ISRAEL ALERT!

Senator Rand Paul is calling for financial aid to be cut from Israel, about 3 billion dollars worth. When America stops supporting Israel we are in deep trouble. This nation has supported the Jewish people from the beginning, and if we stop, we will be judged by the Lord! Please send him a message that this is not to be! By the way, he has been supported by the Tea Party. What an error of judgment he has! —Dr. Mal Couch (2/11)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, is the baptism of the Holy Spirit and regeneration the same?

ANSWER: No, but they both happen instantly upon salvation. Baptism of the Spirit has to do only with the church and not with Israel. The OT saints are not said to be baptism into Christ or His body. This does a cleansing work (baptism) on the believer and imparts the gifts of the Spirit. The key passage is 1 Cor. 12:12-27, and on.

Note some of the phrases: "One body, many members," "God has composed the body." "Should be no division in the body." "You are Christ's body and individual members of it." "God has appointed in the church ..."

Regeneration is mainly found in Titus 3:5. Spirit baptism and regeneration are two different works. From the Greek: "He has saved us according to His mercy by the washing of the 'again birth,' the "rebirth." The word "generation" is in the word "again-birth [genesia]" and the other word is "again making," renewing, or "remaking" done by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word here is "the up-newing". The word "new" is in this second word.

From genesia we get the English word "to generate."

When the rapture takes place only those "in Christ" are taken up, not the OT saints. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 we have actually two doctrines mentioned. (1) the fact that when Christ comes He has with Him the souls and spirits of "those who have fallen asleep 'in Jesus'" (v. 14), the church saints. And they receive their new bodies to return with Him back to glory. And when the rapture trumpet sounds the "dead in Christ" shall rise first (v. 16). "We who are alive," the church saints who have not died, shall be caught up (harpazo, raptured) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we (the church saints) shall always be with the Lord (v. 17).

Thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (2/11)

MILITARY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATH OF 134 GIRLS?

By an act of Congress women are not supposed to be put in harms way on the front lines in battle conditions, but the military is skirting around this issue. They use different wording in order to play the Politically Correct (PC) game. They say that the girls are "attached" to combat groups in the Middle East and not "assigned." What a lie they foist on the American public!

It has been reported that 134 mothers and wives (or future mothers and wives) have died in the Middle East in our military over the past ten years. How many potential mothers and wives were permanently injured we will never know because the same is not reported. When the girls are maimed it is rarely reported. When they are captured and raped it is never reported. When the USS Cole, a combat destroyer, was attacked, dozens of sailors died, including many girls, though the number was not given. If they can report that 14% of girls are in the military why can they not report the number that is killed or injured?

Because they know that there would be a reaction from the public. By keeping silent, they can hide their true intent and practice.

A study committee, The Military Leadership Diversity Commission, made up of combat vets, recently voted to allow women to be in combat divisions and be placed in war danger. It is incredible that war vets would go this direction, having experienced the horror of combat themselves.

The argument for girls in combat is compared with the opening of the closed door of the sodomites in the military. However, the sodomite issue is a moral one, where the women in combat is a physical strength and kill-your-women issue. Two different issues! The recent article on the subject was submitted by the Associated Press, and written by a (you guessed it) woman reporter. One can guess on which side she would support in the article!

In the article the reporter used wording like "discrimination in the armed forces," or "to create a level plying field for all qualified service members." And women in combat is "an archaic issue," also the military is "ducking the issue."

What has changed that now will let girls be killed on the front lines? Have they gotten stronger and more capable of doing the tough job of killing in war? No. Biology has remained the same. Girls still have 50% less strength, 50% less stamina, and 50% less upper body strength. They are about 7 inches shorter and can carry about 50% less weight than the men. The only thing that has changed is PC (Political Correctness).

One thing the anti-biblical socialists know, is if they wait long enough they can push through what they want. The American public will back down from holding their standards. The government public schools do a great job in causing the public to change its mind. Wait long enough, work on the new generation coming up, and they can get what they wish! They know that Christians will cave in, they will take on the attitudes of the world in time! And that is exactly what has happened.

Finally, the article closed with this statement: "Keeping women out of combat posts prohibits women from serving in roughly 10 percent of Marine Corps and Army occupational specialties and thus is a barrier to advancement." Notice how position and advancement are the issues, not the killing of mothers and wives (or the potential same). By the way, do they mean that our military is weakened because we have 10% less troops in combat because of the women issue? What a stupid argument! Any rational argument would say that we will be 10% weakened because of putting these girls in front line and dangerous positions! But this is not how the world thinks.

The godly woman is to learn how to love their children and their husbands, be workers at home, kind, subject to their own husbands, so that "the Word of God may not be dishonored" (Titus 2:3-5). Women are to be given honor by their husbands since they are the WEAKER VESSELS (1 Pet. 3:7). They are to adorn themselves with the imperishable "quality of a gentile and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God" (v. 4). Can a girl in combat gear do this? No! As a front line soldier-ette, can a woman concentrate on these spiritual qualities? Of course not!

Christian parents of girls, try to keep them out of the military!
—Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

CHRISTIAN MISS AMERICA

The new Miss America is a Christian. I do not doubt her testimony and her salvation. But she has totally caved in to the culture! She came out in the contest in a skimpy bikini outfit. And she said she wants to be a role model for young women by being a lawyer. She is part of this generation; one wonders how she can do that and keep her testimony.

She wants to go into politics but what about being a role model for young women be setting high standards as a wife and mom? She has been brainwashed by the society and does not even recognize it. She said in so many words that she went into the Miss America Pageant in order to raise money for college. Does she mean there was no other way to raise money except taking her cloths off and putting on a skimpy bikini? She represents the world, the modern generation, and not Christ. I'm sure this little article will be criticized but this is what is happening to the younger Christian generation. They have taken on the standards of the culture without even knowing it! -Dr. Mal Couch(1/11)

THE SABBATH A Christian Biblical Perspective By Daniel E. Woodhead, Ph.D

The word Sabbath first appears in Scripture in Exodus. It is first stated during the narrative of the story of the Jews who were traveling from Elim to Sinai. It would be at Sinai where they would receive the Law from God after leaving the four hundred year captivity in Egypt.

Exodus 16: 23 And he said unto them, This is that which Jehovah hath spoken, Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy sabbath unto Jehovah: bake that which ye will bake, and boil that which ye will boil; and all that remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

In keeping with God's seventh day of creation where Scripture says He rested (Genesis 2: 2-3) God through Moses wanted the Jews to rest on the Sabbath. The Law had not been formally implemented that is, given by God, was nevertheless being observed with a declaration by Moses to the Children of Israel. They were to rest on the Sabbath. Other pre-Law passages affirm this commandment for the Jews to rest (Exodus 16: 25, 26,29). In fact the manna, which was their God given bread from heaven, was there for them each day except the Sabbath (Exodus 16: 25). God wanted them to not gather the manna on the Sabbath. He wanted them to rest.

When the Children of Israel reached Sinai God gave Moses the 613 commandments, the first ten are called the Ten Commandments or the Decalogue. In the forth commandment the observance of the Sabbath was enacted into Law for the Jews under the Mosaic Covenant.

Exodus 20: 8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

For those Jews who did not observe the Sabbath they were to be put to death (Exodus 31:15). And Scripture makes it quite clear that only the Jews were to be responsible for keeping the Sabbath (Exodus 31: 16). It did not apply to any other people group. Some Bible expositors and pastors see the New Testament Church of Christ in these verses. Typically the pivotal terminology they employ to link the Church to the Nation Israel is the "Church of the Old Testament." However, the word Church never appears in the original Hebrew language or the English translations of the Old Testament. Further the Jews belonged to the Nation of Israel. There is no Church in the Old Testament. The first time in the long chronology of the whole Bible text the word Church appears is Matthew 16: 18 where Jesus during His first advent was discussing with Peter the building of the institution known as His Church. Even then He refers to the Church as yet future to that time. It is simply outside biblical orthodoxy to try and merge the New Testament Church to the Old Testament Law given to the Nation Israel.

In addition to being exclusively directed to the Nation Israel the Sabbath mandated a series of activities, which were restricted for the Jews. Some of those are:

1. The whole family was prohibited from doing any work on the Sabbath; that is, sons, daughters, manservants, maidservants, even livestock and visitors as well converts to Judiasm (Exodus 20:10).

2. No fires could be kindled (Exodus 35:3).

3. The priest would wave a sheath on the next day after the Sabbath to the Lord (Leviticus 23: 11).

4. In the seventh month in the first day of the month a Sabbath memorial was to take place, which included a blowing of trumpets and a holy convocation (Leviticus 23:24).

5. The First Fruits Feast on the 15th day of the Seventh month was followed by a Sabbath observance (Leviticus 23:39).

6. Each Sabbath twelve fresh baked cakes each containing two tenths of an ephah would be set in two rows of six each on a pure table before the Lord. Putting pure frankincense on each of the cakes followed this. This is a Sabbath memorial offering by fire to the Lord (Leviticus 24: 5-7).

7. A land Sabbath was commanded. This was for an entire year each seven years for allowing the land to lie fallow so as to give it a rest (Leviticus 24: 2-6).

