En Gedi's Gate

Always Employing Biblical Truth and Discernment!


Noah: The First Biblical Counselor

Noah: The First Biblical Counselor


Posted By on Apr 12, 2019

When Christians are asked to name the first biblical counselor recorded in the Bible, Noah is usually not considered.  When most believers think of Noah, they imagine his feat of constructing an immense Ark (Gen. 6:13-16), his collecting and stowing two of every animal species (Gen. 6:19), and the six months he was adrift while God destroyed the entire human race with a global flood (Gen. 7:24, cf. 7). During the time of Noah, God’s judgment fell upon the earth because mankind was utterly evil: “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.“(Gen. 6:5, cf. 6:5-7). Despite the ubiquitous evil generation that inundated Noah, he remained untarnished: “…Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD…was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” (Gen. 6:8-9b–NIV).    Amazingly, only eight people survived the Great Flood while residing aboard the Ark Noah had built and all eight of those people were members of Noah’s family, including himself (Gen. 6:18, 7:1).  Incredibly not only did God ordain Noah to be a master ship builder, zookeeper, and commissioned seafarer; he was also called to be a preacher and shepherd to the people (2 Pet. 2:5).  Furthermore, Noah lived a total of 950 years; 600 years prior to the flood and 350 years after (Gen. 9:28-29), so he would have had the unique opportunity to minister to mankind, both before and after the flood. However, before the historic flood took place; “Now he [Lamech who begot Noah] called his name Noah, saying, ‘This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed.'”(Gen. 5:29-NKJ).  The effects of God’s curse upon the land (Gen. 3:17-19) weighed heavily upon mankind so men sought relief–Noah provided that relief.  Dr. Allen Ross notes: The name Noah is also the basis for the motif of resting, in the next tól edόt section of the book.  Life under the curse was very painful for those early bearers of the curse, and so Lamech hoped for relief and comfort through this man Noah.  Human life under the curse was also painful to God, and so God used Noah as part of His plan to relieve the world of pain, but not as Lamech thought, 1 Though we do not know the specific details of just how Noah provided comfort and rest to those who labored in that generation, yet the prophetic words of his father Lamech; “This one will comfort us...

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Two Overlooked Acts of Forgiveness


Posted By on Mar 13, 2019

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”                                         Isa. 55:9 When many Christians ponder the account of the “thief on the cross” [actually “robber”], 1 they might overlook a powerful truth regarding the amazing nature of God’s forgiveness (Luke 23:39-43).  Attention is typically given to the thief’s immediate presence with the Lord in heaven upon his death: “absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:8).  Although this is a crucial truth to comprehend regarding the believer’s soul immediately upon death, another certain truth that could be drawn from the passage (Luke 23:39-43)–God’s profound pardoning of a sinner!  All four Gospels record Jesus crucified between two criminals, one on His right and the other His left (Matt. 27:38, Mark 15:27, Luke 23:32, John 19:18).  During the initial hours of the crucifixion, both robbers hurled insults at  Jesus (Matt. 27:44), but as their life blood drained from their dying bodies one of them was converted and believed in Jesus as Savior.  Because the unregenerate robber continued to “blaspheme” Jesus [Luke 23:39], the newly redeemed one rebuked him:”…Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”(Luke 23:40-41).  Only moments prior he was an unbelieving condemned criminal, but as a newly transformed saint he affirmed Jesus’ innocence rightly “fearing” God.   Turning to his merciful Savior he humbly pled: “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42).  When he uttered these words, Jesus revealed His compassionate heart.  Even as Jesus was enduring His Father’s infinite wrath for the weight of the world’s sin, He mercifully said to the penitent sinner: “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43).  Would it not be comforting to have Jesus personally assure your salvation?  Think of the mercy and grace Jesus had for that criminal despite having the knowledge that his entire life up until that point consisted of violent lawlessness.  This example defies human reasoning (cf. Jer. 34:34, Heb. 8:12, Rom. 5:8).  To Jesus, the robber’s wretched past did not matter–He had wiped his slate clean.  This incredible promise is indeed true for “all” who put their faith in Christ (cf. Jn. 6:37, 40).  God’s grace is truly amazing!    Another potentially overlooked act of God’s forgiveness occurred the moment Jesus died on the cross, Scripture reads: “…the veil of the temple was torn in two from...

