bible is clear that Jesus is not some created, dependent being, but rather the eternal creator and sustainer of the universe. While Mormonism teaches Lucifer, and Jesus, are brothers, the bible says Jesus, is the CREATOR of Lucifer and Lucifer's very existence depends on the eternal, unchanging Son of God
Beck says that God sent his son, but who is the Father in Mormonism?
1-"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see," (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
2-"The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's," (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22; Compare with Alma 18:26-27; 22:9-10)."
3- "Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38).
Does Holy Scripture teach that? I would say absolutley not!
1- 1- John 4:24 "God is Spirit
2- Luke 24:39 "A Spirit does not have flesh and bone"
If a spirit does not have flesh and bone and God is a spirit then God does Not have flesh and bone!
3- 1 Timothy 6:15-16
"He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16-who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen."
According to this verse no one ever has. Or can see God the Father.
4- Exodus 33:20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."
5-John 1:18 "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known"
6-1 John 4:12 "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
These verses contradict what Mormon theology teaches about the Father.
Lastly, Mormonism teaches that there are more than one God:
1- The trinity is three separate Gods: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. "That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man," (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 35)
2-"God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see," (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345)
3 -Bruce McConkie states that God became a God by being saved by obedience to laws. "The Father is a glorified, perfected, resurrected, exalted man who worked out his salvation by obedience to the same laws he has given to us so that we may do the same," (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1985, p. 64).
If this is true then the Father was once like we are now and himself would have needed a creator to bring him into existence. However Holy Scripture is clear that there is only one God in existence:
1-Isaiah 43:10 "Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.
2-Isaiah 44:6 "I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.
3- (Isaiah 44:8 ESV)
"Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”
4- (Isaiah 45:5 ESV)
"I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me"
5- (Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV)
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one."
In conclusion it is clear that Mormonism and Christianity are NOT the same and the Mormon doctrine of God is COMPLETELY different from the historic Christian faith.
I did not write this to bash Mormons because I love them and have family (Who are probably reading this) who are Mormons yet I love them dearly.
However I do not love Mormon theology because it's teachings on the doctrine of who God is are opposed to and an enemy of Holy Scripture.
As you see from the post from Beck, that even though it sounds Christian, once you dig into the meanings of the words it is polar opposite from Christianity.
Pray that God would let you encounter Mormons so we can share the gospel of grace with them. Warn your Christian friends so they are not deceived or confused by the similar language Mormons use but import different meanings into the words.
I Love Mormons, I am not anti-Mormon, but I do believe we need to speak out and let people know it is a different gospel.
2 Corinthians 10:5
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
