Marv Wiseman

God’s Part and Your Part (Part 1)

      God´s Part and Your Part - Part 1 - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Efforts have been made to establish and affirm one very important and straightforward concept that permeates Scripture, and the New Testament in particular. It is so straightforward and plain one should feel embarrassed not to acknowledge it. Christ died a substitutionary death for the sins of, and on behalf of, the entirety of the human race, past, present, and future. No exceptions. Insisting that Christ died for all does require the redemption of all humanity. This is because the sin of Adam resulted in the falleness of all humanity. No exceptions. Continue reading “God’s Part and Your Part (Part 1)” →

Marv Wiseman

Christ Saves the Worst Among Us

      Christ Saves the Worst Among Us - Pr. Marv Wiseman

While the Scripture throughout reveal that Christ died for the entire world, it is implied that the world needed dying for, and that death would have to be accomplished by One not tainted by sin Himself. He could not die substitutionally for others if He had sin of His own to contend with. Man, in his spiritual naivety would like to think that Christ died for those who were worthy and deserving of Him. But, human worthiness and deservedness negates the need for a Savior. Continue reading “Christ Saves the Worst Among Us” →

Marv Wiseman

Christ’s Paramount Mission

      Christ´s Paramount Mission - Pr. Marv Wiseman

That there is unmistakable cooperation involving all three members of the Triune God in the creation of the world is unchallenged by any serious student of the Bible. In fact, such three-fold activity is evident at numerous historical events in the history of the world. Among these are what we should think of as the most critical of all, at least as regards human welfare and eternal destiny. Continue reading “Christ’s Paramount Mission” →

Marv Wiseman

The Gospel in a Nutshell

      The Gospel In A Nutshell - Pr. Marv Wiseman

It is arguably the most often quoted verse in all of Scripture. It’s been called the “Gospel in a Nutshell”, and we speak, of course, of the beloved John 3:16. We even see zealous Christians waving the name and number of John 3:16 on handmade placards at ball games and other sporting events, anywhere a roving camera can pick it up and transmit it to the millions who are watching TV in their home. Continue reading “The Gospel in a Nutshell” →

Marv Wiseman

Christ’s Death was For All

      Christ´s Death Was For All - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Of all the several passages declaring God’s love and redemption for the entire human race, the Apostle John speaks so clearly to the issue, both in his gospel and his first epistle near the end of the New Testament. In 1st John, chapter 2, unmistakable language is used in his saying that Christ is the “propitiation,” or satisfaction, “for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” For our sins and not ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world? Continue reading “Christ’s Death was For All” →

Marv Wiseman

Christ’s Ransom was for All

      Christ´s Ransom Was For All - Pr. Marv Wiseman

In the Apostle Paul’s continuation of his theme to his young protégé, he adds in 1st Timothy 2 that there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus. Simple enough, clear enough, not much needed for this Christianity to be clarified. Or, is there? Well, there shouldn’t be, but there is. There shouldn’t be because words mean something. There is because some are always looking for a way around the words when they refuse to take them at face value. Continue reading “Christ’s Ransom was for All” →

Marv Wiseman

God was Determined for Man’s Salvation

      God´s Will For Man´s Salvation - Pr. Marv Wiseman

A most comforting verse for any serious person who is searching for God is found in 2nd Peter 3:9. In it, the Apostle Peter tells us “God is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” “Slackness”, or negligence, connotes the idea of being irresponsible, or dilatory; that is, not making good on what one promised in a timely fashion. God did not do that. Continue reading “God was Determined for Man’s Salvation” →

Marv Wiseman

Universal Reconciliation Versus Universal Salvation

The biblical teaching of the universal reconciliation of the world is often rejected by Christians because they mistake it for universal salvation. They are not the same, not at all. Universal salvation is a doctrinal aberration, contrary to Scripture. It insists that all of humanity will ultimately be saved in the final analysis, and none will be permanently separated from God. The Scriptures give the lie to this in both the Old and New Testaments. Then, why do some teach it? Continue reading “Universal Reconciliation Versus Universal Salvation” →

Marv Wiseman

The Scope of Christ’s Reconciliation (Part 2) 

      The Scope of Christ´s Redemption (Part 2) - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The scope of Adam’s transgression still bears all its telltale signs throughout the world and is best described as our last enemy, death.  It’s everywhere, and it will, in one way or another, claim us all.  This is a result of Adam’s transgression referred to in Romans 5.  If death is a result of Adam’s disobedience, what, then, is the result of Christ’s obedience?  Life, the very opposite.  In direct proportion to what the sin of Adam produced, death, the righteousness of Christ produced the opposite…life.  Continue reading “The Scope of Christ’s Reconciliation (Part 2) “ →

Marv Wiseman

The Scope of Christ’s Reconciliation (Part 1) 

      The Scope of Christ´s Redemption (Part 1) - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The scope of Adam’s transgression has been described as universal, that there was no aspect of creation not impacted and altered by it.  Adam’s transgression turned the entirety of creation into something God had not created it to be when He pronounced it very good after the sixth day.  Not only did man and all his progeny, including us, fall with him and in him, but, also, all over which Adam had been given dominion fell also.  Continue reading “The Scope of Christ’s Reconciliation (Part 1) “ →