8. An offering each Sabbath was to consist of two lambs one year old or less that were spotless and two tenths of an ephah of flour mingled with oil and the drink offering (Numbers 28: 9-10).

9. If any of these observations of the Sabbath were not followed death was the penalty, typically by stoning (Numbers 15: 32-36).

10. Each fiftieth year, the Jubilee was sabbatical as well (Lev. 25:8-13). The land was to lie uncultivated during these times, indentured servants were released, and debts were to be cancelled (Dt. 15:2)

In a fifty-year span upon reaching the Jubilee, the faithful Hebrew, to one degree or another – depending upon the specific requirement of the law, would observe 5,830 Sabbaths. These Characteristics embody the bulk of Sabbath observance commanded to the Jews under the Mosaic Law. This is the biblical concept referred to as "Keeping the Sabbath." Any other activity, memorial or single day observance is contrived and not of the Bible. These activities never were meant for the Christian Church. Anybody in New Testament Christianity that believes they are following the Sabbath is unaware of the biblical requirements of the Sabbath. Typically what one finds is the New Testament Christian that does not understand the Bible will pick and choose which parts of the Scripture they will follow, somehow thinking this is appropriate.

Shabbat (Jewish word for Sabbath) is still a most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. It is also the most important special day, even more important than Yom Kippur. Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the root Shin-Bet-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest.

The word melachah (king) is rarely used in scripture outside of the context of Shabbat and holiday restrictions. The only other repeated use of the word is in the discussion of the building of the sanctuary and its vessels in the wilderness (Exodus 31: 35-38). Notably, the Shabbat restrictions are reiterated during this discussion (Ex. 31:13), thus we can infer that the work of creating the sanctuary had to be stopped for Shabbat. From this, the rabbis concluded that the work prohibited on the Sabbath is the same as the work of creating the sanctuary. They found 39 categories of forbidden acts, all of which are types of work that were needed to build the sanctuary:


* 1. Sowing
* 2. Plowing
* 3. Reaping
* 4. Binding sheaves
* 5. Threshing
* 6. Winnowing
* 7. Selecting
* 8. Grinding
* 9. Sifting
* 10. Kneading
* 11. Baking
* 12. Shearing wool
* 13. Washing wool
* 14. Beating wool
* 15. Dyeing wool
* 16. Spinning
* 17. Weaving
* 18. Making two loops
* 19. Weaving two threads
* 20. Separating two threads
* 21. Tying
* 22. Untying
* 23. Sewing two stitches
* 24. Tearing
* 25. Trapping
* 26. Slaughtering
* 27. Flaying
* 28. Salting meat
* 29. Curing hide
* 30. Scraping hide
* 31. Cutting hide up
* 32. Writing two letters
* 33. Erasing two letters
* 34. Building
* 35. Tearing a building down
* 36. Extinguishing a fire
* 37. Kindling a fire
* 38. Hitting with a hammer
* 39. Taking an object from the private domain to the public, or transporting
an object in the public domain.



First Worldwide Church Council Refutes Mandatory Law Keeping

Within the very early church there was an ongoing conflict between two groups who both claimed to be followers of Jesus Christ. One group held to the teachings of Jesus as taught by the apostles regarding salvation in Christ alone. The other group also held to the teachings of Jesus but added adherence to the Mosaic Law, particularly circumcision. Paul waged a steady campaign against a group of false teachers, commonly known as Judiazers, who had sown great confusion among the apostle's recent converts by teaching that becoming Jewish and following the Law was necessary for salvation.

Paul was particularly forceful in his instructions regarding the Judiazers and their gospel+religious works. The apostle charged, "Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ." Paul's solution to this problem was that "even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" The gospel of the Judiazers "is really no gospel at all." (Galatians1: 6-9)

The apostles instructed believers to give no ground when it came to preserving the purity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John stated, "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God." (2 John 9)

Regardless of how many other biblical truths might be held in common, anyone or any group that adds anything onto the Gospel receives the sternest of rebukes and a severe condemnation by the inspired Word of God. Dr. John Walvoord points out the seriousness of such an act, "When the gospel message is corrupted, the way of salvation is confused and people are in danger of being eternally lost."

Belief in religious works does not die easily. Many people today believe that it is necessary to keep the Sabbath. In order to ease out of the true biblical requirements of the Sabbath including death for non-compliance they make up their own Sabbath. Church history shows evidence of an effort to impose Old Testament practices as religious work necessary for salvation or sanctification.

The Judiazers had a strong hold on the Galatians convincing them that they had to follow the Jewish Mosaic Law and this new heresy had to be dealt with by the first worldwide church council. Acts chapter fifteen describes this.

The Sabbath was a sign of the Law Covenant (Mosaic). Israel was a nation and needed laws like any other nation. The Church is not a nation so to speak and God never commissioned it to enforce civil laws. Many Christian groups make the mistake that only the animal sacrifices of the Law were abolished. The Bible declares that the Old Mosaic Covenant was to be replaced by an entirely New Covenant for Israel and was based upon an entirely different principle (Jeremiah 31:31-34). The New Covenant is primarily for Israel. It is particularly addressed to Israel (northern 10 tribes) and Judah (southern 2 tribes) not the Church. It is important to keep the two separate. The Church does participate in the New Covenant through Christ. The Church does not appear anywhere in the Old Testament. The apostle Paul states that the Law, which was engraved on tables of stone, was "done away" and "abolished" (II Corinthians 3: 7).

The Law was a covenant. The Old Covenant has been annulled through the death of Christ. The New Covenant made in Christ's blood, was made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not with the Gentiles in the Body of Christ (Ephesians 2: 15; Colossians 2:14).

We as the Church are the "Bride of Christ." This was a mystery in the Old Testament. The New Covenant is only for Israel and Judah. We were given salvation to make the Jews jealous. Under the New Covenant the saved Jews (now part of the Church) can continue to celebrate the feasts if they so choose. There is no longer any obligation to do so. The Gentiles may do the same if they choose to do so. They also are under no obligation to do so. The unsaved Jews are still under the Law and are required to keep the Law. Try to think of Christians a riding on the New Covenant under unsaved Israel. We will become detached some day at the Rapture and be with Christ forever more. For now our Law is Christ's Law given in the New Testament. Interestingly, nine of the Ten Commandments get restated in the New Testament. It is only the Sabbath that does not appear in the NT. During the Millennial Kingdom all the ordinances will be reestablished under King Jesus. Of course they will be ceremonial for the King Himself provided the sacrifice.


The Sabbath Terminated

The Scriptures are emphatic that the requirement to keep the Sabbath has been terminated. New Testament data lead to the conclusion that the Law of Moses (with all of its components – including the sabbath) has been abrogated. Paul affirmed that the "law of commandments" was abolished "through the cross" (Eph. 2:14). Similarly, the "bond written in ordinances" (which contained such things as feast days, sabbaths, etc.) was taken out of the way, having been nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14-16). Sabbatarians allege, however, that only the ceremonial features (e.g., animal sacrifices) of the Mosaic covenant were abolished at the cross. The moral elements of the law (e.g., the ten commandments), it is argued, continue to this very day. There is no biblical proof that this is correct. If it were the case the Sabbath, which is the only ceremonial commandment of the Decalogue, would cease to be mandatory. Their position is arbitrary, artificial, and will not stand the test of scripture. The New Testament Law replaced the entire OT Law. It was a complete replacement not a partial one. Observe the following:

God promised to make a "new covenant," which would not be like the one given to Israel when the nation left Egypt (Jer. 31:31). When that "new covenant" was given, a "change" in laws was made (Heb. 7:12). But the old law, bestowed when Israel came out of Egyptian bondage, contained the Ten Commandments (1 Kings. 8:9,21). Thus, the Decalogue passed away when the Old Testament was replaced by the New.

In Romans 7, the apostle argued that the Christian is "dead to the law through the body of Christ" (4). He further contended that the child of God is "discharged from the law" (6).

Well, exactly what "law" was in view? Merely a "ceremonial" law? No that is not the case, for subsequently Paul says: "For I had not known coveting, except the law had said, 'You shall not covet'" (vs. 7; cf. Ex. 20:17).

Clearly, the law to which the Christian is "dead," i.e., separated from, and from which he is "discharged," included the Ten Commandments. The Christian is not under obligation to keep the Sabbath.

The fact is, just after he affirmed that the law was "nailed to the cross," Paul declared that no one could "judge," i.e., condemn a Christian for not keeping feast days, sabbaths, etc. (Col. 2:16). That statement could not have been made had the sabbath-law still been operative.

There is no doubt that many Sabbatarians are genuinely sincere in their profession of keeping the seventh day. But sincerity alone does not justify. First they have devised their own Sabbath. They avoid the terms of Sabbath keeping given in the Bible. Second they make Sabbath keeping a requirement for salvation and /or sanctification both of which constitute the heresy of legalism. The modern practice of "sabbath-keeping" is simply erroneous.

First Century Christian Practice

There is no evidence that the early church observed the Sabbath with apostolic approval. Yes, it certainly was the case that the apostles frequented the synagogues on the Sabbath for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel. That is where the greatest concentration of Jews would have been (cf. Acts 13:14; 17:1-2, etc.), and the message regarding Jesus was to be spoken first to them (Rom. 1:16).

