Introduction (05/10/2013 – A Total Revision) Regarding the Second Coming, the inconsistencies concerning a single event are staggering, therefore, by necessity there must be two separate events, with the only answer being the Rapture as one, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as the other. One of the arguments of the opponents to the … Continue reading »
Filed under Biblical Error …
Confess Your Sins One to Another – Does This Mean What You Think? (Christians can be Sinless?)
Introduction We’ve all read the below Scripture, but do we really understand what it means. And though the immediate context concerns healing and sickness, there is a principle within a wider biblical context concerning the confession of sins to others, which may be misunderstood within the context of open confession in the church. The question becomes … Continue reading »
Sheep and Wolves
Jesus’ Illusion Concerning Sheep & Wolves Jesus, in speaking about these false prophets used the illusion (an indirect reference to something or somebody by using symbolism) of them coming to the people as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (see #1) in order to take advantage of them. We understand that Jesus used the illusion of sheep … Continue reading »
Judging ~ Church Discipline ~ Forgiveness & Turning the Cheek
Introduction Before addressing the necessity of Believers exercising proper Biblical Judgment (the Christ given mandate to use discernment ~ “Mat. 7:15; 10:17; 16:6,11,12; Mark 8:15; 12:38; Luke 12:1,15; 20:46), we need to consider the subject of pacifism as it will come into play within this conversation. Pacifism Pacifism is one of the great tools of the … Continue reading »
Self-Esteem & The Total Depravity of Man
Introduction The following excerpt is from John MacArthur’s book, Introduction To Biblical Counseling. If it were lacking anything in presenting the Doctrine of the Total Depravity of man and how it relates to the self-esteem movement, we would have written our own paper, however it does not. It is probably one of the best written … Continue reading »
Leadership & Authority
Introduction One of the things that people were astonished concerning Jesus was that He spoke having authority. The point is that He spoke with authority, yet it was not that His speaking was authoritative, or He spoke in a commanding manner; it is that He seated authority in Himself. Display vs. Essence This has less … Continue reading »
Self-Esteem & The Total Depravity of Man
Introduction The following excerpt is from John MacArthur’s book, Introduction To Biblical Counseling. If it were lacking anything in presenting the Doctrine of the “Total Depravity of Man” and how it relates to the self-esteem movement, we would have written our own paper, however it does not. It is probably one of the best written … Continue reading »
Sheep and Wolves
Jesus’ Allusion Concerning Sheep & Wolves Jesus, in speaking about these false prophets used the allusion (an indirect reference to something or somebody by using symbolism) of them coming to the people as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (see #1) in order to take advantage of them. We understand that Jesus used the allusion of sheep … Continue reading »
Judging ~ Church Discipline ~ Forgiveness & Turning the Cheek
Introduction (UPDATED – 08/27/2012) Before addressing the necessary of Believer’s exercising proper Biblical judgment - the Christian mandate to use discernment, we need to consider the subject of pacifism as it will come into play within this conversation. Pacifism Pacifism is one of the great tools of the enemy in order to douse the flames of evangelism … Continue reading »
Eternal Security – Its About God
Introduction This author loves old expressions and adages which display wisdom and insights in a brief presentation. However, if you remember the old story about how when it comes to communicating verbal information; that if you gathered a group of people in a circle, and start with one person and whisper something in their ear. And then they whisper in the … Continue reading »
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
Introduction Of all the questions that I have been asked over almost 40 years, the most frequent and passionate inquiry has always been about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The greatest fear has been by those that were panicked that they had accidentally committed this unforgivable sin. In the following you will see that it … Continue reading »
The Heart and the Mind ~ What the Biblical word “Heart’ Means
Introduction (Content updated & republished) In both the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT) the word “heart” is used to refer to the whole of the innermost part of the human, NOT merely the emotions. Culturally However, in the twenty-first century English the word “heart” is used to express the emotions as an individual compartment … Continue reading »
Work Out Your Own Salvation ~ Philippians 2:12-13
Introduction The following commentary excerpt (I have lost the source information) exemplifies an excellent exegesis of Philippians 2:12-13, which states: “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who … Continue reading »
Christian Rock ‘N Roll Music
Introduction Since the Jesus movement of the 1960s and 70s, the youth culture has vastly influenced Christian music; with the question being asked is the genre of Rock ‘N Roll appropriate for Christian music in general, and worship songs in particular. The sub-genres within rock ‘n roll music can be: hard rock, acid rock, punk … Continue reading »
Judging ~ Church Discipline ~ Forgiveness & Turning the Cheek
Introduction 08/07/2012 – I am going to be spending the next few weeks working on a most significant subject which must be treated meticulously. Therefore, in the meantime I’m going to reformat, and update a few prior articles which are also important, but will allow me to spend the time that I need on this … Continue reading »
Is there a Difference between Jesus being Savior & Jesus being Lord?
