BonsallBibleChurch

Job 38:39 - 39:30 We examine the end of the creative, geological, astronomical and meteorological presentation of God's wisdom and understanding with the numbering of the clouds and the bottles of heaven, and then it's on the the zoological presentation. We count the lion, the raven, the wild goat, the hind, the wild ass, the unicorn, the peacock, the ostrich, the horse, the hawk and the eagle. We see in them his wisdom, and follow His understanding through the scriptures, 11 animals in all, in anticipation of number 12, behemoth, and the 13th - Leviathan. We'll think about how God maintains everything all at once, and contemplate His omniscience. We'll look at the prophecies of power, terror and majesty related to the lion; the picture of the Fall told in the raven; the goat as he symbolizes bounty and sacrifice; the deer and a picture of hope; the donkey and the three fold witness at the triumphal entry; the unicorn and his horn of authority unified authority and power; the peacock and the apex of humanity in the fallen world; the horses of judgment, and the white horse of the LORD's conquest; the hawk bringing judgment from the north, and the eagle that can save, or scavenge.

Job 38:1-38 This week we examine Bildad's answer to Job's request that God pardon his sin. We see if there are clues in the text as to the authorship of Job. We affirm that the modern Bible we have is inspired and inerrant, just like the translated copy of Job that entered the Canon before Moses wrote Genesis. We explain the difference between poetry and prose. We consider why God was so blunt and unkind in addressing Job without acknowledging his suffering. We examine God's discourse on creation, geology, astronomy, meteorology, and philosophy. And uncover the one thing Job needs in order to answer, and relieve his suffering.

Job 32-37 Join us this week for Elihu's discourse where we discuss whether or not Job had made himself more righteous that god, or had he accused god of unrighteousness? We'll compare Job's position with God to Abram's in Genesis 15, and Galatians 3. And we look at the nature of the character: Elihu. What might have been the oral, or even written traditions that informed Elihu and the book of Job? Is God affected by men's sins? Or by their belief? Is God obligated in to give account of His ways to anyone? Is Elihu a good witness, or a bad witness?

Job 26-31 This week we cover Job's final discourse and discuss whether or not Job is speaking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the nature of rightly dividing the word of truth. We cover the nature of parables and prophecy in the Bible, and the 4 characters understanding of the nature of God and His judgment. We look at parallels between Job and Proverbs, and the structure of the book. We also seek to answer Job's 6 questions: 1. Why was I born? 2. Wouldn't I know if I were wicked? 3. Is God testing me? 4. How can a man be just with God? 5. If a man die, shall he live again? And 6. Where does wisdom reside?

Job 21-25 We'll compare and contrast Job's understanding of God's dealings with the wicked, alongside his three counselors. We see how each speaker has developed his understanding of "religion" based upon conscience and experience. We'll cite scriptures revealed later in the bible that confirm, and dispute their beliefs. And we'll discuss the terms of law and grace and the evidence the discourses provide that indicate the necessity for God to provide his Word in written form.

Job 12-20 - Is the book of Job in the bible primarily to help us understand the sovereignty of God and the question of human suffering? Or are there perhaps more important reasons the text reveals? We'll discuss reading Job in three different English translations, the double mindedness of the Job and the pride and superstition of his counselors. We'll examine prophecies of Christ, and prophecy against satan. And finally we'll examine Job's demand that all this be written in a book!

Job 2-12 - This week we look at Job's wife's curse, (and others), Job's comment on receiving good from the hand of God and the receiving of evil, and the Devil's impact on Job's faith as his suffering increases. We read Job's statements of suffering and wishing for death, Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar's statements bearing some truth but riddled with error and superstition. We'll hear Job himself speak as a double minded man in the midst of his confusion &suffering and we'll begin to form an answer to the question, "why is the book of Job in the Bible?"

This week we examine God's dealing with Job based on grace, satan's position and personality, the nature of cherubim, the patterns for the temple given to Solomon form David in view of the cherubim, and the mercy seat, God's unconditional promise to David and His conditional promise to Solomon, the literary style of the book of Job and the persecution of Job "without cause."

This week we begin our study at Job 1 with some thoughts on the historicity, geography, and ethnicity of the book and it’s characters. We then encounter satan in the presence of God, and we ask, “why wasn’t satan defeated and destroyed a long time ago”? And, “why was he still allowed in heaven?” In answering these questions we explore the nature of Israel as they relate to Earth, and the Body of Christ as it relates to the heavens. We examine the principalities, thrones and powers in the heavenlies; and and the crowns, rewards, and destiny of the Body of Christ, the heavens and the Earth.

This week we focus on Job 1:4-5 and ask a few questions: Why did Job send to sanctify his children? Why was he concerned that his children might curse God? Why did he think he could offer sacrifices on their behalf? And why “continually". And ultimately: Why did God persecute Job?