But there is no evidence that the early church, under divine guidance, came together to worship God on the Sabbath day, nor did they move the Sabbath to Sunday.

The kingdom of Christ was established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), which always fell on "the morrow after the sabbath" (Lev. 23:15-16), hence, on Sunday. So the church started out meeting for worship on the first day of the week not to observe the Sabbath (cf. Acts 2:42).

The disciples at Troas "were gathered together" [passive voice] upon "the first day of the week" to break bread, i.e., to worship, (Acts 20:7). The specific day of meeting was no accident. Though Paul was anxious to get to Jerusalem (20:16), he waited seven days for the opportunity to assemble with the church.

Moreover, the passive voice (see above) indicates that someone other than the disciples orchestrated the assemblage; it was of divine initiative. It was not a commandment of New Testament Law. It simply meant that they decided to "meet" on the first day of the week. It says nothing about keeping the Sabbath.

The saints in Corinth were assembling, and contributing into the church treasury, "every first day of the week" (1 Cor. 16:2 – Greek text; cf. NASB).

The Gospel narratives, of course, make it clear that the resurrection occurred on Sunday. While Revelation 1:10 would not be conclusive by itself, the very fact that the day is specifically mentioned is significant.

While it was true that some weak or uninformed Christians had a problem making a clean break with the Mosaic economy (Rom. 14:1ff; Gal. 4:10-11), it is important to recognize that inspired apostolic teaching sought to correct this error.

Also, there is the record of the post-apostolic patristic writers. For the first three centuries of Christian history, the testimony is uniform that the original disciples of Jesus Christ worshipped on Sunday. They did not worship on the Sabbath and they did not call Sunday the Sabbath. Here is a sampling of that testimony.

The Didache (c. A.D. 120) declares that "every Lord's day" the Christians gather themselves together and "break bread" (ANF.VII.381).

The Epistle of Barnabas (c. A.D. 120), in discussing such things as incense, new moons, and Sabbaths, says that the Lord "abolished these things" in deference to "the new law of our Lord Jesus Christ" (ANF.I.138). Later, it is affirmed: "Wherefore, also, we keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead" (I.147).

Justin Martyr (A.D. 140) declared that "on the day called Sunday" the primitive Christians met for worship. He further stated that this was the day on which Christ was raised from the dead (I.186).

Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 194) spoke of the one who "keeps the Lord's day" as "glorifying the Lord's resurrection in Himself" (ANF.II.545).

Tertullian (A.D. 200) argued that the "old law" had been consummated; thus the "observance of the Sabbath is demonstrated to have been temporary" (ANF.III.155). Elsewhere he says that "Sabbaths are strange" to Christians, and that they share together "the Lord's day" (70).

Eusebius (A.D. 324), known as the "father of church history," stated that Sabbath-observance does not "belong to Christians." On the other hand, he asserted that Christians "celebrate the Lord's days . . . in commemoration of his resurrection" (26,113).

Noted historian Philip Schaff concludes: "The universal and uncontradicted Sunday observance in the second century can only be explained by the fact that it had its roots in the apostolic practice" (478-479).

Many Bible elucidators have erroneously referred to Sunday as the Sabbath. They have done so for a variety of reasons. Chief among them has been an unwillingness to separate the New Testament Church from the Mosaic Law written to the Jews in the Old Testament. The apostle Paul dedicated the book of Galatians to refuting the mandatory "keeping of the Law" for those coming into the Church. This included both Jews and Gentiles. Due to the freedom we have in Christ some Jews that became Christians wanted to continue keeping the Law, which includes the Sabbath, but they did so out of preference not out of commandment. We must make the distinction out of the two motivators, commandment and preference. (Galatians 5: 1; Colossians 2: 14-17)

FINALLY, WE MUST MAKE THIS COMMENT. IT IS INCORRECT TO REFER TO SUNDAY AS "THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH."

“PERHAPS TODAY!”

Dr. Mal Couch and Dr. Paul Benware are working together on a new book making the doctrine of the rapture of the church clear for those who may be confused. The working title is: PERHAPS TODAY!

This is one of the most important doctrines in Scripture because it tells how the dispensation of the church will end. The authors' hope is that the book is kept simple for those who have not received much teaching from the Word of God on the issue. There are about seventeen different rapture passages in Scripture.

Dr. Benware and Dr. Couch have both written extensively on the subject in various publications. One of the most important chapters was written by Dr. Couch that thoroughly explains the subject. This chapter has been re-published in three nationally publicized volumes on theology (Harvest House). Dr. Benware's book "End Times Prophecy" (Moody Press) is one of the most popular works on biblical prophecy and the doctrine of the rapture.

For those who wish to receive PERHAPS TODAY! FREE before it is published (around March), can order by sending your name and address to: Scofield Ministries, 120 CR 3222, Clifton, TX 76634. After the book is published it will be on sale for a donation fee.

TIS THE SEASON OF THE STRANGE PROPHECY VIEWS!

Being in the ministry for fifty years I've noticed that there is a season for the strange prophecy views to make their rounds. The folks who have done mathematical calculations as to when the Lord returns. What is it that causes the truth always to attracts error? These folks do not listen or carefully read sound and solid works. They sit around and calculate with a computer when the Lord returns. Now even the apostles Paul and John could not figure out their reasoning. You can smell their pride that they have found out something that others have missed.

The Lord did not have me in mind when He set forth their dating of the return of Christ. I made bad grades in high school in math, so I'm left out when He revealed the timetable to these great minds who now have it figured out.

Please do not waste your time reading their figuring. It will only strain your brain! Remember, a few weeks back the rapture was going to take place? And others now have a new date figured out as well. While it takes a few minutes to fully understand the Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the church, and a few more minutes to get clear the Premillennial return of the Lord, this is really all not that complicated. God is not so interested that we fully understand the timing of His coming, but that we grasp the basic order of His coming! The Bible is clear, just don't listen (or look at their new charts) and waste your time.

Both the OT and the NT are clear and certain as to His return. To help many of you, Dr. Tom McCall and I are working on a complete CD set that will explain all of the basics from the great passages of Scripture. We will let you know when it is completed! —Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

PREPARING FOR THE COMING TRIBULATION

A new book entitled "The Twilight Years" was published that looked at the history of England between the wars. The book tells how England had given up on its Christianity and was moving towards a dark ages from the 1920s to the early 1940s. More and more Englishmen had given up on church and were turning inward and away from the Word of God. Pessimism became part of the fabric of those two decades.

Socialism, communism, and eugenics, were all playing a part in trying to find inner peace and tranquility in the nation. Books and pamphlets were written with the titles: "What Can Britain Do to be Saved?" And, "This Revolting World." Also, "Collapse of Western Democracy," and "The New Dark Age." Other titles read: "The Revolt Against Reason," "The Nightmare of the Future," "Is Britain Moving Towards Catastrophe?," and "The Chief Aspects of Western Civilization's Decline."

The unions, communism, and socialism were becoming more militant. And the people who could afford to, went each weekend to their country retreats and gave up on church attendance. There were no spiritual or Christian answers for the nation that was drifting away from God. During those Depression years, while Britain was in such a spiritual turmoil, America was surviving the Depression. While things were bad, and their had been some union riots, America was more at peace with itself than Great Britain.

America is now where the English people were following the Depression years. Today, no answers are found in the churches nor in Scripture. People in this country have given up on the Lord!

A reading society in Britain concluded "Optimism in any form must hide her head." Pessimism ruled. H.G. Wells wrote "The Shape of Things to Come" that sounded much like the book of Revelation. Others debated not "whether" the end would come but "when." The cry was that "civilization was in danger" of total collapse. Unitarians held discussions on "Religion and the Decay of the 1930s." Oswald Spangler wrote in "Pessimism": "I see no progress, no goal, no path for humanity. Western civilization is on the threshold of an inevitable and all-embracing decline."

Toynbee was the St. Augustine of his day in England. He wrote "Western civilization would perish unless it rediscovers the essence of Christianity, without which human beings cannot exist."

The National Peace Council in 1935 put out 14 million documents trying to get the English population to pledge towards peace. No matter what the people "voted" on, World War II was certain to take place. The nation had given up on God, in fact, they could not find Him in the dead, formal English churches. Church attendance was declining where now it is down to about 3% on any given Sunday. And what the people got in the churches was not worth their effort for attending.

America is moving in the same direction now. Spirituality is either canned, dead in formalism, or putting forth misplaced energy that has no meaning and no answers. Morally and socially, we are a confused nation. Problems are multiplying, and liberalism is dominating the landscape. Our young people want expression but that does not really satisfy or give true biblical answers to our needs. Homosexuality, that is sodomism, and abortion, are part of our culture with no stopping of its influence.
—Dr Mal Couch(1/11)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, I have two questions on 1 Corinthians 2:1-4: Do we have the same power and wisdom Paul spoke of in these verses? Paul said that he did not go to the Corinthians with persuasive human wisdom but with the power of the Spirit and of God. Is the "we" in verse 6 all and any believer who went to Corinth with Paul, or is he referring to the other apostles as well? Do all believers have apostolic wisdom or is this only for the apostles?

ANSWER: All believers can have wisdom but apostolic authority and wisdom is something else.

