Michael Rutherford

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. — John 4:35b

[Michael Rutherford @RutherfordMi76]

I’m in! @TexasPreacher could make a colouring book and I’m getting it. But seriously, read his stuff.

[Gospel Press Publishing @Gospel__Press]

🔥 Get ready to scale up your view of church planting 🔥

Announcing our newest book by Ryan Denton, @TexasPreacher

Intergalactic Church Planting

Coming September 1st.

[Rev. Johnnie Moore ن @JohnnieM]

Nigerian Christians are made of steel.

Islamists burned down their church. They showed up to worship in the burnt building.

[Michael Rutherford @RutherfordMi76]

Last day in Niagara Falls, please pray for our final day of outreach!

[Brandon Scalf @brandonmscalf]

Scripture never bows to the preacher; the preacher must bow to Scripture!

[Michael Rutherford @RutherfordMi76]

Cobra Chickens 1
Michael 0

[SFOI.org @SportsFanOutrea]

Do you have a passport? Join us in Niagara Falls, Canada May 24 - 27. Amazing opportunity for Canadians and the world to hear the Gospel! Please share. https://t.co/gGH6wDDYIs

[Michael Rutherford @RutherfordMi76]

Officially my new favourite sport.

[CarJitsu Championship @CarjitsuUSA]

The second round of Wesley Drain versus Rance 'Punisher' Foust at CarJitsu LIVE! @ProLeagueNet

Watch CarJitsu LIVE! NOW on CarJitsu Championship YouTube.

https://t.co/vN8xzl0nPn

#CarJitsuChampionship #CarJitsuLIVE #ProLeagueNetwork

[Sports Fan Outreach International Canada @SFOICanada]

Join us at the Montreal Grand Prix Outreach to preach Christ: https://t.co/mIVM7ZE2PF

[Michael Rutherford @RutherfordMi76]

Best part of the job has to be seeing old country churches.

St Elizabeth Mission, Gravelbourg(ish) SK

[Michael Rutherford @RutherfordMi76]

@coachanthonyd I’ve heard it said that it is due to the creation of instagram/social media taking off.

[Pierre Poilievre @PierrePoilievre]

He is Risen.

Happy Easter.

[Colin Redemer @RedemTheTimes]

Praise your Maker
(sound on)

[Michael Rutherford @RutherfordMi76]

Another Easter, means another reading of this.

[Michael Clary @dmichaelclary]

The Apostles' Creed says:

Jesus Christ "suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, descended into hell, on the third day rose again from the dead."

The phrase "descended into hell" is the most disputed phrase of the Apostles' Creed, especially amongst Protestants during the Reformation, who were eager to distance themselves from the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory.

Churches around the world utter the phrase without understanding the doctrine. So what does it mean? And why is it in the Apostles' Creed if the Bible doesn't explicitly teach it?

Many of the Reformers taught some version of the view that Jesus' descent into hell is a vivid way of describing the horrors of his suffering on the cross. I've always found that explanation unsatisfying.

In my opinion, Samuel D. Renihan offers a more compelling view in his book, "Crux Mors Inferi: A Primer and Reader on the Descent of Christ" (the book is quite short and accessible, though the title would indicate otherwise).

Here's a brief sketch of his argument of what happened to Jesus on Saturday between his crucifixion and resurrection.

The word "hell" in the creed does not refer to the final judgment in the lake of fire, but to the realm of the dead. This was called Sheol in the OT and Hades in the NT.

The realm of the dead included a place of comfort for the righteous and a place of torment for the wicked. This understanding is reflected in Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man was tormented in "Hades" and Lazarus was carried to "Abraham's side."

Jesus said a "great chasm" was fixed between the two realms, but apparently the rich man was able to see Lazarus from there. (Incidentally, this is how the thief on the cross was able to be with Jesus in paradise the very day of his death, as Jesus promised. "Abraham's side" in the realm of the dead is equivalent to paradise).

This realm of the dead also included evil spirits who were kept in the lowest part as they awaited final judgment. About these evil spirits, 1 Peter 3:19 says, Jesus was "put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison." Jesus did not go there to proclaim some kind of deliverance for these evil spirits, but to announce that his victory over them is complete.

At his resurrection, Jesus emptied Sheol/Hades of the souls of the righteous and delivered them safely into the presence of the Father.

This view was common amongst the early church fathers. That's why it's included in the Apostles' Creed. But it fell out of favor with the reformers, most notably, John Calvin. Also, this view does not leave the door open for any kind of purgatory.

Personally, I have found this argument more satisfying than anything else I've read. It plugs in a few theological and exegetical "holes" that had vexed me in my reading of scripture.

Do with it what you will, but for me, it stirs my heart to worship and awe at what Christ accomplished for us.

[Michael Rutherford @RutherfordMi76]

@coachanthonyd Canada may be a lawless wasteland, but it’s nearly free here!

[Michael Rutherford @RutherfordMi76]

I’ve seen about a half dozen bald eagles in the last week. Canada Goose count is about ten. We stay winning!

But then eagles are pretty majestic.

[Ryan Denton @TexasPreacher]

Do you pray for the church down the road, or do you see them as the competition? When you do pray for them, do you do so as co-heirs in the Kingdom, or as the superior brother praying for the lesser? Too much ego & selfish ambition driving the church today!

[Anthony Diehl | Preventative Health Consultant @meathead_prof]

The puritans knew that stewardship of one’s body is a virtue.

“Men indirectly injur themselves and so break the sixth commandment by intemperance or excess in diet. Glutting shortens life. "More perish by drink—than by the sword." Many dig their grave with their teeth. Too much oil chokes the lamp. The cup kills more than the cannon. Excessive drinking causes untimely death.”

— Thomas Watson, The Ten Commandments

[Sports Fan Outreach International Canada @SFOICanada]

SFOI is coming to Ontario for the Niagara Falls Training. This is the first training of evangelists for SFOI Canada, to be held this May 24 - 27. For more details: https://t.co/vznaiYNZKt

#sfoi #openairpreaching #evangelism