CBCG - Elder's Conference - 2019

• The dates for the CBCG 2019 Elder's Conference are
• Wednesday, May 15 – Sunday, May 19.
• The location for the conference will again be the:

 ​HILTON CINCINNATI AIRPORT
t: +1 859 372 9662  I  f: +1 859 371 3361 
7373 Turfway Road I  Florence KY 41042  I  USA
 Hilton Cincinnati Airport  ​

The Unpardonable Sin - Summary
The Unpardonable Sin is a Deliberate, Willful Choice and Rejection of God the Father and Jesus Christ, and a Repudiation of the Forgiveness of Sins and the Gift of Salvation Through Jesus' Sacrifice and His BloodThe unpardonable sin is a deliberate and calculated renunciation of God. It is not an accidental sin, nor a sin under temptation, nor a sin through weakness. But the unpardonable sin is a knowing, determined, calculated, premeditated, willful decision and choice arrived at by rejecting any pangs of conscience, leading of the Holy Spirit, pleadings of the Word of God, or ministers and brethren. It is a willful, determination to reject the gift of repentance, and hostile contempt for the commandments of God, the Spirit of God, a willful repudiation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His blood for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of God. Those who have committed the unpardonable sin have no regrets, no sorrow and no conscience that they have turned their backs on God the Father and Jesus Christ, and the Word of God. It is impossible to renew them to repentance—it is impossible for the Holy Spirit to move them to repentance, for others to move them to repentance, or to move themselves to repentance. They have seared their consciences with a hot iron and there is no power—human or divine—that is able, or has the ability to renew them to repentance. Their choice is final, their judgment is final and God's judgment against them is final.

"In Hebrews the characteristic terms for sin that display contempt for God are compounds of para, many of which occur nowhere else in the New Testament:
para deigmaizein, to expose, to public humiliation (6:6)
para pikainein, to rebel (3:16)
para pikrasmos, rebellion (3:8, 15)
para rrein, to drift a way, fall away (2:1)
para pherein, to carry away (13:9)
par einenos, being listless (12:12)"
"There is no other repentance than that provided through Jesus Christ. There is no salvation apart from the purification for sins accomplished by the divine Son in the final period of God's redemptive activity (1:1-3). The adunatou adunaton [the impossibility], which is used, absolutely and without qualification in Heb. 6:4, expresses an impossibility because the apostate [has] repudiated] the only basis upon which repentance can be extended. To repudiate Christ is to embrace the 'impossible.' " (Lane, Word Biblical Commentary, vol. 47A, p. 142).
The Human ConscienceThe human conscience is an inner creation of God in all men and women—part of the heart and mind. When anyone sins there is an automatic sense of guilt. The worse the sin the greater the guilt and hence, dread. "Conscience is that facility within us which decides [makes us conscious of actions and thoughts] as to the moral quality of our thoughts, words and acts. It gives consciousness of the good of one's conduct or motives, or causes feelings of remorse at evil-doing, but its action is involuntary. A good conscience is one which has no feeling of reproach against oneself, does not accuse oneself of willful wrong" (Cruden's Concordance, definition of conscience).
Warning1) Description of the apostateHeb. 6:6"fallen away"
"crucifying the Son of God"
"publicly holding Him in contempt"
Heb. 10:26, 29"willfully go on sinning"
"trampled underfoot the Son of God"
"has regarded the blood of the
covenant, with which He was
sanctified, as an unholy thing"
"has scorned the Spirit of grace"
2) Prior ExperienceHeb. 6:4-5"once enlightened"
"personally obtained the heavenly gift"
"became partakers of the Holy Spirit"
"have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come"
Heb. 10:26, 29"after receiving the knowledge of the truth"
"was sanctified with the blood of the covenant"
3) Impossibility of RenewalHeb. 6:4, 6"For it is impossible ... to renewthem again unto repentance"
Heb. 10:26"there is no longer any sacrifice for sins"
4) ExpectationHeb. 6:6, 8"being cursed, the end of which is for burning"
Heb. 10:27, 29, 31"terrifying expectation of inevitable judgment"
"fierce fire"
"much worse punishment"
"a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God"

Comfort1) BasisHeb. 6:9Appeal to "better things"
Heb. 10:32Appeal to "remember the earlier days"
2) Past Experience as ChristiansHeb. 6:10"work, and the labor of love"
"have served the saints"
Heb. 10:32, 33, 34"endured much conflict in your sufferings"
"companions of those who were enduring the same things"
"showed compassion to me in my bonds"
"gladly endured the plunder of your possessions"
3) Present ResponsibilityHeb. 6:11,12"demonstrating the same diligence"
"be imitators of those with faith and steadfast endurance"
Heb. 10:35, 36"do not cast away your confidence"
"need to have endurance"
4) IncentiveHeb. 6:11,12"the full assurance of the hope until the end"
"inherit the promises"
Heb. 10:35, 36"great reward"
"may receive the promise"

This summary is taken from CBCG.org website.

