Christ Covenant Church

Worldview (def.,) = What humans express through their religion (loyalty/truth), ethics (values/justice) and culture (identity/beauty) as the answer to the question, “why do we exist?” 1. People should reject all forms of Christianity not only because its doctrines are unethical but also its worldview.1.1. There are three main branches of Christianity: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestant/Evangelical Christianity that exist in the world today. All three prove to be completely unethical (and therefore false) w/regard to the following:1.1.1. their doctrines of Trinitarian Monotheism (Joh 8:17-18 “two-witness rule requires the witnesses be separate beings), Original Sin (Eze 18:20), Perfectionism and Total Depravity (Deu 28:1 w/30:11-14).1.1.2. their embrace of a FAG (i.e., we are ultimately only saved by what God/Christ has done on our behalf) (Eze 33:18-20 w/Rev 20:12) which includes the belief that Christ was punished for our sins (Eze 18:4 w/20; Lev 27:29).1.1.3. their creation of a new religio

1. Anyone having children for personal pleasure is treating them like pets and priming them for apostasy.1.1. One of the most popular reasons people have kids today is because they want to experience heart-warming moments and memories w/them, live vicariously through them and feel some sense of validation or acceptance because of them. Or, if you are too weird and controlling to have real friends, then you have lots of kids whom you force to be your friends and like what you like and do what you do. In either case, these kinds of people are having children for the purpose of serving their selfish personal pleasures. 1.2. This however is not the reason God gave us the ability to have kids - but pets. Pets exist for the purpose of serving our pleasure – but never kids.1.3. The only reason God wants Christians to become parents is the same reason the military has drill sergeants: to transform those kids into battlefield-ready soldiers fiercely loyal to their commander in chief and ready to give their lives for t

Preliminary Considerations:1) What markes understanding the WHY (on this topic) so important?2) Though apostasy is a loss, we need to be very careful to understand that it is not the loss of a lvoed one. It is a loss of betrayal.Why People Go Apostate1 They REFUSE to make God their greatest love. (Lk 14; 1 Pe 1:8; Joh 5:42; Rom 5:1-5)1.1 Three things that lead to apostasy:1.1.1 The things of God become foolishness1.1.2 They don't experience God's guidance in their life.1.1.3 They possess no emotional motivation or help in their obedience.2. They REFUSE to trust the foreign over the familiar. (1 Joh 2:15-18)3) The REFUSE to take seriously the dangers of remaining dumb and discounting sin. (Heb 5:11-6:8; Phi 2:13; Prov 22:3; Phi 1:9; Heb 12:15; Deu 29)Why do they think this way? They don't believe three things:1) They don't believe that sin needs to be mastered before it gets big.2) They don't believe thir sins will end in apostasy.3) They don't believe God takes their sin that serious.Closing Contemplation:If

Equity = Those principles which establish fair treatment for all free will beings (e.g., Exo 20:1-11; 1Co 6:3; Deu 4:5-8, 6:24) 1) One moral lawgiver and law for all (Isa 33:22; Jam 4:12; Deu 4:2 w/5-8; Num 15:16). 2) Free to choose (not free from consequences, Deu 30:19) 3) Everyone gets what their choices/deeds deserve (Psa 28:4, 62:2; Pro 24:12; Isa 3:10-11; Jer 17:10, 21:14, 32:19; Eze 7:27, 18:14-20 w/25-32, 24:14, 33:20; Mat 16:27; Joh 5:29; Rom 2:6; 2Co 5:10; Rev 2:23, 20:12; 22:12; Consider also Pro 18:26; Luk 16:25; Gal 6:7-10; 2Ti 2:11-13; “what goes around comes around”, “you get what you give”). 4) The punishment will fit the person and the crime (Deu 19:21; Luk 12:47-48). 5) No punishment w/o participation (Eze 18:20). 6) No culpability without ability (Luk 12:47-48; Deu 1:39 w/Jon 4:11; Isa 7:15-16, 8:4). 7) No responsibility without competency (Deu 17:8-9; Mat 18:6-7; Rom 12:3-4; Jam 3:1). 8) No punishment w/o evidence beyond a reasonable doubt (Deu 17:6, 19:15). 9) No permissions or prohibitio

Christian Cognitive Dissonance (CCD) = A feeling of distrust toward God as righteous (just and equitable[1]) that occurs when what the Bible teaches conflicts with a desirable situation (e.g., an attractive female unbeliever expresses interest in dating a single Christian male. The Christian finds himself interested and excited. However, when he finds out that God not only prohibits all sexual activity before marriage, but also requires that we practice endogamy, he begins to question whether God – or His laws are righteous). [2] 1. Why are we talking about this subject? 1) Too many Christians are unaware that they suffer from CCD. 2) CCD ranks among the number one reasons people fail to be faithful and eventually go apostate. 2. Why does CCD hinder our ability to be faithful and avoid apostasy? Because loyalty/faithfulness is always a function of trust. IOW: for human beings to loyal or faithful to something or someone, they must first trust them. No one has ever trusted someone or something they believe is

