MacArthur on the State of Evangelical Christianity

[AustinC]

They named it. They did not create it. God does not change, but His covenants with men have changed.
Do you contend the Adamic covenant is identical to The NewCovenant?

They named it and created the method of artificially breaking up the Bible into parts rather than seeing the whole.

All the covenants point to the Redeemer.

 

[Reynolds]

They named it and created the method of artificially breaking up the Bible into parts rather than seeing the whole.

All the covenants point to the Redeemer.

So, I understand full well that all the covenants point to the Redeemer. How is dispensationalism messing me up?
You mad at the folks who put chapter numbers in The Bible?

 

[AustinC]

So, I understand full well that all the covenants point to the Redeemer. How is dispensationalism messing me up?
You mad at the folks who put chapter numbers in The Bible?

I provided enough. I was once a dispensationalist. Then I read my Bible without the dispensational crib notes and realized those notes were entirely irrelevant to scripture. They were just man-made constructs that got in the way Jesus.

 

[Reynolds]

I provided enough. I was once a dispensationalist. Then I read my Bible without the dispensational crib notes and realized those notes were entirely irrelevant to scripture. They were just man-made constructs that got in the way Jesus.

You provided nothing but rambling.
You can't offer any intelligent argument that dispensationalism is wrong?
So far all I am hearing is mile markers along the Interstate highway distract me from arriving at my destination.

 

[Wesley Briggman]

I provided enough. I was once a dispensationalist. Then I read my Bible without the dispensational crib notes and realized those notes were entirely irrelevant to scripture. They were just man-made constructs that got in the way Jesus.

Please share the source of the "dispensational crib notes" so I know what to look for. I don't want anything to get in the way of my understanding Jesus, having His mind and becoming more like Him.

 

[AustinC]

You provided nothing but rambling.
You can't offer any intelligent argument that dispensationalism is wrong?
So far all I am hearing is mile markers along the Interstate highway distract me from arriving at my destination.

Meh...
I didn't expect you to leave something you've been taught by men rather than by God.

 

[AustinC]

Please share the source of the "dispensational crib notes" so I know what to look for. I don't want anything to get in the way of my understanding Jesus, having His mind and becoming more like Him.

Lewis Sperry Chafer, systematic theology - 7 volume set. I have it in my closet so I can look at it and weep over my past.

 

[Reynolds]

Meh...
I didn't expect you to leave something you've been taught by men rather than by God.

Abandon the term "Trinity" then.

 

[37818]

In order to start with Christ's gospel, it must be based on an accurate translation into English, for those trying to spread the gospel in English. One of the posters indicated others believed "ransom" results in redemption. However, nearly everyone knows that paying a ransom only provides the opportunity for redemption. The alternate view is Universalism.

Lets take a look at some of the corrupt translations contributing to "another gospel."
1 Timothy 2:6
NLT - He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.
GNT - who gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved,
GWT - He sacrificed himself for all people to free them from their sins. This message is valid for every era.
D-RB - Who gave himself a redemption for all, a testimony in due times.
WNT - who gave Himself as the redemption price for all--a fact testified to at its own appointed time,

Mark 10:45
CEV - The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.
GNT - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people."
D-RB - For the Son of man also is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many.
WNT - For the Son of Man also did not come to be waited upon, but to wait on others, and to give His life as the redemption-price for a multitude of people."

Matthew 20:28 - the same versions listed for Mark 10:45 mistranslated ransom in the same way. Also note the NLT, CEV and GWT inconsistently translate the Greek word meaning "ransom."

Now I may have been too fervent, too overly zealous, in my fault finding concerning the WNT, as "redemption-price" is a valid translation. However, since it suggests accomplishment of redemption, I still think "ransom" is a far superior choice.

Why don't you start with a correct or best translation first?

 

[Squire Robertsson]

I assume Austin is referring to the Scofield Study Bible. If so, then the words of B. Myron Cedarholm come to mind.

Well, amen there young people, I love the binding and print size of my Scholfield Bible. But, I always read it from the top down and not the bottom up.

 

[AustinC]

Abandon the term "Trinity" then.

Sure. Let's stick with scripture. It is enough.

 

[AustinC]

I assume Austin is referring to the Scofield Study Bible. If so, then the words of B. Myron Cedarholm come to mind.

Not sure what post you are speaking about. I start with Chafer's theology, but you can tack on the Scofield reference Bible as well as the Ryrie reference Bible. All these rely upon a flawed perspective of the Bible through a dispensationalist lense.

Personally, I prefer a Bible that has no extras. I like only Book and chapter with verse numbers removed. It's quite hard to find such a Bible. The best option would be to have a pdf with only the book and chapter breaks. Then have annotation tools for the believer to observe and mark according to their own observations.

There is far too many "helps" available, which ultimately hinder the believer in the pursuit of God.

 

[Van]

Why don't you start with a correct or best translation first?

I fear that even the best English translations, such as the KJV, NKJV, WEB, NASB, CSB. ESV, NIV, LEB, and NET all present flawed interpretations of some of God's actual message. But the flaws are not in the same passages, so study of several seems required.

For example, does paying the ransom automatically result in "rescue, freedom, or redemption?" A person can still present another gospel while reading a vague but accurate section of scripture, because they look at scripture through an agenda or doctrine driven lense.

 

[Van]

Consider the standard translation of genitives, using "of." The "love of God" might mean God's love for someone or someone's love for God. Context must be used to understand the vague translation. A major doctrinal divide arises from John 6:29 and the "work of God" with some saying it means God's work for someone, and others saying it means someone's work for God.

Another example, faith of Christ might mean someone's faith in Christ, or Christ's faith or faithfulness.

How can evangelists present Christ's gospel, when it is not well understood?

 

[Yeshua1]

I found this recent blog post by John MacArthur on the state of the evangelical movement.

Is the Evangelical Movement Really "Evangelical"?

A big question to me after reading it is, "Do evangelical churches need a new Reformation?" What can we as Believers do in a kind of brewing civil war inside the Faith? A fight against a more subtle enemy than the liberal Christianity that destroyed the Mainline churches.

Always will have the wheats and tares right inside the Church, just getting overrun now with weeds it seems!
Shows what happens once the full authority and inspiration of the scriptures are watered down, or denied altogether!

 

[Van]

Evangelism is the age of COVID.

Rioters tightly packed ok, but attending church not ok.

Finding fault with the views of others, but unwilling to consider their own flawed views.

Looking forward to when vaccine neutralizes the impact of COVID, while berating those who helped bring about the vaccine rapidly.

If you ask "Just what behaviors constitute the "spirit of unity?" you get a blank stare.

 

[Wesley Briggman]

Why don't you start with a correct or best translation first?

Compared to what documents?

 

[37818]

Compared to what documents?

The alleged misstranslations.

 

[Van]

The alleged misstranslations.

Difficult if they all are flawed. But perhaps you think several are without error.

 

[37818]

Difficult if they all are flawed. But perhaps you think several are without error.

I honestly think there being a better translation for the repective Greek terms what is best should be stated first.