Jonathan Martin

An Entrepreneurial INTJ "Mastermind Architect" in relationships, life, and business. Uncovering and Exploring Relevant Theology, Law, Economics, and Science.

[Promethean Action @PrometheanActn]

Sen. Tim Sheehy called Iran's IRGC a death cult.

He's right. So are its financial sponsors in the City of London.

@BarbaraMBoyd on the 47-year machine — and the nuclear renaissance that ends it.

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

He's spot on. The hierarchical modern pastor centric model has limited impact in that it not only limits the pastor but puts limits on the pew sitters. It creates a rule and structure made by man that limits obedience to the very commands of God and perverts the meeting time from building one another up (which scripture commands) to so called "worship services" (which God has not commanded.)

The pulpit ritual is a REVERSAL of Gods instructions for “meeting together “. And so all pulpit-and-pew churches are legalistic in commanding man made traditions that are in violation to the actual commands of God.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 AND LET US (all of us)
consider how. (prepare in advance)
to stir up ONE ANOTHER ( opposite of a sermon)
toward love and good deeds, ( BEYOND knowledge)
25 not neglecting to MEET TOGETHER,
as is the habit of some,
but encouraging ONE ANOTHER, ( no sermon)
and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Then you pervert God’s instructions for preaching.
�“Preach the word
be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, and exhort,
with complete patience and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2

Cannot be exposited to mean:
1. Lecture the word - all dialogue excluded
2. One man for the whole time- shared between all other giftings excluded
3. Hired men with Bible degrees only- all laity excluded.

It’s only assumed to mean these man made rules.
This 500 year old ritual does not fool Jesus. I used to be fooled by it. God NEVER funnels his truth through one gift. ALL the gifts “speak the truth in love”. Jesus wants the perversion cleaned up.

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

You are comparing God to a human subject to laws given for humans. God isn't subject to your ideas of justice. God isn't a human. But that's your presupposition. You bring God down to the human level instead of allowing him to be God.

Is it wrong for God to make humans incapable of obedience. Then punishing them for it. No.

If you said yes, then my question is by what standard do you make that judgement? What law states that God cannot do that and be justified?

Job addresses this as well as Paul in Romans.

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

Yep, totally

[One Squirrel Army @OneSquirrelArmy]

Producers get maybe $0.10 of every retail dollar. Maybe. The laws prevent them from selling directly to stores without a bunch of BS in the middle. I owned a restaurant and wanted to sell local beef. Couldn’t do that because our local butcher isn’t federally certified. So I couldn’t support a local producer or a local butcher in our small town because again….the laws are gay

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

@OneSquirrelArmy @NebraskaNice83 Totally, then people wonder how the beef market got captured by the big processors. Guys, 2+2=4. I wish they would do their math on this.

[needGod.net @needGod_net]

If Jesus did 100% of the work needed to get you to heaven, how much work is left for you to do to get to heaven?

0%. That's why we call it His finished work. Trust in Him.

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

@PlumblineFaith https://t.co/2WzaEW5y6W

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

So says the shallow, carnal minded thinker rather than working to bring every thought into captivity to Christ according to the scriptures.

God has already told us what He wants. We are not authorized to imagine and make things up about what He wants.

You forget that God is the one who shapes our will. We do not get to choose our loves and beliefs. They change, not based on choice, but based on many factors including God’s choice of your parents, where and when you were born, your genetic makeup, the unique personality you were born with, and on and on.

If you love chocolate, you cannot change that love by decision. You either love it or you do not. You can say and pretend you don't love it but that doesn’t change the fact that you do love it. It's not a decision to be made. If you’ve never before encountered chocolate, it is not a decision to be made about whether you like it or not. You already like it or not before you ever taste it. It's simply a discovery waiting for you to find out.

In the same way, you either love God in your heart or you do not. It's not a decision to be made. You reject God based on whether you either love Him or not (based on your nature born again or not). It's not a decision to be made. It's a discovery for yourself and then others also about whether they have been born again or not and therefore love God or not.

You either love chocolate or you don't. It's not a decision to be made. It's a discovery about yourself, not a decision you make.