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The Jewish Leaders Futility

The Jewish Leaders Futility


Posted By on Mar 1, 2019

The Jewish Leader’s Vain Attempts to Silence Jesus’ Resurrection.       who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’  Acts 4:25-26 . When Jesus was taken down from the cross, laid in a tomb and a large stone rolled in front sealing the entrance (Matt. 27:57-60), a time of monumental folly and futility from the Jewish leaders ensued: Now on the next day [the Sabbath], which is the one after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, saying ‘Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’  Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest the disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first. Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.’ (Matt. 27:62-65–brackets added).  However, the flagitious plot of the chief priests [Sadducees] and Pharisees backfired.  They were so concerned about Jesus’ disciples proclaiming to the nation “He [Jesus] has risen from the dead”, that they grossly underestimated the power of God.  For after three days God raised Jesus from the dead and He appeared not only to His disciples, but to over five hundred witnesses over a forty day period, as recorded in Scripture (Acts 1:3, 1 Cor. 15:5-8).  Furthermore, God made certain many more would testify to the power of the resurrection: “the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs. After His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matt. 27:52-53).  God’s omnipotence was demonstrated in that supernatural event, when hundreds, if not thousands witnessed the truth of the resurrection.  Meanwhile, the women went out to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices, but were astonished to see that it was empty; for an angel from heaven had rolled away the stone from the entrance revealing an empty tomb.  Speaking to the women the angel said: “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.  And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen...

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Nearly twenty years ago when my husband and I found our church it was in a remote Midwest country area. The chapel’s architecture was traditional, lovely and peaceful.  We quickly learned the believers were of strong reformed and Calvinistic traditions. This church was closely knit, loved the Lord Jesus and one another deeply. We were quickly woven into the fabric of this little family, as we were blessed each Lord’s Day with old and classic hymns (no instruments), an hour long sermon, followed with a pot luck meal, while concluding the day with an evening service.  We formerly came together for Wednesday extended prayer service followed by Friday Bible study, as we also eagerly sought to serve one another, especially during times of suffering; all of which kept the body unified.  My husband and I wouldn’t have traded these beginning years for anything; we were blessed in profound and sustaining ways.  It was during those early years that I learned to appreciate the Doctrines of Grace, church history as well as many aspects of reformed Christianity. However, having been raised in a strict Roman Catholic family I had many deeply embedded traditions and beliefs which I needed to examine.  Because my mother encouraged us children to read the Bible (which is rare for a Roman Catholic) and study church history, I had some vestiges of truth to separate from the Romish traditions. As a new believer, I determined to sort out, what theological and historical elements were truths. I believe because I had to wrestle with such a complex thing, it enabled me to later (years later) discern an even more complicated matter as a maturing Christian. Undoubtedly through God’s sovereign care and blessing He has richly blessed Christians with the work and writings of the church fathers and Reformers.  In fact, I strongly believe the study of church history is a needed rudimentary foundation for all Christians to enrich their understanding of the Christian faith.  However, I do believe one must be cautious and discerning while reading any extra-biblical source, as these great men (like all men) are flawed and have presuppositions and traditions.  The church fathers and Reformers can be a true blessing if read with a solid and complete understanding of Scripture.  I advise caution because this is the area in which years later that I discovered I had acquired a “tradition” which needed to be examined. It was in God’s perfect timing, my attention was brought to a “tradition” I had acquired during my early years as a Reformed Christian.  I believed I had vigilantly guarded myself from error, yet through God’s amazing providence, my...

