John 4: The Woman At the Well

The story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well can be found in John 4:7-45. Generally, a particular part of this story is rendered by many, if not most, preachers and teachers thus: Jesus recognized the five men the woman at the well had been married to as legitimate marriages. The man she was with now, living in common-law, was not her husband. Ergo, regardless of what any law might say, Jesus did not recognize common-law relationships as legitimate marriages.

There is a problem with this interpretation, however. It is not biblical. It is not in keeping with the context of the passage. What is the problem, you ask? Let us examine it.

He said to her, "Go, call your husband and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have correctly said, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly." John 4:16-18

Notice her response: "I have no husband." In other words, "I'm not married. I've never been married." Where am I getting that from, you ask? Let me use a rendering that should help you to understand: "For you have had five husbands, and [the husband] you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly."

The Greek word used for have in "the one whom you now have" is echo (εχω), and it infers possession. This same word is used for have had in "you have had five husbands." She had five husbands in the past and she has one now. Furthermore, we have the word "and," which carries on the same subject of the topic—another husband—which she possesses. She has had five husbands through sexual intimacy and the man she is now being sexually intimate with is her sixth husband.

Let us look at another passage dealing with marriage that illustrates the possession of the word have (echo, εχω) well: "For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.'" (Mark 6:17-18). The law John referred to for marriage was not civil or religious, but the law of God in the sexual intimacy of a male and female: "Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, 'THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.'" (1 Corinthians 6:16). Sexual intimacy is not just a physical encounter. It is a permanent marital consequence. It could have been said to Herod, "She whom you have (your present wife you are married to) is not your wife." Herodias was Philip's wife. Herod and Herodias were living in a fornicated marriage.

Let us simplify our understanding of Jesus' words to the Samaritan woman by exchanging the word "husband" for the word "apple," making it more revealing: "For you have had five apples, and the one you now have is not your apple." What do you possess? Right, an apple! A husband! Yet, not yours! The apple, or husband, belonged to someone else. She was in an adulterous affair with a legitimately married man, making him her husband. He was another woman's husband. Before this adulterous affair, the man was a legitimately married man. Her affair was defiling another woman's legitimate husband, and this is precisely what we see illustrated from Jesus' words in regard to divorce. The Bible informs us that re-marriage after divorce is actually adultery. Let me prove it:

Everyone who divorces his wife . . . makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:32

Whoever divorces his wife . . . and marries another woman commits adultery. Matt. 19:9

Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery. Mark 10:11-12

Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery. Luke 16:18

You have A married to B. Then A divorces B. According to Matthew 5:32, A causes B to commit adultery because A has divorced B. If C marries B, C commits adultery. According to Matthew 19:9, if A marries D, A commits adultery. D would also be committing adultery for the same reason that C would be, even though D and C could be said to be “innocent.” According to Mark 10:11-12, if A divorces B and marries D, A commits adultery against B; and if B divorces A and marries C, B commits adultery against A. According to Luke 16:18, if A marries D, A commits adultery, and if C marries B, C commits adultery. The only person not directly said to be committing adultery in these passages is D. But if C is held to commit adultery for marrying the “innocent” divorced party, then D must be held to commit adultery for marrying the guilty divorcing party. All four individuals who could potentially be in this scenario are said to be committing adultery. Unless your spouse had died (Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:39), re-marriage results in fornicated marriage.

Let us look at another statement made by the Samaritan woman:

"Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?" John 4:29

Note that she says, "all the things that I have done," and not "everything that has befallen me." In other words, it is a statement of past deeds revealed. Not unfortunate circumstances, such as her past husbands dying or divorcing her. Jesus revealed not only the secrets of her life, but also the life of the man she was presently giving herself to sexually (marrying).