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

Paid pastors? "All hired preachers are deceived about this, and then all the pew sitters also.
1 Timothy 5:17-18
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says,
“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and,
“The laborer deserves his wages.”

it says "those who labor in the word and teaching are worthy of double honor..." They don't want "double honor". They want that to mean money. So they don't get the greater support of "double honor" as God instructed. Paychecks and exemption from marketplace work is a very bad exchange. When men demonstrate they want something other than what God instructed, it shows they are walking in the flesh, not the Spirit. So they get the fruit of the flesh. You "reap what you sow."

If Paul meant for wages to be what they are worthy of, he would have said that. What he did add is two Old Testament laws that are parallel illustrations of how ESSENTIAL "double honor" is to the "laborer" in "the word and teaching." It is ESSENTIAL that an ox is not muzzled when treading. Deut. 24:5 Some farmers were stupid with their oxen and some employers are cheats. It is equally ESSENTIAL that an employer pay his laborers. Deut. 24:15 Some employers are selfish and greedy. God made laws for that. These tell us how ESSENTIAL "double honor" is for spiritual leaders.

If "double honor" is money, how much money is single honor? Half of double? That would mean every believer is to be dishing out money to those they honor.
"Love one another with brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:10

Do metaphors and illustrations alter the literal meaning of what they illustrate? No, but in the guise of "exposition" every hired man with a Bible degree will claim this. For 500 years this has been the clergy practice of godly men, so don't bother "testing everything" 1 Thes. 5:21. I can help with that. If you don't want to be duped, reap the fruit of sin, and be "disqualified" from eternal reward, then just stay on the same tracks.

The apostle Paul practiced the OPPOSITE taking money from those he served, "everywhere in every church" as "my ways in Christ" and so did Timothy.
1Corinthians 4:12, 16, 17
1 Corinthians 4:12 and we LABOR WORKING WITH OUR HANDS...
16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy,
my beloved and faithful child in the Lord,
to remind you of MY WAYS IN CHRIST,
as I teach them
EVERYWHERE IN EVERY CHURCH.

Does "honorarium" come from "honor"? Yes, this is an English idiom but not one from the Greek. Inserting English idioms is bogus exposition inserting something falsely into the text.

This is just a start on "exposing" the sinfulness of hired Bible experts in church. The following 3 passages also need to be "exposed" for twisting and false translation.
1 Cor. 9:4-14
Gal. 6:6
Phil. 4:14-19

These 4 texts are then used to ignore 10 texts where Paul teaches the sin and corruption of not practicing ministry "free of charge" like he did.
Acts 18:1-5
1 Cor. 4:11 - 20
1 Corinthians 9: 15 - 27
2 Corinthians 11: 7 - 13
2 Corinthians 12:11 - 19
1 Thessalonians 2: 9-12
2 Thessalonians. 3:6-15
Acts 20:31-35
1 Peter 5:2

Men who practice systemic disobedience to God's word are not leaders at all. A leader is one who can be imitated.
Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders,
those who spoke to you the word of God.
Consider the outcome of their way of life,
and IMITATE their faith.
Laity cannot "imitate" the "faith" of a hired man, and should not "imitate" his disobedient practicing the traditions of man that nullify the commands of God.

God is merciful to those who grow to learn the truth. I offer it in brotherly two way communication with no title, no request for money, practice what I teach, and. everyone can imitate what I say and do, just like everyone can "imitate" the apostle Paul.

1 Corinthians 11:1
Be IMITATORS of me, as I am of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:7
For you yourselves know
how you ought to IMITATE us,
because we were not idle when we were with you,

2 Thessalonians 3:9
It was not because we do not have that right,
but to give you in ourselves an example to IMITATE.

Titus 2:7
Show yourself in all respects
to be A MODEL of good works,
and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

Philippians 3:17
Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.

Philippians 4:9
What you have learned
and received
and heard
and seen in me
—PRACTICE THESE THINGS,
and the God of peace will be with you.

Satan has convoluted this phony practice, even such that translators PERVERT the translation into English. I can expose IT ALL. I work a dirty job, the the Holy Spirit is the greatest teacher of all, and I have access to him and His "sword of the Spirit which is the word of God." I can share it with ANYONE who wants to practice the truth, rather than lazy traditions of men that promote spectating as worship. Jesus wants this ALL cleaned up for a bride "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing."There is MUCH MORE to discuss."

