Oct 8, 2023
Divine Providence – When Scripture Seems Contradictory
By: Carl Helmuth
Series: The Whole Counsel of God
Four Considerations When Confused by ‘Sovereignty’ Scriptures:
1. Believe the “what" even when you do not understand the “how” (or the “why”).
- We are called to believe “what” scripture says is true, even when we cannot understand “how” it can be.
- Our faith is in the “what” not the “how”.
- When two scriptures teach two truths that you cannot reconcile, believe they are both true and leave the “how” to the Lord.
- To demand to know “how” or “why” something is true, is to say that we can only believe what we can fully understand. It is to demand that God explain Himself to us.
2. Read the scriptures through the lens of “God is more powerful than man”.
- When God and man are both at work in a certain event, then God’s involvement overpowers man’s involvement.
3(A). Do not think about “indicative” texts the same way you think about “imperative” texts.
- These are different categories of texts and have different purposes. They are both true!
- They do not contradict each other; they compliment each other.
- The “indicative” tells us what God does.
- The “imperative” tells us what we are to do.
- We fulfill the “indicative” by believing it.
- We fulfill the “imperative” by obeying it.
3(B). Also, separate “indicative” texts from “subjunctive” texts.
- These are different categories of texts and have different purposes. They are both true!
4. Notice that some scripture is written from God’s perspective and other scripture is written from man’s perspective.
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- Oct 8, 2023Divine Providence – When Scripture Seems Contradictory
Oct 8, 2023Divine Providence – When Scripture Seems ContradictoryBy: Carl HelmuthSeries: The Whole Counsel of GodFour Considerations When Confused by ‘Sovereignty’ Scriptures:1. Believe the “what" even when you do not understand the “how” (or the “why”).- We are called to believe “what” scripture says is true, even when we cannot understand “how” it can be.- Our faith is in the “what” not the “how”.- When two scriptures teach two truths that you cannot reconcile, believe they are both true and leave the “how” to the Lord.- To demand to know “how” or “why” something is true, is to say that we can only believe what we can fully understand. It is to demand that God explain Himself to us.2. Read the scriptures through the lens of “God is more powerful than man”.- When God and man are both at work in a certain event, then God’s involvement overpowers man’s involvement.3(A). Do not think about “indicative” texts the same way you think about “imperative” texts.- These are different categories of texts and have different purposes. They are both true!- They do not contradict each other; they compliment each other.- The “indicative” tells us what God does.- The “imperative” tells us what we are to do.- We fulfill the “indicative” by believing it.- We fulfill the “imperative” by obeying it.3(B). Also, separate “indicative” texts from “subjunctive” texts.- These are different categories of texts and have different purposes. They are both true!4. Notice that some scripture is written from God’s perspective and other scripture is written from man’s perspective.
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Dec 5, 2021Carl Helmuth – The Whole Counsel of God – Exodus 20 – The Law Through the Eyes of the New Covenant 2By: Carl HelmuthSeries: The Whole Counsel of GodExodus 20 – The Law Through the Eyes of the New Covenant 21. The term “law” is used in many different ways in the New Testament.- the Ten Commandments - the covenant of the law (old covenant) - the first five books of the OT (Pentateuch) - all of scripture (Psalm 1:2; Ps. 119:97; James 1:25) - any demand by God for His creation - a principle or power at work - (Rom. 7:23; Rom. 8:2)2. “The Law” is summed up by love.- God gave the law because He loved them. - Love fulfills the law. - (Matt. 22:37-40; Mark 12:29-31; Luke 10:27-28; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14) - The law teaches us what love is. - Love is law. - Love does not save us. - Love is a fruit/result of being saved. - We love because He first loved us.3. A distinction must always be made between LAW and GOSPEL.- ‘Covenant of LAW’ vs. ‘Covenant of GRACE’. - LAW is what we do. GOSPEL is what God does. - The GOSPEL saves us. The LAW, we obey because we are saved. - The GOSPEL makes so no one can boast. - because God alone is glorified in it.- We will always drift toward the LAW.4. Being “free from the Law”, does not mean we are free from obeying God.- We are free from the curse of the Law. - We are now FREE TO OBEY. - We are free because we have the inner “law” of the Spirit. - Our motive for obedience is love for God and gratitude for what He has done. - Obedience is an evidence of salvation.5. Additional purposes for the Law1. All men will be judged by the Law.2. The Law is for unbelievers.3. The Law awakens a desire to sin.4. The Law put us to death.A death we died vicariously in Christ; which in turn frees us from the covenant of the Law.
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Nov 29, 2021Carl Helmuth – The Whole Counsel of God – Exodus 20 – The Law Through the Eyes of the New CovenantBy: Carl HelmuthSeries: The Whole Counsel of GodExodus 20 – The Law Through the Eyes of the New CovenantWhat is our relationship with “The Law”1. The term “law” is used in many different ways in the New Testament.- the Ten Commandments- the covenant of the law (old covenant)- the first five books of the OT (Pentateuch)- all of scripture (Psalm 1:2; Ps. 119:97; James 1:25)- any demand by God for His creation- a principle or power at work (Rom. 7:23; Rom. 8:2)2. “The Law” is summed up by love.- God gave the law because He loved them.- Love fulfills the law. (Matt. 22:37-40; Mark 12:29-31; Luke 10:27-28; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14)- The law teaches us what love is.- Love is law.- Love does not save us.- Love is a fruit/result of being saved.- We love because He first loved us.
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Nov 7, 2021Carl Helmuth – The Whole Counsel of God – Exodus 20 – The Giving of the Law 3By: Carl HelmuthSeries: The Whole Counsel of GodExodus 20 – The Giving of the Law 3Are the Ten Commandments for the New Covenant believer? How does New Covenant teaching advance or diminish the Ten Commandments? The Purpose for the Law is: 1. To reveal the glory of God 2. To reveal sin 3. To reveal our need for grace What does the second commandment say to those in the New Covenant? - Our God is Holy. He is set apart from His creation. - We walk by faith and not by sight. [2 Cor. 5:7] - Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. [Rom. 10:17] - We worship Him in Spirit and in truth. [John 4:24] What does the third commandment say to those in the New Covenant? - We are no longer just image-bearers, we are Name-bearers. [1 Peter 4:16] - We no longer live. Christ lives in us. [Gal. 2:20] - We live for the purpose of the Name. [Acts 4:18] What does the fourth commandment say to those in the New Covenant? - Our Sabbath rest in found in Christ - He completed all work needed to redeem us. - In Him we rest in our striving against sin. - We set aside the “eighth” day to worship Him. - Christ has provided an eternal Sabbath rest for us.
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Oct 17, 2021Carl Helmuth – The Whole Counsel of God – Exodus 19 – At Mt SinaiBy: Carl HelmuthSeries: The Whole Counsel of GodExodus 19 – At Mt SinaiThe New (Old) Covenant In the Presence of the LORD at Mount SinaiHebrews 12 18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken.
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- Jul 18, 2021Carl Helmuth – Psalm 63
Jul 18, 2021Carl Helmuth – Psalm 63By: Carl HelmuthSeries: The Whole Counsel of GodPsalm 63Three Components that Produce a Longing for God 1. Love for God comes by first receiving His love for us. - David first received loving kindness from God. 2. Love for God comes by removing all other “gods”. - In the wilderness, David’s love for God was revealed, tested and strengthened. 3. Love for God comes from a confident hope for the future. - David looked ahead to what he knew would happen.
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May 30, 2021Carl Helmuth – The Whole Counsel of God – Exodus 13-14 – The Crossing (Part 7)By: Carl HelmuthSeries: The Whole Counsel of GodExodus 13-14 - The Crossing (Part 7)A New Exodus Led by A New Moses Who mediates A New Covenant To bring about A New Creation A New Exodus (A Second Exodus) An Exodus that is: - Individual rather than collective. - For people from all nations, not only Jews by birth. - For those with the faith of Abraham, not his blood. - Not from bondage of Egypt, but bondage to sin. - Not from the dominion of Pharaoh, but to Satan. - Not from exile in Egypt, but exile in this present world. - Immediate, yet progressive, and also ultimate. Led by A New Moses Jesus Christ: The Greater Israel - Jesus came to be a perfect representative of His people,...to do everything that they failed to do,...in order to accomplish “THE EXODUS” on their behalf. Who mediates A New Covenant A covenant that is: - Unconditional (dependent on God alone) - Perfect in its removal of sin - Christ powered (by the Spirit) - Eternally permanent To bring about A New Creation Not just a resurrection
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May 16, 2021Carl Helmuth – The Whole Counsel of God – Exodus 13-14 – The Crossing (Part 5)By: Carl HelmuthSeries: The Whole Counsel of GodExodus 13-14 - The Crossing (Part 5)Trusting God means...Being Separated by Christ from the World Five Points of Separation 1. Separation of Revelation - The World without God is in darkness...and is foolish and futile in their thinking. - The people of God were separated from the world by the light of God’s revelation. - Trusting God means...We STOP trusting the “wisdom” of the world. 2. Separation of Worship - The World without God...is foolish and futile because...they worship other gods. - The two camps were illuminated or darkened according to the gods they worshipped. - Trusting God means...We STOP trusting in the world’s gods 3. Separation of Receiving Mercy - The World is under the judgment of God, and is being given over to even greater evil. - The difference between the two camps was not in the goodness of the people, but whether God offered mercy, or if He hardened. - Trusting God means...We trust in His mercy to keep us from evil. 4. Separation of Christ Himself - Between the world and the Church...Christ has stationed Himself. - The people of God were separated from the world by Christ Himself. - Trusting God means...We trust in Christ as our Defender. 5. Separation of Ultimate Victory - The world has been conquered by...Christ and His Church. - The people of God were separated from the world by the eternal victory won by Christ. - Trusting God means...We trust that He has overcome the world.
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May 2, 2021Carl Helmuth – The Whole Counsel of God – Exodus 13-14 – The Crossing (Part 3)By: Carl HelmuthSeries: The Whole Counsel of GodExodus 13-14 - The Crossing (Part 3)Learning to Trust God Completely 1. We must LEARN to trust God. - God is teaching His people to trust Him. 1a. We learn that He is faithful and keeps His word - Titus 1:2, Heb. 6:18, Num. 23:19, Ps. 89:34 1b. We learn that He has the power to keep His word. - Is. 14:24-27, Matt. 19:26, Job 42:2, Is. 46:9-11 1c. We learn that He has all wisdom, so His plan is always best. - Rom. 11:33-36, Is. 40:13-14, Is. 55:6-11 1d. We learn that He loves His children and will never leave them or forsake them. - Matt. 28:20, Heb. 13:5, Deut. 31:6, Joshua 1:5 1e. We learn that death with Christ is much better than life without Him. - Ps. 73:25-26, Ps. 84:10-11, Ps. 63:3, Phil. 3:7-11 2. We must learn to trust God IN ALL THINGS. - God purposely guides His people into the worst possible position, so that He alone can save them. 3. We must learn to trust that God is doing something larger than we can see or imagine. - God is doing many ‘big things’ through their predicament. - He is setting a trap for Pharaoh in order to destroy Him. - He is making so His people can proceed without fear. - He is protecting His firstborn Son (the Seed of the woman). - He is protecting the entire Gospel that will save many. - He is directing a drama for His future Church to read about and thereby produce faith in them. - He is casting a foreshadow of the cross and resurrection. - He is doing mighty work in order to produce fear in the hearts of the future enemies of Israel. - He is gaining glory for Himself before all the earth. 4. We must learn that this is the pattern of this ‘now-but-not-yet’ Kingdom...Victory comes out of defeat. - Life comes out of death; - New comes out of old; - Blessing comes out of cursing; 5. We must learn that having to trust God is the very place where He wants us to be, because our faith in Him honors Him. - God is engineering the entire ‘Exodus’ for His own glory.