We are trying to get the Classic Christian Culture Commentary 
(previously titled PHC, Practical Holiness Commentary) up and on site.
ACTSion has become quite large and it is hard to keep it covered and up
to date - but we are trying to keep it fresh with all of the other things
we are doing.
Thank you for your patience.

[under construction]
Lots of construction going on here!
 THE CLASSIC CHRISTIAN CULTURE COMMENTARY
               ON THE MORAL EXCELLENCE OF GOD AND THE MORAL PERFECTION OF MAN
                                                                       - AND -
         REEXAMINING AND DEFINING THE DOCTRINES OF SANCTIFICATION AND HOLINESS
                                                   FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION
                                                                                        - AND -
                BIBLICAL PHILOSOPHY GIVING GOD'S MORAL PLAN FOR MAN AND EARTH
                                   BASED ON THE UNERRING TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD

                   There are already 800 pages of notes, commentary and discourses on those
                   Scriptures mentioning the transformation of those who have been born again.
                   in Christ. Here you will find only the pure doctrines of Jesus and the apostles.
                   Another 3000 pages of additional notes including approximately 3000 pages
                   of messages, notes and papers authored and collected by Bill Burkett yet to be
                   added to these commentary pages. Also you will find explanations, not
                   interpretations

Featured discourse on the doctrine of Biblical Dualism.
  One of Bill Burkett's concerns has been the treatment of Biblical dualism when in the second century the church fathers over reacted to the startling effect of the Gnostic teaching pulling great multitudes of Christians after it, by denying the fact of dualism because the gnostic's had abused it and distorted to such a degree in their teaching. But, the contrast between the dualism the gnostic's were using by stressing certain verses in Paul's teaching was in such contrast that they should have taught that contrast and preserved the Biblical doctrine of dualism, a powerful doctrine  of Christ and the apostle's that empowers the Christian in his and her battle to resist the evils that fill the fallen world environment around us. This teaching reaches across the entire scope of Biblical truth from Genesis to Revelation. The gnostic's taught a perversion of this Scriptural truth that was strong into the third century AD. Tragically, the church for a large part of it's history has been deprived of this powerful and behavior altering truth since that time until the present. This was a triumph of Satan that cannot be measured! The Bible is the only source that reveals the truth about man's true nature. Biblical dualism reveals the key principle of overcoming - no wonder Satan attacked this particular part of the Bible! Dualism reveals the truth regarding the Bible's teaching on the two natures of man, the FLESH and SPIRIT. A major factor that Satan, the god of this world thus effectively disarmed Christians for centuries of a power principle that has surely effected the destiny of untold numbers of believers in Christ. But in these last days it is time to defy the popular belief that has been being taught in our theological schools about the error of dualism. Shame! The Word of God clearly teaches a dualism that empowers the church and it is now high time that we stop teaching ignorantly about one of the most powerful truths of the Bible and make a clear difference about the many erroneous teachings of dualism in religion and philosophy and start being intellectually honest with ourselves and our people and get the truth of Biblical dualism out and into the hearts of those under us. Seminarians who have received anti dualism teaching must start thinking for themselves and let the Scriptures teach the Scriptures for themselves to see if these things be so. Abandoning the dualism Jesus and the apostles taught is a lingering error that is still being dished out in many seminaries to this day. I have met seminary graduates that still insist that dualism is some evil doctrine taught by the gnostics. NOT SO! Dulaism is a Biblical doctrine first taught by Jesus and then the apostles. Scroll down on this page and find a brief study there entitled, The Dog and the Dove, a good introduction to the material that will be on site here later.

All ten issues of the Hagios Letter will be found in this commentary ASAP. One of those issues has an expanded in depth study of Biblical dialism with charts included.

                                           
Amenheader


Under this banner we will be loading Tons of Truth for the remnant minded end time church. On this site we take the Lord's soon return seriously and only post the pure Biblical teaching that prepares the Bride for the soon return of Bridegroom exposing the unbiblical doctrinaires who corrupt the end time church with their Antinomian abominations.

Apostasy                     churchdrums
Loud music has become a means of working up the emotions of God's people rather than His presence coming down upon a church of praying godly people. We continue to mistake the true work of the Holy Spirit for a humanly produced pseudo Holy Spirit visitation. This keeps the church from experiencing the genuine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. When people are emotionally caught up in a loud pounding beat of the drums the genuine presence of the Holy Spirit is pushed out of the church service and the meeting falls into the hands of the leaders of that meeting.

Could it be that we are having less and less of the gifts and miracles of the Holy Spirit in our meetings because we have lost the pure worship of a broken and pure heart for the cheap and empty sound of drums, running and shouting losing all sense of decency and order as human emotions go berserk?

I read in the Word that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove. In many Pentecostal churches where the loudness of the drums is equated with "the Holy Spirit falling," doesn't sound at all like the Spirit of the Dove - a rock concert maybe, but no semblance to the dove nature of the Holy Spirit.

When the human spirit takes over a service the Holy Spirit cannot operate as He would like. To return to the broken spirit of an obedient servant revering the presence of God as we come to rejoice in His great salvation could bring Church of Acts power back to your church.

The piano (a stringed instrument) should be the lead instrument in a church orchestra and especially in a worship service. When the Holy Spirit is in charge of a meeting He produces results that loud drums and a few accompanying instruments could never produce! Praying down God's presence until the house of God is filled with His glory is what can bring down the Holy Spirit to do wonderful things for God's people.

In today's holiness camp meetings people come from all over to get a blessing. It used to be that camp was a place where we brought the unsaved and altars were filled with saints weeping with conviction for their sins. I stopped preaching camp meetings because I got so tired of having people say to me, "Preach us happy tonight, brother."

Loud drums and instruments produce emotionalism and out of that emotionalism we are moved to praise God in various ways. But when the Holy Spirit is in charge He needs no drums and may often perform miracles and move with gifts on the church and THEN afterward out of that manifestation of the Holy Spirit there is an emotional response that is sweet and full of glory!

The Holy Spirit draws men to waiting on the Lord and brokenness of heart. He causes us to reflect on our walk and our carnality and calls us to repent and be cleansed. 1 John 1:9-10.

Many holiness churches are copying everything the pop culture does. just recently a song leader in an Assembly of God church was replaced for a "worship team." The hymn books disappeared. The piano and organ were removed from the platform and standing keyboard player with a worship team led choruses and sang from an overhead projector throwing one new chorus after another onto the giant screen. Christian worship was replaced with a Pop culture style of worship. Many families left the church. THIS IS HAPPENING ALL ACROSS AMERICA!

I told one pastor where I ministered that there had been big changes in his church since I was last there under the previous pastor and that I didn't see many of the people in the church that were there the last time I came. He told me that they left and started a prayer group in their homes. And then he said, "The world is changing and the church must change with it." Oh, so these people think that the church must follow the world in it's ways? I always thought we were bring the world into the ways of the church to learn the ways of God. I have always been under the impression from Scripture that we were to COME OUT OF THE WORLD, not to imitate it.

I have been preaching conformity to the image of Christ and not the world!

I have been preaching to the nations that if they come to Christ that He will lift them UP into heavenly places with Him and deliver them from the evils of a degenerating world. These people are trying to bring God down to make Him conform to the world's ways. It will never work!

I have come to the conclusion that Matthew 7:21-24 and Revelation 3:17 explain this weird behavior of some "Christians" in these last days. It seems they would be struck by the Scriptures that tell them they are apostates by their behavior but apparently they do not have the Spirit of truth in their lives that makes them aware of what Jesus and the apostle's have written. They have no sensitivity to the plain language of the supreme truth of Scripture. It is apparent these men have no commitment to follow God's Word unless it fits their agenda. If it does not then they twist it by interpreting it to say what they want it to say.

Visitors felt very out of place in the church mentioned above and the only element in the church that preferred the pop culture atmosphere was the young people. That church went from 800 to 150 in a few months and nobody including the pastor cares. The church is now in a financial crisis. The song leaders wife played the piano and she was forced to resign her ministry because the pastor had electronic key boards put on the platform that drowned out the piano. When she saw what they were doing she resigned. They moved the piano to the basement.

I have had families come to me in several churches I ministered in who complained that the drums were so loud they could not hear the words of the song. Just recently a family came to my church from a large church because they said the drums were so loud they had headaches after leaving church. Drums are fine in the background with the piano or the organ or a keyboard being the leading instrument. I have always said that music in the church is the handmaiden of the gospel message in the church. But, unfortunately many churches do not have anyone giving proper instruction to the musicians and they have grieved the Holy Spirit and kept the church from being what the Holy Spirit wants it to be.

      goodpreaching
To make a Scriptural study of the record of the messages preached in the New Testament would surely bring a revival to many churches today that have developed a style of preaching based on values and origins certainly originating in Scripture.

I had a preacher say to me, "Brother, we don't need all that talk about the what the Greek says. I just open my Bible and start preaching. I preach by inspiration!" I said, I know. I had heard him preach and there was never any substance to his preaching.
 
In some Pentecostal circles "good preaching" has become the ability to preach a message of happiness, not holiness. Happiness makes people feel good about themselves while sin remains in their life. Good holiness preaching brings conviction causing people with sin to repent - and that includes Christians. Good holiness preaching sensitizes the conscience to awake to their wrongs and be mindful of their carnal flaws that go counter to being like Jesus. Up to the fifties this was the message, but the all positive message liberalism and materialism has changed the spiritual value system of the gospel churches.

Good preaching will always have the element of teaching in it and Good teaching will always have the signature of emphatic preaching in it. I often refer to my ministry as treaching, a combination of preaching and teaching. One should have a little of the other in it.

Read the messages of Peter and Paul as they are recorded in Acts. Loaded with substance! Read their letters and epistles - loaded with substance and spiritual depth beyond learning in a lifetime of studious preaching.

Thousand upon thousands of gospel preachers have been preaching from "The good book" for centuries, yea, millenniums and each message is sought out of the depths of God's Word with fresh meaning and illumination from the Holy Spirit! It has no bottom, it is a bottomless sea of divine truth!

Oh, for preaching with substance that is not thought to be great preaching because it's loud with a handkerchief waving in one hand and a booming mike in the other. PA systems have done more to effect a preachers behavior on the platform than any other thing. Take the mike away from some preachers and they wouldn't know what to do. Turn the electricity off on many of the high profile preachers and they would lose their following overnight. Scripture gives no such impressions by any of it's preaching examples. Jesus lifted up His voice, but that means He raised His voice.

Now, the other side of the  coin. All of the above by itself is useless. But add to the antics a strong element of truth and a depth of substance and revelation by the anointing of the Holy Spirit and you have an anointed messenger of God! There is nothing wrong with a colorful preachers personality showing if his mind is on God and he is reveling in the truth and striving to glorify God. Swallowing mikes and whipping the cord around behind you to appear professional is showing off and distracts from the message.

I have preached many camp meetings and had only one bad one. Sometimes it's the spirit of the crowd you're preaching to that nullifies your prayers and study for the night. They kept telling me, "Preach us happy tonight, brother. Preach us happy. God didn't call me to preach people happy! He called me to preach people to repent and confess their sins whether they are saint or sinner. Fifty years ago our camp altars were jammed with people, saved and unsaved, crying out to God with supplications. Conviction filled the tent! the altars were benches and the seat were benches and sawdust covered the ground. Now we have "camp meeting in air conditioned tabernacles and no matter how hard the preacher preaches, we have our minds on the kitchen and other things, pray a token prayer and head for the air conditioned dining hall. Then we too often sit and talk about people instead of sharing the good things in God's word He showed us the last week. Materialism has cursed us We can't handle it.

Inspirational messages have good effect on the body of of Christ, but when our message becomes purely inspirational the church becomes spiritually malnourished. Paul clearly stated that the Word of God was verbally inspired and that it was good for DOCTRINE, that's number 1. For reproof, number 2, and for correction in righteousness, and that number 3, that the man of God may be perfect! That's the whole business of the Holy Ghost, right there. But today we do very little preaching on any of these purposes of preaching.

Some churches preach whole messages on standards but their churches don't know a thing about the doctrine of justification. When persecution comes . . . and it's coming soon (stated March 7, 2011), it will be the precious doctrines of redemption that will be our strength and bring us nearer Jesus in the darkest hours.

The church begins to believe their experience must be felt or they're backslidden. But then when the persecution comes they will learn several things very quick; (1) That they lack the strength that doctrine gives to withstand the horrendous signs and wonders of the Antichrist! (2) That they have no camp meetings to sustain their emotionalism. (3) That they regret not seeking out more opportunities to sit and learn the sustaining powers of pure doctrine. There should be a balance with more doctrinal preaching to strengthen the saints against the onslaughts of the increasing campaign of the Antichrist to turn the world against the church. But we are drifting more and more toward the empty shout and further and further from the tears of contrition.  The moderate churches, the false religions and the apostates have been successfully  neutered spiritually by Satanic deception and now the he is turning his attention on the Holiness churches. How will he neuter them? Let us go back to the Church of Acts and see them once again as our model and do nothing any different than we see the apostles doing.

          See 48 Biblical Facts About Worldliness
                    at the bottom of this page.
                Good for a series Bible Study.
graphicPaul Davidson's Hearing Heart Sermons. Here are some insights into the Word of God right from the heart of a man who lived in the Word daily. These are eleven sermons with simple themes but a depth of meaning that is rare and original.
  
