bs03 Interpreting Bible Types

Interpreting Bible Types

Interpreting Bible Types

[bs03] Por David Cox v1 © 2011
http://www.coxtracts.com/bs03
You may freely copy and print this tract




A study on how to interpret types in the Bible. TOPICS: Definitions | Why use antitype types? |  The definition of a type | The Error of Allegorism | How to interpret a type? | Perspectives on types | Examples of types-antitypes

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fam12 Common law marriages

Common Law Marriages
By David Cox
[fam12] v1 ©2008
www.coxtracts.com
You can freely photocopy this tract for non-profit use.




Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Many in our day promote informal unions, which is a man and woman living together and having sex without the formal commitments of marriage, that is with the understanding that the relationship is not permanent. This is supposedly without the «strings» of commitment, but with the freedom of sex. Is this really a paradise situation or a great problem? What does God say about this situation? Continue reading

fam07 The submission of the woman

The Submission of the Woman
Seeking reason as to why
By David Cox
[fam07] v1 ©2006 www.coxtracts.com
For non-profit this tract can be freely reproduced
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Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 1Timothy 2:11-12

God has established an order between the woman and the man, and in this, the woman should be subject to her husband, “thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee Gen 3:16 Equally in the church, God has commanded “ Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience… also… if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” 1Cor 14:34-35. Neither man nor woman always likes what God tells them to do, but a movement of rebellion to this commandment has been extremely pushed to be a “racism between the sexes” when really it is just plain disobedience. Continue reading

fam05 Disciplining our Children

Disciplining our Children
Biblical Principles on How to Discipline Them
By David Cox
[f05] v1 ©2006 www.coxtracts.com
This tract can be freely reproduced for non-profit use.




For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Hebrews 12:6

There is the problem, and we will begin with this parallel between parents and their children, and between God and us. Many people reject totally out of hand any form of corporal punishment as a form of child abuse. In the end analysis, if we accept as incorrect that anybody that is punished physical (worse mentally or psychologically) then what of God’s punishment? Many attack God with this by attacking punish as evil. In place of punishment they prefer distraction (time out, candy, games, or rewards) for evil behavior. But God as our Creator punishes us because of His profound love. Diversion is no substitute.

The Correct Motive: “we discipline you because we love you”

When we speak of discipline and punishment, we should always start at Hebrew 12:5-11, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth… that we might be partakers of his holiness.” (12:6, 10). The principle is “we discipline you because we love you”, and we ought to remind our children constantly of this principle, and especially when we have to discipline them. If it wasn’t for the Lord’s discipline, none of us would walk in His holiness . Discipline has the function of motivating the immature person to change.

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bs02 Benefits of Bible Study

Benefits of Bible Study

Benefits of Bible Study

By David Cox

[BS02] v1 ©2011 www.coxtracts.com/bs029
You may reproduce this tract is given away for free.




The Capacity of the Bible.

2Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. .

(1) It is inspired by God.
(2) It is useful to teach doctrine.
(3) It is useful for reproof (discerning wrong).
(4) It is useful for correction (fixing wrong).
(5) It is useful to teach righteousness (what one should be doing instead of sinning).

God gave us His Word in order to prepare and equip the child of God to be perfect (spiritually mature), and in order to have the necessary preparation to fulfill God’s purpose of good works in us, and to reflect the moral character of God within our lives (1Pet 2:9).

To Better Know our Redeemer

Salvation is knowing the Savior. Salvation is not a good work that we do, but it is a personal relationship between a human being and Jesus Christ, the Savior. Only thus can a person go to heaven, and therefore, our knowledge of Jesus (our relationship with him) is what saves us (really it is not that we know him, but that He knows us).

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Not everybody that knows the details about Jesus is saved because knowledge (just information) does not establish a saving relationship. Neither is it a personal knowledge of Jesus that saves a person because many in the New Testament knew Jesus personally like Judas Iscariot and the Jewish leaders, but they did not go to heaven. Salvation is having a personal relationship where you place your trust in Jesus, and ask him to be your personal Savior, and sincerely believe in Him as your Savior.