Many argue that we today, have that same Spirit guided wisdom and can give revelation just as the apostles did, as well as Paul. But the inspiration of Scripture comes from the writings of the apostles, including Paul, and not the average believer, though the Spirit is certainly working with us in giving forth truth, but we have to be careful, we are not writing-inspired apostles. Spiritual revelation was only given to the apostles and not us today.

The Corinthian church knew that Paul was referring to the other apostles. We can show verses that substantiate this.

Paul asks the Corinthians were they the first to receive the word of God, or had it come to them only? (14:16). It went to many people before it arrived in the Corinthian church. Anyone who does not recognize that Paul was giving to them "the Lord's commandment" (v. 37) is not recognized by the Lord (v. 38). He has an apostolic mission as a writing disciple—something that others do not have.

Because Paul was a late-comer he says that he was "the least of an apostle" since he had persecuted the church of the Lord (15:9). But the Lord still appeared unto him as one with authority (v. 8). By God's grace "he is what he is" (v. 10a). In fact, he labored even more than the other apostles and disciples (v. 10). With God-given authority, "the grace of God was given to him" to be a writing apostle (v. 10b). He adds, "Whether then it was I (alone) or they (the other apostles), we preach[ed] and so you believed" (v. 11). They believed because Paul was using his authority and giving them what the Lord wished him to say!

By putting himself forward, and boasting, Paul had "become foolish" being compelled by the Corinthians to defend his position (2 Cor. 12:11a). He was not "inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though "he was a nobody" (v. 11b). The signs of a true apostle were performed before the Corinthians through Paul "with all patience, by signs and wonders and miracles" (v. 12). The "true apostles" were the big apostles; this is not referring to us!

Paul had made three trips to the Corinthian church (13:1a) and others confirmed his authority, "Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witness" (v. 1b). It was Christ who was speaking in Paul (13:3). Paul was weak in his ministry in the eyes of the Corinthians but "mighty" in helping them grow up (v. 3b). God's power, was directed toward the Corinthians, through Paul (v. 4b). Paul was writing to the Corinthians, though absent from them, "in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave him, for building up [the church] and not for tearing [it] down" (v. 10).

Thanks for asking,
Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL

Today the population in Israel is 7,645,500 with 75.5% being Jewish and about 20% being Arab, and another 4% being other groups. The population growth rate is 1.8% since 2003. This is about what the "Return" or the Aliya was in the 1980s. During the 1990s the growth rate was roughly 3% a year with more than 1 million immigrants arriving from Russian-speaking nations. In 2009 some 161,045 babies were born in Israel. During the early years of the state only 35% of the Jewish population had been born in Israel, but by the end of 2008 that figure had increased to 70.7%.

When the state was established there were only 806,000 residents. Israel reached its first million in 1949 and its second million in 1958. (News From Israel, Jan. 2011)

With twenty-three trips to Israel and the Middle East, I have watched the Lord continue to flood the Holy Land with His people. We must be getting close to all that is prophesied in regard to the events leading up to the return of Christ! Come quickly, Lord Jesus! - Dr. Mal Couch

A THANK YOU NOTE

We receive a lot of kind notes from people who read our website and who get our books to read. Below is such a letter:


"I ordered several books by Dr. Mal Couch from the program "The King Is Coming" ministry and am so pleased with them. Dr. Couch covered a lot of history and did not stray from the truth of God's Word. I love my country and it makes me so sad that the direction we have gone in the last fifty years. However, I'm not surprised because God has told us what is coming. I pray for our country but also, I say 'Come quickly Lord Jesus.' I am interested in learning about more books Dr. Couch has to offer, and would appreciate any information available."


Take this link to browse our selection of Books.

The Christian Alert

America is at a crossroads. If the 112th Congress fails to make every effort to at least stop implementation of the "The Affordable Care Act", otherwise known as Obamacare, America will make a sharp slide into perpetual socialized health care. If the GOP- led House of Representatives successfully stalls implementation of this law America will be spared many egregious violations of our personal liberties. Here are just some aspects of this intrusive law: •    Page 22 of the Health Care Bill:  Mandates that the government will audit books of all employers that self-insure!! •    Page 30, Sec 123 of the HC bill: There will be a govt. committee that decides what treatments/benefits you get. •    Page 29, lines 4-16 in the HC bill: Your health care is rationed! •    Page 85, Line 7 in the HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans – The Govt.  will ration your health  care! •    Page 59 of the HC Bill, lines 21-24: Govt. will have direct access to your bank accounts for elective funds transfer!! •    Page 95 of the HC Bill, lines 8-18: The Govt. will use groups (i.e. ACORN & Americorps) to sign up individuals for Govt. HC plan. •    Page 65, Sec 164: Is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in unions & community organizations: (ACORN). •    Page 321, lines 2-13: Hospitals have the opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. (Can you say ACORN?) •    Page 42 of the HC Bill: The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC benefits for you. You have no choice! •    Page 58 HC Bill: Govt. will have real-time access to individuals finances and a National ID Health card will be issued! •    Page 145, line 15-17: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. (NO choice!) •    Page 50, Section 152 in the HC Bill: HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.              •    Page 91, lines 4-7 of the HC Bill: Govt. mandates linguistic appropriate services.  (Translation: illegal aliens.) •    Page 126, lines 22-25: Employers MUST pay for HC for part-time employees AND their families. (Employees shouldn't get excited about this as employers will be forced to reduce its work force, benefits, and wages/salaries to cover such a huge expense.)      I'm sure by now if you didn't have a clue as to the horrific intrusiveness of this law that your emotions my range from dismay to highly incensed. If your U.S. Representative voted in favor of repeal of the law commonly known as "Obamacare" then I encourage you to contact that person and tell them "thank you." If your U.S. Representative didn't vote in favor of repeal please let that person know how disappointed you are in their vote and that our health care system needs logical, market-based reform.

IS CHRIST TODAY SEATED ON HIS THRONE?

No, He is not, though Covenant theologians try to say that He is. But they do not read carefully. Psalm 110:1-2 make it clear that Christ is presently seated on His Father's throne in glory. The LORD said to David's Lord "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, 'Rule in the midst of Your enemies.'"

Both words for Lord are used of God. The first, LORD, is Yahweh, and the second, Lord, is Adonai. Here in this passage Adonai is used to describe the Lord Jesus, Israel's Messiah. To be seated at the right hand of the king was a mark of distinction (1 Kings 2:19). Christ quotes Psalm 110:1-2 to the Pharisees (Matt. 22:41-46). It confounded the Jews because they knew that Adonai referred to David's Son, the Messiah. "And no one was able to answer [Christ] a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question" (v. 46).

Jesus is now seated on His Father's throne in heaven, as Psalm 110 says, and, as Revelation 3:21 indicates. It reads: "He who overcomes, I will grant (give) to him to sit down with Me on My throne, s I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." Christ's throne is the Davidic throne that will be established in Jerusalem during the Millennium. "I will grant" is a Future Tense. We are not seated now on Christ's throne, nor is He sitting on it until the Millennium begins after the seven year tribulation.

In Psalm 110:1 the Hebrew word "until" (Ay'th) is virtually the exclusive meaning. And, it means just what it says. Christ is seated on His Father's throne UNTIL the Lord does something else, and that is, until the Messiah begins His reign in Zion, meaning Jerusalem. Psalm 110:1-2 are the most quoted verses in the NT from the OT.

Paul reminds us that after Christ's resurrection He was "seated at [God's] right hand in the heavenly places" (Eph. 1:20). He has been given all rule and authority and power and dominion presently (v. 21). That is, Christ now shares universal authority over all of creation with His heavenly Father, because He is seated by His Father on His Father's throne. However, in terms of literal measurable history, He is not yet seated on His father David's throne, on earth, in Jerusalem. That is coming next. In Providence, Christ is co-reigning over the universe but in terms of His messianic authority over Israel, that is not happening yet because the Jews are not back in the land in faith, as they will be when the Millennium begins.

One cannot make a leap, as the Covenant people do, to say that we are reigning over the universe with Christ. Christ is "head over all things to the church" (v. 22). To make this verse make sense you need to look at it this way: "The Father gave Him … to the church." Or, "He is head over all things that relate now to the church."

John Piper mis-states when he writes:

"Therefore, Ephesians 1:23 would mean: Jesus fills the universe with His own glorious rule through us. We are the fulness of His rule. We rule on His behalf. In that sense, we sit with Him on His throne."

Paul, nor any of the other apostles say this!

Christ's throne has to do with the Jewish messianic kingdom rule. --Dr. Mal Couch

PRE-WRATH RAPTURE: “HERE IT COMES AGAIN!”

It makes its rounds from time to time. The Pre-Wrath Rapture view. If I started advocating that concrete is made out of vanilla ice cream, it would not take long before there would be somebody who would believe it. Put out any false view and there will be takers. The same with this prophetic view. It makes no sense and cannot be defended by anyone who knows the Bible and particularly knows well the Greek language.

My personal friend, Dr. Renald Showers, knew well these men as friends, the advocates of this position, Marvin Rosenthal and Robert Van Kampen. He worked with them in several ministries. He watched as they tumbled into this view. He tried to show them the way of their error but it didn't work. They had an agenda they were trying to sell! Neither were true Bible scholars, but they just would not listen. Shower's story is fascinating as he describes how they came about that view. Showers wrote the definitive answer to their error in his book "The Pre-Wrath Rapture View" (Kregel). It would be a waste of time reviewing Showers' scholarly work; I suggest that those interested would simply purchase this great volume.