Yes, there is a vast difference if you try to seperate the two. Primise It has been said that there are three mindsets concerning presenting the Gospel to the unsaved: 1) those that demand too much, 2) those that demand too little; and 3) those that present the gospel correctly. Concerning those that … Continue reading »
Legalism ~ PRIDE
How it Works In examining legalism in the Bible we do not find the word “legalism”1 used per se, but we see a good example of it in the Pharisees of Jesus’ day.2 They were a prime example of legalism in action. In the Pharisees’3 particular way of life, who they were determined what they … Continue reading »
The Rapture ~ Compare & Contrast
Introduction (05/10/2013 – A Total Revision) In examining the doctrine of the Rapture of the church, perhaps most convincing is when one takes the Bible and compares and contrasts Scriptures which describes events which according to components cannot be one event, but two; those of the Rapture as compared to those of the Second Coming of … Continue reading »
Trials – Part 2 ~ The Reasons for Trials in the Life of Believers
Trials In the Life of Believers Faith only grows when it is stretched by tribulations (problems, hard times, difficulties, calamities, trials, and testing; they’re all synonymous concerning the “trying of our faith”). Faith can only grow incrementally, as more and more is demanded of it. This is because trust is a process contingent upon experience, as someone proves they are trustworthy situation after situation, we … Continue reading »
All Things to All Men…
Introduction (update) When Paul spoke about “…being all things to all men…, 1” he was not saying to use the world’s contrivances or trappings, or any of the things that are popular in the world to attract people. Paul was not endorsing marketing techniques which rely upon emotional manipulation and attempt to utilize the frailties … Continue reading »
Self-Esteem & The Total Depravity of Man
Introduction The following excerpt is from John MacArthur’s book, Introduction To Biblical Counseling. If it were lacking anything in presenting the Doctrine of the Total Depravity of man and how it relates to the self-esteem movement, we would have written our own paper, however it does not. It is probably one of the best written … Continue reading »
The Difference Between “The Time of the Gentiles” & “The Fullness of the Gentiles”
Introduction Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to explain to a mechanic an intermittent problem you are having if you have no training or understanding of the dynamics of the automobile. Yet, if you approach the same problem after having taken a class in automotive repair, while perhaps not capable of understanding every … Continue reading »
Signs of a Christian Cult
Introduction Recently I was involved in any situation concerning a very close family member that had joined an organization that according to many Internet sources was a cult. It was due to the love I have for this person that I invested a small amount of time into defining what the warning signs of a … Continue reading »
Judging – Church Discipline – Forgiveness & Turning the Cheek
Judging Introduction It is common in Christian circles to hear believers state that “we should not judge other people,” and while we are never to condemn (Greek: kataÌkrima, to render “condemnation” ~ Romans 5:16, 18; 8:1) another person, as this is God’s role and not ours; this statement is not completely true, in fact sometimes … Continue reading »
Is the Church Following the Culture
In what ways is the church lagging behind our culture? Let me first say that I can only answer this question concerning the culture of United States in general, and the Western and South-central states in particular. Though, via TV and Internet I believe the same opinion holds true for other parts of the world. … Continue reading »
We Are Not to Tarry Until Christ’s Return, We Are to Occupy
TARRY VS. OCCUPY While it is rhetorically correct to state that believers are to “tarry” until Jesus returns (This is not the Second Coming – it is an interesting to do a word study on the word, “return,” you will never find Jesus referring to the Second Coming as Him … Continue reading »
The Church Contrasted to Israel
Introduction The 9th 10th and 11th chapter of Romans deals exclusively with Israel and it’s yet future destiny in prophecy. As has been the case in orthodoxy for the last 1600 years, since the teachings of Origin and Constantine; the Roman Catholic Church, as well as orthodox Protestants denominations have taught that the church was to … Continue reading »
Our American Misunderstanding Concerning the Biblical Word: “Heart”
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15) Heart & Mind ~ The word “heart,” as it is used in the Bible, does … Continue reading »
Sheep and Wolves
Jesus’ Allusion Concerning Sheep & Wolves Jesus, in speaking about these false prophets used the allusion (an indirect reference to something or somebody by using symbolism) of them coming to the people as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (see #1) in order to take advantage of them. We understand that Jesus used the allusion of sheep … Continue reading »
The Lack of Church Discipline
Introduction Of all the reasons concerning the carnality that is seen in the church of Jesus Christ in the 21st century, perhaps the most relevant is the lack of church discipline. It is in understanding reciprocity as seen in the connection between privilege and responsibility, wherein the church has greatly erred. It is common to hear … Continue reading »