REPENTANCE PERFECT LOVE REBELLION ROOM
THE SOWER LORD'S SUPPER THE WORLD HELP
TREMBLING PLEASURE
SIN
graphic The calling.  The call to the mission field and what a missionary is according to the Bible record is explained in this frank critique of modern missions concepts. The function of a high percentage of the modern missionaries of today have nothing in common with their apostolic counterparts of the early church. Let's get back to Acts.
graphicThe Wrath of the Lamb. Prophecy
Raptured or Snatched? A peek at a few pages and topics that will be covered in our next book release, a prophecy book entitled,The Wrath of The Lamb.
graphicPsalm 119 - New and revised)
Part I           Part II         Part III         Part IV
 Psalm 119  consists of 176 prayers revealing the proper attitude of the Christian toward God's Word.  Psalm 119 makes it very clear that the Bible does not merely contain a message OF holiness, but the message of the Bible IS holiness (the moral perfection of man).  A devotional commentary with light from the Word.  (This book is available through the Anderson office for a donation toward the Commission Ministries.)
graphicGrace Before, At and After the Cross (Revised)
Part I of IV   Part  II of IV   Part III of IV   Part IV of IV
God's Grace operates on three levels, or in three zones of the Christian life. If we get these confused and run them together we end up with a man-made grace. God's Word tells us to rightly divide the Word of truth.  The doctrine of Grace effects every part of our Christian experience.  It MUST be right lest we find ourselves believing things about our salvation that is just NOT true.  Everybody who has read this book by Bill Burkett expresses their enlightenment.
graphicHermeneutics outline:  A practical highly condensed outline of Hermeneutics, the study of proper methods of interpretation of ancient manuscripts, especially scriptural text.  Made available for preachers, special study groups, and Bible schools who would like to have access to such information that is not always easily available on-line elsewhere.  Very good outline prepared by Walter Beuttler, a dear friend and one of my Bible Institute teachers at Green Lane, Pennsylvania in the very early 1950's.
graphicA Biblical Treatment of the Oneness doctrine:  An excellent little book that contains a list of biblical discrepancies of
      this doctrine a matter of arbitrary belief apart from being supported by Scripture. A good Bible study for our churches.
graphicEternal Security In The Book Of Hebrews:
        Part I of IV       Part II of IV       Part III of IV       Part IV of IV
Just one of the finest things you will find to refute the teaching of Eternal Security by an old Pentecostal Bible scholar.
graphicGod's Rooster, A study on the conscience:
This rooster did more than some preachers will do today - he crowed when it was needed!  The Christian conscience, Paul warns, can be seared, a most dangerous conditions for any Christian to get himself or herself into.  God used the rooster to call the fisherman to repentance who then became the great apostle!  Many principles here for Christians who want to be a part of the Bride of Christ.
graphicHappiness God's Way:  All human conduct is carried out in pursuit of happiness.  It is sought by every man woman and child.  Drug addicts, thieves, businessmen, athletes, drunkards and Christians all seek happiness.  BUT to most, and even some Christians, it is elusive.  Here is are the seven steps to happiness on God's terms.  Its so simple people pass it by to find it some other way - but there is only one way to true happiness.
graphic[under construction]Sinful Grace?  High profile radio and TV preachers implying that God's love   provides forgiving automatic Grace even if we continue in sin. Here we give another simple explanation of the Grace AT the cross and the Grace AFTER the cross as two different operations of Grace. Predestination people get the two confused. Grace AT the cross is conditionless! BUT Grace AFTER the cross is CONDITIONAL and they must be rightly divided when speaking on the subject of Grace.
graphicCremation: Christians must beware of the trend toward cremation.  Here is plenty of documentation to prove where it comes from and who advocates it.  Interesting collection of research material and a reference to a book on cremation that is available today at Christian bookstores.
graphicPrinciples of Purity:
27 brief chapters explaining such things as the difference between a liberal and a conservative; the struggle between the two natures; the appetites; the function of sin through the appetites; saturation of the two natures; long hems and long tongues don't go together! Why blood? 
graphicA Balanced Gospel: Even agape love is negative - it must be. Here is Biblical proof of the virtue of negative love. God was the first to teach "Tough Love."
graphic Faith of Our Fathers:  An incident from the life of Polycarp of the 2nd century to inspire us back to the character of the early church..
graphic Greek Word Studies in Galatians:  A study of the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh in the language the apostle's wrote in. Gives an deeper meaning to the English text. Excellent for a series of studies in your mid-week Bible studies.
graphic[under construction]Part 1 The difference between the two Greek words used when referring to the holiness of the believer. Much false teaching has come out of an ignorance of these two Greek words. Many interesting explanations leaving the reader with a correct concept of holiness.
graphic Holiness At And After the Cross:  Part 2 - Giving Bible passages explaining the difference between the noun and the verb used when referring to holiness (sanctification).  The difference between hagiasmos and hagiazo and how our translators used concordant methods to translate these words so the English (KJV) text remains faithful to the Greek text.
graphic Identifying the Apostate Church:
Chart 1  >  The Parody:  Chart showing apostate and apostolic differences.
Chart 2  >  The Shifting Theology of Neo-Fundamentalism:
                 Antithetic chart listing effect of apostate/apostolic
                 teaching from the Charismatic PULPIT.

                     Resulting in:

Chart 3  > The Shifting Values of Christian Character:
                        Antithetic chart listing effect of apostate/apostolic
                        teaching on the people in the PEW.

 
Studies and Materials Soon To Be Added! 

Predestination: One of the best treatments of this subject I have seen but no longer in print. But here it is for your edification. Predestination In The Book Of Hebrews makes it clear that you can be lost after salvation. 


The Spirit With, In, and Upon: An excellent study on the operation of the Holy Spirit from the pen of Allen Swift, founder of Eastern Bible Institute and a lovely man of God. 

A History of Dualism: Distinguishing the dualism of Scripture from the dualism of the gnostic mystics of the first century who distorted the original Biblical doctrine. Why some early church Fathers denounced dualism in its distorted forms.  Biblical Dualism is right when presented in its Biblically correct context! 

Many out of print books Being Prepared For This Site:  
A great library of out of print books on many good Bible subjects are being processed to go on this site. This will be material to provide our holiness preachers with the pure Pentecost of The Church of Acts! 
 
graphicIt Seemed Good Unto Us:  Church government according to the record we have in Acts 15 having nothing in common with the devised church governments of today. There is no such thing in Scripture as a pastor ruling over another pastor or over another pastor's church. Read here some of the history of how church government became corrupted.
graphicKeeping The Pulpit Pure As goes the pulpit so goes  the church.  Here is what the Scripture says about what we are to do with those who depart from pure doctrine. How is the church to deal with those whose teaching tends to corrupt the beliefs and behavior of Christians?
graphic Legislating Human Behavior:  In Spanish ->Legislando La Conducta Humana
 Man must be governed from within and  not from without.  This is the secret of Christ's kingdom and its governing principle through the new birth.
graphic No Man Lives Unto Himself:  A law of human behavior no man can escape. God has woven it into the gospel as the the very essence of the word godliness.
graphicThe Oneness Doctrine Examined: A very good study of the contradictions that exist in the Jesus Only doctrine. Another book out of print but continues to live on the pages of the Amen.
graphicPentecostal But Not Charismatic:
Part I of IV    Part II of IV     Part III of IV    Part IV of IV
Probably our most sought after book. There is a BIG difference and this study covers all of the differences between a Pentecostal and a Charismatic.
graphic Physical Contact As Worship:  An UnBiblical Abomination. Touching and embracing indiscriminately between the genders in a worship service is the first sign of a people who pay no regard to Biblical behavior.
 
