Sunday, September 26, 2010
Record-breaking Sunday Morning Attendance!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Old Testament Salvation
Many people are confused about how people were saved in the Old Testament. Most of the confusion comes from dispensationalists, who teach that we are living in “the age of grace” or “the dispensation of grace,” and that the people living in the Old Testament were saved by their works or adherence to the law. Others teach that people in the Old Testament had to perform animal sacrifices in order to be saved. These teachings are simply not true. Everyone who has ever been saved has always been saved by grace through faith without works, just as we are today.
The doctrine of salvation by faith alone was taught by every Old Testament prophet:
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
In reading the Old Testament, we see many examples of people being saved just as we are today. For example, the book of Romans tells us that we are saved by simply believing on the Lord Jesus and calling upon him for salvation:
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Notice these scriptures from the book of Genesis:
Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
Genesis 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. (Abraham)
Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. (Abraham)
According to Genesis 12, Abraham called upon the name of the LORD. God makes it clear in Romans 4 that Abraham was justified by his faith, and not by his works.
Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
David was saved the same way centuries later, long after the law of Moses given:
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Romans 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Righteousness was imputed unto Abraham and David by faith alone without works. Later in the chapter, God tells us that we are saved the same way that both Abraham and David were saved:
Romans 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
Galatians 3 teaches the exact same doctrine concerning Abraham’s salvation:
Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Galatians 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
The Bible also clearly records that David called upon the name of the Lord in order to be saved:
Psalm 116:10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
Psalm 116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
The Bible tells us again that we are saved the same way that David was:
2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
2 Corinthians 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
We are not living today in a special “age of grace” or “dispensation of grace.” The age of grace began in the book of Genesis! When Abel died and went to Heaven, he went to Heaven because of God’s grace. He did not deserve to go Heaven, just as we do not deserve to go to Heaven. Everyone who has ever gone to Heaven has gone by grace.
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” – Genesis 6:8
Do not be deceived by those who teach a works-based salvation. Man has never been saved by his own works and never will be saved by his own works.
Many will ask the question, “What name did they call upon to be saved in the Old Testament since they did not yet know the name of Jesus?”
First of all, what name did Abraham call upon?
Exo 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Abraham called upon the name of “God Almighty.” David called upon the name of “the LORD” or “Jehovah.” We call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The common denominator is that we all call upon the name of the same person by faith in order to be saved. God Almighty = Jehovah = Jesus Christ who was God in the flesh.
Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Now that Jesus Christ has been revealed in the flesh, no one can be saved without acknowledging the fact that he is the only saviour, and without believing in his death, burial, and resurrection:
1John 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
We know much more than the Old Testament saints knew since we are living after Jesus Christ has already come, and since we have the entire completed Bible at our fingertips. However, the method of salvation has not changed. We are saved by calling upon the name of the Lord by faith, just as they were.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Glen Schunk "The Halls of Hell" 1969 Canoga Park, CA
From the record sleeve:
"The two messages on this record were preached during Dr. Glen Schunk's 4th campaign at Faith Baptist Church, Canoga Park, California. In this campaign hundreds of people attended, and 216 professed salvation.
"Many hundreds of people have wanted a recording of Dr. Schunk's life story so during our campaign, several on our staff urged him to make the recording. on the other side of the record is one of the most powerful messages on Hell I have ever heard. God used these two messages to bring hundreds to Jesus Christ.
"In 1970 during the Schunk meeting, I witnessed, what I believe to be, the greatest revival of my life. During that great campaign, 287 people made professions of faith in Christ.
"In my opinion, Dr. Schunk is one of the most powerful and Spirit-filled evangelists in America today. I trust you will be able to use this record over and over, playing it for friends and neighbors, influencing them to put their faith in Christ."
- Dr. Roland Rasmussen, Pastor
Faith Baptist Church, Canoga Park, California
Side One: "The Halls of Hell"
Side Two: "Life Story"
www.hardpreaching.com
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Arresting Officer in Pastor Anderson Abuse Case Running for Judge in Wellton!
Remember DPS Officer M. "Russ" Jones who was involved with the arrest, tasering, and abuse of Pastor Anderson at the Wellton Sector Border Patrol checkpoint last April? Well now he is running against Judge Cora Romine for Justice of the Peace in Wellton!
If Officer "Russ" Jones were to be elected as judge in Wellton, he would be the one deciding all future misdemeanor cases coming out of that checkpoint! How in the world could he be fair and impartial as a judge?!
This was the arresting officer who after 28 years as a DPS officer had to read Pastor Anderson's rights to him from a cue card and still jumbled them up! Apparently people's rights aren't very high on this man's list of important things for him to know as a police officer. He was also the officer who refused to let Pastor Anderson use a bathroom until he had asked over 10 times. He was also the officer who testified three times in court that he had twice ordered Pastor Anderson to move his vehicle. His testimony was proven false to the jury by the camcorder video recording.