But just to put it simply in this article:

The Pre-Wrath view holds that the church will go through part of the tribulation. The Pre-Wrathers argue that it is wrong to use the word "tribulation" for the entire seven-year seventhieth week of Daniel 9. However, they fail to notice Jeremiah 30:7 that makes clear the Hebrew word "tsarah" is used to describe the entire wrath period. In the English it is translated as "distress" but it could, and should, be translated as "tribulation." Showers points this out, but as one who teaches graduate Hebrew, I noticed this fact before Showers wrote his book.

There is more involved in this error so I'm not going to spend time defending the right view—I just suggest you purchase Showers' book.

One question of the Pre-Wrathers is how do we know the restrainer is the Holy Spirit in 1 Thessalonians? Why not, some say. They argue it could be Michael the archangel, while some say the restrainer is the church. (Wow!)

Note Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:6 "What restrains" the anti-Christ. This is a Present Active Participle, neuter, singular. But in verse 7 we have "He who now restrains ..." The masculine pronoun is used.

Question: What Force, Power, or Person in the Bible is described with a neuter noun but also with a masculine pronoun as "He"? Only the Holy Spirit. The word Spirit is always neuter in Greek, even when describing the Spirit of God, but the masculine pronoun "He" is always used when speaking of Him. Michael is masculine (not neuter) and the word "church" is feminine. (Michael is not mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2, nor is the church.

Some other verses to take note of: "To wait for His Son from heaven (the rapture), whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who is our Deliverer from the coming wrath."

(Deliverer—Alford; Who Rescues—Pulpit Commentary; Drags us away—Liddell & Scott; Delivers us from the Wrath Coming—Ellicott)

"God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:9).

"The world says to the mountains 'Fall on us and hide us from the presence of the one who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day OF THEIR WRATH HAS COME; and who is able to stand under it?'" (Rev. 6:16-17). (Here the wrath has begun right up front at the beginning of the seven year tribulation period.)

If one wants to follow a minor viewpoint put forth by lightweights, for an agenda, he has the right to do so. But this is not where I, nor real scholars, are coming from!

Again, without laboring this issue, I suggest strongly those who want a solid answer to the Pre-Wrath issue, get Showers' book. -- Dr. Mal Couch

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what is this "forgiving men their transgressions" in Matthew 6:14 all about? Can we forgive men of their Positional sins so that they can go to heaven?

ANSWER: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) mainly has to do with how the Jews related to each other. It is not about them possessing authority to forgive men of their sins so that they can go to heaven. The Beatitudes (vv. 3-12) that begin chapter 5 start out dealing mainly with how people treat each other. Note the down-to-earth exhortations: "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law" (5:25). "You shall love your neighbor" (5:43). "Beware of PRACTICING your righteousness before men" (6:1). "When you give alms" (6:3). "When you pray" (6:6). Christ's discussion is about PRACTICING righteousness in the Walk!

Then 6:14-15: "For if you forgive men for their transgressions [in their Walk], your heavenly Father will also forgive you [in your Walk]. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions [in your walk]."

This has to do with sin between men in their relationships, not about forgiveness for receiving salvation. Compare Luke 17:3-4. Forgiving comes by repentance or confession. This restores fellowship or the relationship. This is similar to 1 John 1:9. In the walk confession and forgiveness restores our fellowship. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteousness to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" in our Christian walk. The walk is implied, and is clear, in the context: "IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED (in the Christian walk), we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." This is not about our POSITION in Christ but about our WALK (EXPERIENCE) with Christ.

The same in Matthew 6:14. The passage is about the issue of fellowship with each other. By the way, note Luke 17:3-4 again. "If the brother SINS." And "If he SINS against you ..." Then IF HE REPENTS of that sin against you, you are to forgive him!

Anyone who thinks Matthew 6:14 is about getting to heaven they are confused over the salvation POSITION and the Christian living WALK in the spiritual life.

In his Matthew commentary, my old Greek teacher, Dr. Stanley Toussaint, well explained what is going on in the Sermon on the Mount: "Judicial forgiveness is not in view (Acts 10:43) but fellowship (1 John 1:5-9). It is impossible for one to be in fellowship with God as long as he harbors ill will in his heart."

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

THEY KNEW SOMETHING WE DO NOT KNOW …

What did the Christians of the 16th century know about John Calvin we do not know today? Why did thousands and thousands of Protestants across Europe admire and love him so much, while today, there is such criticism against him? The answer to this is, they knew him, and today most critics have never read anything about him. They simply hear a pastor ranting or raving against him having done no research or reading about this great man of God.    Calvin "made" our Christian understanding of biblical doctrine. We would be ignorant of the Scriptures if it were not for the writing of systematic theology, and commentaries, of Calvin. He wrote a great systematic theology, hundreds of theological letters, and a commentary on almost every book of the Bible. Historians say that Calvin made America—what he said biblically was incorporated in the thinking of the Puritans who established this great nation.    A storm was blowing outside on Saturday, December 19, 1562. Many knew that it was bringing forth bad tidings for Switzerland and all of Europe. Calvin was suffering in his bed with maybe several dozen ailments: indigestion, colic, gout, gall stones, rheumatism, asthma, etc. But he was determined to continue on: writing commentaries, lecturing more than three times weekly, writing letters to kings, queens, duchess, admirals, governors, pastors, city councils, Catholic priests, etc.    Those who met with him said he needed no solace, though he comforted those who came to visit with him. He kept on toiling, writing encouragement to the churches in Poland, writing against anti-Trinitarian errors. He suffered with breathlessness, so he could only speak with clipped voice. He was also translating his "Harmony of Moses" from Latin into French, revising his translation of Genesis and Joshua, along with correcting his annotations on the New Testament. When told he ought to slow down, he replied "What, and have the Lord to find me idle?"    Politically, Europe was growing darker. The Catholic Cardinals were planning to send troops against Geneva. The Catholics were the hosts of new devils threatening France! In February, he gave his last sermon on the books of Kings, and he gave his last lecture in the local College on the book of Ezekiel. On February 6, he gave his last sermon on the harmony of the Gospels. He never entered the pulpit again.    By now, his body was so weak he could only take a few steps at a time. He knew the end was near. He often said, "O Lord, how long?"    On March 6, 1564, his friend Beza wrote "His bodily sufferings increased during the previous month." On March 10, some pastors visited him and found him sitting up but unable to draw a breath. He murmured, "I believe this will be my end, and that God will take me home." He was given 25 gold pieces as a gift but ended up giving most of it away. The very day before his death he preached his last sermon. On the 27th he was carried to the Town Hall and was presented before the Town Council of the Two Hundred. He spoke with great difficulty. He said, "I feel that I am now in this place for the last time."    One Zanchius wrote to Bullinger, "If the Lord takes away Calvin, what can we say but that He is angry with us because of our INGRATITUDE." On Easter, April 2, he was carried to church where, with shortness of breath, he joined in with the singing of the Psalms. His face was alight with joy!    On April 25th, he made out his will. It was full of gratitude to God and confidence in His redeeming grace!    On the same day, he told a group of ministers:    "When I first came to Geneva and this church there was practically nothing here. All was confusion. They set dogs on me which seized me by the coat and legs. I went to the City Council where they were fighting among themselves. They shouted at me, "Withdraw, leave!" I replied, "I shall not go!"    Before the men left he took farewell of all, and shook hands with each. All were melted to tears.    Calvin died on May 27, 1564. A few days later the funeral was held with almost the entire town showing up. He was buried in a common cemetery with no extraordinary pomp, just as he commanded, without any gravestone. He died at the age of fifty-four years of age. The only epitaph he would have wished was this: "To God alone the glory."   --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, is Christ presently seated on His throne, and, what about "His authority" as mentioned in Matthew 28:18?

ANSWER: No. He is on His Father's throne as mentioned in Psalm 110:1-2. Christ said in Revelation 3:21: "I have sat down with My Father on His throne." Christ's throne is the earthly, Davidic throne, on which He will sit when His second coming takes place. He told His disciples: "When the Son of Man (the Messiah) comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will SIT ON HIS GLORIOUS THRONE. And the Nations will be gathered before Him, … Then the King will say to those on His right ... Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from before the foundation of the world" (Matt. 25:31-34).

Notice also, that Christ will receive from His Father "the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever; and His kingdom will have no end" (Luke 1:32-33).

All of this is future and yet to take place.

In Matthew 28:18, "Authority" is a bad translation. The Greek word "exousia" is better translated as "power" with "authority" a lesser meaning. Verse 19 better reads: "Having gone then, you disciple all the nations ..." By Christ's power they will be going, and then, they will create disciples 'from' all the nations."

Christ is exercising His power as the sovereign Son of the Father but this is not about His reigning on the throne of His earthly father David. His present power will be activated to do a specific job, and that is, to create disciples.

Christ presently is not using His power to make all things perfect and right. He has not totally subdued sin, or the work of Satan. Satan is still "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4) and he is the ruler of this world (John 12:31) as well as, the "whole world lies with the evil one" (1 John 5:19).

