Do evildoers prosper? Is it possible to fall from grace? Should we fear God? Will the righteous flourish? Important questions, aren’t they? Or is it all contradictory nonsense? Let’s have a look.<\/p>\n
151.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>How should we treat our enemies?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> We should hate them and wish them evil.<\/span> (Psalm 35:6,8,\u00a0 55:15,\u00a0 58:6-7,\u00a0 68:23,\u00a0 69:22-28,\u00a0 83:9-10,\u00a0 83:15-17,\u00a0 109:6-14,\u00a0 139:22,\u00a0 Lamentations 1:21-22,\u00a0 3:64-66,\u00a0 1 Corinthians 16:22) 152.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Has anyone ever ascended into heaven?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> Some have ascended into heaven.<\/span> (Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11, Hebrews 11:5) 153.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Did Enoch die?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> No<\/span> (Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5) 154.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Was Enoch the sixth or the seventh from Adam?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> He was the seventh from Adam.<\/span> (Jude 14) 155.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Will Ephraim return to Egypt?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> No<\/span> (Hosea 11:3-5) 156.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>When was Eve created?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> After Adam and all the animals were created.<\/span> (Genesis 2:20-22) 157.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Is everyone descended from Adam and Eve?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> Some are not.<\/span> (Hebrews 7:3) \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 158.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Is God the creator of evil?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> No<\/span> (Psalm 5:4, 1 John 4:8) 159.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Do evildoers prosper?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> Those who do evil are made desolate.<\/span> (Psalm 34:21) 160.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Did Moses see God face to face?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> No, he only saw his back parts.<\/span> (Exodus 33:20-23) 161.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Is Salvation by faith alone?<\/strong><\/span><\/a> Salvation is not by faith alone.<\/span> (Psalm 62:12, Proverbs 10:16 and many more references) 162.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Were the man with Paul nocked to the ground?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> No, they remained standing.<\/span> (Acts 9:7) 163.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Is it possible to fall from grace?<\/span><\/strong><\/a> No<\/span> (John 10:28, Romans 8:38-39) 164.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>How many years of famine? <\/strong><\/span><\/a> Three years of famine<\/span> (1 Chronicles 21:11-12) 165.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Is it OK to call your father (or anyone else) father?<\/strong><\/span><\/a> Yes<\/span> (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Ephesians 6:2, 2 Kings 2:12, 6:21, 1 John 2:13-14)
\nWe should love them, be kind to them, and treat them well.<\/span> (Exodus 23:4, Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:35)
\nPartly right<\/strong>. <\/em>Its here about opponents in daily life; not about enemies in war.<\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>. <\/em>It has nothing to do with hate. All references except 1 Corinthians are concerned with enemies who have killed or are ready to kill. In all these cases the believer asks God to intervene and to act with the enemy according to his brutal intention of killing. And Yes, this is expressed in a very plastic way of speaking but it doesn\u2019t go beyond the saying: \u201cAvenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.\u201d (Romans 12:19; 1 Corinthians (Anathema, be accursed.) has to do with the unbeliever who denies the work of Christ: He who rejects God, God can\u2019t but give him over to his fate, the curse that is over the face of the earth since the Fall of man (Genesis 3:17).