graphicPractical Holiness Commentary (PHC):[under construction]Holiness through the Bible verse by verse from Genesis to Revelation. A study of The Moral Excellence of God and the Moral Perfection of Man. Bill Burkett's 1600 page dissertation available only here on the web site. It covers about any subject on the Christian moral. (Remember, you can use the search feature once inside the text.) 
OLD TESTAMENT:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges.
Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job.
Psalms.
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah.
Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos.
Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
 
NEW TESTAMENT[under construction]
Matthew
Mark - Luke
John - Acts
Romans
Corinthian epistles
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossi ans
Thessalonians and Timothy
Titus, Philemon and James
Epistles of Peter and John
Jude - Revelation

graphicReasons for Suffering: The Bible helps us to understand. Remember, This world today is not the world God created in the beginning - this world we have today is the world we created after we rejected paradise.

graphic The Church Today:  The Word of God Counsels our brethren in East Europe and other countries where American misdsionaries thinking themselves as missionaries do noting but peddle the American culture off on others thinking it is Christianity. Missionaries are not pass off their culture as Christinaity when they go to another country!  Don't try to destroy their traditional values in the name of missions!  Your Amaricanism may be materiallly superior but your spirituality is inferior!  We need Russian missionaries bringing their reverence and Christian demeanor to American rather than Americans taking their sloppy and winsome not-so-spiritual message to the Russian churches.  Read about it here. 
graphicThe Difference Between Holiness and Righteousness:  Leonard Ravenhill called this illustrated study "A masterpiece." (Charts to be added) 
graphicThe Dog and the Dove:  The classic truth of a parable in small book form that has been translated into five languages and reprinted by two prison ministries and still in demand.  A pocket size booklet good for handing to a saved or unsaved friend that explains the dual nature of man and the effect of this nature on every person's behavior.  This great principle of the teachings of Jesus very easy to understand.  Give one to your psychologist! 
graphicThe Dueling Natures: Dualism, distorted by gnostic teachers in the early church was censured by some church Fathers because of the abuses and distortions of this of this great Biblical truth by the gnostics. Thus Augustine denounced then embraced the doctrine. But it is a solid Bible doctrine vital to Christian victory. (The large version of The Dog and the Dove booklet above.) 
graphicThe Good Old Days: They venerate their godly parents then denounce those who live holy lives today as their parents whom they venerate. Some say these are better days than in the past but honesty does not allow that to go unchallenged in a day when 1.5 millions babies are being murdered each year in abortion clinics and with AIDS raging around the world, rock music that encourages the killing of cops  and drugs being hawked on our city streets. 
graphicThe Gospel According to the Snake: An explanation of the Satanic methodology in man's first encounter with Satan. - Genesis 3. 
graphicWorldliness:  47 startling yet seldom mentioned facts about the deadliest and most subtle of all scourges of the man inside and outside the church - worldliness.  An expose' the ugly beauty of the church's most insideous sin.  Here is the greatest enemy of the church that apostate preachers will not treat honestly. 
graphicThe Most Beautiful Word: Holy, Holy, Holy.  A reprint from the Pentecostal Evangel by Bill Burkett when he was a pastor and Missionary Evangelist with the Assemblies of God. 
graphicWhat Is a Neo-Gnostic?  What the Gnostics of A.D. 45 and the Charismatics today have in common. 
graphicRelativism:  Christians born of God relate to God first. (2 Corinthians 5:18) Realtivism as being taught in modern Charismatic circles is a doctrine of Devils. Romans 16:17-18. 
graphicWhen I Consider the Heavens - What Is Man? - Walter Beuttler takes us into the infinity of space to behold the glory of God. 
graphicAll That Glitters Is Not God:  According to the Bible The Prosperity is doctrine is "fool's gold." 
graphicAbout The Christian Greeting:   A word of wisdom from our departed brother, Walter Beuttler, German born and fortunate for me, one of my Bible teacher's at Eastern Bible Institute, Green Lane, PA.  The "holy" kiss explained as it relates to proper Christian greeting. 
graphicGolfing Preachers:  Holiness preachers now defending golf and taking the same philosophical position of those prayerless preachers who started the trends leading to the present apostasy.  The new yuppy preachers know more about godliness than the godly fathers before them. They condone the sport of the rich as a legitimate kind of worldliness. 
graphicBiblical Holiness and Television:  The apostate church has been hypnotized by the snake's evil eye. The soapies have popularized "affairs" and divorce making a mockery of God's laws slinging Satan's vomit all over the living room walls of the worldly. 
graphicCreatures of Choice:  An interesting exposition on the weakness of the predestination doctrine by a great Bible expositor of a century ago. 
graphicCriminals Running The Church?   And where are the godly? "The only thing necessary for evil to tiumph is that good men do nothing."