The problem with the typical interpretation of this passage made by many, if not most, preachers is that they make co-habitation, or common-law relationships, out to be of no importance and/or little value. Jesus did recognize common-law relationships, but it was of a graver magnitude. The law of marriage states that if you have sexual intimacy with a person, you are now married to them in the eyes of God. 1 Corinthians 6:16 is pretty clear; you cannot get any clearer than what it says. This is why abstinence before marriage is so important. In the movie Vanilla Sky, with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, Cameron’s character, Julie Gianni, asks, “Don’t you know that when you sleep with someone, your body makes a promise whether you do or not?” That is putting Paul in contemporary lingo. Once a relationship becomes a unit, God intends it to remain that way. In her excellent book Wait For Me, Rebecca St. James uses this illustration to demonstrate the seriousness of sexual union:

If you take one piece of paper and glue it to another piece of paper, both pieces tear when you pull them apart. It is impossible to wind up with two papers that are as flawless as when you started. Because of the glue, each piece of paper is forever left with some parts from the other paper.

Rebecca St. James, Wait For Me, p.59.

This is precisely how God designed sex, and He designed it for within marriage. He intended two people to become a marital unit through sexual intimacy, which is why sex is supposed to be reserved for marriage. I believe the interpretation of John 4 has been diluted by such preachers for the sole purpose of not feeling convicted and condemned for not being obedient to God and His Word. Once you learn the true interpretation of this passage, it is very sobering, very humbling. It shows you the gravity and majesty of sexual purity and the bond of marriage, and how desperately our churches need to reach our young people and protect them from the devastating effects sown and gleaned from having sexual intimacy outside the boundaries of marriage.

You Are Mine!

by George Mylne, "Fear Not!" 1854

"Fear not, you are Mine!" Isaiah 43:1

Child of God, dismiss your doubts; put away your fears.
Jesus says, "Fear not, you are Mine!"
Mine by creation,
Mine by redemption,
Mine by right,
Mine by purchase,
Mine affection,
Mine by choice,
Mine for life,
Mine in death,
Mine for time,
Mine for eternity!"

In all seasons; under all circumstances—you are Christ's!
As a father speaking to his child;
as a master speaking to his servant;
as a husband speaking to his wife;
as a potter speaking to the thing he has made;
as a buyer speaking to the thing he has bought—
Jesus says to you, "Fear not, you are Mine!"

And why does Jesus say, "You are Mine"?
Because He loves you,
because He has chosen you,
because He gave Himself for you,
because He will not part with you!

Will Jesus ever give you up?
Will He ever forget you?
Will He ever hide Himself from your prayers?
Will He ever disregard your tears?
He says, "Fear not, you are Mine!"

Will the bridegroom part with the bride, or the husband with his beloved wife? They may part—yet Jesus will never part with you. "Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?" But even if that were possible, yet will Jesus never forget you. He has you in His heart. He has engraved you upon the palms of His hands! (Isaiah 49:15, 16) He says, "Fear not, you are Mine! Fear not, you shall not be taken from Me. Fear not, I will never forsake you!" His eye is upon you. His affections yearn for you. Oh! the tenderness with which He bends over you, saying, "Fear not, you are Mine!"

When Jesus says, "You are Mine"—do you say, "And I am yours. I am my Beloved's—and His desire is toward me!" (Song of Solomon 7:10)? This is the way to delight the soul of Jesus. Contrite sinner, He says to you, "You are Mine!" Then fear not!

I Have Chosen You!

by George Mylne, "Fear Not!" 1854

"Fear not, I have chosen you!" Isaiah 41:9, 10

Christian reader, God says to you, "I have chosen you!" This is a great mystery—but it is a comforting truth. God does not tell you WHY He chose you. He only tells you the simple fact. It is not for you to question it, or to shrink from it—but to receive it, and be thankful.

God was free to love you—or free to loathe you.
He was free to choose you—or free to reject you.
He says, "I have chosen you!" Believe what God says, and rejoice. "Before the mountains were brought forth, before He had formed the earth and the world," God had chosen you! "From everlasting to everlasting, He is God." From everlasting to everlasting He loved—He chose—He delighted in His people.

Fellow-sinner, if God says, "I have chosen you," He says it . . .
  to encourage you;
  to strengthen you;
  to sanctify you;
  that you may rest upon the everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure,
  that you may look away from self, and see that salvation is altogether of the Lord.

God chose you, "not according to your works; but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given you in Christ Jesus before the world began." (2 Timothy 1:9.)

Fellow-sinner, you are . . .
  loved in Christ;
  chosen in Christ;
  called in Christ;
  saved in Christ!
Here is your foundation; here your hope; here your safety—you were "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world!"