- Tim Aagard

https://t.co/ebg7dI8T1I

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

Tentmakers? Paid pastors? "All hired preachers are deceived about this, and then all the pew sitters also.
1 Timothy 5:17-18
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says,
“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and,
“The laborer deserves his wages.”

it says "those who labor in the word and teaching are worthy of double honor..." They don't want "double honor". They want that to mean money. So they don't get the greater support of "double honor" as God instructed. Paychecks and exemption from marketplace work is a very bad exchange. When men demonstrate they want something other than what God instructed, it shows they are walking in the flesh, not the Spirit. So they get the fruit of the flesh. You "reap what you sow."

If Paul meant for wages to be what they are worthy of, he would have said that. What he did add is two Old Testament laws that are parallel illustrations of how ESSENTIAL "double honor" is to the "laborer" in "the word and teaching." It is ESSENTIAL that an ox is not muzzled when treading. Deut. 24:5 Some farmers were stupid with their oxen and some employers are cheats. It is equally ESSENTIAL that an employer pay his laborers. Deut. 24:15 Some employers are selfish and greedy. God made laws for that. These tell us how ESSENTIAL "double honor" is for spiritual leaders.

If "double honor" is money, how much money is single honor? Half of double? That would mean every believer is to be dishing out money to those they honor.
"Love one another with brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:10

Do metaphors and illustrations alter the literal meaning of what they illustrate? No, but in the guise of "exposition" every hired man with a Bible degree will claim this. For 500 years this has been the clergy practice of godly men, so don't bother "testing everything" 1 Thes. 5:21. I can help with that. If you don't want to be duped, reap the fruit of sin, and be "disqualified" from eternal reward, then just stay on the same tracks.

The apostle Paul practiced the OPPOSITE taking money from those he served, "everywhere in every church" as "my ways in Christ" and so did Timothy.
1Corinthians 4:12, 16, 17
1 Corinthians 4:12 and we LABOR WORKING WITH OUR HANDS...
16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy,
my beloved and faithful child in the Lord,
to remind you of MY WAYS IN CHRIST,
as I teach them
EVERYWHERE IN EVERY CHURCH.

Does "honorarium" come from "honor"? Yes, this is an English idiom but not one from the Greek. Inserting English idioms is bogus exposition inserting something falsely into the text.

This is just a start on "exposing" the sinfulness of hired Bible experts in church. The following 3 passages also need to be "exposed" for twisting and false translation.
1 Cor. 9:4-14
Gal. 6:6
Phil. 4:14-19

These 4 texts are then used to ignore 10 texts where Paul teaches the sin and corruption of not practicing ministry "free of charge" like he did.
Acts 18:1-5
1 Cor. 4:11 - 20
1 Corinthians 9: 15 - 27
2 Corinthians 11: 7 - 13
2 Corinthians 12:11 - 19
1 Thessalonians 2: 9-12
2 Thessalonians. 3:6-15
Acts 20:31-35
1 Peter 5:2

Men who practice systemic disobedience to God's word are not leaders at all. A leader is one who can be imitated.
Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders,
those who spoke to you the word of God.
Consider the outcome of their way of life,
and IMITATE their faith.
Laity cannot "imitate" the "faith" of a hired man, and should not "imitate" his disobedient practicing the traditions of man that nullify the commands of God.

God is merciful to those who grow to learn the truth. I offer it in brotherly two way communication with no title, no request for money, practice what I teach, and. everyone can imitate what I say and do, just like everyone can "imitate" the apostle Paul.

1 Corinthians 11:1
Be IMITATORS of me, as I am of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:7
For you yourselves know
how you ought to IMITATE us,
because we were not idle when we were with you,

2 Thessalonians 3:9
It was not because we do not have that right,
but to give you in ourselves an example to IMITATE.

Titus 2:7
Show yourself in all respects
to be A MODEL of good works,
and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

Philippians 3:17
Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.

Philippians 4:9
What you have learned
and received
and heard
and seen in me
—PRACTICE THESE THINGS,
and the God of peace will be with you.

Satan has convoluted this phony practice, even such that translators PERVERT the translation into English. I can expose IT ALL. I work a dirty job, the the Holy Spirit is the greatest teacher of all, and I have access to him and His "sword of the Spirit which is the word of God." I can share it with ANYONE who wants to practice the truth, rather than lazy traditions of men that promote spectating as worship. Jesus wants this ALL cleaned up for a bride "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing."There is MUCH MORE to discuss."