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nNo one (except Jesus) has ascended into heaven.<\/span> (John 3:13)
\nRight<\/strong>. <\/em>\u201cNo man has ascended into heaven, but he who descended from heaven: the Son of Man\u201d NASB (John 3:13)
\nWhen God descended on Mount Sinai he later on ascended back to heaven in his own power. Jesus then being the Word of God, the Messiah, descended on Sinai and ascended thereafter into heaven, united with God. So He is the only one who is able to teach about heaven, being the Word, the Messiah, the Son of Man.<\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>. <\/em>Enoch and Elijah did not ascend in their own power into heaven. They were taken up into heaven by the power of God.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes<\/span> (Hebrews 11:13)
\nWrong<\/strong>. <\/em>\u201cAll these died in faith, without receiving the promises<\/strong>, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance \u2026 make it clear that they were seeking a country of their own.\u201d (verse 13, 14 NASB) The critic reckons among \u201cAll these\u201d also Abel, Enoch and Noah, but that is impossible. \u201cAll these\u201d \u00a0means the patriarchs (and Sarah), they were the owners of the promises and not Enoch, nor Noah who are mentioned earlier.<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. <\/em>He was taken up alive.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHe was the sixth from Adam.<\/span> (Genesis 5:3-18,\u00a0 1 Chronicles 1:1-2,\u00a0 Luke 3:37-38)
\nWrong<\/strong>. <\/em>In the referred texts are three genealogies given with in the sixth place after Adam the name Enoch. So he was the sixth after Adam<\/span> and not \u201cfrom Adam\u201d.<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. <\/em>Here is no genealogy. Here is the expression; \u201cAnd Enoch, the seventh from Adam<\/span>, \u2026\u201d\u00a0 The Greek preposition \u201capo\u201d\u00a0 (from) in this respect gives the inclusion of the first one<\/em>. Compare Matthew 1:17 \u201cSo all the generations from (apo) Abraham to David are fourteen generations; \u2026\u201d Counting all the names including that of Abraham and David gives the result of fourteen.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes<\/span> (Hosea 8:11-13, 9:3)
\nRight<\/strong>. <\/em>Because of their sins Ephraim would return to Egypt, that was a severe judgement as they were liberated by Moses from Egypt in the past.<\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>. <\/em>There is here a translation problem. Many English translations had\/have: \u201c\u2026 shall not return into the land of Egypt.\u201d The French Bible de Jerusalem accepted a \u201ctext correction\u201d (the word \u201cnot\u201d would be a failure of latter copyists): \u201c\u2026 shall return into the land of Egypt.\u201d\u00a0 The German Luther Bible made a wish of it: \u201c\u2026 that Ephraim might not return into the land of Egypt.\u201d\u00a0 The Dutch NBG 1951 made a rhetorical question of it: \u201cWill they not return to Egypt?\u201d (figure of speech with the answer: Yes they will.) Also the NIV has this translation, which is grammatically correct.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAt the same time as Adam<\/span> (Genesis 1:27)
\nWrong<\/strong>. <\/em>“\u2026 in the image of God created he him; male and female created He them.” There is here no mentioning of time order at all.<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. <\/em>(And Adam gave names to all cattle and to the fowl of the air \u2026, but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.)
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes, everyone is descended from Adam and Eve.<\/span> (Genesis 3:20)
\nRight<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>. <\/em>It is said here that Melchisedec was: “\u2026 without … descent etc.” This is in Greek agenealog\u00e8tos<\/em>: without genealogy, written descent. NASB translates correctly: without genealogy. So Melchisedek descended as every human being from Adam, but the Bible doesn’t give a written descent of him.<\/span>
\nNo Contradiction <\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes<\/span> (2 Kings 6:33, Isaiah 45:7, Lamentations 3:38, Amos 3:6)
\nWrong<\/strong>. <\/em>In all the referred texts God is not the creator of evil; but he is the Judge of Evil<\/span> and he judges with righteous judgement. Sometimes judging evil He turns his back upon an evil matter\/person and his counter player, the devil, immediately strikes; he pays evil with evil, being the creator of evil. However he cannot go further than God\u2019s judgement about the case. This doesn\u2019t mean in any way that God creates evil. God is light and there is no darkness in Him. He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness and truth \u2026!<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>.<\/em>
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThose who do evil prosper.<\/span> (Job 12:6, Psalm 73:3-7,12, Jeremiah 12:1
\nWrong<\/strong>. \u201cThe tents of the destroyers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure \u2026\u201d In Job the opinion of the evildoers is given, not God\u2019s opinion (Read your text critic!). Even the animals know better, verse 7: \u201cBut now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; \u2026\u201d
\n– <\/em>In Psalm 73:3-12 a first impression of Asaf is given about the wealth of the wicked, but then follows the insight that nothing is what it seems. The final conclusion of Asaf is: \u201cSurely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.\u201d
\n– <\/em>Jeremiah 12:1. The prophet is speaking about the prosperity of the wicked indeed, but with a negative connotation (verse 4): \u201cHow long is the land to mourn, and the vegetation of the countryside to wither? For the wickedness of those who dwell in it, animals and birds have been snatched away, \u2026\u201d It is prosperity on the surface. The critic suppresses an important part of the story. Take note: a half truth is a whole lie! And that\u2018s what the critic offers us.<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. Sometimes it takes time, but it will surely come.