Russ Jones is also one of the defendants listed in Pastor Anderson's lawsuit. He is being sued on 5 counts:
1. Wrongful Arrest and Imprisonment
2. Assault and Battery
3. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
4. Negligence and/or Gross Negligence
5. Deprivation of Civil Rights
From his Campaign Facebook Page:
HE IS:
- Honest
- Respectful
- Fair and Unbiased
- Patient
- Decisive
HE EXHIBITS:
- Good communication skills
- Knowledge of the law
- Good Common Sense
Monday, August 30, 2010
Verity Baptist Church - Sacramento, CA
http://www.veritybaptist.com
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Jury returns NOT GUILTY verdict on ALL counts in Pastor Anderson trial on 8/13/10
(Note: this narrative can be freely copied and/or drawn from and is not copyrighted whatsoever. This narrative was written by Pastor Anderson himelf).
On
The two charges were “obstructing the highway” and “resisting an order directing, regulating, or controlling a motor vehicle,” and involved an incident on April 14, 2009, when Pastor Anderson refused a warrantless search of his vehicle at an internal border patrol checkpoint at mile marker 78 of eastbound I-8, 75 miles east of Yuma, AZ (55 miles north of the international border). The 1 hour and 15 minute standoff ended with Border Patrol and Arizona DPS officers shattering out the car’s windows, tasering Pastor Anderson for 18 seconds, and maliciously shoving his face into broken glass and roughing him up before taking him to the hospital and then ultimately to jail.
A six person jury from Wellton, AZ, found Pastor Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church not guilty on the count of “obstructing the highway.” When asked why, one of the jurors stated that “they were the ones who stopped [Pastor Anderson] and caused [him] to be in the roadway against [his] will, and they had no right to send [him] to secondary to be searched.”
The jury found Pastor Anderson not guilty of “resisting an order directing, regulating, or controlling a motor vehicle” because the statute states that you must be resisting an order from a peace officer directing your motor vehicle, and border patrol agents are not peace officers. The DPS officers who later arrived on the scene were peace offices, but although DPS Officer Jones testified in court that he twice ordered Pastor Anderson to move his car to secondary, video evidence revealed that in fact he never ordered Pastor Anderson to go to the secondary inspection area. He only ordered him to get out of his car, which is not an order regulating a motor vehicle. Therefore he could not have resisted an order that he never received. In addition, before Officer Jones even spoke with Pastor Anderson, he had already put stop sticks in front of the tires of the car which would have made it impossible for him to send Pastor Anderson to the secondary inspection area.
A few new facts about the incident surfaced in the course of the two day trial as the state’s witnesses were questioned and cross examined. A detective with DPS who is an expert in dog handling and dog training and which had actually had experience with the border patrol K-9, “Jerry C”, that supposedly alerted to “concealed humans or narcotics” in Pastor Anderson’s vehicle, explained that the dog did not actually alert to the Pastor’s vehicle. In his words, the dog “was on the fringe” or on the verge of an alert by dragging its handler toward the vehicle, but that an actual alert would have consisted of the dog sitting down where the supposed contraband was located. The dog never sat down.
Another discrepancy was clarified by the same witness about the length of time that Pastor Anderson was tasered. The first deployment of the taser lasted for 13 seconds, and the second deployment lasted for 5 seconds. It was previously thought that the two deployments were back-to-back, but the state’s witness produced evidence that there was a 3-4 second break between the 13 second deployment and the 5 second deployment. “I sure didn’t feel that break!” said Pastor Anderson. “That just tells me that the 50,000 volt torture session lasted for 22 seconds instead of 18 seconds.”
Another interesting piece of testimony was when DPS Officer Jones and DPS Officer Jeff Mitchell were questioned about the photographs showing large amounts of Pastor Anderson’s blood in the exact shape of his head on the jagged broken glass of what used to be the driver’s side window. Both officers stated that they had no clue as to how or why the Pastor’s head made contact with the jagged edge of the window. According to Pastor Anderson, one of the border patrol agents grabbed his head and purposely shoved it down into the broken glass while he was being tasered in order to “control” his head. The DPS officers stated that they were too far away to see Pastor Anderson being extracted, but that in all their many years of experience which included extracting people through open car doors many times, no one’s head had ever made contact with the broken window sill.
The two “not guilty” verdicts beg the question of why the Pastor was tasered and brutalized since according to
As one of the six jurors shook Pastor Anderson’s hand on his way out of the courtroom, the juror told him, “Thanks for standing up for our rights as Americans.”