                                                                      Church Bible School

Biblical Study on worldliness

48 Facts About Worldliness Learned Only From The Bible

                                                        Bill Burkett

                                                                Copyright 19958Bill Burkett                                                                      CBS Bible Studies – Selah Publication

 

48 Biblical Facts Every Christian Should Know About                     Worldliness

        Biblical Fact/Scripture                   Explanation

 

1

 

OIKOUMENE used 15 times in the New Testament.

 

 

It simply means the inhabited earth.

 

2

 

AION found 40 times in the New Testament.

 

 

  A reference to

the world as an age or specific time period.  It is used

to refer to the wisdom of this world (1 Corinthians 1:20), the rulers of this world (1 Corinthians 2:6,8), the fashion of this world (Romans 12:2), the cares of this world (Matthew 13:22) and the evil nature of the world in a particular age. (Galatians 1:4)

 

3

 

KOSMOS is found 188 times in the New Testament translated as world 187 times and as adorning on
one occasion only.

 

 

This word is used broadly to mean a) the
orderliness of the observable universe, b) the human race in general or c) the alienated world system
that has broken from divine government and opposes
God as supreme authority in the affairs of man.
This word (KOSMOS) is used in this sense the majority of times it is used.

 

4

 

He that loveth his life shall lose it;  and he that hateth his life in this KOSMOS shall keep it unto life eternal. John 12:25

 

HATRED FOR THE KOSMOS ESSENTIAL TO ETERNAL LIFE

John is not speaking of a hatred that is so simple
that just anyone can claim it. Jesus said, He that hateth (miseo, detests) his life in this KOSMOS."

A perfect love for the Kingdom of God demands a perfect hatre3d of this world culture.

 

5

 

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh (nikao, to subdue, to prevail against, to conquor) the KOSMOS and this is the victory that overcometh the KOSMOS, even our faith.  (5)  Who is he that overcometh the KOSMOS but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

                          1 John 5:4-5

 

 

2. TRUE FAITH CONQUORS KOSMOS.

The overcomer and true faith, is faith that overcomes the admirations and conformity to the world culture and its lust for enhancements of the flesh.

 To be pure is to be natural.

  What is not natural is not real.

To be wordly is to love what is not natural. Worldliness is unnatural

 

6

 

I have given them thy word;  and the KOSMOS hath hated them, because they are not of the KOSMOS, even as I am not of the KOSMOS. John 17:14

 

CHRISTIANS OF THE WORD HATED BY THE KOSMOS.

(The same Greek word used here (miseo) for hate the same as in John 12:25 above) There is no affection between the KOSMOS and the Christian.

 

7

 

If ye were of the world, the KOSMOS would love his own:  but  because ye are not of the KOSMOS, but I have chosen you out of the KOSMOS, therefore the KOSMOS hateth you. John 15:19

 

THE KOSMOS HAS NO LOVE FOR THE CHRISTIAN.

 

8

 

 

And when he is come, he will reprove the KOSMOS of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:8

 

 

THE HOLY GHOST COMES TO JUDGE THE KOSMOS OF ITS SIN.

 

9

 

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the KOSMOS is crucified unto me, and I unto the KOSMOS. Galatians 6:14 (Study Romans chapter 6)

 

 

THE CROSS SEVERS US FROM THE KOSMOS>

 

10

 

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the KOSMOS.  James 1:27

 

CHRISTIANS NOT TO BE "SPOTTED" BY THE KOSMOS

 

11

 

And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above:  ye are of this KOSMOS; I am not of this KOSMOS.

                           John 8:23

 

 

JESUS DID NOT IDENTIFY WITH THIS KOSMOS

JESUS WAS FROM ANOTHER WORLD, THE KINGDOM CULTURE.

 

12

 

In whom the god of the KOSMOS hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

              2 Corinthians 4:4

 

 

SATAN THE GOD OF THE KOSMOS.

 

13

 

Which none of the princes of this KOSMOS knew:  for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8

 

RULERS OF THE KOSMOS IGNORANT OF GOD

 To be worldly is synonimous with being sinful. To be holy is synonymous with being obedient.

 

 

14

 

KOSMOS THE ENEMY OF THE LOGOS       

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this KOSMOS:  if my kingdom were of this KOSMOS then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews:  but now is my kingdom not from hence.

                       John 18:36

 

 

 

Lucifer And The Logos Have Nothing In Common - Neither does the Christian have anything in common with the KOSMOS -  There are no affinities between LUCIFER and the LOGOS, no common interests or mutual goals. The ruling sovereigns of the KINGDOM and the KOSMOS are enemies! 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

 

Two Distinct Moral Societies - According to the Bible the CHURCH and the KOSMOS are two distinct communtities of people with two distinct mentalities; the regenerate mentality and the unregenerate mentality.

 

 

15

 

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the KOSMOS: Galations 4:3

 

 

TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE KOSMOS IS BONDAGE.