Marv Wiseman

The Scope of Adam’s Transgression (Part 2) 

The scope of Adam’s sin reached much farther than just our first parents.  The moral contaminant called “sin”, though not a physical entity but a moral one, somehow affixed itself to the psyche, or the human spirit, or Adam and Eve, and was, then, passed on to every succeeding generation.  How this could be without having physical characteristics such as we see in the genes and chromosomes, we do not know.  Continue reading “The Scope of Adam’s Transgression (Part 2) “ →

Marv Wiseman

The Scope of Adam’s Transgression (Part 1)

      The Scope of Adam´s Transgression (Part 1) - Pr. Marv Wiseman

We would be the first to admit that there is much we do not know nor understand about our first parents’ initial disobedience and rejection of their Maker’s authority.  We do, however, know something firsthand of the consequences thereof.  And, what are those consequences?  Well, for starters, we are going to die.  Yes, die.  We are all infected with a terminal moral disease called “sin”, and it will kill us all, just like it has already killed the billions who have gone before.  Continue reading “The Scope of Adam’s Transgression (Part 1)” →

Marv Wiseman

The Alternative to Substitution 

      The Alternative to Substitution - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The principle of substitution has been briefly examined and has its origins in the early chapters of Genesis.  It was in chapter 3 that God Himself provided a substitute to answer to the guilt of Adam and Eve.  He did so in the innocent animals He obviously slew so as to provide coats of covering for the nakedness of our first parents.  But, why should there be any substitution?  Continue reading “The Alternative to Substitution “ →

Marv Wiseman

The Institution of Substitution (Part 2 )

      The Institution of Substitution - Part 2 - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Hebrews 10 informs us that it was not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.  These were innocent animals.  We would also call them “dumb” animals, and they were dumb…dumb in the sense that they had no idea what was going on or why when their very life was taken from them.  They were unintelligent participants because animals have no sense of morality.   They act only from instinct.  Why couldn’t innocent animals take away the sins of humans who offered them as their substitute? Continue reading “The Institution of Substitution (Part 2 )” →

Marv Wiseman

The Institution of Substitution (Part 1) 

      The Institution of Substitution (Part 1) - Pr. Marv Wiseman

When Adam and Eve attempted to clothe themselves with fig leaves, it was an obvious admission of guilt.  Adam and Eve’s fig leaf fiasco was a self-help attempt to cover their guilt, but guilt can never be removed by the offender.  Only the offended party can remove the offender’s guilt.  In their case, the offended party was the very God who created them, and only He could remove their guilt and affect reconciliation.  Continue reading “The Institution of Substitution (Part 1) “ →

Marv Wiseman

The First Revelation of God’s Grace (Part 3) 

      The First Revelation of God´s Grace (Part 3) - Pr. Marv Wiseman

While we cannot be dogmatic about our understanding of human composition, it does appear to best fit the biblical model.  To repeat from an earlier session, it was noted quite clearly in Genesis 2:7 that God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.  The equation would, then, appear to be the physical body plus the breath of life God breathed into it together comprise the human soul.  Continue reading “The First Revelation of God’s Grace (Part 3) “ →

Marv Wiseman

The First Revelation of God’s Grace (Part 2) 

      The First Revelation of God´s Grace (Part 2) - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Adam and Eve, because of their willful sin and disobedience to God, not only hid from Him but attempted to cover their nakedness with an assortment of fig leaves.  There’re multiple things here we do not understand.  Their anxiety over their exposure of their private parts caused them to fashion the fig leaves to cover their nakedness.  Continue reading “The First Revelation of God’s Grace (Part 2) “ →

Marv Wiseman

The First Revelation of God’s Grace (Part 1)

      The First Revelation of God´s Grace (Part 1) - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The perpetual reality of the God of creation being a gracious God who is kindly disposed to His creation is not only evident through human history, but it is found to surface as early as Genesis, chapter 3. And, why there? Because it was there, in Genesis 3, that the desperate need for the grace of God was first manifested. It came hard on the heels of our first parents’ moral failure and rejection of their Creator’s authority. Continue reading “The First Revelation of God’s Grace (Part 1)” →

Marv Wiseman

God’s Spirit to Man’s Spirit    

      God´s Spirit to Man´s Spirit - Pr. Marv Wiseman

If God is spirit and non-physical, and the Bible says He is, and if man, as God created him, has a non-physical spirit element to his being besides his body, and the Bible says he has, is there some way God connects with man that is also spiritual?  The Bible says there is.  So, what would this connection provide?  What would be its purpose?  It would appear to be one of communication.  Connection and communication are…well, connectives, are they not?  Continue reading “God’s Spirit to Man’s Spirit    “ →

Marv Wiseman

The Spiritual Resides Outside of Science 

      Spirit Resides Outside of Science - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Mankind the world over has enjoyed the benefits derived from scientific achievements, especially over the past few hundred years.  “Science” simply means “to know” or “to understand”.  In general, science has to do with knowing and understanding the physical laws of our world and how they work.  When we are able to transfer that knowledge into work-producing inventions, a society progresses and standards of living are raised, and it’s truly wonderful and universally beneficial.  Continue reading “The Spiritual Resides Outside of Science “ →