\nNo Contradiction, but extremely accurate!<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes<\/span> (Exodus 33:11, Deuteronomy 34:10)
\nWrong<\/strong>. \u201cThus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.\u201d (Exodus 33:11)\u00a0 <\/em>This is figurative. The used expression is: speak<\/u> face to face (Exodus), or: know<\/u> face to face (Deuteronomy) and not: see<\/u> face to face!!!!
\nThis figurative way of speaking is not unusual: \u201cDo not hide Your face from me, \u2026O God of my salvation!\u201d (Psalm 27:9)<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. This is literal. The expression is indeed: saw<\/u> his back parts.
\nSee the article<\/a>: Can God be seen? and<\/a>: Does God have a body?
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSalvation is by faith alone<\/span>. (Mark 16:16, John 3:18,36 and many more references)
\nRight<\/strong>. Faith (trust) through Jesus brings acceptance by God, that\u2019s what we call salvation. Nearly all the references contain words as saved, salvation etc. Clear and convincing are: Romans 3:28, Ephesians 2:8-9: salvation by faith, not by works and not without works<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nWrong<\/strong>.\u00a0 There is a difference between two things: belief in God and good works. The critic doesn\u2019t see a difference between the two. In all the referred cases he fails to see: salvation by faith, not by works and not without works<\/strong>. The biblical faith is always followed by good works, however they don\u2019t bring salvation, they are a result of salvation. All the referred texts testify about that.
\nSee the article<\/a>: Was Abraham justified by faith or by works?<\/span>
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes, they fell to the ground.<\/span> (Acts 26:14)
\nPartly<\/strong>, those who were \u2018with him\u2019<\/strong>. The occurrence happened at midday (twelve o\u2019clock); that was a moment of prayer to Pharisees. Paul and some others \u2018those who were with him\u2019 separated to say their prayers.<\/p>\n
\nPartly<\/strong>, those who remained on the road<\/strong> (9:7) didn\u2019t fall; in general his fellow-travellers.
\nSee also the article<\/a>: Did the men with Paul hear the voice?<\/span>
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nYes<\/span> (Galatians 5:4, Hebrews 6:4-6, 2 Peter 2:20-21)
\nWrong<\/strong>. \u2018Falling from grace\u2019 refers to those who try to please God BY their behavior rather than relying on HIS GRACE!
\n– Galatians 5:4-5 \u201cYou have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.\u201d The critic didn\u2019t quote verse 5 from which it is clear that Paul gives in verse 4 an unacceptable and also an impossible option for a true Christian.
\n– <\/em>Hebrews 6:4-6 \u201cFor in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance,\u201d <\/em>Here is mentioning about people who were familiar with Christianity and its blessings, however they did not change their hearts and followed their unchanged hearts when the blessings were over. They cannot renew their life again<\/u> to repentance as there was never repentance before. But yes,\u00a0they can renew their life by a real and first repentance. 2 Peter 2:20-21 is to be read in the same way.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. There exists personal security in the term \u201ceternal life\u201d. Receiving eternal life has the implication that it is a possession forever. In other words, Jesus’ promise “Who believes in Me has eternal life,” is the guaranty that He will never leave<\/em> who converted to Him wholeheartedly.
\nRead the article<\/a>.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSeven years of famine<\/span> (2 Samuel 24:13)
\nYes<\/strong>, included are 4 years of famine<\/strong> that earlier passed during David\u2019s reign.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nYes<\/strong>, not included are the 4 years of famine<\/strong> that earlier passed during David\u2019s reign.
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n
\nNo<\/span> (Matthew 23:9)
\nWrong<\/strong>. With a capital the word \u2018Father\u2019 can refer to a spiritual leader, or God. Only for God it is applicable. The idea is that no person should depend on a spiritual leader in such a way that it opens the door for spiritual manipulation. Grace of God is the best and there is no substitute for that given by any spiritual leader. <\/em>It is better to live without any Christian than to live without grace of God!<\/p>\n
\nRight<\/strong>. Without a capital \u2018father\u2019 meaning (1) a biological father; (2) a respected person.\u00a0 <\/em>
\nNo Contradiction<\/span><\/p>\n