This week we begin our study at Job 1 with some thoughts on the historicity, geography, and ethnicity of the book and it's characters. We then encounter satan in the presence of God, and we ask, "why wasn't satan defeated and destroyed a long time ago? And why was he still allowed in heaven?" In answering this question we explore the nature of Israel as they relate to Earth, and the Body of Christ as it relates to the heavens. We'll examine the principalities, thrones and powers in the heavenlies; and and the crowns, rewards, and destiny of the Body of Christ (to reconcile the heavenly government back to God when He reclaims it from the spiritually wicked satan and his minions).

Join us this week as we examine David's declarations regarding why Solomon would build the temple instead of him. We'll discuss David's sin, God's judgment and forgiveness regarding Bathsheba, and the consequences sin had on David's testimony. Did God choose Solomon as king? What was the reason God gave David for His decision that David should not build the temple? Why did God not supernaturally make sure His will was perfectly understood? Was God's decision to dwell in the temple proof He had wanted it? Did God respect Solomon's request that He hear when Israel prayed "toward the temple?" Did God choose to put his name in the Temple Mount forever? Why the discrepancy in what David paid for the Temple grounds? Was David honorable in insisting on paying for the ground Ornan the Jebusite offered for free? And how does the story of David, Solomon, and the building of the temple help us better understand God's grace?

This week we study in 2nd Samuel and 1st Chronicles asking, "was Solomon's Temple built in accordance with the will of God?" We'll examine the prophecy of Nathan regarding who would build a house for whom, along with the prophecy of David's eternal throne. We'll also discuss how a prophecy of Jesus could include a reference to Him "committing iniquity." We will then examine David's prayer in response to God's message through Nathan, and how it proved David was a man after God's own heart. We will apply what we learn to our walk today, discuss David's walk with the Lord after that, and clarify the biblical meaning of "High Places.

Join us for a logical analysis of where we came from, where we're going, why we're all dying, and how love can overcome death.

Were the six days of creation longer than 24 hours each? Are the genealogies of Genesis historically accurate and complete? How many years might be missing? Were there gaps between the evenings and the mornings? Or was there a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. Did "Gap Theories" pre-date Thomas Chalmers & Charles Darwin? Was the Hebrew "waw" properly translated into English? What did God mean when He commanded Adam and Eve to "replenish" the earth? Does the phrase "without form and void" imply a catastrophe? Did satan fall before the six-day creation? Did the apostle Paul imply a "ruin & recreation" in Genesis 1? And when did God create the Lake of Fire? This week we examine various gap theories, the scriptural evidence, the reasoning, the arguments, the advocates, and some of the doctrinal consequences that exist if any of the Gap Theories are true.

This week we examine both predictive and illustrative prophecies of Jesus Christ's birth, life, ministry, death, burial and resurrection. We'll discuss "the seed of the woman", the prophecy of the enmity, a seventh sibling swap in Genesis, the reconciliation of heaven and earth, the concept of fatherhood, and the slaughter of the innocents. We'll talk about Melchizedek, replacement theology, the existence of the scriptures before the captivity, the dearth of Bible reading in the Old Testament and the possibility that some of the Jewish leaders believed Jesus was the Messiah, and that that knowledge motivated their desire to kill Him.

This week we cover Luke 1-3, including the term "Theophilus", salvation before the cross, the faith OF Christ, Mary & David: Jews who did not require a sign, the expectation of the coming Messiah, God's establishing Christ's birth, and the historicity of Luke by two, or three, (or seven) witnesses, and reconciling so called difficulties with the Genealogies of Matthew, Luke and John! (Thanks to Bodie Hodge for his research on the subject of Jesus' genealogies as featured in Ken Ham's book “Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions: Volume 1.”

First we review some verses related to our last study on Original Sin and the Sin Nature, and examine the nature of committing sin and how a man becomes accountable for sin. We'll discuss the history and meaning of the Christmas holiday, and then read verse by verse through Matthew 1:1 - 3:1 for an account of the birth and early life of Jesus Christ. Along the way we'll reference English Bible translations, non-Jews and women in the lineage of Christ, the nature of backward looking prophecy, and the signs God gave signifying the end of the Old Covenant.

This week we hope to answer 3 questions: First, are the doctrines of Original Sin or Sin Nature scriptural? Second, what explains the disobedience of a small child. And finally, how can God justly condemn men to Hell? We'll discuss the nature of man's wickedness, and of body soul and spirit. We'll examine the Fall in the garden and the curse imposed. We'll examine the scriptural meaning of "the flesh." We'll examine Paul's record of the creation's corruption in light of God's plan for salvation, and answer the unbeliever's accusation of unfairness against God.

