Author: Dr. John Russell

  • Life at Conception Act Petition

    UPDATE:

    This article was originally written on Feb 10, 2020. Roe v. Wade was overturned on June 24, 2022.

    Dear Concerned Citizen,

    Please send this Life at Conception Act Petition to Your U.S. Senators and Representatives.

    Whereas: Because of Roe v. Wade, more than 312 million unborn children have died through abortion; and

    Whereas: In Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court declared it could not resolve “the difficult question of when life begins” – and on the basis of this unresolved question, declared a new “right to abortion” based on a “right of privacy”; and

    Whereas: The 14th Amendment to the Constitution states: “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law”; and

    Whereas: In Roe, the Supreme Court admitted: “If . . . personhood [for the unborn] is established, the appellant’s case, of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life is then guaranteed specifically by the [Fourteenth] Amendment…” (Roe v. Wade [410 US 113 at 156-7]); and

    Whereas: Science is clear that human life begins at conception when a new human being is formed; and

    Whereas: The American people oppose abortion-on-demand and want innocent human life to be protected especially when it is most defenseless; and

    Whereas: It belongs to Congress to resolve the question the Supreme Court said IT cannot resolve; and

    Whereas: A Life at Conception Act, by declaring that unborn children are persons legally entitled to constitutional protection, will rescue millions of unborn children from dying by abortion-on-demand;

    Therefore: I urge you to cosponsor and cast every vote for a Life at Conception Act and to do everything necessary to win ultimate passage in the United States Congress.

    Senator Rand Paul, MD

    This copyrighted material may be reproduced and distributed freely, provided that it is not edited, you do not charge for it, and this disclaimer is included.

    Copyright © 2020 by Dr. John E. Russell

  • A Study of Mark 11:22

    In the morning as Jesus and his disciples walked along, they saw the fig tree. It was dried up all the way down to the roots.

    Peter remembered. He said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you put a curse on has dried up!”

    “Have faith in God” Jesus said.

    Mark 11:20-22, NIrV

    και αποκριθεις ο ιησους λεγει

    and I respond the Jesus I say

    αυτοις εχετε πιστιν

    to all of you [I] command you to have [the] faith

    θεου

    of God [constantly]

    Mark 11:22 Greek New Testament (Westcott-Hort)

    NOTE: The following translations translate θεου “of God”:

    Young’s Literal Translation

    Modern King James Version

    Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

    Apostolic Bible Polyglot

    Bible in Basic English

    Douay-Rheims Bible

    Geneva Bible, 1587

    God gives us faith to be justified. We exercise it for the New Birth, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and everything else that is according to God’s will as revealed in the Bible. The point is, use the faith that God has given us—not a human substitute such as mental assent.

    This copyrighted material may be reproduced and distributed freely, provided that it is not edited, you do not charge for it, and this disclaimer is included.

    Copyright © 2019 by Dr. John E. Russell

  • New Birth Part 2: The New Birth and Water Baptism

    New Birth: Part 2

    Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus:

    Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God {as} a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

    Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.“

    Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
    Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.“

    John 3:1-8, NASB

    The English words “Truly, truly” are stated four times. Jesus was emphasizing that the new birth is absolutely necessary to become and Chrisitan and go to heaven. “Truly, truly“

    above are translations of the Greek word amēn:

    Of Hebrew origin [‘āmên]…properly firm, that is, (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially surely (often as interjection so be it): – amen, verily
    James Strong 1890, (S.v., “Amen”)

    Amēn occurs 151 times in the New Testament (KJV).

    The Hebrew word ‘āmên occurs 30 times in the Old Testament (KJV):

    ‘āmên means … sure; abstractly faithfulness; adverbially truly: – Amen, so be it, truth James Strong 1890, S.v., “Amen”

    When we say “Amen” in English, it is a triple transliteration, from Hebrew to Koinē Greek to English. It is a very strong word doubled, as Jesus used it. In this passage of scripture, Jesus is telling Nicodemus—and us—that it is absolutely necessary to be born again to become a Christian. Otherwise, we may profess to be a Christian, be baptized, do the things Christians are supposed to do and still not go to Heaven when we die.

    “Born again (gennēthē anōthen)” has been translated “born again,” “born anew” and “born from above,” i.e., by the Holy Spirit,” which the context dictates. The word anōthen is best translated “born from above.”

