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Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Cessationist Interpretation 1: "the perfect" (to teleion) = the completed Bible, supported by a mirror/perfect-law parallel in James 1:23-25.

First of two cessationist readings. Proponents cite the shared vocabulary of "mirror" and "perfect" (teleios) between 1 Cor 13 and James 1 to argue the perfect thing is Scripture.

Cessationist Interpretation 1: "the perfect" (to teleion) = the completed Bible, supported by a mirror/perfect-law parallel in James 1:23-25.

Double jeopardy objection answered: Ephesians 2 proves the elect were under wrath after the cross, i.e., already "double payment" on limited atonement

Q&A: Why doesn't the death penalty for homosexuality apply today? — Old Testament law and Christ

Q&A: Adding baptism as a requirement for salvation nullifies grace — Galatians 2:21 parallel

Q&A: James 2 and the relationship between works and faith — a different question from Galatians/Romans

Nearly all human knowledge rests on testimony from credible witnesses, not direct personal observation

Ray Comfort's law-first gospel presentation is thoroughly biblical, though not required to be mechanical

Tithing at 10% is not a biblical New Testament requirement, though generous giving absolutely is

A church with a single pastor and no elders should seek plurality of leadership; address the concern privately and graciously with the pastor

Christians are not under the Mosaic Law including the Sabbath; they are under the law of Christ and walk by the Spirit

Romans 14 shows that observing the Sabbath is a matter of conscience, not universal Christian obligation; liberty must be exercised in love

Praying to the dead is forbidden — the 1 Samuel 28 (Saul/Samuel) incident is a divine rebuke, not a model; this applies to Catholic prayers to saints

Being saved, having eternal life, and entering the kingdom of God are all part of the same package (John 3:3)

Acts 10 — Cornelius and the Gentiles speak in tongues

Acts 2 purpose: inauguration of the new covenant Spirit; Acts 10 purpose: extending that work to Gentiles

Jesus affirmed the Hebrew canon (Law, Prophets, Writings) — which excludes 1 Enoch and the Apocrypha

Malachi 3:8 is the most-cited pro-tithe verse but is addressed to the nation of Israel under the Mosaic law, not to Christians

The Malachi tithe rebuke also includes offerings (firstborn animals), which modern tithe-preachers ignore — revealing selective application

In the Old Testament law the tithe went to Levites and priests, not to local pastors — so enforcing a 10% tithe should logically send money to Jewish Levites

Jesus mentions tithing twice but always speaking to Jews under the law; this cannot be extended to Gentile Christians

New Testament giving priorities: the poor, the persecuted church, local ministers, and generosity as lifestyle — not limited to 10%

Old Testament law: killing in self-defense carried no penalty, establishing self-defense as a legitimate moral category

Hebrews 10:26-27 "sinning willfully" refers specifically to rejecting the gospel after knowing its truth, not to any deliberate sin

Near-death / heaven-visiting accounts: deep skepticism warranted; Paul's 2 Corinthians 12 model shows the right posture is silence, not book tours

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is about sexual immorality in context, not primarily about diet/exercise/tobacco — but the moderation and mastery principles within the passage do apply broadly

Galatians 3:23 — the Law as guardian/nanny: imprisoned under law until Christ

Freedom from the law through Christ — justified by faith, law's penalty absorbed by Jesus

Old Testament dietary laws — not binding on Christians; Isaiah 66 and Ezekiel future prophecy not a present command

Numbers 5 — the Bitter Water trial does not describe an abortion; the NIV translation is mistaken on this point

The Old Covenant is "eternal" in the sense that Christ fulfilled it — fulfillment, not destruction, transitions to the New Covenant

1 Corinthians 6:12 and 10:22 — "all things are lawful" is a Corinthian slogan Paul quotes and then corrects

Parachute/airplane illustration: beliefs do not determine outcomes — reality is independent of belief

Melchizedek question: Is Melchizedek a theophany/Christophany of Jesus, and how does Hebrews know so much about him?

1 Corinthians 6 provides key principles for evaluating bodily health choices: lawfulness, helpfulness, and avoiding bondage

Noahide Laws conspiracy theory is rooted in anti-Semitism and misrepresents Jewish belief

Proverbs' paradoxical advice on rebuking a fool applies to confronting Word of Faith in-laws -- danger exists either way

Matthew 5:20 — Righteousness exceeding the scribes and Pharisees

Mark 10:17-18 — Why does Jesus ask why he is called good? Implicit claim to deity

Does intercourse constitute marriage? — No; vows before witnesses and God define marriage

No single biblical form of government; Christianity fits any system through principles

Dual covenant theology is unbiblical; Jewish people need Jesus — Romans 10:1-4 and John 5:46

Jephthah's vow was sinful rebellion: the law expressly forbids human sacrifice; God repeatedly states he never wanted it and judges Israel for practicing it.

The book of Judges follows a downward trajectory of increasingly flawed deliverers (Gideon → Jephthah → Samson) to show Israel's depravity and create expectation for the true Deliverer - Jesus.

Jewish feasts were commanded for Jews in Israel, not universally for all people; Gentiles were never given the Mosaic law and are not obligated to keep the feasts.

Mike's Hebrew Roots Movement playlist covers Acts, Romans, and Jesus's own teaching on how the law applies to Gentiles - recommended for deeper study.

Romans 1:24-27 uses "natural function" (physiken chresin) as the key term defining appropriate sexual expression; lesbian and male homosexual acts are condemned as exchanges of the natural for the unnatural.

Applying the "natural function" standard: anal intercourse is physically harmful even between a married man and woman and is therefore unnatural and prohibited.

Romans 10:1-4 refutes the idea that Jews can be saved apart from Jesus: Paul's heart's desire is that his Jewish kinsmen be saved — meaning they currently are not — despite their genuine zeal for God.

Everything possible is theologically wrong with two-covenant theology (Jews saved by law, gentiles by Christ) — it is unloving to Jewish people because it withholds their own Savior from them.

Q6 (wrong week): Advice for someone leaving a cult (JW) and finding a church; overcoming spiritual abuse

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