| Dr. Couch, Christ speaks of an abundant life in John 10:10. How could that be because of all the persecution Christians have had through the centuries?
ANSWER: The last part of the verse reads: "Might be having life and [might] be having [it] extraordinarily (surpassingly, un-commonly, pre-eminently, over and above, beyond measure). The Greek word is "perissos." Christ is not talking about a quality of physical life. He is addressing the issue of a deeper spiritual life and walk with the Lord. One can be under persecution and even die with peace on one's lips, truly having a deep relationship with Him. In the Christian life there should be peace and contentment, and joy! This is not measured the way people measure the physical walk in this life. This is about a quality of life that the world can never imagine.
The world thinks it is having a good life if there is just happiness or lack of fear. But God goes beyond that. Paul and Silas were singing in a dungeon. How could they do that except by the fact that they knew the God who created them (Acts 16:25)? The text says they were thrown into the inner part of the prison with "their feet fastened in the stocks" (v. 24). They were "singing hymns of praise to God."
This would be called "the peace that passes understanding".
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch (6-10)
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Showing posts with label persecution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label persecution. Show all posts
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Abundant Life
Thursday, June 17, 2010
The Second Coming
| Dr. Couch, I heard you say that the idea of Christ's Second Coming was in the Bible. Can you give me again that passage?
ANSWER: The passage is Hebrews 9:28. There the author of Hebrews writes "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
His first coming was in reference to sin. He went to the cross for sinners. "Shall appear a second time" is almost the same wording as "Second Coming!" Christ's second coming is a salvation but it has to do with being rescued from the persecution of the world. We find this idea in Luke 1:68-72. The idea there is about Christ bringing a salvation, a redemption "for His people" that is a salvation "from our enemies." The second coming is Christ redeeming Israel from her enemies in the world. But His first coming is: "To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:77). The two comings are clearly shown here in Luke and prophesied by the father of John the Baptist, Zacharias.
The Amil guys need to weep and cry. Boy, talking about the Amil guys having bad theology! Part of their problem is they just don't study their Bible!
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch (6-10)
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Sunday, May 23, 2010
Dooms Day Prepping
| Dr. Couch, with all that could be coming on our nation, should we store up food and other items in preparation for troublesome days or simply trust the Lord? I hear both views. What do you think?
ANSWER: You referred to Proverbs 6:6 and Matthew 6:26. Proverbs 6:6 reminds us to be prudent and prepare for troubled days. It says: "Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, ... she prepares her food in the summer, and gathers her provision in the harvest." Matthew 6:26-8 speaks of "Your Father knowing what you need, before you ask Him."
My answer would be "both" "and." Both passages are inspired Scripture so there is a balance with both. If I am reminded to store up and prepare for troubled times, that is God working His providence in my life, causing me to be ready for dark days coming. And whatever I do, this is His doing, working through and with me!
God uses "means" to accomplish His "ends," His "purposes." There are no accidents in His plans. It would be wise and prudent for believers to store up provisions, funds, etc. Save and be wise with your income and your means. Do not squander and spend unwisely, as unfortunately, many of us are doing. I believe we all may wake up and find ourselves in trouble with what is coming upon us. Our grandparents were biblically smart. They saved and "prepared for the winter." Our generation is not that smart but we need to listen carefully to God's Word and take all the Scriptures to heart.
I hope this helps, and thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch (5/10)
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Sunday, September 21, 2008
Does God Guarantee Believers Total Protection?
Dr. Couch, many pastors are teaching their people that God guarantees believers total protection today—food, clothes, health, a roof over their heads, etc. I heard a Christian commentator say that we're not promised material possessions but we are promised food, clothes, and other benefits, though he did not give any scriptural references. The only verse I know that might fit is in Luke 12 concerning Christ's disciples. How do you answer?
The Luke passage won't work. Christ is working with His disciples under the dispensation of Law, not the dispensation of grace. The church/grace dispensation does not start until Acts 2 with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Christ's twelve disciples had a special mission while He was with them. Now under the age of the church things are different. In interpretation, and in application, you have to keep the lines straight; don't get the dispensations mixed up.
There are two truths that work together in this church dispensation. God does give protection to His own. I have no benefits or blessings unless they come from Him. And generally, Christ does watch over His own, however, there is no absolute, rock-solid guarantee of blessing and protection at all times. He can bring difficult things upon us for different reasons when He wants to! We are here as witnesses and often as martyrs to suffer for Christ's sake.
Paul told Timothy that persecution would come (2 Tim. 3:12). He also reminded believers that our bodies are decaying and we should be looking not "at the things which are seen, which are temporal, but the things which are not seen [and] are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Many Christians today are looking at the physical and the material, and think we're going to hold on to this life forever. And this is not true.
Paul goes on with this argument and told the Corinthians that there are no guarantees in this life (6:1-10). He wrote about "beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, as dying yet behold, we live; as punishment yet not put to death …" (vv. 8-9). And, "as poor yet making many [spiritually] rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things [that are spiritual not temporal] …" (v. 10).
Christians are not promised a feather bed here on earth. We are just passing through. Too often (especially with American Christians) we measure everything by the prosperity we have had for so long. But this has been a historic exception and not the norm in church history!
And what we have had, is all rapidly coming to an end, as anybody who can observe well knows. We are moving into dark times that are engulfing the entire world. I am more and more convinced today, even above last week, that we are moving rapidly into the prophesied apostasy. Some have interpreted "the apostasy" in 2 Thess. 2:3 as the rapture of the church. I have just discovered the absolute evidence that proves that is not so. The rapture is clearly taught in 1 Thess. 4 but not in 2 Thess 2:3! The "apostasy" in this verse is the departure from THE Truth and from THE Faith! And this is what is happening in our churches.
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
The Luke passage won't work. Christ is working with His disciples under the dispensation of Law, not the dispensation of grace. The church/grace dispensation does not start until Acts 2 with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Christ's twelve disciples had a special mission while He was with them. Now under the age of the church things are different. In interpretation, and in application, you have to keep the lines straight; don't get the dispensations mixed up.
There are two truths that work together in this church dispensation. God does give protection to His own. I have no benefits or blessings unless they come from Him. And generally, Christ does watch over His own, however, there is no absolute, rock-solid guarantee of blessing and protection at all times. He can bring difficult things upon us for different reasons when He wants to! We are here as witnesses and often as martyrs to suffer for Christ's sake.
Paul told Timothy that persecution would come (2 Tim. 3:12). He also reminded believers that our bodies are decaying and we should be looking not "at the things which are seen, which are temporal, but the things which are not seen [and] are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Many Christians today are looking at the physical and the material, and think we're going to hold on to this life forever. And this is not true.
Paul goes on with this argument and told the Corinthians that there are no guarantees in this life (6:1-10). He wrote about "beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, as dying yet behold, we live; as punishment yet not put to death …" (vv. 8-9). And, "as poor yet making many [spiritually] rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things [that are spiritual not temporal] …" (v. 10).
Christians are not promised a feather bed here on earth. We are just passing through. Too often (especially with American Christians) we measure everything by the prosperity we have had for so long. But this has been a historic exception and not the norm in church history!
And what we have had, is all rapidly coming to an end, as anybody who can observe well knows. We are moving into dark times that are engulfing the entire world. I am more and more convinced today, even above last week, that we are moving rapidly into the prophesied apostasy. Some have interpreted "the apostasy" in 2 Thess. 2:3 as the rapture of the church. I have just discovered the absolute evidence that proves that is not so. The rapture is clearly taught in 1 Thess. 4 but not in 2 Thess 2:3! The "apostasy" in this verse is the departure from THE Truth and from THE Faith! And this is what is happening in our churches.
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
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