Wordofhisgrace.org

When Did the Old Covenant End and the New Covenant Begin?

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:35:00 CDT

There has been much confusion concerning the New Covenant. Covenant theologians believe that the New Covenant is merely a new administration of the same covenant that is also called the Old Covenant. Dispensational theologians are divided and confused on the subject of the New Covenant. Even some New Covenant theologians have proposed some unbiblical times for when the New Covenant began. Is it important to know when the New Covenant began and when the Old Covenant ended? Yes, it is, and I will show you from the Bible why.

The End of Solus Christus--"Christ Alone"?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:35:00 CDT

One would think that believing that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man and that Christ alone brings justification would never be questioned by anyone calling himself a Christian. Yet the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches have placed a myriad of "saints" in the place of mediator, praying to them for their intercession with God. And they also teach that Jesus Christ gained an infinite treasure of merit for us but that this merit becomes ours only when we cooperate with grace by doing good works. Additionally, they say that temporal punishments for sins can also be cancelled by good works. If this is not done, then satisfaction must be done in purgatory. Thus, the Catholic churches do not believe in "Christ alone." In response to this, the Reformers reaffirmed from Scripture the doctrine of Solus Christus, there is no mediator but Christ. Its ablative form, Solo Christo--through Christ alone or by Christ alone (or, even more theologically accurate, because of Christ alone)--specifically means that we are saved or justified by Christ alone.

While Catholics continue to pray to saints and teach that salvation is by the grace obtained by Christ plus our own works, many Protestant, Reformed, and Evangelical Christians are also forsaking the doctrine of "Christ alone." In this article, I want to establish the biblical basis for Solus Christus and Solo Christo and to point out some of the errors being taught today.

Why I Have Stopped Using the King James Version as the Default Bible on this Site

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:00:00 CDT

Ever since wordofhisgrace.org started, the default Bible I used on the site was the King James Version. It certainly has some positive points. But beginning in January 2013, I stopped using the King James Version as the standard Bible on wordofhisgrace.org. I have several reasons for this change, and I want to point them out.

Q. Is the Shroud of Turin really Jesus' burial shroud?

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:20:00 CDT

A. The Shroud of Turin is a 14.3 × 3.7 ft (4.4 × 1.1 m) linen cloth bearing what appears to be the image of a man. The popes of the Roman Catholic Church accept as authentic the claim that the shroud is the cloth wrapped around Jesus Christ at His burial, and that the image was formed at His miraculous resurrection.

The scientific debate over the authenticity and age of the shroud, and the origin or cause of the image, has spanned centuries and continues today. But scientific analysis is not needed to answer the question of whether the shroud is really the cloth in which Jesus was buried.

There is clear biblical evidence that will tell us whether the Shroud of Turin is genuinely Jesus' burial cloth. Let's examine it.

What Is the Unpardonable Sin?

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:55:00 CDT

Q. What is the unpardonable sin, or the sin that Jesus said "shall not be forgiven?" I am afraid that I have committed it.

A. I think that just about everyone working in Christian ministry has been contacted by Christians concerned that they have committed the unpardonable sin. Let's see what this sin is and determine whether it is possible for Christians to commit the unpardonable sin.

In Matthew 12:22-37 we read that the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul (or Beelzebub). Among the things Jesus replies to them, He says, "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come" (Matthew 12:31-32, World English Bible, WEB—used throughout unless otherwise noted).

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, then, is the unforgivable or unpardonable sin. But what exactly is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? And why is sinning against the Holy Spirit different than sinning against the Son of Man?

Can We Use Any Means to Evangelize?

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:20:00 CST

Q. In 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul says, "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." Does this mean that we should use any means of evangelizing to win people to Christ?

A. We live in an age when there are now churches that meet in bars and pubs. There are strippers for Jesus, and those who advocate pornography for Christ. Some few preachers now use foul language to appeal to the common man. Less extreme, but now ubiquitous, are Christian coffeehouses with preachers who seem more like stand-up comics, Jesus rock concerts, Christian meetings that resemble three-ring circuses with all of their derring-do and acrobatics, and Christian automobile racing. All of this is done with the aim of reaching people with the message of the Gospel. Is this what Paul meant when he said that he had become all things to all men?

The Parable of the Dragnet

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:50:00 CST

Jesus spoke the Parable of the Dragnet immediately after the parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price for a reason. These three parables are a triplet. One follows naturally upon the other. The Parable of the Treasure shows us Christ's love for us in His buying the world in order to get us so that we could be called out of the world. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price shows us Christ's love toward us in redeeming us from our sins. The Parable of the Dragnet shows the separation between those who are redeemed and those who are not. It is a pretty straightforward parable, and, yet, perhaps not quite so simple as some think.

Why Do Christians Continue to Suffer?

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:25:00 CST

Q. In your article, "Why the Suffering?", you say that the root cause of human suffering is sin. Okay. But, if God has forgiven our sins, why do Christians continue to suffer?

A. It is true that the root cause of human suffering is sin--our own sins and the sins of others. We live in a fallen world. It is also true that God has forgiven the sins of those who trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, as their Savior. God is certainly not punishing the sins of those who trust in His Son because Jesus bore all of the punishment in our stead. But, even though we believers are not of this world, we still live in this fallen world and suffer the effects of it: disease, crime, wars, natural disasters, dishonesty, and so forth, and, finally, physical death. But there is a reason God leaves us in this world--a reason beyond His wanting us to preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15) and be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). This reason applied even to Jesus Christ.

Does Romans 5:18 mean that everyone is saved?

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:10:00 CST

Q. Romans 5:18 says that by Christ's one act of righteousness, all men were justified. Does this mean that everyone is saved?

A. In Romans 5:18, Paul is comparing the result of Adam's sin to the result of Jesus' atonement: "So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life" (unless other noted, World English Bible [WEB] used throughout). This verse is often cited by Universalists to support their belief that all humans will be saved. Certainly, taken by itself, it does indeed sound like Paul is teaching that, because of what Jesus has done, everyone has been justified and will receive eternal life. But is this the conclusion we will reach when we examine the verse in context? What is Paul saying in Romans 5:18?

Q. