What is your take on the 70 AD doctrine going around?

Sincerely,
A Concerned Saint

Dear A Concerned Saint,

The 70 AD doctrine, also known as ‘Realized Eschatology’, is total rubbish and an endangerment to the salvation of all who follow and teach it.  Realized Eschatology (the preferred title used by this doctrine’s followers) is a very scary teaching.  ‘Eschatology’ means ‘the study of the end things’, and ‘realized’ means ‘completed or fulfilled’.  In short, Realized Eschatology teaches that every prophecy in the Bible has already been fulfilled.  Realized Eschatologists teach that every verse that is commonly thought to refer to the end of the world, heaven, hell, the Judgment Day, the future return of Christ, etc. already occurred in 70 AD when Jerusalem was destroyed.  This is not only false, it is absurd.  If they are right, there is no hell, there is no Judgment Day, the devil has already been destroyed, and there is no specific hope for those who call on Christ.  In short, we would have to totally rewrite everything we believe and teach concerning the Word of God.  Not long ago, we preached two sermons on this topic (the audio and video can be found here).  That series will explain in more detail the problems with this false doctrine that is upsetting the faith of some in the church (2 Tim 2:18).

Where does the Bible speak on bestiality?

Sincerely,
SPCA

Dear SPCA,

Bestiality is a form of fornication.  ‘Fornication’ means ‘immoral sexual behavior’.  It is clearly labeled as fornication in Lev 18:23 and Lev 20:15-16.

What do you think about people choosing television to be their church?  I have been running into preachers who are also saying that is their church.  What would you tell a person who says the television is their church and their preacher?

Sincerely,
Unplugged

Dear Unplugged,

Television is not a replacement for assembling with christians.  Heb 10:24-25 clearly says that we shouldn’t forsake the assembly of the saints.  The Bible pattern shows over and over that christians physically gathered together regularly.  The church has to get together to take the Lord’s Supper on Sundays (Acts 20:7).  The church has to gather to take up a collection (1 Cor 16:1-2).  The church has to gather together to encourage each other (Heb 10:24-25).  The church has to gather together to study God’s Word (1 Tim 4:13).  There are a plethora of verses that clearly state that the local church is a necessary and integral part of a christian lifestyle.  Television is no substitute for flesh-and-blood people of faith.

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1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

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I am a Primitive Baptist, and we believe in election, grace, and predestination.  This is clearly spoken of in the Bible; I was wondering what your views are on this?

Sincerely,
Primitive Baptist

Dear Primitive Baptist,

We here at AYP firmly believe in election, grace, and predestination because they are all terms clearly mentioned in the Bible.  The important questions to ask are:

1. How are we elected?
2. Who receives grace?
3. What is predestined?

Many false doctrines have been created because people failed to ask these questions.  Calvinism (a very popular false doctrine that has infected many churches) teaches that people are elected by God without any conditions and that it is impossible to choose to serve God; it is all up to God.  It also teaches that grace can never be lost and that it is impossible to fall away even if you become an axe-murderer or live a homosexual lifestyle.  Calvinism also teaches that God predestined specific people throughout history to be saved and that only those specific individuals will go to heaven – everyone else is lost by default.  (For further information on Calvinism, please read “Calvin And Sobs”.)  We mention this only to point out that the words ‘election’, ‘grace’, and ‘predestination’ have been abused when we didn’t clarify their biblical meanings.

God teaches that He has elected certain people to be saved.  John 6:44-45 says that God draws people to Him through the Bible.  When we listen to what the Bible says, we are called by God.  2 Thess 2:14 makes it even clearer when it says that we are called through the Gospel. ‘Called’ is another word for ‘elected’.

Those who turn to Christ will receive grace.  ‘Grace’ means ‘unmerited or undeserved favor’; grace is a gift you haven’t earned… in this case, it is the gift of salvation.  We receive grace when we live by faith (Eph 2:8).  Jesus died and paid a price none of us could ever pay – the price of our sins.  When we walk according to His teachings, His blood cleanses us from sin (1 Jn 1:7).  A faithful life isn’t a perfect life, but it is a life that is guided by God’s Word (Rom 10:17).

The Bible also teaches that God predestined something to be saved.  ‘Predestined’ means ‘to set the limits’.  Before God made anything, He set the limits of who would be saved and who wouldn’t (Eph 1:5).  God said that those in Christ will be saved (2 Tim 1:9).  Everyone who is washed in the blood of Jesus will be saved – He is the only way to God (Jhn 14:6).  God predestined only a certain group of people to be saved – the church (Acts 20:28).  The question we must all ask ourselves is: am I a part of God’s church?