- Tim Aagard

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

@ThomasSowell Nice

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

What if one tiny preposition is quietly wrecking your view of the gospel?

For years I heard and even thought things like:
“We’re justified BECAUSE OF our faith.”
It sounded right. It sounded biblical. It sounded Christian.

But the Bible doesn’t talk that way.

Scripture says we are justified BY faith, not BECAUSE OF faith.

That sounds like splitting hairs, but it’s actually the difference between good news and a crushing burden.

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
“By faith” means faith is simply how Christ is received.

Not something impressive we perform.
Not a religious action that earns points.
Not a spiritual achievement God rewards.

Faith is God-given spiritual sight:
He opens our eyes to see Christ.
He opens our ears to hear His promise.
He opens our hearts to understand and trust Him.

We’re not accepted by God because faith is such a great thing we do.
We’re accepted by God because Jesus is such a great Savior, and faith is how He is seen, understood, and received.

JUSTIFIED BECAUSE OF FAITH?
“Because of faith” quietly turns faith into a little work of our own:

God looks at my faith, evaluates it, and then responds.
Now the spotlight has shifted off of Christ and onto my inner condition.

Instead of resting in Jesus, I start analyzing myself:

“Was my faith real?”
“Was it strong enough?”
“Did I do it right?”

The prosperity gospel shifts the center from Christ to our circumstances.
A subtle evangelical gospel shifts the center from Christ to our faith.

But faith is not the Savior.
Faith is the God-given sight that sees the Savior.
Faith is the God-given understanding that recognizes: “Jesus is enough for me.”

We are not justified BECAUSE OF faith.
We are justified BY faith BECAUSE OF Christ, whom God has given.

Christ is not a product on offer, waiting for us to make the first move.
He is the Father’s gift:
“For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Son…”

That means:

My hope is not how well I believed today.
My hope is how perfect Christ remains forever.
Even weak, trembling faith truly receives a mighty Savior, because the power is in Him, not in the faith.

Faith is a gift of spiritual sight and relational knowing of God.
It doesn’t add to Jesus.
It simply receives the Jesus whom God has already given.

So when you doubt, the answer is not to stare harder at your faith.
Look to Christ Himself.
Faith doesn’t save you from your sin.
Jesus saves.
Faith is just how His once-for-all-given salvation is seen, understood, and received.

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

What if one tiny preposition is quietly wrecking your view of the gospel?

For years I heard and even thought things like:
“We’re justified BECAUSE OF our faith.”
It sounded right. It sounded biblical. It sounded Christian.

But the Bible doesn’t talk that way.

Scripture says we are justified BY faith, not BECAUSE OF faith.

That sounds like splitting hairs, but it’s actually the difference between good news and a crushing burden.

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
“By faith” means faith is simply how Christ is received.

Not something impressive we perform.
Not a religious action that earns points.
Not a spiritual achievement God rewards.

Faith is God-given spiritual sight:
He opens our eyes to see Christ.
He opens our ears to hear His promise.
He opens our hearts to understand and trust Him.

We’re not accepted by God because faith is such a great thing we do.
We’re accepted by God because Jesus is such a great Savior, and faith is how He is seen, understood, and received.

JUSTIFIED BECAUSE OF FAITH?
“Because of faith” quietly turns faith into a little work of our own:

God looks at my faith, evaluates it, and then responds.
Now the spotlight has shifted off of Christ and onto my inner condition.

Instead of resting in Jesus, I start analyzing myself:

“Was my faith real?”
“Was it strong enough?”
“Did I do it right?”

The prosperity gospel shifts the center from Christ to our circumstances.
A subtle evangelical gospel shifts the center from Christ to our faith.

But faith is not the Savior.
Faith is the God-given sight that sees the Savior.
Faith is the God-given understanding that recognizes: “Jesus is enough for me.”

We are not justified BECAUSE OF faith.
We are justified BY faith BECAUSE OF Christ, whom God has given.

Christ is not a product on offer, waiting for us to make the first move.
He is the Father’s gift:
“For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Son…”

That means:

My hope is not how well I believed today.
My hope is how perfect Christ remains forever.
Even weak, trembling faith truly receives a mighty Savior, because the power is in Him, not in the faith.