For Jesus to have such power does not mean He is exercising it, though He will someday. The demons are still active, and so is Satan, and so are the forces of evil in the nations. Nicoll seems to have it right when he says about Matthew 28:18-19: "But so far as earth is concerned, the dominion is only a matter of right or theory, but it is to be worked out in time. The commission to the Apostles arises out of the power claimed, that is, all power has been given to "Me on earth, go you disciples therefore and make the power a reality, make disciples of all the nations."

In any form or fashion Christ is not on His throne in part or in whole! He is carrying history forward but He is not subduing everything, though the power has been given, it is not being exercised! That will happen later. The power that Christ has is about the creation of disciples throughout the world in this dispensation.

Thanks for asking,
Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

TAKING AWAY AMERICA!

I know to a certain degree it does not matter. In the big picture of things it does not matter whether people say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." But there is a principle involved. We are shifting as a nation and going in the wrong direction.

A recent survey shows that 61% of Americans prefer "Merry Christmas" but a whopping 35% want the politically correct and neutral "Happy Holidays." They are the ones who want to get rid of Christmas because they are anti-Christ and anti-God, though they would deny this. Six in ten Americans want to be politically correct because they have been brainwashed by the government schools and the media. Guess which group wants to boot Christ out of Christmas? It is the younger crowd of course, those in the 18 to 29 age bracket.

Now guess how this falls in terms of politics? You probably guessed. 91% of Republicans want to keep "Merry Christmas" while 58% of Democrats would to get rid of the greeting. We have been told all along that Democrats have more who are anti-Christian and who detest the idea of Christmas. There is an amusing side to all of this. When they say "Happy Holidays" they are actually saying "Happy Holy" days. But they are too stupid to know this!

Unfortunately, some of those who wish to keep Christmas in the greeting, are comfortable with the idea of keeping the baby Jesus before us. A baby is not very threatening! But to speak about Him as the Savior of the world is probably still a no-no! Yet, I want to commend Fox News for calling Him the Savior and for keeping the idea of Christmas alive in some of their commercials. They are almost the only news organization that did so.

By the way, what will it be like when those 18-29 age people come into their period of greatest influence? The nation will fall even further into the pit. Most of us will be gone, and we'll let them have it! They can go ahead and further the judgment upon this nation. Good bye America! --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

THOSE WHO OPPOSE CALVINISM

Many who oppose Calvinism do not know Bible doctrine nor are they educated about church history. From the period of the Reformation Calvinism was the standard belief that governed all of church history until Arminianism was opposed at the Synod of Dort in Holland. The Methodist became the most outspoken advocates of Arminianism in opposition to Calvinism. It is a known historical fact that Calvinism was the concrete upon which America was placed! In fact, some go so far as to say that Calvin and his theology established this country, though the Puritans, etc.

All evangelical schools, when I was growing up, were Calvinistic in nature, minus Limited Atonement. Dispensational and independent schools, such as Dallas Seminary, Philadelphia College of the Bible, Moody Bible Institute, Dallas Bible College, etc., were all Calvinistic. I taught at all of these schools, full or part-time. This has changed over the years because of outright ignorance in many of our schools. The greatest teachers were Calvinistic, and I taught the same in a course on salvation at Philadelphia. At one time Moody Press published all of Pink's works, which are definitely Calvinistic.

Now these schools were not Covenant in theology but Dispensational. These institutions, and I myself, held to the Sovereignty of God, the Providence of God, absolute election and predestination, eternal security, and total depravity, minus Limited Atonement. Because these schools were so good in the practice of sound interpretation, Limited Atonement was not taught because it is not biblically provable. (Neither is Covenant theology.)

During Calvin's day war was raging between Catholicism, the Reformers, and others such as those who were anti-Trinitarian. By war I mean that those opposing the Reformation were killing those who were in opposition. Servitus was told not to come to Geneva. He was told that he would die if he came. It was the Geneva city fathers that put him to death. Calvin did not have the authority to do that.

I virtually have a major in history. I know what I'm talking about. I have read the entire Reformation history volume of Schaff (the greatest of the church history theologians), which explains all of this. Those who oppose Calvinism are just plain ignorant and are not in our conservative, premillennial, dispensational camp.

Back in the 50s and 60s, when I was passing through the halls of theology, Calvinism was taught in all of our evangelical dispensation schools. Ignorance put it out to pasture! Chafer, the founder of Dallas Seminary, puts Calvinism forward in his systematic theology. The great Greek professor at DTS, Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, was strong as oats in his Calvinistic in the classes in graduate school. No one could outdo him in his teaching of Calvinism from the Greek text. I can explain all of the major passages from the grammar that show the biblical doctrines on the subject.

By the way, Calvinism is not the issue but biblical doctrine is. The great Calvinistic doctrines I mentioned above is the issue, not the name of Calvin! However, why did the entire family of the Reformers across Europe weep bitterly when Calvin died at the early age of fifty? They must have known something that folks today do not know! He was so appreciated and loved because of his brilliance in the Bible. If you are interested I can give you a reading list of books to reference. (All of the great Bible teachers through the ages were Calvinists.) --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

GOD DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING!

He must have gotten mixed up on biology by making male sex and female sex. He is the Creator of all life and He planned out the entire workings of the sexual pro-creation environment. He not only made biology to work the way it does but He embedded emotions and love in the two genders for each other. There is an attraction based on love between the two sexes that makes for a wonderful plan. But He must have made a terrible mistake and failed the human family in creating the marriage bond.    The Lord just got confused. The Sodomites must plainly know more than He does! If the homosexuals are so right why must they remove out right to speak out against the issue? If we are wrong, then our views will fall apart in the realm of rationality. They should not be offended when we object because we apparently just don't know what we're talking about! They have to silence us for this is the only way they can promote their views—that is, complete silence from any opposition is their only safety!    Genesis has to fly in the face of the homosexuals. The Trinity, "Us" was totally involved in the creation of humanity. "Man" in 1:26 should better be translated "Mankind" or humanity because the verse goes on and says that "He made man(kind) in Our image, according to Our likeness," and "LET THEM" that is (man and woman) as a gender different couple are have dominion. Biologically, they both have a sexual distinction to play—God knew what He was doing. The two are meant to be different, and, they join together in order to create the next pair, the children, that will come forth from their sexual union.    Man and woman are created distinct and different, and they are created in His likeness and image (vv. 26-27). Most believe this is referring to Intellect, Sensibility, and Will. A homosexual couple end up in a dead end. They cannot duplicate themselves in creation. They cannot have the same deep emotional attraction because they come from the same sex! They stop with themselves and cannot leave a posterity on the earth.    When God blessed "them" He was blessing the couple that were gender different, not gender-the-same! A homosexual union cannot be blessed. That is, God did not put His stamp of approval upon a same-sex creation! And it was by His marvelous thinking and planning that He made the sexes distinct, not the same! There is no blessing on same-sex unions.    Christ the God/Man, the Son of God, placed His divine stamp of approval on the Genesis account. He said "Have you not read, that He who created them fro the beginning made them male(sex) and female(sex)" (Matt. 19:4). Biologically, they are different and distinct. Yet, together,they come together, in order to form a perfect union that will make the creation of the human species wholly unique, just the way He planned. Again, it is not just about biology, though it begins with biology. It is about the emotion of love also, the attraction of the different sexes that form a union that goes deep in attraction and relationship.      Because our President, Barack Hussein Obama, and our Government, have acquiesced to the demands of such sinners, a judgment will be hanging over the head of our nation. That judgment will soon break forth and bring upon our nation a terrible price that will have to be paid.    Early humanity that fell into homosexuality were given over to "degrading passions" The women exchanged the natural function "for that which is unnatural." "Men abandoned (Gk. "dismissed") the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts ..." "Receiving the due penalty of their error." "They did not acknowledge God any longer." They had "a depraved mind and did the things which are not proper." Finally, "they are worthy of death." (Rom. 1:26-32)    In the February 1987 issue of "The Gay Community News" it was vowed:    "We will sodomize your sons. Women, go on and live with each other! All laws banning homosexual acts will be revoked. The family unit will be abolished. All churches who condemn us will be closed. Our only gods will be handsome men. We shall rewrite history. We shall be victorious."    By the way, expect approval of marijuana soon across the board in the U.S. They are pushing for it in California, and what happens there generally ends up coming into the nation as a whole. It will probably come about by the Federal Courts imposing approval on our country, never mind what the majority of the people want!     America is changing. It is falling deep into the hole of depravity. Too, another report about TV says that in the last five years profanity on the tube has increased 70%. And there is no way to turn this around. We have no control of what is happening in our own nation. It is doomed! --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CHURCH IS GONE IN THE RAPTURE?