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The Significance of John the Baptist

The Significance of John the Baptist


Posted By on Jan 1, 2019

Regarding John the Baptist Jesus earnestly declared, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist… [Matt. 11:11], yet there is very little written exclusively on this “great” man and the significance of his ministry.  When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias, he declared that his son John [the Baptist], was to be a Nazirite 1 and forerunner of the incarnate Christ–the herald for the coming of God to earth. (Luke 1:13-17, Jn. 1:6, 14).  In other words, John was to pave the way for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amazingly, in eternity past Christ was in full glory and equal with the Father, but He emptied Himself, took on flesh and humbly ministered to mankind on earth. (Jn. 17:5, Phil. 2:6-7, Jn. 1:14, Luke 4:17-18).  It’s mind-boggling to contemplate, that the God of the universe employed a mere man [John the Baptist], to be the precursor for His Son, Jesus Christ.  In the prologue 2 to the John’s Gospel  [the first eighteen verses], John the Baptist is referenced four times (Jn. 1:6, 7, 8, 15).  The prologue is very important to John’s Gospel, because it outlines: 1) The eternal Christ (vv. 1-3); 2) the incarnate Christ (vv. 4-5); 3) the forerunner of Christ (vv. 6-8); 4) the unrecognized Christ (vv. 9-11); 5) the omnipotent Christ (vv. 12-13); and the glorious Christ (vv. 14-18). 3   Interestingly, the heretical system of Roman Catholicism deifies Jesus’ mother Mary and she sparsely appears in Scripture.  John the Baptist on the other hand, is referenced numerous times in Scripture, yet there is little recognition of his greatness in the sphere of Christianity.  This seems antithetical to the teachings of Jesus, who frequently gave strong testimonies to John and his ministry.  For example He proclaimed: “You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth  But the witness which I receive is not from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.” (Jn. 5:33-35).   Jesus also declared: “But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.” (Matt. 11:9).  And: “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax-gatherers and harlots did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him”.  (Matt. 21:32).  In John chapter five Jesus names John the Baptist as one...

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Election of Israel by God

Election of Israel by God


Posted By on Dec 5, 2018

What I find most fascinating is that God has elected people who can be traced back to the descendants of Noah, (Gen. 10-11). From the Hebrew lineage God elected Abraham to receive salvation by grace through faith. (Gen. 15:6, cf Eph:2:8). Then in God’s perfect preordained timing He made Abraham the father of the nation of Israel. “No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.” (Gen. 17:5). One immutable act of God was to uniquely and permanently elect the nation of Israel as His covenant nation.  “… you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation…” (Ex. 19:5, 6, c.f. Deut. 7:6-7). The Divine Creator of the vast and measureless universe is the same God who elects people for His divine purpose and glory. What is election?  “The decree of election is the free and sovereign choice of God, made in eternity past, to set his love on certain individuals, and, on the basis of nothing in themselves but solely because of the good pleasure of his will, to choose them to be saved from sin and damnation and to inherit the blessings of eternal life through the mediatorial work of Christ.”  (A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth, Biblical Doctrine, MacArthur and Mayhue, 2017, pg. 493). The word “elect” in the Hebrew language is “bahar” or “bachar” pronounced “baw-kar”.   It is found nearly 170 times.  In this context, it is God’s divine examination, a deliberate choice, well thought out, with exhaustive scrutiny from beginning to end, of deep theological consideration. (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Harris, Archer, Waltke). In short it is God’s omniscient and sovereign choice of a person or nation, for His purpose and glory.  In fact the world “elect” is found in Deuteronomy 30 times alone as Scripture delineates God’s divine election of Israel. There is no other nation which God has elected; Israel has been set aside, to become a distinct people. “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples” (Deut. 7:6-7). Out of all people, God set His unending love on Israel. After years of Egyptian slavery, through God’s miraculous intervention He brought the children of Israel out to receive...

