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Last week we looked at the common Jehovah’s Witness argument that the doctrine of the Trinity is unbiblical because the word “Trinity” is not found anywhere in the Bible. Another argument Jehovah’s Witnesses often employ against the doctrine of the Trinity is this, “The Trinity is unreasonable. It doesn’t make sense!” In responding to this argument it is first helpful to point out that just because a concept is hard to understand doesn’t mean it’s unreasonable. For example, ask the Jehovah’s Witness to explain how electricity works, or radio waves, or how light travels, or Quantum Physics. These might be difficult concepts to grasp, but that doesn’t make them unreasonable. Explain that the same holds true with the doctrine of the Trinity. Second, carefully define the doctrine of the Trinity for the Jehovah’s Witness. Assure them that the Christian belief in the Trinity is not a belief in three gods. Rather, as Christians we affirm that within the nature of the One God there are three eternal Persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Third, walk the Jehovah’s Witness through the biblical case for the Triune nature of God. Highlight passages that speak to the full deity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as well as those affirming the truth that there is only One God (we’ve shared some helpful passages in recent Fast Facts). Lastly, sometimes illustrations can help illuminate the concept of the Trinity for the Jehovah’s Witness. While no illustration for the Trinity is perfect, one of our favorites is an experiment from Physics called, “The Triple Point of Water”. In this experiment, water in a vacuum tube is cooled, and pressure is applied, causing the water in the tube to coexist as liquid, solid (ice), and gas simultaneously.

I was listening to John MacArthur a few days ago and he had a sermon called fake Christians. While I understand being born again is as simple as learning how to move a single pawn; growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is much like learning the rest of the game of chess. John MacArthur quoted Hebrews 10:26 as being about a false convert if you listen closely to the short excerpt from his sermon. However, I interpret it as being about a true believer if I read it in context. Paul (or perhaps some other author) begins v.26 by saying if We sin willfully. 1. I do not believe a new testament writer would be referring to a false convert as "We", since he was writing to believers. 2. I do not believe someone who rejects Christ has ever been sanctified by the blood of the covenant Hebrews 10:29. (This would especially be true considering the Limited atonement.) 3. Hebrews 10:30 states that vengeance belongs to God and it is God that shall judge His people. Remember if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His. This verse is a reference back to Hebrews 10:27, stating that if a believer sins willfully he should expect a fiery judgement from God. 4. Hebrews 10:22-25 addresses believers to draw near with a true heart, Hold fast the profession of our faith, Provoke eachother to love, And not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. 5. Because Hebrews 10:22-25 is addressed to believers common sense also tells us verse 26 is addressed to believers. I am somewhat disappointed that someone as intelligent and as biblically based as Pastor John MacArthur could just glance over such important attention to detail to scripture. Please do remember someone who has never been born again has never been sanctified by the blood of the covenent. I believe it is important to understand that Hebrews 10:26 is meant to us as believers, and not the unsaved. It is a warning towards us; to not sin willfully against God. "My people perish for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6.

Please feel free to post any prayer requests for members, friends, relatives, or for yourself. God loves His children to seek Him in prayer.............. He hears every prayer offered up to Him................. 1 Peter 3:12a For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers........................

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. (Genesis 4:1-8 KJV)

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. (Romans 11:1-36 KJV)

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:8-25 KJV)