This is to humble you—as well as to exalt you.

This is to make you weep—as well as cause you to rejoice.

You are vile in yourself—but chosen to indescribable honor!

You are poor in yourself—but chosen to unspeakable riches!

You are naked in yourself—but chosen to eternal glory!

Child of God, never lose your hold of this precious truth. God has revealed it, that you might delight in it. Let this be the brightest jewel in your crown—this the sweetest cordial to your heart—that God says to you, "Fear not, I have chosen you!"

As you sit at the feet of Jesus;
as you lay your mouth in the dust, and cry, "Unclean, unclean!"
as you take all the shame to yourself, and give all the glory to God,
let this comfort delight your soul—
God has said, "Fear not, I have chosen you!"

"God chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world!" Ephesians 1:4

Predestination

So... you have a problem with the doctrine of predestination, do you? I submit to you that you have no such problem, but that your problem actually exists in not understanding (a) the sovereignty of God and (b) the wickedness of man (including your own heart) correctly. I say this with the utmost confidence because I can produce more than two examples where I will guarantee that you have no problem believing in predestination.

Let us begin.

1. The first creatures that God raised up were the angels. He created them as spirits (Psalm 104:1-5). God chose some of the angels to establish them in their state. To establish means to "secure permanently in a secure position or condition." God did this to a percentage of the angels that He had created. He established them and kept them in the state He originally created them. Sinless. He refers to these angels as the "elect angels" (1 Timothy 5:21). But the rest of the angels, a full one-third of them, God left to themselves. He left them to pick and choose and live and do according to their own nature. The non-elect angels fell in sin.
2. We see this same reality and truth with regard to the nations. Out of every nation that was in existence, God chose a single nation to be His representative. He left all the other nations to themselves. He left them to pick and choose and live and do according to their own nature. Within His own chosen nation, however, we also see that not everyone was elect. There was always only a remnant (Romans 11:15). The rest were left to themselves and frequently rebelled. Even among the Gentiles there were individuals elected by God according to His own purpose while the whole of Israel was left to themselves (Luke 4:24-27).
3. Likewise, when you look at Jacob and Esau, or Joseph and his brothers, or David and his brothers, or many other similar events from Scripture, God always chose contrary to what was acceptable. Esau should have gotten the blessing, but God chose Jacob to receive it. In fact, before they were ever born, God had chosen Jacob and rejected Esau by withholding His love from him (Romans 9:10-13). Joseph and David were the youngest of their brothers and they were chosen in the position and with the blessing of the eldest.

I could give you ample other examples all from Scripture that demonstrate the reality and truth of predestination and the fact that it is not really this doctrine with which you take issue. Everything above you agree with wholeheartedly. Your problem is that you fail to understand precisely what it means to be sovereign. You mouth the words that God is sovereign but you live and act and believe in a way that says otherwise. You also fail to understand precisely how wicked man's heart is, including your own, and just how much man deserves eternity in hell. At the core of your being you think that man is basically good and does not deserve to go to hell. That is your problem.

The thing you need to understand first is that you and I and every other person in this world are dead in trespasses and sins. We are spiritually dead. We are unregenerate, we have a heart of stone, and we hate God with a passion. So, if someone comes along and preaches the Gospel to us, how and where do you figure that we are able, in and of ourselves, to respond to the Gospel of our own accord? It is impossible, as Jesus declared to His disciples (Mark 10:26-27). In order to respond, we need to be made alive, be regenerated, and have a new heart. We cannot do those things to ourselves. We cannot make ourselves alive. We cannot regenerate ourselves. We cannot give ourselves a new heart. So where do you figure that man, in and of himself, is able with "free will" to respond in faith? We cannot! There is no such thing as "free will." Romans 6 informs us that our will, prior to salvation, is slave to sin and the devil. You believe something Scripture does not teach! God must make us alive by regenerating us and giving us a new heart in order for us to even be able to respond to the Gospel, and when He does, we will respond freely because we cannot help it. "All the Father has given to Me will come to me" (John 6:37).

Your feelings are not a determiner of truth; they are merely personal opinion, and your opinion does not matter. What matters is what God has said. The only question you are left with is whether or not you will submit yourself to the reality and truth of the doctrine of God's predestination as it is entirely encompassed, whether you fully understand it or not. Otherwise, you are in rebellion and you have created a god in your own image that is contrary to the God revealed in Scripture. Predestination is taught all throughout Scripture (John 6:37-44; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:3-6, etc.). If God did not choose to save any of us, then none of us would ever be saved. We hate God so much that we would rather go to hell.

You need to spend time in God's Word, reading, praying, and meditating on what the Scriptures actually say and teach. You need to wrestle with God about this issue and submit your feelings and opinions to the truth of His Word. You need to learn what it means to be sovereign and just how sovereign God is, and you need to learn just how wicked and depraved man is. If you think man is not that bad, you have an unhealthy and unbiblical view of mankind. If you do not think that God can control whatever/whoever He wants, whenever He wants, wherever He wants, however He wants, you have an unhealthy and unbiblical view of the sovereignty of God. To be sovereign means to be in control of everything that is under you and that there is nothing outside of you that can influence or hinder your decisions. It means that everyone and everything answers to you, but that you answer to nothing and no one. I suggest you take a look at Nebuchadnezzar, Jonah, and a whole host of other examples in Scripture.

This verse is true of every person belonging to Jesus Christ: "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 7:6). How do we know this? Because Peter quotes it and applies it to believers; Christians: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy  nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). God commands all men everywhere to repent and believe, but they are dead in trespasses and sins, unregenerate, having hearts of stone and hating God. They will never repent and believe because they cannot. The Bible everywhere commands men to repent and believe. The Bible also says that men cannot repent and believe. The Bible never says that men can repent and believe. A command to do something does not necessitate the ability to actually do it, especially when you consider the state they are in: spiritually dead, unregenerate, stone-hearted, haters of God. God must do a work in them first, and then they will repent and believe.

"Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps" (Psalm 135:6)

"Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'" (Isaiah 46:8-11).

Predestination is biblical, whether you fully understand it or not and whether you choose to accept it or not. I encourage you to submit yourself (and your feelings and opinions) to the reality and truth of predestination. After all, the Bible calls predestination loving: "In love He predestined us..." (Ephesians 1:4-5).

Two Great Cataclysms of Earth

On The Health Ranger Show, Report #89, an interview with Daniel Vitalis took place. He had these words to say:

"It appears the last cataclysm [of this earth] was water based. It appears it was a kind of a flood, and that's what most mythologies from most cultures tell us is that it was a flood; it was a water cataclysm. The Mayans say that the next cataclysm is going to be fire. Also, the Christians say that as well in the Bible. It's interesting because we see a cataclysm coming our way due to overheating."

What is interesting about the words of Daniel Vitalis is that science has discovered this information to be true and yet it continues to ignore and disregard it, continually attempting to deny it due to the resulting conclusion, which they do not want to admit or face. Well over 3,000 years ago, the Bible informed us that the last cataclysm on this earth was a flood (Genesis 7:11-12, 17-24). Jesus confirmed this account as being true (Matthew 24:38-39; Luke 17:27), as did Peter (2 Peter 2:5). Around 2,000 years ago, the Bible informed us that the next cataclysm of this earth will be by fire (Micah 1:4; 2 Peter 3:7, 10). What is it going to take for science to get a clue and finally believe the Bible? The second coming of Christ?

By then it will be too late for them.

Was Pentecost the Church's Beginning?

Dispensationalists tell us that the church did not exist until the day of Pentecost, but is this true? I submit to you that it is not. Because of their disposition—their erroneous pre-supposition, where they have separated the saints of God into two categories—the Old Testament saints and the New Testaments saints, Dispensationalists must make this claim about the church in order to try and keep their house of cards from falling down. However, any true student of the Bible can quickly and easily dismantle their false assertion.

You see, in Acts 7:38 Stephen calls Israel "the church in the wilderness," using the Greek word ekklesia (εκκλησια). Why would he do such a thing if the church never existed prior to the day of Pentecost?