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  “…and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree.”                                                                                                              Rom. 11:17     I am a “Gentile” [non-Jewish] who is considered a son of the God of Israel, adopted into His family and an heir of promise, held tightly to His bosom forever (cf. Rom. 8:17, 35).  By God’s sovereign mercy and amazing grace, I was called and granted the faith to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is because of His [free] gift of grace that I’m exceedingly grateful.  As a Gentile, I am considered a “wild olive branch”, 1 that has been supernaturally “grafted” 2 into the natural “olive tree”,3 to share in the “richness” 4 of God’s covenant blessings. Supported by the olive tree’s “root”, 4 I, like all elect non-Jewish believers, add to the countless spiritual descendents of Abraham God promised to bless (Rom. 11:17, Gen. 12:2, 15:5, 17:4-5, Gal. 3:7-8, 29). Astonishingly, I’m like one of those innumerable stars in an evening sky, that God challenged Abraham to calculate (Gen. 15:5). In the covenant God made with Abraham, He promised through Abraham’s “seed”, that all of mankind would be blessed (Gen. 12:3, 22:18): “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the nations shall be blessed in you.'” (Gal. 3:8). God has kept that promise, for all Gentiles [and all men] who have faith in Jesus Christ, are considered “spiritual” descendants of Abraham: “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Gal. 3:29, cf. 3:8, 25-28). However, one day in the future, Abraham’s “physical” seed “all” Israel, will believe in the Messiah Jesus and become God’s “spiritual” children as well (Rom. 11:26-27). The nation of Israel was uniquely chosen by God to receive His “special” love and set apart from other nations, requiring them to remain faithful and obedient only to Him (Deut. 7:6-8, Ex. 20:3-6).  Tragically, Israel failed miserably to keep God’s commandments and repeatedly tested His patience by their rebelliousness and idolatry, thus provoking Him to anger (Deut. 32:21).  One of the ways God brought judgment against Israel, was by demonstrating mercy to the Gentiles.  He offered them salvation and through prophets informed Israel of His intentions (Deut. 32:20-21, Isa. 65:1-3a). Therefore, I am grateful for Israel’s disobedience and subsequent judgment by God, realizing it’s because of their disobedience that I have obtained God’s mercy.  Not that I sinisterly exult in Israel’s punishment because of their sin against God, as many nations had done–for example...

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Creation: Six Twenty-Four Hour Days

Creation: Six Twenty-Four Hour Days


Posted By on Oct 26, 2018

“Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” Jn. 20:29   The question many Christians wrestle with is did God create the universe, in billions of years or in six twenty-four hour days, according to Genesis chapter one?  The various answers given to this query have been the subject of theological debates for numerous years.  Many who are fastidious to the veracity of Scripture, surprisingly balk at God’s claim to the creation account in Genesis one.  Moreover, it is especially disturbing to learn that a vast majority of Christian teaching institutions, have abandoned the ostensive teaching of Genesis 1-3. Dr. John MacArthur, president of The Master’s Seminary observed:  “I recall reading a survey a few years ago which revealed that in one of America’s leading evangelical accrediting associations, whose membership boasted scores of evangelical Bible colleges and universities, only five or six college-level schools remain solidly opposed to the old-earth view of creation. The rest are open to a reinterpretation of Genesis 1-3 that accommodates evolutionary theories.” That said, if you interpret the creation account of Genesis literally and in context, you will unquestionably end up with a six twenty-four hour day creation: “And there was evening and there was morning, one day.”  The wording in the Bible is not only crystal clear, but fundamental  regarding God’s miraculous creation account.   The following points in this short article are for  the student of Scripture’ consideration,  to help determine the feasibility and probability of a six-day creation.   Yom “…And there was evening and there was morning, one day.”       Gen. 1:5 When the creation account in Genesis one is taken in context, the Hebrew word yom [day], clearly means a twenty-four hour period: “And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” (Gen. 1:5, also see 1:8, 13, 19, 22, 31).  One needs not be a Hebrew scholar, in order to understand that God communicated much of Scripture, especially the creation account, in a  simplistic manner.  Interestingly, He also employed a similar simplicity [in the New Testament Greek word construction] in the Gospel of John, so that there would not be any doubt as to Jesus Christ’ deity (Jn. 1:1-4).  However, despite the unambiguous translation from Hebrew to our English versions of Genesis one, many professing Christians deny, that the Bible claims a six twenty-four hour day creation.  For instance, they interpret yom [day], in Genesis one, to mean exceedingly long periods of time e.g., millions and millions of years. Dr. Allen P. Ross commenting on yom [day] made this assertion: “The meaning of the term “day” [yom]…can…mean a longer general period of time (Isa. 61:2)…however, it [yom], in...

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