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Search a variety of topics from a pro-Torah perspective. Topics include: Christian Apologetics, The Apostle Paul’s Letters, Christmas and Easter, Feast Days (Christian Holy Days), God’s Law, Grace, Holiness, The Holy Spirit, Morality, The Sabbath, Salvation and Slavery.
Apologetics:
Counterfeit gods
Harsh economic realities are casting new light on the pursuits of sex, money, and success for happiness: careers, fortunes, marriages, and retirement security have collapsed. Many feel lost, disenchanted, and resentful. In this inspiring new book, Timothy Keller, one of the country’s most popular spiritual guides, reveals the unvarnished truth about faith, our hearts’ desires, and the pursuit of happiness-and where all of it can ultimately be found.
God Delusion Debate Dawkins Lennox Transcript
Full transcript (pdf) of the God delusion debate between Prof. Richard Dawkins and Dr. John Lennox.
The Apostle Paul’s Letters:
Epistles of Paul from a pro-Torah perspective
An excellent and highly detailed study in the epistles of the Apostle Paul from a Pro-Torah perspective. In this classic studio recorded series by Ronald L. Dart, each of Paul’s letters is studied verse by verse in chronological order and evaluated in the light of the record in Acts. We hope you’ll enjoy your study on the “Epistles of Paul.”
What do Paul’s Letters Really Say?
Marcion was an early Christian bishop who taught that the entire Old Testament should be rejected, and that Paul was the only apostle that could be trusted. Is the ghost of Marcion still at large in the Church today?
Christmas and Easter:
Passover vs. Easter: Does it really matter?
As a follower of Jesus, where are we to turn to when trying to explain Easter? Do we find passages in the Bible that give us solid grounds for defending this holiday or must we look elsewhere? Let’s take a closer look at one of the most widely celebrated Christian festivals, and discover how it relates to Jesus.
My thoughts on Christmas
As a follower of Christ, I believe there are only three options when reviewing the customs and traditions of Christmas: 1) Remove Christ from Christmas, 2) Remove man-made traditions (of questionable origins, as indicated in the paragraphs below) from Christmas, or 3) abandon man-made traditions associated with Christ and adopt God’s Holy Days.
Three Days and Three Nights
Nearly the whole Christian world believes that Jesus was crucified on Friday and rose from the dead Sunday morning. But if you have read the New Testament with any care at all, you may have a lingering question about this. Jesus said plainly that he would be in the grave for three days and three nights. How can we squeeze three days and three nights into the time between Friday, about sunset, and Sunday morning before daybreak?
Feast Days (Christian Holy Days):
Christian Holidays (Holy Days) By Ronald L Dart
Everybody knows there are holidays mentioned in the Bible. But what are they? The holidays that are mentioned in the Bible are usually dismissed as Jewish. But did you know the New Testament Church still celebrated these holidays after Christ’s ascension? Walk through the Christ centered significance of the holidays in your Bible. This series goes in depth to each of the ‘Feasts of the Lord’, ‘Holy Days’, or ‘Sabbaths’ as listed in Leviticus 23 to include: The Sabbath, Passover, Feast of Firstfruits, Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Dart also discusses Christmas and Easter, addressing the questionable origins of these man-made traditions.
A Fresh Look at the Feast of Tabernacles
Why do we observe the Feast of Tabernacles? Is it just in commemoration of Israel and their exodus? What is the symbolism – past, present, and future? Temporary dwellings – searching for the city to come. When will we be home? A very powerful sermon about what God is doing and our role in it.
God’s Festivals in Scripture Part 2: Fall Festivals
The second volume of God’s Festivals in Scripture and History examines the Fall Feasts of ancient Israel: Trumpets, Atonement , and Tabernacles. The study shows how these feasts typify the progression leading to the consummation of redemption.
God’s Festivals In Scripture Part 1: Spring Festivals
God’s Festivals In Scriptures in History challenges Christians to bring about worship renewal by developing a church calendar patterned after the religious calendar God gave to Israel. Such a calendar would celebrate during the course of the year the redemptive accomplishments of Christs first and second Advents. We cannot preach the whole Bible in one sermon. We cannot celebrate the whole story of redemption in one Sabbath. A church calendar patterned after the calendar of Israel can help to do justice to all the great saving acts of God. The first volume on The Spring Feasts examines Passover and Pentecost historically, typologically and theologically. It shows how the Springs feasts of Israel helps us understand the redemptive accomplishments of Christ’s First Advent.