The Function of Scripture.

Creation also reveals God, but one cannot understand enough about God from creation to be saved. It is limited. Scripture begins where creation cannot go further. Basically, creation alone reveals a Designer that exists as a Supreme Being that made all, and our conscience tells us that we have offended that Creator, so the two together points to Scripture (further specific revelation). Without the Bible, we are not going to know how to be saved. The Bible reveals Christ. The Bible is the complete revelation of God. It describes God in a multitude of details; also man’s sin problem and more about God’s salvation.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

But Scripture was given so that we may have a personal SAVING relationship with God. Nobody can be saved without coming to that through the Holy Scripture (which is the only faithful message of God) and without believing what they say about the Savior, Jesus Christ. Simply put, every attack against the faithfulness, trustworthiness, or the authority of Scripture is an attack by Satan against God’s effort to save man.




To help us Maintain Good Relations with Other Men

Deut 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

The Word of God has a function to put one right with God, but it also has a function to establish what is right in men’s relationships with other men.

To be Approved Before God

2Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It is the good use of Scripture that makes us approved before God. By knowing God’s will and doing it, we are approved.

For Growth and Following Christ

1Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

The Bible is like our spiritual food, that which sustains our daily life. When we “eat it”, we grow spiritually in our salvation. Salvation is a relationship with God, so to grow in our salvation is to deepen that relationship with Jesus our Savior. To follow Christ is to be his disciple. This is to grow in our Christian life, and the essential element in this growth is the Word of God. Scripture is the instrument in the hand of the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ.

To Increase our Faith and Hope.

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

There is a direct relationship between the Scriptures and our faith. Scripture is the means or method by which God has established to increase our faith. Part of this is the “what” we believe, and part of it is the certainty and trust to believe him because we well know the character of God.

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

It is by means of this function of Scripture in our life that we have the hope of eternal life by means of the work of Jesus Christ in the Cross. Faith is created by reading and believing the Word of God.

Acts 17:11 These were nobler than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

In this passage, the people of Berea studied the Scriptures and they “believed”. Faith is always the result of an honest and sincere study of Scripture.

Not tasting the Scripture. The opposite of loving the Scripture with desire and seriousness to know is to be “slow” towards the Scripture. By taking an attitude of resistance, disobedience, dislike to the Scripture, or not paying attention to them or blocking what they direct in your own life, is the same as witchcraft in God’s eyes. It is idolatry, and this slowness receives the greatest condemnation from God.

1Sam 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

To Give Spiritual Power in Prayer.

1John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Deut 11:22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; 23 Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.

To Equip us for Spiritual Warfare.

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

When we study the Bible with sincerity, we get the ability to discern between false doctrine (error) and what has truly come from God (truth).




To Clean us from Sin.

John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Deut 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

To Find Peace and Joy.

Ps 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
John 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

To Be Prosperous in Life.

Josh 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Far from mysticism, activities that have magic effects, reading and studying the Word of God sincerely in order to put them into practice to change you life so as to please God and abide in his will will cause you to be prosperous in all of life. There is a divine blessing on the way of God, and only by finding it (through Scripture) and living daily in that way can you really encounter protection and blessing from God.

Deut 17:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

When a person walks completely in the way that God indicates, then will he have this “good life”. This good life includes a lengthening of days or long life.

To Guide us in the Decisions of Life.

Ps 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Prov 6:22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

bs04 The Symbols of Jesus Christ: Christ the Groom

Symbols of Jesus Christ Christ the Groom

The Symbols of Jesus Christ: Christ the Groom

By David Cox

[bs04] v1 ©2011 www.coxtracts.com/bs04
You may freely photocopy and print this tract

Symbols of Jesus Christ: Christ the Groom TOPICS: Jesus is the Bridegroom | Commitment and Wait Time | The Bride Prepares | The Groom Prepares | Waiting and Anticipation | The Earnst of the Holy Spirit


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ch19 Marks of a False Prophet

The Marks of a False Prophet

Marks of a False Prophet

This tract explains what the Bible says about a False Prophet, and identifies it for us.
How to recognize a bad minister

By David Cox
[ch19] v1 ©2006 www.coxtracts.com
This can be freely copied if unaltered.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.




