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 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

The Holy Spirit and His Earnest 

      The Holy Spirit and His Earnest - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Knowing where one stands as a believer in Christ, and having the assurance of that standing, is the next most important thing to the standing itself.  This is because the human heart cries out for security, certainty.  Knowing where you are with God, and knowing that you know, is the very basis for Christian confidence and stability… confidence that is not cockiness or arrogance.  Continue reading “The Holy Spirit and His Earnest “ →

Marv Wiseman

The Holy Spirit and His Sealing 

      The Holy Spirit and His Sealing - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The sealing of the Holy Spirit upon the life and person of every believer is one more divine gracious provision of God to instill a sense of comfort and security in the Christian.  Few things increase our index of appreciation more than realizing our safety and security in Christ.  God does not want us to serve or worship Him because we stand in abject fear and horror of being disowned by Him but because we are so grateful to Him for what He has done for us through Christ. Continue reading “The Holy Spirit and His Sealing “ →

Marv Wiseman

The Holy Spirit and His Indwelling 

      The Holy Spirit and His Indwelling - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God in the very life and body of the believer is one of the most comforting and assuring truths of all Scripture and of the life experience of the Christian.  This indwelling means precisely what it seems.  It is the very act of the Holy Spirit of God taking up residency in the spirit of the individual Christian from the moment he becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus until the time of his physical death, when the believer becomes absent from his body and present with the Lord in heaven.  Continue reading “The Holy Spirit and His Indwelling “ →

Marv Wiseman

The Holy Spirit and How He is Received 

      The Holy Spirit and How He is Received - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The Romans 8 text is quite clear in its assertion that anyone not possessing the Holy Spirit of Christ is none of His.  This being the case, the equally clear matter of concern with how one obtains the Spirit of Christ.  What are the necessary qualifications for receiving the Holy Spirit?  Answers are diverse and numerous, largely depending upon one’s denominational connections and the particular position held by its governing body.  Continue reading “The Holy Spirit and How He is Received “ →

Marv Wiseman

The Necessity of the Possession by the Holy Spirit

      The Holy Spirit and His Possession is a Necessity - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The gracious operation of the Holy Spirit, a member of the Triune God, is of incalculable importance to every believer in the spiritual body of Christ.  So important, in fact, that the Apostle Paul makes a startling statement about it in the 8th of Romans, “It is very forthright and unambiguous, said he.  If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”  With unmistakable clarity, the apostle equates being a Christian with having the Spirit of God dwelling within.  Continue reading “The Necessity of the Possession by the Holy Spirit” →

Marv Wiseman

The Holy Spirit and the Gospel 

      The Holy Spirit and the Gospel of Christ - Pr. Marv Wiseman

In 1st Corinthians 15, the inspired apostle relates the very essence of the Gospel in a very succinct way.  One might call it the “Gospel in a nutshell.”  Even though it is barebones minimum, it still contains the essential ingredients of truth one must know in order to be saved.  “Here it is,” said Paul,  “For I delivered unto you, first of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures.”  Continue reading “The Holy Spirit and the Gospel “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Ultimate Reign 

      Christ: His Ultimate Reign - Pr. Marv Wiseman

George Frederick Handel, understandably struck by the claims of the Word of God as he read the 11th chapter of Revelation, was compelled to set it to music.  Out of his fascination and compulsion, the famous oratorio bearing his name and the name of his subject was born.  Known worldwide and performed frequently with great exuberance, Handel’s Messiah, or Jesus, the Messiah, as seen and set to music by George Frederick Handel…what an elaborate, absolute masterpiece.  Continue reading “Christ – His Ultimate Reign “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – His Coming for His Church 

      Christ: His Coming for His Church - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The coming of Christ for His Church is a truth that is fraught with controversy among believers in the Lord Jesus.  Much of the controversy could be eliminated by a careful reading of 1st Thessalonians 4, 1st Corinthians 15, and Titus 2.  In this latter reference of Titus 2, believers are admonished to be looking for the “blessed hope in the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Continue reading “Christ – His Coming for His Church “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – The Efficacy of His Death 

      Christ: The Efficacy of His Death - Pr. Marv Wiseman

Admittedly, it is a fair question and a very important question.  How could it be that one single Person, even Jesus Christ…how could that one Person possibly be able to effect the redemption of an entire humanity, consisting not of millions of people but untold billions?  That’s with a “B”…untold billions of people.  After all, Christ was but one single human Being.  True it is; He was one single human Being, but He was also one single divine Being, and that’s what made the difference.  In His uniqueness, Jesus Christ was the God-man, the theanthropic One.  He was the enfleshment of deity, the incarnated One.  Continue reading “Christ – The Efficacy of His Death “ →

Marv Wiseman

Christ – The Exclusivity of His Salvation 

      Christ: The Exclusivity of His Salvation - Pr. Marv Wiseman

The biblical insistence upon man’s salvation being secured exclusively through the finished work of Christ remains a major objection that many have about Christianity.  In this present day of religious pluralism, the idea of the exclusivity of Christ is met with increased hostility.  It is a narrowness many simply cannot abide.  The principle reason for their objection is always the same.  Their conclusions are reached as a result of their personal logic and reasoning and, to them, it simply doesn’t seem right that there should be but one way to heaven.  Continue reading “Christ – The Exclusivity of His Salvation “ →