 

16

 

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this KOSMOS, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:                      Ephesians 2:2

 

KOSMOS REBELLIOUS AND IMMORAL

 

17

 

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the KOSMOS: Ephesians 2:12

 

 

PEOPLE OF THE KOSMOS GODLESS ALIENS

 

18

 

O righteous Father, the KOSMOS hath not known thee:  but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. John 17:25  Note:

 

THE KOSMOS DOES NOT KNOW GOD

 "Known " is the the strong Greek word (ginosko) meaning to know intimatly, experimentally, in the absolute sense in all three instances it is found in this verse.

 

 

19

 

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the KOSMOS;

                 Philippians 2:15

 

THE KOSMOS IS "CROOKED AND PERVERSE"

 

20

 

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the KOSMOS, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19 

(John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46)

 

THE KOSMOS LOVES THE DARKNESS OF EVIL.

 

21

 

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of the KOSMOS, acccording to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:                       Ephesians 2:2

 

SPIRIT OF THE KOSMOS DISOBEDIENT AND SATANIC

 

22

 

Where is the wise?  where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this KOSMOS?  hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this KOSMOS? 1 Corinthians 1:20

(1 Corinthians 3:18-19)

 

 

THE WISDOM OF THE KOSMOS IS FOOLISHNESS TO GOD!

 

The splender and sparkle of the world is paramount to the carnal mind - despised by the holy heart!

 

23

 

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of  this KOSMOS, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. Matthew 13:22

 

 

THE KOSMOS "STRANGLES" THE WORD OF GOD

 

24

 

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the KOSMOS cannot receive, because it seeth him not, kneither knoweth him:  but ye know him;  for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

                         John 14:17

 

THE KOSMOS DOES NOT ACCEPT THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD.

 

25

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this KOSMOS, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

 

 

THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST ARE "AGAINST" THE KOSMOS!

 

26

 

And we know that we are of God, and the whole KOSMOS lieth in wickedness.

                     1 John 5:19

 

 

THE KOSMOS IS WICKED

 

27

 

For all that is in the KOSMOS, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the KOSMOS.

                    1 JOHN 2:16

 

 

KOSMOS PROMOTES A HUMAN LIFESTYLE OF PRIDE NOT OF GOD!

 

28

 

He was in the KOSMOS, and the KOSMOS was made by him, and the KOSMOS knew khim not.          John 1:10

 

 

THE KOSMOS IGNORES CHRIST

 

 

 

29

 

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the KOSMOS ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the KOSMOS. John 16:33

 

 

 

TRIBULATION OF THE CHURCH COMES FROM KOSMOS

The Greek word for tribulation is thlipsis meaning pressure, affliction, anguish, persecution, trouble. This is how the KOSMOS treats true disciples of Christ. The godly life is an irritant to the KOSMOS around us.

 

All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

                       2 Timothy 3:12

 

 

30

 

The KOSMOS cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. John 7:7

 

 

CHRIST DECLARES THE KOSMOS EVIL

 

31

 

If the KOSMOS hate you, ye know that it hated me before (it hated) you. John 15:18

 

 

THE KOSMOS HATES CHRIST 

 

32

 

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 1 John 3:13

 

 

IT IS NORMAL FOR THE KOSMOS TO HATE CHRISTIANS

 

33

 

Being defamed, we intreat:  we are made as the filth of the KOSMOS, and as the offscouring of all things unto this day.   Corinthians 4:13

 

 

TRUE DISCIPLES SEEN AS "TRASH" BY THE KOSMOS

 

34

 

Now we have received, not the spirit of the KOSMOS, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

                1 Corinthians 2:12

 

 

REAL CHRISTIANS DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF KOSMOS

 

35

 

Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the KOSMOS is the enemy of God. James 4:4.

 

 Philos: Friend: to have any affection or fond (admirable) association with or for the KOSMOS.

 

 

TO BE A FRIEND OF THE KOSMOS MAKES ME THE ENEMY OF GOD!

The Counterculture - When a lifestyle conforms to the influences of KOSMOS it is called "worldliness." KOSMOS is the counter culture to christianity.  Worldliness is an influence on the behavior of man that works against the influence of grace. (Titus 2:12)

 

 

36

 

They are not of the KOSMOS, even as I am not of the KOSMOS. John 17:16

 

 

 

 

NEITHER CHRIST NOR HIS DISCIPLES IDENTIFY WITH KOSMOS

(Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18) If a Christian is living the Christ life (as so many "deeper life" teachers are speaking about these days) then the world will hate you and ostracize you and seek to destroy you in the same way it did the Master! Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 

 

37

 

If ye were of the KOSMOS, the KOSMOS would love his own: but because ye are not of the KOSMOS, but I have chosen you out of the KOSMOS, therefore the KOSMOS hateth you.               John 15:19

 

 

JESUS TEACHES THAT THE KOSMOS HATES HIS DISCIPLES

 

38

 

I have given them thy word; and the KOSMOS hath hated them, because they are not of the KOSMOS, even as I am not of the KOSMOS. John 17:14

 

 

JESUS THRICE DENIES THE KOSMOS

 

39

 

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:4          

 

This is an important revelation, worthy of time and space to consider it!