    “Born of water and the Spirit“ (gennēthē ex hudatos kai pneumatos) (NIV) is literally, “born out of water and of Spirit.” Note that Nicodemus is talking about natural human birth and says (knows) that it is impossible to enter one’s mother’s womb and be born a second time. Jesus then replies that one has to be born of water [amniotic fluid] and the Holy Spirit. Both Nicodemus and Jesus are talking about natural human birth. Then, in sequence, Jesus adds that one has to be born into the Kingdom of God by the Holy Spirit.

    “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (NIV) indicates that the context has not changed. In order to be saved, the conditions are (1) one has to have been born physically and (2) one must be birthed into the Kingdom by the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit recreates our human spirit and then indwells us. What a wonderful truth that God should condescend to live in us by his Spirit!

    The Greek word baptizō (bap-tid’-zo), translated in English, “Baptize” is not found in the scripture quoted above.

    Baptizō comes from the verb baptō, which means to immerse. However, the word baptizō is found in thIs passage in Matthew:

    After we have been born again (saved) we should be baptized in water. Jesus commanded us to be baptized:

    Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.“
    Matthew 28:18-20, NIV

    But, “What about the person who is born again and dies before being baptized? Jesus himself answers that question by giving the example of a man who died before he could be baptized. Jesus was crucified between two criminals, when

    One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly [amēn] I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.“
    Luke 23:39-23:43, NIV

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    Copyright © 2018 by Dr. John E. Russell

  • New Birth Part 1: The New Birth Is Absolutely Necessary

    New Birth: Part 1

    Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus:

    He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

    Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

    “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered,“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ “

    John 3:2-7, NIV

    A text without a context is a pretext.

    “Born again (gennēthē anōthen)” can be translated “born from above,” i.e., by the Holy Spirit, which the context dictates. The word anōthen is best translated “from above,” although it has been translated “again” or “anew.”

    “Born of water and the Spirit (gennēthē ex hudatos kai pneumatos) is literally, “born out of water and of Spirit.” Note that Nicodemus is talking about natural human birth and says (knows) that it is impossible to enter one’s mother’s womb and be born a second time. Jesus then replies that one has to be born of water [amniotic fluid] and the Holy Spirit. Both Nicodemus and Jesus are talking about natural human birth. Then, in sequence, adds that one has to be born into the Kingdom of God by the Holy Spirit.

    “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” indicates that the context has not changed. In order to be saved, the conditions are (1) one has to have been born physically and (2) one must be birthed into the Kingdom by the Holy Spirit!

    After we have been born again (saved) we should be baptized in water. Jesus commanded us to be baptized and then to baptize new converts:

    Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

    Matthew 28:18-20, NIV

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    Copyright © 2019 by Dr. John E. Russell

  • Make Your Calling and Election Sure

    Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall….

    2 Peter 1:10, KJV

    John Wesley was raised in a pastor’s home. His mother spent an hour per week with each of her children. He was a deeply religious person. He even became an Anglican missionary to the Indians in what is now Georgia, USA. He failed miserably and later he found out why. He had mental assent to Christianity, but did not have saving faith that resulted in being born again.

    Once, he was on the ocean in a wooden ship when a horrific storm hit. He was gripped by fear and rightfully so. There was no radio to seek help and if there were, no ship could reach them in time. As far as human help, there was none.

    Wesley noticed a group of Moravians aboard the ship, who were calm and singing praises to God. This gained his attention. When he was back in England, he became friends with Peter Bohler, who was the Moravian leader. He confessed that he did not have [saving] faith.

    Here are some qotations from John Wesley’s Journal:

    I went to America, to convert the Indians; but oh! Who shall convert me? Who, what is he that will deliver me from this evil heart of mischief? I have a fair summer religion. I can talk well; nay, and believe myself, while no danger is near; but let death look me in the face, and my spirit is troubled. Nor can I say, ‘To die is gain!

    It is now two years and almost four months since I left my native country [England] in order to teach the Georgian Indians the nature of Christianity. But what have I learned myself in the meantime? Why (what I the least of all suspected), that I who went to America to convert others was never myself converted to God.

    I found my brother at Oxford, recovering from his pleurisy; and with him Peter Bohler; by whom, in the hand of the great God, I was, on Sunday, the fifth, clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone we are saved. Immediately it struck into my mind, “Leave off preaching. How can you preach to others, who have not [saving] faith yourself?”” I asked Bohler whether he thought I should leave it off or not. He answered, “By no means.”” I asked, “But what can I preach?”” He said, “Preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it, you will preach faith.””

    I Felt My Heart Strangely Warmed

    In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

    Wesley is not alone in his experience. Here are two more examples.