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mor02 Contradictions and errors in the book of Mormon

Contradictions and Problems in the Book of Mormon

By David Cox
[mor02] v1r ©2005 www.coxtracts.com
This tract can be freely reproduced for non-profit use.
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12 Essential Mormon Doctrines not found in the Book of Mormon.

If the Book of Mormon is the “most correct of all the books on the planet” as they claim, then why does it not contain these essential Mormon doctrines of the Mormon church?

1. The Organization of the Church
2. The Aaronic priesthood.
3. The Plurality of the gods
4. God is an exalted human being.
5. Men can become gods.
6. The three levels of glory.
7. The Doctrine of the plurality of wives.
8. Celestial Marriages.
9. The Baptism for the dead.
10. The Word of Wisdom.
11. The Doctrine of the preexistence of souls.
12. Eternal progression.




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doct16 Satan our Enemy

Satan, Our Enemy
By David Cox
[doct16] v1 ©2011 www.coxtracts.com
This can be freely reproduced for not profit use.
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1Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

 



Satan is real, not fiction. He is our enemy, and does everything he can to defeat us in spiritual warfare.

How do we identify our enemy?

Matt 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

The word “Satan” means adversary or enemy, and this is used by Jesus towards Peter when Jesus expressed his plans to die on the cross, and Peter opposed this purpose.

Num 22:22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him.

In this passage, the Angel of Jehovah is identified as “an adversary”. Obviously the Angel of Jehovah is not the devil, but in contrast many theologians identify this angel as the pre-incarnate Christ. So the basic concept of Satan is “the adversary,” or one who opposes another, which in its purest sense, is simply an enemy that confronts someone, whoever that may be. You might think that this concept as a “district attorney”, or an attorney with the task of assigning “blame” and opposing (Zec 3:1). The relationship of Satan as the accuser before God is clear, as in Job 1, but the reasons and the calling to this task are not as clear (if first from God, or after the fall was a voluntary thing by Satan). A very interesting passage in this respect is …

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Notice that God sent adversaries to confront Solomon (1 Ki 11:14, 23, 25). God himself who commands the adversity to oppose (creates their existence, but this opposition is not in itself a sin). This is not to say that God is the author of sin, but He does send bad and difficult things in life to test and prove us. Do not think that God ordains these things just to see us suffer, but as any good trainer will do, he will order his soldiers through the most rigorous training to make them something of great value to the army. In this, although Satan’s motives are not pure in themselves, his activity serves God anyway. Satan is God’s adversary (and of the people who try to obey God’s will, purposes, and do the work of God). The devil IS OUR ADVERSARY (1Pet 5:8), and he walks about seeking whom he may devour, and so it is our duty to resist him. Satan wants our destruction, and not our welfare, and God permits Satan to war against us so as to make us more dependent upon God (the need of faith), and in the end, we will be pure gold (of great value).

The Wicked One

There are various Scriptures which refer to this person in the point of his character “the evil one” or “the wicked one” (Mat 13:19; Eph 6:16; 1Jn 2:13; 3:12). He is wicked. What is wickedness? This concept is simply that he wants to do damage to others in any form or way he can. It is the lack of piety, forgiveness, or mercy. Wickedness is also a disposition to constantly destroy and cause pain and suffering in others.

Arrogance

Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Satan is marked by his great confidence in his own self, to the point of being pure arrogance (Isa 14:11). This character quality is to have so much self-confidence, to confide in his own intelligence and understanding, that he despises the will of others, even despising God himself. This arrogance in making decisions and acting without seeking any direction from God is where Satan fell. It is his favorite sin. 1Tim 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. As Paul unfortunately reveals here, this satanic character is an element that causes (or should cause) an immediate rejection from the ministry if found in a minister.

The Lie, Deception, and Deceit

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. “From the beginning” Satan was always a deceiver. Everything that he pretends to offer or declare is a deception in some form. He nevers presents the full truth, but twists it in some aspect or small part so as to nullify its benefit.