In the third century B.C., the Hebrew manuscripts were translated into the Greek language by 70 or 72 Jewish scholars. This translation is known as the Septuagint—Greek for 70. This translation of the Hebrew manuscripts is what Jesus and the apostles used. A comparison of the New Testament quotes from the Old Testament will reveal that they more closely resemble that of the Septuagint than that of the Hebrew manuscripts. Why is this information important? Simple; if the church did not exist prior to the day of Pentecost, why is it that three centuries before Jesus was born the Septuagint, in referring to Israel, used the Greek word ekklesia? Here are the passages from the Septuagint that use ekklesia:

Deuteronomy 4:10; 9:10; 18:16; 23:1-3, 8; 31:30
Joshua 8:35
Judges 20:2; 21:5, 8
1 Samuel 17:47; 19:20
1 Kings 8:14, 22, 55, 65
1 Chronicles 13:2, 4; 28:2, 8; 29:1, 10, 20
2 Chronicles 1:3, 5; 6:3, 12-13; 7:8; 10:3; 20:5, 14; 23:3; 28:14; 29:23, 28, 31-32; 30:2, 4, 13, 17, 23-25
Ezra 2:64; 10:1, 8, 12, 14
Nehemiah 5:7, 13; 7:66; 8:2, 17; 13:1
Job 30:28
Psalm 22:22, 25; 26:5, 12; 35:18; 40:9; 68:26; 89:5; 107:32; 149:1
Proverbs 5:14
Lamentations 1:10
Joel 2:16
Micah 2:5

You see, the church has existed since the beginning. Every individual—past, present or future—who has ever had the faith like Abraham—Old Testament saint or New Testament saint, Jew or Gentile—and has put their trust in the promised and prophesied Messiah, is and has always been a part of the church. There is only one body of Christ—not two. That body is His bride, and His bride is the church. There is only one people of God, and those people are believers—Christians.

Does God Love the Unrepentant Sinner?

by Charles Finney, "The Guilt of Sin"
(I do not endorse anything by Charles Finney! You are best to avoid all his work altogether, as the man was a heretic! Trying to find anything remotely good like this post is like trying to find a gold nugget in a manure pile. Unless you're a mature, wise, discerning Christian, do not go near his work! It is frequently and largely heretical.)

"God is angry with the wicked every day!" Psalm 7:11

God is not angry merely against the sin abstracted from the sinner, but against the sinner himself! Some people have labored hard to set up this ridiculous and absurd generalization, and would attempt to make it appear . . .

• that God is angry at sin—yet not at the sinner;
• that He hates the theft—but loves the thief;
• that He abhors adultery—but is pleased with the adulterer.

Now this is supreme nonsense! The sin has no moral character apart from the sinner. The act of sin is nothing, apart from the sinful actor. What God hates and disapproves is not the mere event, the thing done, in distinction from the doer—but He hates the doer himself! It grieves and displeases Him that a rational and moral agent, under His government, should array himself against his own Creator, against all that is right and just in the universe. This is what offends God. The sinner himself is the direct and the only object of His anger!

So the Bible shows that God is angry with the wicked—and not with the abstract sin. If the wicked do no repent, God will whet His sword—He has bent His bow and made it ready—not to shoot at the sin, but the sinner—the wicked man who has done the abominable thing. This is the only doctrine of both the Bible, and of common sense on this subject.

"The wicked and those who love violence, His soul hates!" Psalm 11:5

"The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished!" Proverbs 16:5

"The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and maintains His wrath against His enemies!" Nahum 1:2

"Whoever whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:36

"You are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed." Romans 2:5

"But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil—there will be wrath and anger!" Romans 2:8

"What if God, choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath—prepared for destruction?" Romans 9:22

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient." Ephesians 5:6

Romans 11:17-24

Read Romans 11:17-24 carefully and pay attention to what Paul is saying. Compare what he is saying here to what he writes in Romans 2:25-29 and Romans 9:6-8. Who are the branches that were broken off? Unbelieving Israel. Why were they broken off? Because of their unbelief. Who are the branches that remain? Believing Israel. Why do they remain? Because of their faith. Who are the wild branches? Gentiles. Into what are the wild branches grafted? Believing Israel. Why were they grafted in? Because of their faith. Into what will the natural branches that were broken off be grafted? Believing Israel.