The Thread: By Ronald L. Dart
There is a thread that runs from the beginning to the end of the Bible that few seem to understand. There are specific points along that thread where God chose to act in history. In the Bible, these are called, “the appointments” of God. Because they occurred in connection with events in Jewish history, the days took on the meaning of those events. But then came Jesus, and the great events of his life and work also took place on these appointments. Moreover, the future plans of Christ are also reflected in these appointments along the thread. Traditional beliefs say that the festivals came in with the old covenant and went out with the cross. But as you follow The Thread, you will find that explanation will not hold.
The feasts we find in the Bible are transcendent, and from the very beginning pointed, not so much at Israel’s history, but at the work and ministry of Jesus Christ in history. As you pick up The Thread and follow it, things will become clearer. The Festivals of Jehovah mark places where we can most easily find The Thread. You will understand how each of God’s holidays points to Christ and impacts your life. Understanding this will simplify the Bible and deepen your understanding.
Feast of Trumpets and the resurrection of the dead
There is no idea more central to the Christian faith, than the resurrection of the dead, and yet in those early years of Christianity, it had already been called into question, in the church! It’s in the great 15th chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians that he wrestles with a group that claimed there was no resurrection from the dead. I presume, they still held the doctrine of the ‘Kingdom of God,’ but for them it was a physical kingdom. It was something that a lot of Jews believed in and expected. They expected the Messiah to come, conquer the Romans, set up a rule of God on this earth in the physical sense.
Common objections to the Feast Days
A thorough examination of 3 scriptures commonly used to claim the Holy Days have been done away. Galatians 4:9-10, Ephesians 2:15, Colossians 2:14-16. You cannot make a distinction in the law (including The Holy Days, Sabbath, the law of Moses, the ceremonial laws, and even the Ten Commandments), throwing some out and keeping others; they all stand or fall together. Subjects: The temple as a stage for God’s plan; nailed to the cross; Numbers 5 blotting out; Numbers 6 vows; “where God places His name”.
God’s Law:
The meaning behind God’s Law
Many people ask, “Which Old Testament laws should we keep today?” For example, some may ask whether or not it is right to wear a wool and polyester suit; if this is a violation of the Old Testament law that forbids a garment of mixed fabric, such as wool and linen, to come upon our flesh (Deuteronomy 22:11). Some are concerned as to whether or not the elastic around the band at the top of socks would constitute the mixing of fabrics together; there are people that feel they need to take the elastics out of socks.
Why is it people play “hopscotch” through the Old Testament, keeping this law but not keeping that one right next to it? What is the criteria that we use to decide that we would do this but we would not do that? Others ask us, “Well, is this law (pointing to a passage from scripture) required for salvation?” Well, the answer is “No, that law is not required for salvation. But it is a sin if you do not do that law.”
The Objective of God’s Law
We look at Psalm 119 to answer the following questions: Why was the law given? What is its purpose? What is the objective of the law? The law is intended to keep us from being reproached. It advises. It gives us liberty, provides good judgment, understanding and peace. It leads us to Jesus Christ. It endures forever, every jot and tittle. Unfortunately, it has often been used by men to control people. Grace is not the opposite of the law, it does not void the law; it gives exceptions to the law. The role of the Old Testament for the Christian. A discussion on legalism and salvation.
Grace:
A Doctrine of Grace by Ronald L Dart
Are we to find a doctrine of grace within the Old Testament? Is it really Law vs Grace or has there always been a doctrine of grace? Learn how Grace has always been a part of the picture throughout the entire Bible, and how Law is not in contraction with Grace.
Holiness:
What does it mean to be “Holy”?
When’s the last time you heard a sermon on the doctrine of holiness? It doesn’t sound terribly interesting. “Holy” is sort of apart from men; men are over here and things holy are over there. And it’s a word that’s synonymous with “divine,” it’s a spiritual sounding thing but I’m not all that sure what it means. But, if we understand Paul correctly, without holiness (whatever it is) we shall not see the Lord.