2Cor 11:13 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Satan has a distinct form of working, and this is the lie. He is “the father of the lie”, and this is where the lie was born, and from which all lies come. Satan’s manner of working is to always present himself and his work in some other form than what it really is. He fabricates another “reality” that is not real. Lies, deceit, distortion are the telltale marks of his work. Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

The Use of Miracles

2Thess 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Satan has a very strong power in our world, and even God refers to his station (given before the fall) as “the god of this world” (2Cor 4:4; Jn 12:31). Satan well knows that the very fact of having supernatural power does not speak as to where the source of that power lies, but so many people are so easily deceived by the fact of a miracle, that Satan puts this lie to good use for his purposes.

The Tempter, the Accuser

Rev 12:10… for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Satan is a condemned criminal in the eyes of God, and he has been destined to judgment, but Satan doesn’t want to go down peacefully.

Satan wants to drag everyone with him into hell that he can so his character is based in tempting and tripping up everybody anyway he can (1Chr 21:1; Luk 22:31). Moreover, he not only wants others to fall, Satan himself is who will be accusing us before God, so that God condemns us just as He will judge Satan. In Job 1:6-12, Satan accuses Job before God Zec 3:1-2; Rev 12:10.

Satanic Aggression

Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Satan knows what will be his end, and even so, he still presses forward with his failed plan, and he is in a hurry because his time is short. In his hurry, he resorts to much aggression against humanity so that they trip and fall as quickly and deeply as possible. The Bible tells us Satan is very cruel and brutal in this fight. One thing you will never find Satan really doing is having compassion or mercy because that belongs to the character of God, not Satan. He never pardons, only cruelly pressuring. He is a very dangerous enemy.

The Murderer

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

In what sense are lies and murder connected? A murderer is someone who completely has no respect of others, and hates somebody so much that he will steal, and even steal that person’s life. Murder is simply an extreme form of aggression. Hurting others, lying to them, and any other forms of harm are simply minor forms of the same aggressive spirit that is behind murder. The hatred here is that one person dislikes another so much that he will not tell the truth (which has blessing attached to it) but rather wants others to hear and believe lies (which has condemnation associated with it). Satan’s greatest work is to remove the love of truth from men so that they are not saved (2Th 2:9-10).

Our Disposition towards Satan

Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

In October with Halloween, as well as with Hollywood culture, they paint Satan in a red jump suit with horns and a tail, so as to minimize him as a real threat. We should note that God originally gave him great power and authority (“the god of this world” 2Cor 4:4), and he is a prince. Isa 14:9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming”. So he is a dangerous opponent not to be underestimated or taken lightly, and even the archangel Michael knows his ability (Jude 1:9). He is a very powerful enemy, but God is greater.

Satan’s Limits

Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Satan is not equal in power with God. He is a creature of God, and dependent upon God for his existence, just as we are. He is limited to what God permits him to do. Satan can only act to the limits which God allows him, and every child of God should always remember this.

Matt 8:31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

Satan and his demons are restricted by God’s being and power. Yes he allows them to act for now, but judgment day is coming, and God will not allow them to go beyond certain limits (Jn 19:11; Mt 12:28).

fam04 Resolving without Divorce

Resolving without Divorce
By David Cox
[F04] v1 ©2005 www.coxtracts.com
also see my tract “Principles of a Biblical Marriage”
this tract can be freely copied and photocopied.

It is sad when two people marry and later divorce. But it is worse when there are children involved in these matters. Every Christian should purpose in his heart that divorce is not something that is inevitable. Divorce results when the people involved do not want to obey God. The divorce rate is very high among divorced people (they repeat their divorces over and over again because of the same problems they themselves bring to each new marriage). Wherever they go they will carry their problems with them, and divorce never really solves these problems but is a running away from them which never works. Divorce just complicates their lives.

Divorce is a failure of the marriage – We should clarify, that in these matters, it is popular to “assign guilt” to one party and innocence to the other, but after all, divorce is a failure by both because both have to make the marriage work, and both are responsible before God when it fails.




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