Why study Satan? 1) The Bible identifies Satan as public enemy #1, the greatest adversary (Heb., Satan = Adversary) of all sentient beings – including God. To fight him we need to know him[1] (2Co 2:11).[2] The following profile is based on the conclusions that may be drawn about Satan when considering the teachings of Scripture and traditions of the Ancient Near East (ANE).Distilling what we have learned from studying Satan with some additional conjecture for good measure:1. Satan’s big reveal: Shortly before Jesus’ return, Satan is going to appear in human form and  convince the entire world to unite under his leadership and go to war against Yhwh and the last small vestige of Christ’s churches and devout Jews in Jerusalem that still exist and stand against him (Rev 20:3 [“short time”]w/7-9a “nations which are in the four corners of the earth” = Every nation on earth; “God and Magog” w/Eze 37-39 = The biblical symbol of a world led by one leader and the majority united in fulfilling his evil agenda; “the nu

Why study Satan? 1) The Bible identifies Satan as public enemy #1, the greatest adversary (Heb., Satan = Adversary) of all sentient beings – including God. To fight him we need to know him[1] (2Co 2:11).[2] The following profile is based on the conclusions that may be drawn about Satan when considering the teachings of Scripture and traditions of the Ancient Near East (ANE).CREATION AND PRE-CRIME CAREER 1. Satan was a high ranking, highly elite throne-guardian angel who looks like a fiery winged serpent or dragon and existed as one of several types of elohim created not only before human beings but the construction of our entire universe. CRIMES AND PENALTIES 2. Satan sparked an insurrection not only against God but His high priest Adam, convincing a third of the angel population to follow him in his rebellion.3. The initial punishments suffered by Satan for his double insurrection were threefold: 1) loss of position [as throne guardian], 2) loss of physical form in this world [as a glorious dragon], 3) impri

Why study Satan? 1) The Bible identifies Satan as public enemy #1, the greatest adversary (Heb., Satan = Adversary) of all sentient beings – including God. To fight him we need to know him[1] (2Co 2:11 = Paul’s use of the plural personal pronoun [“we”] when claiming they were “not ignorant” of Satan’s “schemes” implies that he and his pastoral team -and possibly those in the Corinthian church, had received in-depth teaching on Satan’s profile).[2] 2) Satan is no longer incarcerated and mounting a global misinformation/hate campaign against the last vestige of God’s people on earth (Rev 20:1-9). Our ability to prepare ourselves through its identification also demands we endeavor to possess an accurate and thorough profile of his person and history (1Th 2:14-18 w/3:1-4 = Endurance thru diagnosis). The following profile is based on the conclusions that may be drawn about Satan when considering the teachings of Scripture and traditions of the Ancient Near East (ANE).CREATION AND PRE-CRIME CAREER 1. Satan was a hi

Why study Satan? 1) The Bible identifies Satan as public enemy #1, the greatest adversary (Heb., Satan = Adversary) of all sentient beings – including God. To fight him we need to know him[1] (2Co 2:11 = Paul’s use of the plural personal pronoun [“we”] when claiming they were “not ignorant” of Satan’s “schemes” implies that he and his pastoral team -and possibly those in the Corinthian church, had received in-depth teaching on Satan’s profile).[2] 2) Satan is no longer incarcerated and mounting a global misinformation/hate campaign against the last vestige of God’s people on earth (Rev 20:1-9). Our ability to prepare ourselves through its identification also demands we endeavor to possess an accurate and thorough profile of his person and history (1Th 2:14-18 w/3:1-4 = Endurance thru diagnosis). The following profile is based on the conclusions that may be drawn about Satan when considering the teachings of Scripture and traditions of the Ancient Near East (ANE).CREATION AND PRE-CRIME CAREER 1. Satan was a hi

Why study Satan? 1) The Bible identifies Satan as public enemy #1, the greatest adversary (Heb., Satan = Adversary) of all sentient beings – including God. To fight him we need to know him[1] (2Co 2:11 = Paul’s use of the plural personal pronoun [“we”] when claiming they were “not ignorant” of Satan’s “schemes” implies that he and his pastoral team -and possibly those in the Corinthian church, had received in-depth teaching on Satan’s profile).[2] 2) Satan is no longer incarcerated and mounting a global misinformation and hate campaign against the last vestige of God’s people on earth (Rev 20:1-9). Our ability to prepare ourselves through its identification also demands we endeavor to possess an accurate and thorough profile of his person and history (1Th 2:14-18 w/3:1-4 = Endurance thru diagnosis). The following profile is based on the conclusions that may be drawn about Satan when considering the teachings of Scripture and traditions of the Ancient Near East (ANE).CREATION AND PRE-CRIME CAREER (Eze 28:12-19