The proclamation of the Truth will be gone! There will be no source of truth for the world to draw upon. Paul writes the church is the household of the Lord, "the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). When the church is gone, the truth disappears! Though the Bible is still around during the tribulation, it will be more difficult to understand without the help of those in the church to explain what truth is all about!    The center of the church is Christ. Paul goes on and writes that by common confession "great is the mystery of godliness" (v. 16). The mystery of godliness is about a Person, the Person of Jesus. The full revelation about Him was not revealed until the New Testament. There are certain principles that circle around Him: (1) He was revealed in the flesh, (2) vindicated by the Holy Spirit, (3) seen by angels, (4) proclaimed among the nations, (5) believed on in the world, and (6) taken up into glory (vv. 15-16).    The church is the depository of the truth if it is proclaiming the Word of God. If not, the church can say all kinds of stupid things. Only the Bible is true; and only the Bible gives forth reliable truth.    By the way, don't listen to the foolish Progressive Dispensationalists who say that "glory" is never used to describe heaven. How crazy! Here Paul says that Christ was "taken up into glory." How clear can you get with such a statement?    "Taken up" is an Aorist Passive of the verb "analambano," "to go up." "Into" or "in" is the preposition "en" in Greek. ("In" as "in glory" is its most common use.) It is almost always translated with the idea to in or up to … The passage means "the place of glory," or heaven. (Nicoll)    --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

HOW TOLERANT ARE WE TO BE IN THE WORLD?

In America, we are to tolerate other people, just as they are to tolerate us. But we do not have to tolerate false ideas or accept as equal to truth that which is a lie. Proverbs 29:27 says: "An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked." In other words when the righteous and the upright speak, the wicked hate what they say. The wicked are intolerable to those who are upright. They can't stand our ideas or the truth we speak from the Scriptures.    Van Leeuwen writes that we are not to be so tolerable that we end up elevating moral ambiguity to the point of making it relative and not absolute. "At that point tolerance is no longer a virtue, nor is it right, but it is morally indifferent in the face of evil. … Tolerance is not an adequate response to evil." The Bible is inspired by God and therefore it is correct in what it teaches. If this was not so, it is not from God!    Inspiration of Scripture gives us the absolutes for life and for eternal issues. The writers are inspired by the Holy Spirit.     --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

ASK DR. COUCH

Dr. Couch, would we say that the Jews in the Old Testament were sanctified by the Law of Moses, if they kept it? ANSWER:  I don't think so. Looking up all the words for "sanctification" in the OT, we do not find that idea mentioned. The Lord says the seventh day of the week is to be sanctified, He is sanctified in Israel, the sons of Israel would be sanctified, but the work of the Law in sanctifying Israel is not mentioned.    In Hebrew, the word "sanctify" and its related words, is Ko'desh. It means "to be holy," "to set something aside," thus making it unique or special.    In the NT there is Positional Sanctification that takes place when one accepts Christ as Savior. And then there is Progressive Sanctification, in both the OT and the NT, that is, we are to become more and more sanctified as we grow or mature. This was to be true for both the Jews in the OT and for the Christians in the NT.    The OT Jews were told "Be sanctified" or "Be holy; for I am holy" (Lev. 11:44), and for Christians in the NT (and quoting Leviticus 11:44), we read "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Pet. 1:15-16).    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch  (1/11)

ASK DR. COUCH

Dr. Couch, how were the OT believers progressively sanctified? ANSWER:  To be sanctified means "to be holy." The Hebrew word is Ko'desh and all its variants have to do with being holy, to sanctify, or to be sanctified. The main Hebrew verses are in Leviticus 11:44; 19:2 which say "Be holy; for I am holy." In the context of 11:44 it has to do with staying clean from eating unclean animals. The verse before says "Do not render yourselves detestable" by eating unclean things. The reason is that it is God who brought the Jews "up from the land of Egypt, … thus you shall be holy for I am holy" (v. 45). Further, this is part of the Mosaic law. In other words, they were to keep the law in order to be clean or holy. Verse 46 says "This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, ..."    Verse 44 then is used by Peter to tell church saints that they are to be holy. Peter writes "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Pet. 1:14-16).    Peter applies the Leviticus 11 passage on being holy and not eating unclean things to the believer to remind them to be morally holy in all things. If I said that this was progressive holiness for the OT saints, I meant it in the sense that no one can become instantly holy in their spiritual walk. We progressively walk toward holiness, and so did the OT saints. And even with this, no one becomes holy all at once, in fact, no one becomes completely holy in the spiritual walk. We grow in holiness, and so did the OT saints, but no one becomes completely perfect or holy in this life.    There were OT saints, or holy ones. "As for the holy ones (Ko'deshim) that are in the earth ..." (Psa. 16:3). There are saints in the dispensation of the law, saints in the church dispensation, and there are tribulation saints, those who are saved during the tribulation (Rev. 13:7). While all of these are sanctified or seen as holy, they are not of the same dispensation.    All believers are saints Positionally, and all saints are growing and learning to Walk in holiness Progressively. Position and Walk are different. Our POSITION before God is established because we are in Christ; our walk is PROGRESSIVE because we are growing in time.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch  (1/11)

THE RETURN OF THE SHECHANIAH GLORY OF CHRIST

The word means "the Presence" as the Presence of the Lord. Actually, the Hebrew Lexicon says the word should be translated "to be intimate with Jehovah" as if dwelling with Him. The word means "to cause to dwell." It is speaking of the Messiah dwelling with His people, and/or, His people dwelling with Him.    The word comes from descriptions especially drawn from the building of the messianic temple in Ezekiel 40-48. This has to be about Christ, His dwelling with the Jewish people at the temple site in the millennial Jerusalem. For example, we read in Ezekiel 43: "The glory of the Lord came into the house ..." (v. 4), and "the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house (the temple)" (v. 5).    The Messiah said to Ezekiel: "This is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name" (v. 7). Also, "I will dwell among them forever" (v. 9b).    Because of the sins of Israel, the Shechaniah (the Divine Presence) of Christ left the temple in Ezekiel's days. "The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood over the mountain which is east of the city" (11:23), that is, over the Mount of Olives. Unger says, "Ezekiel saw the glory returning and heard the all-glorious voice of God; he saw the earth being illuminated with His glory."    "The prophet saw envisioned the glory of the Lord entering the house." "Ezekiel heard the Lord Himself (the preincarnate Christ) declaring to him as the son of man, … the divine glory takes up His residence in the Kingdom Temple, … The Lord's manifested presence there will make it the executive focal point of the whole earth."    We are getting closer to the days of the coming of Christ!   -- Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

CHILDREN TURNING AGAINST PARENTS

Paul reminds us of what the apostasy will be like. That apostasy is now coming upon our generation, and it will only grow worse. He writes: "But realize this that in the last days difficult times will come" (2 Tim. 3:), "for men will be lovers of self … disobedient to parents" (v. 2). In the Greek text it better reads "They will not comply with parents," "They will reject, withhold belief in," "Will not be persuaded about parents."    This is a growing problem even among Christian families, with the younger generation refusing to listen to what the parents say. While it can be happening among children and grandchildren who are younger, Paul starts this section out with saying "For men ("anthropos") will be lovers of self ..." So Paul is not just addressing the issue of teenagers but of those who are older, who are repudiating the wisdom and the words of their older parents. If he were writing about younger people, or teens, he would probably used the Greek word "teknon" (children). But he used the word describing grown men.    By using "anthropos" some believe Paul could be referring to mankind in general not just men ("andros"). In other words this will be the state of humanity in general. It will be the ongoing tendency of culture as a whole! Society is changing rapidly and it will not turn about. This is the state of apostasy that is destroying our world. The judgment is coming—the seven year period of tribulation or wrath. The blessing is that the church will not go through that terrible period that we can now see on the horizon.    The apostle Paul writes "God has not destined us to wrath but for obtaining salvation ('deliverance, rescue') through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:9). The rapture will remove the child of God from this awful judgment that will fall upon the rebellious world! Remember, the tribulation is so bad that if it were not stopped no one would survive, Christ said (Matt. 24:22).    --Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, will people have an opportunity to be saved during the tribulation? ANSWER:  Yes, indeed, during every dispensation there is an opportunity to be saved. See Revelation 14:6-7. This may be the last chance for the lost to accept the gospel. In verse 6 it sounds like there is "another" gospel besides the one we all know about. But actually, the Greek text simply reads "having gospel (that is) eternal (gospel) to preach to those who live on the earth ..." The gospel of Christ is characterized as a gospel that lasts forever. It is eternal! And people are saved only by it no matter what dispensation they live in.    Notice the gospel will be preached to the entire earth, "to every nation and tribe and tongue and people." To believe is to "fear God, and give Him glory." "Judgment is coming, thus belief is to fear Him and worship Him. Notice how God is classified as the Creator, He "made the heaven and the earth, and sea and springs of water." While technically, the gospel is about the death and resurrection of Christ for sinners, the gospel encompasses a total presentation of the God who saves men. He made men as well, and, He is to be feared and worshiped.    Actually John wrote that "the hour of judgment came" (Aorist Tense, not a Perfect Tense). At the point of Revelation 14, it had already arrived, it was time for human judgment to begin. Men could not escape judgment, it had come upon the human race.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch  (1/11)

THE TIES THAT DON'T BIND!