    When I was a child, we would to listen to Pastor L. R. Sheldon, who had a Christian program on a New Orleans radio station. He gave an amazing testimony that is indelibly stamped in my memory. He said that he had been a pastor for twenty-five years and never had been born again. Then, he was saved and later pastored a church in New Orleans.

    Our pastor told this amazing story. He and and one of his faithful members were out visiting people in their town. They walked up to this house, knocked on the door and were greeted by an older lady. She invited them in. They began to witness to her. She said that she had grown up in her particular denomination, had been baptized and attended church services all her life. As our pastor and his friend began to witness to her, she was shocked to know that she had never been saved. She was gloriously saved. Two weeks later, she passed away.

    My friend, do you know that if you were to die, you would go to heaven? You can make your calling and election sure. Please read the plan of salvation and receive Christ now: Now that you are a Christian. There are also instructions that you should follow after you have received Christ.

    Please message me if you have received Christ. Tell others that you are now a Christian. May the Lord bless you.

    This copyrighted material may be reproduced and distributed freely, provided that it is not edited, you do not charge for it, and this disclaimer is included.

    Copyright © 2018 by Dr. John E. Russell

  • How to Raise Your Self-Esteem

    Identity crisis, blurring of roles, degeneration of morals and low self-esteem characterize American culture today. Christian leaders sometimes add to the problem rather than help solve it (Hoekema 1976, 26-27).

    The self-esteem movement arose in response to human need. Both the humanist and Christian branches recognize the universal need for high self-esteem. Maslow, a humanistic representative, says, “All people in our society (with a few pathological exceptions) have a need or desire for a stable, firmly based, usually high evaluation of themselves, for self-respect, or self-esteem and for the esteem of others… These needs have been relatively stressed by Alfred Adler and his followers, and have been relatively neglected by Freud. More and more today, however, there is appearing widespread appreciation of their central importance, among psychoanalysts as well as among clinical psychologists. Dr. Maslow notes that lack of self-esteem may result in neurosis” (Maslow 1970, 45).

    Dr. James Dobson, a Christian representative, says, “Thus, whenever the keys to self-esteem are seemingly out of reach for a large percentage of the people, as in twentieth century America, the widespread “mental illness,” neuroticism, hatred, alcoholism, drug abuse, violence, and social disorder will certainly occur. Personal worth is not something human beings are free to take or leave. We must have it and when it is unattainable, everybody suffers” (Dobson 1974, 12-13).

    The humanistic approach works in the superstructure of the problem. Therefore, one must go to the root of the problem to raise one’s self-esteem properly. One must have an accurate mirror in which to view himself—the Word of God. Then one must be changed for the better.

    Compare the approach of Dov Peretz Elkins (Elkins 1977, 13). Elkins, a Jewish humanist, incorporates some Old Testament truths such as God creating humans in his image. However, this does not take into consideration the fall and consequent need for the new birth. Therefore, humanism has no objective basis for improving the self-image that would cause a rise in self-esteem. Humanists are working in the periphery of the problem.

    Dr. John E. Rusell uses the Bible as the foundation of building self-esteem. This book is powerful in the sense that he teaches the Word of God, which The LORD annoints.

    This is the Introduction to How to Raise Your Self-Esteem Using Proven Biblical Principles, by Dr. John Russell.

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    Copyright © 2016 by Dr. John E. Russell

  • The Unforgiving Servant

    Part II: Parables of the Kingdom

    11. The Unforgiving Servant

    Introduction

    This parable was precipitated by Peter’s question to Jesus,

    “… Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

    Matthew 18:21-23, NIV

    Jesus then presents the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. This parable is found only in Matthew 18:23-35.

    The Story

    “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king, who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

    “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

    “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ He demanded.

    “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

    “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

    “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

    “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

    Matthew 18:23-35, NIV

    The story begins with a king settling accounts with his servants. One servant who owed him 10,000 talents was brought before him. The Roman talent was a weight measurement that equals 71 pounds US. Therefore, 71 pounds of gold is $1,252,100.75, based on the current spot gold price of gold $1,209.30 (8 January 2015). His total debt was $1,252,100.75 X 10,000 = $12,521,007,500 (assuming this to be a troy pound):

    There are approximately 14.583 troy ounces in an avoirdupois pound. Precious metals are always quoted in troy ounces (31.1 grams), as apposed to the standard avoirdupois ounce of 28 grams.

    http://onlygold.com/Info/Value-Your-Weight-In-Gold.asp

    Since the servant was unable to repay 12.5 billion dollars, the king ordered that he and his family be sold as slaves and all that he had be sold to pay on the debt. The servant fell down before his king and begged him to be patient until he could repay him. The king had mercy on him, forgave the debt and let him go.