​I appreciate your question regarding divorce. Your question is: Does God allows a believer to divorce his or her mate and if so, under what circumstance.
I will try to answer your question using the bible to give us God’s view and instructions regarding the subject of divorce. 
The question of when divorce is an acceptable option before God is one of the more difficult questions to resolve and answer.  Each case will be different, and all aspects of the marriage situation must considered before any decision should be made.
Please understand that God hates divorce and a married couple should do all they can do to reconcile any problems and differences that might arise in their marriage.  Having said that, there are situations where God allows divorce in order to bring peace to an otherwise broken marriage.
Here is some of what God’s word says about divorce.
The three reasons for divorce:
1.       Annulment (fraud)
2.       Adultery (fornication)
3.       Not pleased to dwell with you
 
1.        Reason #1 Fraud
The first reason is really an annulling of a marriage that God never bound from the beginning.  It is called Fraud.  An annulment is an official acknowledgment that a marriage never occurred.
Examples of fraud:
·         If before marriage a man tells his wife he is a virgin and later it comes out that he had been sleeping around before marriage, that is fraud.
·         If two people enter a marriage and the one tells the other that he is in perfect health, but knows he has terminal cancer and will die in four months …that is fraud.
·         If two people enter into a marriage and the one is a drug addict who has been hooked for years and somehow manages to hide it during the courtship, but now after the marriage it  suddenly becomes apparent that they are hooked, that is fraud.

       2. Reason #2   Adultery    ( the 7th commandment forbids adultery)    
·         Matt 5: 27   It was said of old times…..but I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery in his heart.
Note:
·         Verse 31:  It has been said.  Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.  This was not a command by Moses, but rather something he allowed that he did because the people demanded it and their hearts were hardened. 
Reference Deut 22 and Deut 24 and Malachi 2:21
·         Mal 2:16  For the LORD, the God of Israel, says that he hates putting away: for one covers violence with his garment, says the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that you deal not treacherously. 
·         Matt 5 32:    Christ clarifies further by saying, “but I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery
In his case, Christ said a marriage cannot end except for fornication (porneia)
·         Matt 19:3-12
This is where the Pharisees are trying to trick Christ into committing to one or the other schools of thought of the day, that of the school of Hillel ( liberal) or that of the school of Shammai ( more conservative). 
He did not answer either but took them back to what God says in the beginning in Genesis.
( see below ).
 
Gen 2:21  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 
Gen 2:22  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 
Gen 2:23  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 
Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 
Gen 2:25  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. 
 
Reason #3      “not pleased to dwell with you”.  
·         1Co 7:12 
“But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.”
 
In this case, a believer is married to an unbeliever and that unbeliever is not willing to live with him or her for a number of reasons. 
·         One reason being that they are not accepting of the truth and wants to leave you or to divorce you because of this.
·         Another reason is his or her actions exhibit his or her desire to not dwell with you.
For example:  spiritual,
o   physical and mental abuse,
o   addiction to drugs or alcohol,
o   or a mate simply leaving their spouse which must be considered.
 
In the case of being pleased to dwell with you, If the unbeliever accepts the fact that this is your belief and is willing to live with you in spite of it, then you are bound to that person.
Please note:
In all of these cases, it is important that the offended mate act on the information ( or infraction ie: adultery etc. and initiate the divorce) in a timely manner not years later.  If you wait till things are bad years later and then claim a fraudulent marriage or an adulterous marriage or that you mate is not pleased to dwell with you, you have been willing to accept the person as your mate by living with them for years after the knowledge has come forth.
Also, there is an alternative to divorce. 
If a relationship is continuously abusive, separation can be a valid choice.  Again, there are many other possible situations that could come up in marriage such as spiritual, physical and mental abuse, addiction to drugs or alcohol, or a mate simply leaving his or her spouse which must be considered.  In these cases, separation without formal divorce could be considered in the short term with the possibility of future repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation after meaningful counseling
Also:
Let us understand that once a marriage ends in divorce, the question of whether the individuals involved are permitted in God’s eyes to remarry or not must be considered.  The bible does not give a lot of details in resolving some of these issues and therefore any decisions made must come only after much humble prayer, study and fasting so that God’s will can be done and not based in one’s desire to end the marriage. 
Finally,
In all cases, God wants us to enter into the covenant of marriage soberly and seriously, understanding its purpose and meaning for us today.

Your Question was:
 
"Our little group is no more so we keep the Sabbath at home. We usually listen to a couple sermons. Our grandson is playing football and has six games about an hour long on Saturday mornings. Is it "doing your own pleasure " to go watch?"