 1. Why was evangelism was so much easier in the 1st century?1.1. Textual support for my question (Act 11:19-21) = Those doing the evangelism are not the apostles but the untrained laity of the Jerusalem church (Act 7:51-8:1). Given then their evangelistic success, what advantage did the laity of the early church possess that we do not have today? Why was it so much easier?1.2. Unlike today, everybody was religious: it was considered axiomatic truth that the events of the natural world (our world) were influenced and impacted by the decisions and actions of supernatural beings (otherwise known as gods) who not only lived in a supernatural world but often had human children (sons) who lived among us. And this belief was not compartmentalized as it is oftentimes today.  In the ancient world such beliefs impacted every aspect of daily civilian and government life (e.g.,): 1) kings (Caesars) were often revered as deity in human flesh, as the sons of the gods. 2) holidays, cities – even people’s children and homes

“Come now, let us reason (think coherently) together says the Lord” – Isa 1:18Coherent (def.): clear, consistent, logical and reasonable (equitable/just). Coherent things are intelligible, they make sense. Coherency is therefore a prerequisite to the identification of something as truth. The doctrine of the Trinity believed by most of Christendom since the first and second councils of Nicaea (325 and 381 A.D.) – i.e., Nicene Trinitarianism, denies that the three fully divine and distinct persons that make up the Godhead (or Divine Family) are also three separate or distinct beings. Though three in person, those three exist as one being.[1] This study will demonstrate why this view of the Trinity (otherwise known as ontological monotheism) is incoherent and false while establishing the view presented in Scripture – otherwise known as Coherent Trinitarianism.[2]1. The Bible teaches Coherent Trinitarianism. 1.1. DEFINTION: the one true God of heaven and earth exists as a Godhead (or Divine Family) of not only th

“Come now, let us reason (think coherently) together says the Lord” – Isa 1:18Coherent (def.): clear, consistent, logical and reasonable (equitable/just). Coherent things are intelligible, they make sense. Coherency is therefore a prerequisite to the identification of something as truth. The doctrine of the Trinity believed by most of Christendom since the first and second councils of Nicaea (325 and 381 A.D.) – i.e., Nicene Trinitarianism,[1] denies that the three fully divine and distinct Persons that make up the Godhead (or Divine Family) are also three separate or distinct Beings. Though three in Person, those three exist as one being.[2] This study will demonstrate why this monotheistic view of the Trinity is incoherent and false while establishing the view presented in Scripture – otherwise known as Coherent Trinitarianism.Why this study should matter to you as a Christian: 1) We are called to defend all of the doctrine handed down by Jesus and the apostles (Jud 1:3 “the Faith” = All doctrine - not simp

“When disaster strikes, life becomes like molten metal…Old customs crumble, instability rules.” – Dr. Samuel Prince (“Catastrophe and Social Change”) All signs point to Jesus’ return in 2030. And though this event will be a day of great joy and excitement for His faithful followers, getting to that day without going apostate will prove difficult – even impossible for many. Why? Because they will be ill-prepared and equipped to endure the epic levels of craziness, scariness and confusion that will become our world in the years or days prior to His return. In short, those people will not possess what is known in the fields of psychology and sociology as “disaster behavior.” To avoid becoming one of those people will therefore mean learning and applying those principles necessary to possess it. The following points represent those principles -or how to prepare for the end of the world: 1. Prepare according to the predictions. 1.1. The death rate from natural disasters has significantly dropped over the last hund

One of the biggest challenges to determining the proper chronology of those events relevant to Jesus’ return is deciding which portions of prophecy were fulfilled in the past (original audience relevant), have yet to be fulfilled (future audience relevant), and which portions will experience dual fulfillment (original and future audience relevant) (e.g., Isa 7:10-16 w/8:1-4 w/Isa 9:6-7; Isa 7:14)[1]. In this respect, the chronological order presented in this study assumes the following in relation to those NT prophecies most relevant to our subject (the return of Christ): 1) the book of Revelation = None of Revelation will experience dual fulfillment and the majority has already been fulfilled (1:1-20:8a). Only a small portion remains yet to be fulfilled (Rev 20:8a-22:21). 2) Jesus’ Olivet Discourse = The majority of the Discourse will experience dual fulfillment (Mat 24:4-14, 23-51). Only a small portion was fulfilled in the past (Mat 24:15-22). 3) Paul’s prophetic words to the Thessalonians = Some has yet t