The Holy Spirit:
Filled with the Spirit
Does your spiritual life need rejuvenation? The apostle Paul talks about being filled with the spirit. Listen to Ronald L. Dart on the Holy Spirit.
Walking by the Spirit: A Study in Galatians 5
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible is the Epistle to the Galatians written by Rav Sha’ul (Paul), the so-called Apostle of Liberty. As Shimon Kefa (Peter) wrote:
“And regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him who wrote unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:15-16
Understanding Speaking in ‘Tongues’
There has come some rather strange ideas that people have about ‘speaking in tongues’, what it is all about, what it is for. It is rather electrifying, as a matter of fact, to be sitting in a congregation, or listening to a speaker on the radio, and all of a sudden, hear him break out into some language you have never heard before, and as matter of fact, no one else listening to him has ever heard before. And you think that this is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and it can be a very exciting thing that can take place to someone who believes in their heart of hearts that that is of God.
Morality:
Filled with the Spirit
Does your spiritual life need rejuvenation? The apostle Paul talks about being filled with the spirit. Listen to Ronald L. Dart on the Holy Spirit.
Walking by the Spirit: A Study in Galatians 5
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood books of the Bible is the Epistle to the Galatians written by Rav Sha’ul (Paul), the so-called Apostle of Liberty. As Shimon Kefa (Peter) wrote:
“And regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him who wrote unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:15-16
Understanding Speaking in ‘Tongues’
There has come some rather strange ideas that people have about ‘speaking in tongues’, what it is all about, what it is for. It is rather electrifying, as a matter of fact, to be sitting in a congregation, or listening to a speaker on the radio, and all of a sudden, hear him break out into some language you have never heard before, and as matter of fact, no one else listening to him has ever heard before. And you think that this is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and it can be a very exciting thing that can take place to someone who believes in their heart of hearts that that is of God.
The Sabbath:
The Sabbath FAQ
Is the Sabbath relevant for Christians? Wasn’t the calendar changed? Didn’t the early church meet on the first day of the week? Find out more…
Examining arguments for and against the Sabbath
Most people, who claim to be religious, whether they are Jewish or Christian, believe in keeping the Ten Commandments. That is a given. The Fourth Commandment is the one commandment that is called into question consistently. Even the people who believe that the Ten Commandments were done away with, believe that nine of the Commandments were reinstated in the New Testament. They have some convoluted discussion or argument about how that actually works.
63 Biblical reasons to keep the 7th day Sabbath
The Sabbath is a great point of contention among God’s people. Many become preoccupied with finding reasons not to keep it, or justifying why it should be kept differently than the way God instructed his people to keep it.
What is ‘The Lord’s Day’? By Daniel Botkin
The Apostle John’s mention of ‘the Lord’s day’ is often quoted by Christians who worship on the first day of the week instead of on Saturday, the Sabbath. But is this a correct understanding of this reference? Daniel Botkin explains the context of ‘the Lord’s day’ and the meaning of the Sabbath.
Catholic Church Changed Sabbath to Sunday
Learn how the Catholic Church, at the Council of Laodicea (363–364 AD), changed Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday.
Romans 14 and the Sabbath Commandment
Many use Romans 14 to argue that “all days are now the same” according to God, and that the Sabbath is no longer important, but the context of this passage — particularly its context within second temple Judaism.
Salvation:
How Many Ways of Salvation?
Was the way to salvation different depending on nationality? Race? Circumcision? Works? Explanation of “middle wall of separation” and what ordinances Jesus abolished (from Ephesians 2). Explanation of the burden that neither us nor our fathers could bear (from Acts 15). Keeping the law with no faith is worthless. Having faith and not keeping the law is a contradiction. Explanation of John 1:1 “The Word was with God and the Word was God.” Jesus came to reveal the previously-hidden Father. Concludes with the one way to salvation, Old Testament and New Testament.
Slavery:
Does God Approve of Slavery?
The most significant event of the entire Torah is the Exodus of Ancient Israel from Egypt, and the deliverance of the Israelites from their servitude to Pharaoh. Moses admonished the people in Exodus 13:3, “Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the LORD brought you out from this place.”There is no doubting the fact that Ancient Israel was removed m’beit avadim (מִבֵּ֣ית עֲבָדִ֔ים) or “from the house of slavery.”
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