Faith is a gift of spiritual sight and relational knowing of God.
It doesn’t add to Jesus.
It simply receives the Jesus whom God has already given.

So when you doubt, the answer is not to stare harder at your faith.
Look to Christ Himself.
Faith doesn’t save you from your sin.
Jesus saves.
Faith is just how His once-for-all-given salvation is seen, understood, and received.

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

@M1NDW4RD3N God isn't withholding anything from anybody. No one deserves to be made a new creation. No one deserves to hear the gospel. God gives and makes according to His will and purposes.

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

I care nothing about your degrees. If you understand Calvinism as well as your position then tell me where I'm wrong and defend your understanding. Much modern Calvinism doesn't reflect what Calvin actually taught and many people only see caricatures of it and have absolutely no understanding of it. Also just because Calvin systematized some teachings of scripture regarding soteriology doesn't mean I agree with any of his ecclesiology, nor does it mean I agree with caricatures of Calvinism. I only agree with Calvin according to how scripture defines it, not according to caricatures.

So instead of just saying they project a philosophy back onto scripture tell me what that false philosophical projection is, rather than pointing to your credentials and making ambiguous accusations.

The “free will” view people hold to (even many professing calvinists) is basically a Christianized version of humanism. Yes, they want to say it gives God even more sovereignty but that is just a lie (or dishonesty about the facts) on it's face:

- Philosophical root: It assumes what Renaissance/Enlightenment humanism assumed—that the decisive factor in salvation lies in the autonomous choice of the individual. God may be “sovereign” in theory, but in practice His will is limited by the creature’s will. Grace is redefined as a universal offer that can be finally accepted or rejected by sheer human self‑determination.

- Mechanics of this view:
- God “votes” for you, Satan “votes” against you, and you cast the deciding vote.
- God’s election is made conditional on what He foresees *you* will do (foreseen faith), so His choice is ultimately a reaction to your choice.
- Christ’s death makes salvation possible for all, but actual for none until human free will cooperates.
- The Spirit “nudges” everyone, but never overcomes anyone’s resistance; the final, decisive difference between the saved and the lost is in man, not in God.

- Why it doesn’t hold up biblically or logically:
1. It empties “sovereignty” of its plain meaning. If God “desires” to save all, Christ “dies” for all, and the Spirit “calls” all, but the final outcome hinges on autonomous human will, then God does not “work all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph 1:11); He merely works around ours.
2. It contradicts texts where God’s will is the ultimate cause of faith.
- “As many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).
- “It depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Rom 9:16).
- “No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” (John 6:65).
In these passages, the reason some believe and others don’t is God’s granting and appointing, not a self‑generated decision.
3. It makes the cross and grace merely potential, not effective. Christ “tries” to save everyone, the Spirit “tries” to convert everyone, but the human will is the one thing God will not overrule. That is not the God who “does according to his will… and none can stay his hand” (Dan 4:35).
4. It re‑centers boasting in man. If the final difference is your will rather than God’s mercy, then you did something wiser or better than your unbelieving neighbor. Paul explicitly excludes this: “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor 4:7).

So this humanist‑style “free will” keeps the word “sovereignty” but empties it of power. It cannot honestly say with Scripture that salvation “depends not on human will,” that faith is granted, and that those God predestines He certainly brings all the way to glory (Rom 8:29–30).

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

@PlumblineFaith @Chad4328 What presumptions am I projecting back into it that are not said or implied? Do you really understand what is meant by "irresistible grace" or are you letting one of many caricatures define it rather than scripture?

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

@PlumblineFaith @Chad4328 Says God himself... Acts 13:48b NASB95 ...and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Those appointed believed. Not the other way around. They didn't become appointed as a result of believing. They believed as a result of being appointed.

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

@lukeappleton https://t.co/9lcoCtdZ1z

[Jonathan Martin @GrowJonathan]

@PlumblineFaith @lukeappleton Yep

https://t.co/9lcoCtdZ1z

[Michael A. Arouet @MichaelAArouet]

Venezuela used to be much wealthier than Poland, which was suffering under socialism. Then Poland implemented free-market and capitalist principles and enjoyed an economic boom.

Venezuela chose socialism, which brought poverty and misery to its people.

That’s the difference.