Determining the window of possible dates:1. Jesus was condemned to death by the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate.1.1. (Mat 27:26; Mar 15:15; Luk 23:23-24; Joh 19:14-16)1.2. “Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus.” – Tacitus (Annals)1.3. Josephus (Antiquities, Wars) indicates that Pilate reigned in Judea from 26 to 36 AD.1.4. Jesus’ death could not, therefore, have taken place before 26 AD nor after 36 AD. [A 10-year window]2. Jesus was crucified before Paul became a Christian.2.1. While in Corinth, the Jews brought Paul before the proconsul of Achaia, Gallio (Act 18:8-13). Roman records (e.g., the Delphi or Gallio Inscription) indicate that Gallio served as proconsul from 51-52 AD.2.2. Paul’s arrival in Corinth was just after Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome (Act 18:2). Per the ancient historian Orossius, this took place in the ninth year of Claudius’ reign – or 49 AD

1. Why should we be planning for Jesus’ return in 2033 or 2034?1.1. According to Jewish tradition and the belief of the early church, the shelf-life of God’s first Creation – before the final return of Christ and the beginning of His second and eternal Creation, would be 6,000 years, a corollary to the six literal creation days of Genesis one.  “Six thousand years the world will exist and for one thousand, [the seventh], it shall be desolate [no longer exist], as it is written, ‘And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day” (Sanhedrin 97a) “Six eons for going in and coming out, for war and peace. The seventh eon is entirely Shabbat and rest for life everlasting.” - Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus (2nd century A.D.) “For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years (2Pe 3:8); and in six days created things were completed; it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousandth year.” - Irenaeus[1] (130-202 A.D.)  “Give heed, children, what this means; ‘He ended in six days’ (Gen 1:2): He me

1. Like the ancient societies around them, divorce was already an axiomatic (or unquestioned) part of Jewish society when God adopted them as His people. Hence the reason there is no place in Scripture which establishes divorce but only case laws which regulate it.1.1. (Deu 24:1-4 “When a man takes a wife…and he writes her a certificate of divorce” [1]) = Not establishing divorce but regulating what already existed as part of Israelite society. Other examples of axiomatic and inalienable practices that were a part of Israel (just as they were every other ancient society): 1) marriage = Not establishing marriage but regulating what already existed in Israelite society. (Exo 21:7-10) 2) slavery (Exo 21:1-2 “If you buy a Hebrew slave…”) = Not establishing slavery but regulating what already existed in Israelite society. 3) war (Num 10:9 “When you go to war…”) = Not establishing war but regulating what already existed in Israelite society.1.2. The POINT NOT TO MISS: Divorce was the long-established axiomatic defa

If we are to accurately discern Paul’s point (in Tit 3:10-11), we must first determine what’s going on in the letter as a whole. Why? Because context always determines meaning (e.g., reading comprehension [larger picture det’s individual parts]). 1. What’s going on? (What is the context or backstory of the letter?) 1.1. This is a pastoral epistle. It was written to Paul’s church-planting partner and pastor, Titus in regard to those churches he and Titus had started in the various cities on the island of Crete. Titus was tasked with establishing two things in each of the churches: 1) order (sound doctrine and behavior), 2) authority (ordained pastors/elders) (Tit 1:4-5) “set in order what remains” [Grk., epidiorthaoh] = To straighten out what is still out of line (i.e., what persists in going its own direction) – which implies that there were people in these churches who were not believing or acting the way they should; “and appoint [elders]” = Anoint/ordain (same word translated “anoint” in Heb 8:3). Titus ne

1. If you are going to follow Christ and make it to heaven, then you must be a person characterized by sexual purity not sexual sin. (Gal 5:19 w/21; Eph 5:5; 1Th 4:1-6; 2Pe 3:14 “spotless” [Grk., aspilos = Without stain versus 2Pe 2:13-14 “eyes full of adultery” consider w/Job 31:1) = IOW: their eyes/minds are not fixed on covenant faithfulness to their wives (or God) but instead their next illicit sexual fix (Jer 2:22-24; Rev 22:15). 2. Those who struggle with sexual sin – or possess strong desires to commit sexual sin, are people guilty of idolatry. 2.1. IOW: struggles with-or strong desires to commit sexual sin, are a sure sign that the person you are dealing with is an idolator. 2.2. Idolatry is the worship of something other than the Creator, or God. You worship the creature or what is created - which in practical terms means that you trust your flesh (your senses or sense of perception) and/or the propaganda of the world (the creature v. the Creator) when determining the value of things in this life (e.