This a good question.  I will try to answer it from the scriptures which are given to us by God and found in his word regarding the Sabbath.
We all have or will have come face to face with a decision that will test our faith, conversion and commitment to keep God’s laws.  For true believers who are trying to worship God in spirit and truth in today’s society it is especially difficult when our children or grandchildren are involved.  Wanting to make exceptions for our children and grandchildren is especially tough.   
 
Our world system today is set against God and the true worship of his ways of love toward God and our fellowman.  God has placed us in this world to be lights and examples to others especially those of our immediate families.  God wants to see if we are going to hold fast to the beliefs he has given us and our calling. 
 
The Sabbath is truly a test commandment and one with which Satan loves to test our resolve and commitment to keeping God’s way.  We must remember that while the tests are difficult the rewards are truly amazing if we can hold the line and stay true to God.
 
Let’s review some of the scriptures regarding the observance of the Sabbath:
Isaiah 58:13 
“If you turn your foot away from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord, honorable and shall honor him not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure nor doing your own ways.”
Mat 10:37 
 “He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” 
 
Exodus 31:13.
 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Truly you shall keep My Sabbaths, for the keeping of God’s Sabbaths is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations to know that I am the LORD Who sanctifies you.
14. You shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone that defiles it shall surely be put to death, for whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.”
 
 Mark 2: 27-28
” And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath;
Therefore, the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
 
We can see that God made this day specially for man to have a relationship with him on this day.  It is made holy by God’s presence in the Sabbath day.  He wants you to join him in worship and fellowship with him and others he has called.  He is a jealous God and wants us to not be doing our own pleasures and activities on this day.
The Sabbath is a test commandment and can be a challenge especially when those we love are wanting us to be involved in their lives on the Sabbath day.
 
There are other ways to show support to your Grandson and not take time from God.  For example, have the event recorded and schedule quality time on Sunday or another scheduled time with family to watch his game.  Your Grandson can give a play by play account of his game and his involvement in it.
 
Having said all this,  the bottom line is that it is up to you  whether or not you chose to go to the game on the Sabbath day.

One last principle regarding this questions is found in Romans 14:23
Romans 14:23  “And he that doubts is damned if he eat, because he eats not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
​
Remember, The ultimate and final chose is up to you!
 
Sincerely
​

Here is a question I was asked recently and my follow up answer.  Hope you find this of interest.

" My question is about the 144,000.
In rev.7 Manasseh is mentioned in verse 6 but Ephraim is not. in verse 8 joseph is mentioned. Should we assume that this is Ephraim since that is Joseph's other son? I don't like to assume things which is why I am asking.
also
why does Dan have to wait for his salvation and does that mean he will be in the second resurrection".

Revelation 7:4: “And I heard the number of those who were sealed: one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel. From the tribe of Judah…” (vs 4-5).
 “…twelve thousand were sealed; from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand were sealed…” (v 5)—Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph and Benjamin. 


My answer:

your Question was:
Manasseh is mentioned in verse 6 but Ephraim is not. In verse 8 Joseph is mentioned.  Should we assume that this is Ephriam. 

my Answer:  Yes. 

The bible sometimes will mention one name that will include the rest of the family. 

• Israel can be just Jacob,
• the twelve tribes
• or when it says the house of Israel it can mean the northern nation of Israel and the southern nation of Judah.  (Eze 14:6)
• Ephraim, being the leading tribe of the house of Joseph, sometimes bore the name "Joseph. (Eze_37:16 )
• there are many examples of this in the bible

your Question:
Why does Dan have to wait for his salvation?

My answer:

• The tribe of Dan as a whole was guilty of gross idolatry—even to the point of stealing the idols they used to practice their religion (Judges 18:14-31).  
• Theirs was the first organized idolatry in ancient Israel, and the longest in duration. It continued "until the day of the captivity of the land," nearly 500 years later (Judges 18:30). Jewish tradition says that Dan was the first tribe to follow Jeroboam into his sin of idolatry, and in their literature, the term "Dan" is often used to represent idolatry
• Dan thoroughly rejected God's true religion for thousands of years, substituting a continuous tradition of idolatry.
• The end-time descendants of Dan say, "I have waited for your salvation, O LORD" (Gen 49:1, 18).
• The vast majority of Danites must wait for salvation until after the sealing of the 144,000.

From this summarized history of the tribe, it becomes obvious why Dan would not be among the 144,000 "servants of our God, as they are called in Rev 7:3.Dan and all the other tribes of ancient Israel will be saved. In fact, Dan is mentioned first in the apportioning of land in the soon-coming Millennium (Ezekiel 48:1).  
The apostle Paul states, "All Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26). 
 The 144,000 are only a very small portion of the people of all nations who will eventually be saved.  I Tim 2:4


Thanks for the question