According to Romans 2:25-29, the branches that were broken off are not true Jews: “He is not a Jew who is one outwardly.” Therefore, logically, the remaining branches are true Jews: “He is a Jew who is one inwardly.” In Philippians 3:3, Paul said that we—Christians—are the real circumcision. Why? Because we have been circumcised of the heart, just as Moses commanded them to be (Deut. 10:16). According to Romans 9:6-8, the branches that were broken off do not belong to Israel: “They are not all Israel who are descended from Israel.” Therefore, logically, the remaining branches belong to Israel. In Galatians 6:16, Paul called the church “the Israel of God.”

Although Dispensationalists want to deny this, Paul’s words are as clear as day. Paul has just divided national Israel in two—believing Israel and unbelieving Israel, of which he says they are not true Jews nor do they belong to Israel. He states in Romans 11:5 that at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. He states in verse 7 that the elect of Israel obtained what Israel sought but the rest were hardened. He says that if the broken off branches do not continue in their unbelief they will be grafted back in. Into what? Into believing Israel, which will make them true Jews belonging to true Israel.

Galatians 4:28 says, “And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.” All Christians—Jew or Gentile—are children of the promise. Romans 4:13-16 says, “For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” All those who believe—Jew or Gentile—are Abraham’s offspring.

John the Baptist said, “Do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt. 3:9-10). Likewise, John records, “They answered and said to Him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father.’ They said to Him, ‘We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. … You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.’” (John 8:39-42, 44).

These words attest to what Paul was saying in Romans chapters 2 and 9. Just because you are an ethnical Jew does not make you a true Jew, Paul said in chapter 2. Just because you are physically descended from Abraham and Israel does not make you part of true Israel, Paul said in chapter 9.

In Romans 4:13, 9:8, and Galatians 4:28, Paul speaks in regard to the “promise.” What promise? Well, Galatians 3:16, 27-29 say: “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ. … For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.” This passage teaches us:

1. Abrahamic promises were made to Abraham and his seed (v.16).
2. His seed is Christ (v.16).
3. And his seed is all who belong to Christ (v.29).
4. Therefore, the promises belong to Christ and to all who are His (v.29). 

Ergo, this is not "Replacement Theology," it is "Expansion Theology." The Old Testament prophesied of the Gentile inclusion in several passages (Gen. 10; 12:1-3; Isa. 19:16-25; 42:6; 60:10-14; Hos. 1:10; Amos 9:11-12, cf. Rom. 9:26; Zech. 14:16), predicting God’s work of taking from among the Gentiles a people for Himself. So if the Old Testament prophesied about the Gentile inclusion, and Romans 11:17-24 describes that inclusion, then we must logically conclude that the true Israel is the true church and the true church is the true Israel. For God has only one people that make up one body who were baptized by one Spirit. The church does not replace Israel; the church has always been true Israel, and true Israel has always been the church. “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek” (Rom. 10:12). There is no longer Jew or Gentile because God has broken down the dividing wall and made of the two one new person (Eph. 2:11-19). There are not two plans of redemption and two ways of receiving salvation. You are either in Christ Jesus or you are not. There is salvation by no other means and in no other name. Anything beyond this is heresy!

See In This Way All Israel Will Be Saved for a dealing with Romans 11:25-27.

Adam Was Not Deceived

Eve was the one who was deceived into committing sin—not Adam (1 Tim. 2:14). Regarding her temptation, Thiessen writes:

"It made [man] desire to have what God had forbidden; to know what God had not revealed; and to be what God had not intended [man] to be."

Henry Thiessen, Lectures in Systematic Theology, p. 254.

Eve then came unto Adam. I do not believe that she persuaded him to eat of the fruit because it was to him that God gave the command and he knew the complete consequences regarding it. Rather, I believe that he ate of it willingly. I believe that he saw the wrong that Eve had committed and was then struck with a mortal choice. Because Eve was created to be his helpmeet, I believe Adam feared being alone and so he ate of the fruit with full knowledge of what he was doing. That I am not alone in this understanding from Scripture that I gleaned back in 2006, observe:

"There is no need to say with interpreters, that he was not deceived first; and that he was not deceived immediately by the serpent, but by Eve; and that he is never said in Scripture to be deceived, as Melchizedek is never said to have a father or mother. The apostle's positive assertion is to be taken without any such limitations or qualifications; Adam never was deceived at all; neither by the serpent, with whom he never conversed; nor by his wife, he knew what he did, when he took the fruit of her, and ate; he ate it not under any deception, or vain imagination, that they should not die, but should be as gods, knowing good and evil. He took and ate out of love to his wife, from a fond affection to her, to bear her company, and that she might not die alone; he knew what he did, and he knew what would be the consequence of it, the death of them both; and inasmuch as he sinned wilfully, and against light and knowledge, without any deception, his sin was the greater: and hereby death came in, and passed on all men, who sinned in him:"

John Gill's Expositor,
1 Timothy 2:14

Had Adam chosen not to eat of the fruit, God may have been able to restore Eve. All of this, of course, is only speculation because the Scriptures are silent in this regard. What we do know is that Eve was the one deceived (1 Tim. 2:14), their eyes were not opened until Adam ate (Gen. 3:7), and the first act of sin is attributed to him because he is our Natural Head (Rom. 5:12, 19) and it was to him that God gave the command not to eat (Gen. 2:17). Because Adam chose to willingly sin, as John Gill has said, "his sin was the greater: and hereby death came in, and passed on all men."

Women Pastors—What Does the Bible Say?

The Bible makes it clear as to the woman's position in the church. Observe:

"As in all the churches of the saints, the women are to keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks he is a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize that the things I write to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized." 1 Corinthians 14:33b-38

Now, this passage is not saying that women are forbidden from ever talking in church altogether. That would be a gross misrepresentation of what this passage is saying. It is speaking in regard to role, authority, and revelation. Note Paul's questions to them: "Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?" (v.36). The answer is, of course, no. Paul makes it clear what the end result should be: "If anyone thinks he is a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize that the things I write to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized" (vv.37-38). In other words, if a woman believes herself to be gifted or spiritual, she should recognize that what Paul is saying is coming directly from God and that she ought to be obedient to God's Word. Otherwise, she is living in open rebellion and disobedience.

"The connection seems plainly to include [prophesying], in the limited sense in which it is taken in this chapter, namely, for preaching, or interpreting scripture by inspiration. And, indeed, for a woman to prophesy in this sense were to teach, which does not so well befit her state of subjection. A teacher of others has in that respect a superiority over them, which is not allowed the woman over the man, nor must she therefore be allowed to teach in a congregation: I suffer them not to teach. But praying, and uttering hymns inspired, were not teaching. And seeing there were women who had spiritual gifts of this sort in that age of the church (see Acts xxii. 9), and might be under this impulse in the assembly, must they altogether suppress it? Or why should they have this gift, if it must never be publicly exercised? For these reasons, some think that these general prohibitions are only to be understood in common cases; but that upon extraordinary occasions, when women were under a divine afflatus, and known to be so, they might have liberty of speech. They were not ordinarily to teach, nor so much as to debate and ask questions in the church, but learn in silence there; and, if difficulties occurred, ask their own husbands at home.
Note, As it is the woman's duty to learn in subjection, it is the man's duty to keep up his superiority, by being able to instruct her; if it be her duty to ask her husband at home, it is his concern and duty to endeavour at lest to be able to answer her enquiries; if it be a shame for her to speak in the church, where she should be silent, it is a shame for him to be silent when he should speak, and not be able to give an answer, when she asks him at home.
We have here the reason of this injunction: It is God's law and commandment that they should be under obedience (34); they are placed in subordination to the man,
Note, Our spirit and conduct should be suitable to our rank. The natural distinctions God has made, we should observe. Those he has placed in subjection to others should not set themselves on a level, nor affect or assume superiority. The woman was made subject to the man, and she should keep her station and be content with it. For this reason women must be silent in the churches, not set up for teachers; for this is setting up for superiority over the man.

He lets them know that what he said to them was the command of God; nor durst any true prophet, any one really inspired, deny it (37): "If any man think himself a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge, &c., nay, let him be tried by this very rule. If he will not own what I deliver on this head to be the will of Christ, he himself never had the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit of Christ can never contradict itself; if it speak in me, and in them, it must speak the same things in both. If their revelations contradict mine, they do not come from the same Spirit; either I or they must be false prophets. By this therefore you may know them. If they say that my directions in this matter are no divine commandments, you may depend upon it they are not divinely inspired. But if any continue after all, through prejudice or obstinacy, uncertain or ignorant whether they or I speak by the Spirit of God, they must be left under the power of this ignorance. If their pretences to inspiration can stand in competition with the apostolical character and powers which I have, I have lost all my authority and influence; and the persons who allow of this competition against me are out of the reach of conviction, and must be left to themselves."
Note, It is just with God to leave those to the blindness of their own minds who wilfully shut out the light. Those who would be ignorant in so plain a case were justly left under the power of their mistake."