This week we examine the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God and family Bible study, training and disciplining children and the scriptural support for the concept of a sin nature. We'll ask how can God hold us accountable if we were "born to sin." We'll examine what the image and likeness of God are as compared to those of men, creation ex-nihilo, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

This week we examine Paul's epistles for instruction regarding divorce and remarriage and we review our entire study. What we've established so far: 1. Marriage is an institution ordained by God that is “trans-dispensational”, meaning from Genesis through the gospels and through to today, it has never been altered, (described by Moses in Gen 2:24, and during Jesus earthly ministry in Mat 19, Mark 10, and by Paul in Eph 5). 2. Under the Mosaic law premarital fornication by a betrothed woman, adultery and contempt of the law are all capital offenses (Deut 22:20, Lev 20:10 & Deut 17:12-13). 3. Since the Law contains no instructions for the legal administration of “divorce according to the Law,” the writing of a bill of divorce, for any of the reasons debated by rabbinical scholars, before or since Jesus would be contempt of the law. Contempt of the law is a capital offense (Deut 17:12). 4. The mass divorce event recorded in Ezra was not commanded by God (Ezr 10:2-3) 5. There is a romantic subtext that runs through the Old Testament and the Gospels that figuratively presents God’s relationship with Israel as a courtship in the wilderness (Jer 2:1-2, Hos 2:14), a marriage (Jer 31:32, Ezk 16:8), an unfaithful wife, (Jer 2:20, Ezk 16:15, Hos 4:12), a divorce, (Jer 3:8, Hos 2:2), and God’s taking back of Israel, (Isa 54:5, Jer 31:31-34). God, “the husband” would have proof of adultery against his “wife” Israel (Jer 2:20 & 3:8). According to the Law, she should be put to death, (Lev 20:10, Deut 13:6). But the husband set aside the Law, in apparent violation of the law (Deut 13:9 & 17:12-13). Appropriating man’s tradition of divorcing their wives, He divorced her instead (Isa 50:1, Jer 3:8); He would then embody the violation by being “made sin”, (2 Cor 5:21) and then He would remove the “sin”, (both His symbolic “sin” and His wife’s actual sin) by conquering sin and death by His resurrection, (Rom 8:2, Rev 1:17), after which He will again appear to violate the law and take her back, (Lev 21:7, 13-14, Deut 24:4) after cleansing her by Great Tribulation, (Rev 14:4). 6. The so-called exception of sexual immorality as biblical grounds for divorce recorded in Matthew was spoken in parables against Jesus’ adversaries by the theme of the romantic subtext, and not as doctrinal instruction for the church today. 7. Seeking a divorce is a sin. The sin is taking God’s name in vain. We look at Paul's reference to "I, not the Lord," reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness, and Paul's analogy of earthly marriage and eternal life in Christ. We cover church authority, excommunication, the spiritual union of marriage, and what we are to do when a couple claims they can no longer live together.

This week we will examine Jesus statements in reference to divorce and remarriage. Hear what a parable is, (and isn't), and then hear the words of Jesus as He progressively revealed the purpose of His earthly ministry. We'll discuss what pastors teach as the doctrine of biblical grounds for divorce. Then we will read their "proof texts" for that doctrine. We will look at the definition of adultery, and consider other grounds cited as scriptural grounds for divorce. We will also study Jesus condemnation of those who break the least of the laws, and teach others to do so. What should be the doctrine of the church today regarding divorce? And we will answer the question: Is seeking a divorce a sin?

This week we will review God's most direct statement regarding divorce in Malachi 2:14-16. We'll then examine the mass divorce and disinheritance event recorded in Ezra and answer some key questions: 1. Was the command to divorce the pagan wives from God? 2. Was the event carried out "according to the Law?" 3. Should Ezra 10 inform the doctrine of "biblical grounds for divorce?" We'll discuss the chronological order of Esther, Nehemiah & Ezra, referring to the original languages in questions of biblical translations, and examine Joseph's contemplation of divorcing Mary, his betrothed when she was found to be with child.

This week we study references to divorce in light of the Hermeneutic of the Romantic Subtext and the Symbols in the Law and the Prophets. We'll touch on the respect for marriage and virginity in cultures past and present, the question of divorce for sexual immorality under the Mosaic Law, and divorce as a symbol of God's mercy. We'll see that intent is required to be married, the difference between chattel slavery as practiced today in the Moslem world versus servitude in ancient Israel, and the fact that God considers a wife and children the property of a husband. We'll examine the question of divorce for adultery in The Law, look at the punishments for both idolatry, and contempt of court under The Law, and who's heart was it that was so hard Moses suffered men under The Law to divorce their wives.

This week we recap the principles of the hermeneutic of the symbols and the romantic subtext. We will also review some other Bible teachers' statements regarding divorce and remarriage. We will look at the King James Version and other translations (and even some Hebrew) when studying Deuteronomy 24:1-4. We will review the requirements of the law for someone guilty of both adultery and idolatry. And then we will ask the question, "what's God to do" when His people ignore those requirements? We will see how God crafted the law, and His dealings with sinful man to produce restraint, consequences, and an impetus for confession, repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. We will then continue a systematic review of (as best we can tell) every reference to divorce and remarriage in the Bible, and discuss how they should be understood by believers today.