It seems to be happening more and more. The ties in families are being broken. There is a separation between grandchildren and grandparents, and even between older children and their older parents. More and more, the grandchildren are not Christians, and, it is breaking the hearts of the grandparents. Thank the Lord that this is not 100% but it is an epidemic, especially between Christian grandparents and those coming up behind them.    It is like a grand canyon of separation. The grandchildren know less about Christ and about salvation. They are influenced by the culture, by liberal churches they may attend, and by the skepticism they are hearing in college. While there may be a multitude of additional factors, one of the most obvious seems to be "separation" of how the grand kids were raised, and the separation they experience from the influence of the grandparents. Too, the children of Christian parents apparently did not receive a strong Christian raising, either at home or in a good church. Older parents seem to have taken for granted the Christian influence their children received. Their Christianity was not something that came along automatically. Christianity has to be lived and nurtured, and if not, many children coming up in a Christian environment were expected to become believers "automatically." And of course, it does not happen that way.    Without a doubt, there is a wall of separation between the older and the younger generation. TV and computer technology are also playing a part. And outright liberalism is impacting the younger generation that the older generation does not understand. Thank the Lord, this is not happening to all families but is happening enough to cause us to grieve and be terribly concerned!    Statistics are proving this point. More and more those claiming to be believers in the younger generation are shrinking in numbers. This is part of the prophesied apostasy—it is here already and it is sweeping away a whole generation of those who are younger! "The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away ("will themselves stand away"--apostatize) from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons ..." (1 Tim. 4:1).   --   Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

FORGIVING UNILATERALLY

I have heard recently someone say, "Well, I just forgave them (even though they said nothing about repenting or asking for forgiveness!) Where did Christians get this idea? God does not forgive us just automatically without confession or repentance.    In our spiritual walk with the Lord, He does not forgive us in our walk with Him unless we repent. We read "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins ..." (1 John 1:9). I'm often asked about the forgiveness of the soldiers who crucified Christ. He forgave them because He said, "They do not know what they are doing!" (Luke 23:34). The soldiers were innocent of a crime when they put Him on the cross. They were just carrying out their orders and had no malice aimed at Him.    But the Lord said in Luke 17:4: "If one sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' [then] you forgive him." We do not simply forgive automatically those who harm us. They need to "repent" before the Lord. And admit to us that they wronged us as well. We then do not hold out our forgiveness and acceptance with those who confess that they have wronged us. We accept their apology and their honesty that they have hurt us. If their repentance is truly genuine, we are required to accept their confession. But we don't do it with nose in the air!     But to go running after people only allows them to say, "Well, that wasn't so bad. I could say and do what I wanted to with no consequences!" People have to learn to be responsible for their sins, and, they have to be given an opportunity to confess their sins, bring them up, and ask forgiveness.  --   Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, is there not confusion when words are added to verses, even to make those verses more clear? Does this not confuse people who are trying to figure out what the Bible is saying? They may think that someone is tampering with the Bible. ANSWER:  This points to the fact that pastors, and all Bible teachers, are teachers of the Word when they truly know the Bible from the Hebrew and Greek text. It must be remembered that when we read a Bible translation that it has limitations. The Greek (or Hebrew) grammar expands the meaning. There are tenses, moods, cases, grammar, voices, persons, and number. And if the teacher does not expand these elements and show to the reader how they work in translation, the student is short-changed and does not get precisely what the Bible is saying. That is why when I was coming up in the ranks no one who was going to be a pastor, or a Bible teacher, failed to study Hebrew and Greek in order to fully understand what the Bible verses were saying.    To expand Bible verses according to the grammar is important. No one would dare enter the pulpit unless he had those skills. Those skills are now dying and being forgotten. The layman has to be told that he must trust the scholar to some degree or he will not get the full picture of what a passage is teaching and saying by the Holy Spirit.    Laymen can get pretty far down the road by purchasing good commentaries and Bible reference material.    We really do the same thing when it comes to science. Behind the working of your car are the engineers and scientists who designed and put the car together on the basis of science, otherwise, you don't have a car! You trust that scientist when you turn the key on. Science has made the car work. The same with Bible study, in fact, theology used to be called "the Queen of the Sciences" because so much scientific study goes into Bible study: History, geography, word origins, grammar, sociology, etc.    Here is an illustration that may get the point across: the translation of John 3:16: "For thus, loved the God the world (culture), for this reason, the Son, the only born One, He gave, in order that whoever, the one who is believing into Him, should himself not be destroyed, but that he might possess life eternal."    When I decided to go into the ministry I was told that my bachelors degree should be Social Science because it would give me these disciplines as a background for Bible study. And this was right. Those disciplines helped me immensely.    I hope this helps.    Thank you, Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

ISRAELOLOGY SET REDONE!

By popular demand we have republished a limited number of our popular set that looks at every aspect of prophecy concerning the nation of Israel. Some of the most well-known Bible teachers contributed included Dr. Andy Woods. The set, included in an attractive album, is for a donation of just $35. It will give you hours of study and insights in the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation.

Act Fast! The sets won't last! Make your check out to Scofield Ministries and mail to: 120 CR 3222, Clifton, TX 76634. (1/11)

Hebrew Word Study

Proverbs 12:8 is a powerful verse that tells us of the damage done by sin in the life. It reads "A man will be praised according to his insight, but one of perverse mind (heart) will be despised."

To be smart and wise will bring honor and respect but the one who is continually seen as a gross sinner will pay a price! The Rabbis translate "praised" as "commended." They write: "Ability to form a sound judgment in everyday matters, common sense. The proverb is a tribute to intellectual clearness, without special reference to, but doubtless with inclusion of, the moral and religious sides of life."

The word "perverse" is a word in Hebrew that means "wrecked, rubble, disturbed." The sinner is wrecked and ruined in his sin. He is like a heap of rubble, or, he is like one disturbed in the mind. It is in the Niphil form in the grammar. It could read "He is himself wrecked and disturbed." The word mind is actually the Hebrew word for the heart (L'ev). The persistent sinner is like one who has a destroyed and perverse heart. His heart is like a discarded heap of rubble! It is good for nothing except for sinning! --Dr. Mal Couch

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what is the difference between Justification and being born again? Or is there a difference? ANSWER: JUSTIFICATION: "Justification" is a legal term that shows God has done something to the believer that makes him acquitted, declared righteous, that satisfies His divine requirement. Being "born again" has to do with spiritually becoming a child of God. The Greek words "righteous, righteousness, just, justification, justify" all come from the one word "to legally acquit" (dikaios). These Greek words are all related to the Hebrew word "tsadeek" as found in Genesis 15:6. "Abraham believed God and "it was reckoned," "accounted," "declared to" him for "righteousness." In other words, the Lord declared Abraham as righteous in His divine mind, or divine declaration. Abraham then was seen as righteous in the eyes of God. My illustration below helps me understand what God does when He declares one righteous: If you put a million dollars in my bank account, it could be said that I now have a million dollars applied to my account! But I didn't earn it; it was applied to me; or reckoned, account to me; I did not work for it, but I am now seen as a millionaire. If you looked at my bank account you would see me as a millionaire though I did not earn it (I could not work for it) but it is now seen as mine by God's declaration! We do not earn righteousness by works; it is the righteousness of God that comes through Christ and is given to us in His divine purpose. God now sees me as righteous! The apostle Paul said that Abraham's faith was "counted, imputed to him for righteousness" (Rom. 4: 3, 5). And "God imputed, accounted righteousness to him without works" (v. 9). And "not by works of righteousness are we saved" (Titus 3:5). "Righteousness comes by faith [not by works]" (Heb. 11:7). "Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness" (James 2:23). BORN AGAIN: "To be born again" means "to be again birthed." By this, I become a child of God and I am related to Him by faith. There are two classes of people in the world. Those born of God by faith and those who are the children of the devil (1 John 3:10). By faith, we are now sons of God (v. 2). God has exercised His power whereby we become children of God (John 1:12). Before, we were by nature children of wrath (that is, due wrath) (Eph. 2:3). We are now "followers of God, as dear children (5:1), and we are to walk as children of light (v. 8). Both expressions, (1) to be made righteous, and (2) to be born again, work together in Titus 3:5, though they are separate ideas. The verse reads: "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done (in, by means of) righteousness (or righteous acts), but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration (again generating, again birthing, new birth) and renewing (again newing, remaking) of the Holy Spirit." The expression "children of God," or "child of God" comes from the Greek word "teknon" which is a masculine word. It is sometimes translated as "son" or as "children, child" of God. Take your choice. Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, I heard of a view that says the Jews were saved by being obedient to the Law, and that they were saved when they were brought out of Egypt; they acted in a way worthy of their high calling of Law-keeping! How are the Jews saved? ANSWER: They are saved by personal faith just as Gentiles. There is a national redemption in that the nation was to keep the Law as a whole but in the final analysis, they each must believe in what God said to them, trusting Him, in order to be justified. "Abraham believed God and (his belief) was counted to him as righteousness" (Gen. 15:6). All Jews afterwards were saved in the same way. We could probably go to hundreds of verses that would show Jews are saved by faith but here are a few. For example Acts 15 and the Jerusalem Council Peter said: "God made no distinction between us (Jews) and them (the Gentiles), cleansing their hearts by faith. … But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, IN THE SAME WAY AS THEY ALSO ARE" (vv. 9, 11). See also Romans 10:1-14 which is written to the Jews. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. … But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, ..." (vv. 4, 6). "The Scripture says, 'Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed" (v. 11). "Salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile" (Rom. 1:16). "He saved us not on the basis of works which we have done (by means) of righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of the 'again birthing' and the 'remaking' done by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5). This is applicable not only for Gentiles but for Jews also! Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)