    The forgiven servant went out and found a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii ($5,800). He grabbed him, began choking him and demanded that he pay him the relatively small sum. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him to be patient until he could repay him.

    The forgiven servant refused to wait and had his fellow servant thrown into prison until the debt was paid.

    Other fellow servants saw what had happened and told the king.

    The king called in his wicked servant for not having mercy and canceling the insignificant debt as the king had canceled his astronomical debt. The king was furious and had him turned over to jailers to be tortured until his debt was paid.

    The Interpretation

    The story characters and the real people they represent are:

    1. The king: God

    2. The servants: believers

    The debts and what they represent are:

    3. The 12,521,007,500 USD: our debt of sin to God.

    4. The 5,8000 USD: the debt of wrong done to us by others.

    Peter probably felt he was being generous in offering to forgive someone 7 times. (Two Rabbis of that time had taught not to forgive more than 3 times). Jesus replied that we should forgive 77 times, or it could be translated 70 X 7 = 490 times.

    Jesus was using a literal figure to represent the Christian attitude of forgiving others.

    In this parable, the unforgiving servant was probably a thief:

    This one was brought unto him; he never would have come of himself; he would have made that ten into twenty thousand, for the secure sinner goes on treasuring up (Rom. ii 5) an even mightier sum, to be one day required of him. In all probability, from the immensity of the debt, this man was one to whom some chief post of honor and dignity in the kingdom had been committed—a satrap who should have remitted the revenues of his province to the royal treasury.

    Trench 1948, 56

    The king could have been an actual oriental monarch and if so, the figure would have been appropriate. Or, Jesus could have been using hyperbole. Jesus was actually emphasizing the utter hopelessness of our ever paying the immeasurable debt of sin that we owe. Only God can forgive our individual debt of sin.

    The custom of the day was to sell one’s wife and children into slavery to help satisfy debts.

    Another practice was to have debtors jailed and tortured to reveal any hidden sources of revenue.

    Tasker 1976, 179

    Barclay sees these lessons:

    1. A man must forgive in order to be forgiven:

    Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.

    Matthew 5:7, NIV

    Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

    James 2:12-13, NIV

    2. There is a tremendous contrast between the debts in the parable. The smaller debt could be carried in one pocket. The larger debt would take an army of 8,600 carriers, each carrying 60 pounds of money—at a distance of one yard apart the carriers would form a line 5 miles long! We have been forgiven a debt beyond our ability to pay. It was paid by the death of God’s own Son. Therefore we must forgive others as God has forgiven others, or we can hope to find no mercy.

    Barclay 1958, Matthew, 212 ff.

    Jesus taught the model prayer to his disciples and added another teaching:

    “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

    Matthew 6:9-15

    Again, Jesus taught about faith and added,

    “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.

    Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

    Mark 11:23-25, NIV

    Central Truth

    We must forgive others

    As God has forgiven us

    Or we will not be forgiven.

    Conclusion

    Thank God for his grace and forgiveness. Let us ask God to search our hearts and reveal all unforgiveness and grudges. Then, let us forgive everyone and give up all grudges.

    Some have said, “I just can’t forgive so-and-so for what he did to me.” Keep in mind that forgiving someone is a decision, not some emotion. Jesus would never said to forgive people if we could not forgive them! Simply forgive those who have wronged us. Then Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies:

    “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

    Matthew 5:43-48, NIV

    Concerning “hurt feelings,” pray for people who wrong us. Give those people a gift—it will transform your hate to love! Dr. McMillen, who served as a medical missionary, says,

    Do something good for your enemy and it will surprise you how much easier it is to love him. This is the Scripturally and psychologically sound method of changing our feelings.

    McMillen 1967, 78

    If you recall, Jesus did this. He practiced what He preached. When He was giving the best gift the world ever received—His life—He prayed for those who crucified Him:

    “…Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.“…

    Luke 23:34, NIV

    God’s Word always works. It worked for me. My wife had been injured twice and I was angry. I considered suing the guilty party. Then, I obeyed the Lord. I forgave them. My thinking became more objective and clearer. I was set free.

    This copyrighted material may be reproduced and distributed freely, provided that it is not edited, you do not charge for it, and this disclaimer is included.

    Copyright © 2010 by Dr. John E. Russell