 

Loveless Orthodoxy - We have a religious orthodoxy with us today that loves Christ, boasts of it's fundamentalism but hateful toward Christians who hold to separation from the KOSMOS. It is right that worldliness be denounced and purged from the church. This is the power of light over the darkness! But, it is a tragedy when professing Christians hold separated brethren in contempt. The    worldly Christian places great emphasis on love but in most cases you will soon find their love for the KOSMOS is greater than their love for the brethren. (Ephesians 5:11)

 

 

THE KOSMOS AND THE KINGDOM ARE AT WAR!

THIS IS WAR!

To align with the world and conform to it against the teaching of the Lord and the disciples brings serious inditements against the worldly Christian. I war it is called treachery,

 

Two Worlds Pull At Two Natures In Man -  the KOSMOS appeals to the ambitions of the flesh nature to serve it's ambitions and selfish tendancies toward immediate pleasure, while the spiritual world appeals to the cry of the spiritual man to have intimacy with God the Father.

 

Apostate fundamentalism attempts to join these two natures and lifestyles into one. Jesus blasts this philosophy clean out of the Galaxy! He divorces God from mammon and the apostles warn us against becoming "entangled" in the KOSMOS! (Matthew 6:24; 2 Timothy 2:4) A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled [trampled] fountain, and a corrupt spring. Proverbs 25:26

 
40

 

They are of the KOSMOS, therefore speak they of the KOSMOS, and the KOSMOS heareth them.       1 John 4:5

 

 

 

 

THE WORLDLY KNOWN BY THEIR SPEECH

 

The worldly want to know about                    the world

      But not about worldliness

 

41

 

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the KOSMOS knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

                          1 John  3:1

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE KOSMOS HAS NO RESPECT FOR CHRIST OR HIS BRETHREN

 

But some may protest and cite evidence that there is still respect coming from the KOSMOS in the form of favors shown to the local churches by the merchants, government grants to religious organizations, tax exemption and other benefits. But when John speaks of the KOSMOS here as not "knowing" Christ or "us" he uses the Greek word ginosko (experimental knowledge, intimacy, to be absolutely sure) and not eido (non-experimental knowledge, to be aware of). (See fact No. 16 above; Read Matthew 7:23 and James 4:17).

 

 

42

 

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the KOSMOS, and not after Christ.   Colossians 2:8

 

 

 

THE GLORY OF KOSMOS DEVASTATES AND DISGRACES

 

ASpoil you,@ sulagogeo, literally to carry you off as spoil devastated and disgraced!

 

 

43

 

CHarge them that are rich in this KOSMOS, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy:

                    1 Timothy 6:17

 

 

THE RICHES OF KOSMOS LEADS TO POMP AND PRIDE

 

The rich have more axcess to the pleasures and luxeries of the world culture. See James 1:14, noting the word, Aenticed,@ to induce, lure, allure, fascinate, seduce.

 

44

 

 

Where by are given unto us exceeding great and precious promised:  that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped (literally flee from) the corruption that is in the KOSMOS through lust.

                        2 Peter 1:4

 

 

THE DIVINE NATURE RUNS FROM THE KOSMOS!

 

45

 

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the KOSMOS through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and  overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

                      2 Peter 2:20

 

 

TO COME INTO THE KINGDOM IS TO COME OUT OF THE KOSMOS

 

46

 

Love not the KOSMOS, neither the things that are in the KOSMOS.  If any man love the KOSMOS, the love of the Father is not in him.

                       1 John 2:15 

 

 

THE LOVE OF GOD AND LOVE FOR THE KOSMOS DO NOT COEXIST IN US

 

47

 

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the KOSMOS and the reapers are the angels.  (40) As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire;  so shall it be in the end of this KOSMOS. Matthew 13:39-40

 

 

 

THE PRESENT WORLD SYSTEM WILL BE DESTROYED

 

48

 

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil (Greek, poneros; morally vicious and derelict) AION, according to the will of God and our Father: Galations 1:4 (See John 7:7)



                         -  End  -

 

 

THE WILL OF GOD: THAT CHRIST DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL AION

 

Christ came to deliver us from the world of sin, the environment of sin as well as from past sin, Satan, self.


                      -  End  -

age destroyed by a "brother" but the Lord miraculously helped us recover most of the files. We know this site needs edited badly and we are now working on getting it all straightened out. We are also adding new material while trying to edit what's already on site. We now have a couple of fine brothers helping us. View what is not under construction and be assured we are working on getting the rest up and running for you. We have plans for this to be one of the most resourceful web sites on the internet!  Thanks for your prayers and patience.

 Bill Burkett     
 
 
The quality of a man's life is in direct proportion   to his commitment to the excellence of Christ. Anon

These files are the sole property of and copyrighted in the name of Bill Burkett, director of Selah Publications.  They may not be altered or edited in any way.  All reproductions of these files must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (c)1997 Bill Burkett).  These files may not be used without the permission of Bill Burkett for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold.  This includes all of their contents with the exception of a few brief quotations.  Please do the ethical thing and give the following source credit when quoting from the Amen material;  Bill Burkett, www.actsion.com. This will help others find the source of this study material.  Thank you.
 
Test Link 
Top of Page
Return to Front Page
Quick index
                              
~ "Every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." - 1 John 2:29 ~
Web site - http://www.ACTSion.com
Copyright © 1996 - Bill Burkett 
Box 90,  Anderson,  MO 64831   U.S.A.