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible,
1 Corinthians 14:34, 37

Why are women not permitted to speak? Observe:

"A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." 1 Timothy 2:11-14

The reason has to do with roles and authority given by God. Nowadays, people attempt to use the ignorant arguments that either "that was for back then, it is not for today," or "Paul was a chauvinist." Let us address the second argument first. The Bible informs us that "All Scripture is inspired by God" (2 Tim. 3:16). Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote what God wanted him to write. Ergo, if Paul is "chauvinistic," then so is God because He inspired Paul with what he should write. Note carefully Paul's source of authority: "the things I write to you are a command of the Lord" (1 Cor. 14:37). Furthermore, since God "is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb. 13:8), what was written for back then also applies for today. God's Word is an extension of Himself, and if He does not change, neither does His Word.

"Women must learn the principles of their religion, learn Christ, learn the scriptures; they must not think that their sex excuses them from that learning which is necessary to salvation.
They must be silent, submissive, and subject, and not usurp authority. The reason given is because Adam was first formed, then Eve out of him, to denote her subordination to him and dependence upon him; and that she was made for him, to be a help-meet for him. And as she was last in the creation, which is one reason for her subjection, so she was first in the transgression, and that is another reason. Adam was not deceived, that is, not first; the serpent did not immediately set upon him, but the woman was first in the transgression (2 Cor. xi. 3), and it was part of the sentence, Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee, Gen. iii. 16.

...

According to Paul, women must be learners, and are not allowed to be public teachers in the church; for teaching is an office of authority, and the woman must not usurp authority over the man, but is to be in silence. But, notwithstanding this prohibition, good women may and ought to teach their children at home the principles of religion. Timothy from a child had known the holy scriptures; and who should teach him but his mother and grandmother? 2 Tim. iii. 15. Aquila and his wife Priscilla expounded unto Apollos the way of God more perfectly; but then they did it privately, for they took him unto them, Acts xviii. 26.
Here are two very good reasons given for the man's authority over the woman, and her subjection to the man, 13, 14. Adam was first formed, then Eve; she was created for the man, and not the man for the woman (1 Cor. xi. 9); then she was deceived, and brought the man into the transgression."

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible,
1 Timothy 2:11-12

Verse 13 of 1 Timothy 2 begins with "for" and gives the "cause" of Paul's statement in verses 11-12. Why should women not teach or have authority over men? Because "it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." Eve was created to be a "helper" for Adam. This order of creation has universal application in the family (Eph. 5:22-33) and the church. God has ordained that only men are to serve in positions of spiritual teaching authority in the church. The qualifications for elders/overseers/bishops/pastors clearly indicate men. Observe:

"It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These men must also first be tested, then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 3:1-13

"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it." Titus 1:5-9

An examination of the Greek reveals that masculine pronouns are used exclusively. Ergo, women are not allowed to be pastors!

Many ignorant arguments have been made using the Bible in an attempt to draw support for women pastors. Some of those arguments are as follows:

1. Deborah the prophetess (Judges 4:4-14). Deborah was a judge over Israel; not a pastor. Her being a judge over Israel was judgment upon Israel because no man was willing to step up and take on the responsibility for leading Israel. You can see this in Barak's words to her: "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go" (v. 8). If ever there was a call to man-up and be a man, it was here.
2. The talking donkey (Numbers 22:22-33). This has got to be the most ridiculous argument ever. Because the donkey was female, they say it is okay for women to be pastors. First of all, what does a talking donkey have to do with being a pastor? Second of all, the donkey, while being female, spoke with a man's voice (2 Peter 2:16).
3. Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2). Phoebe was not a pastor. She was a deaconess, as revealed by the Greek word diakonos (διακονος). She was a servant of the church.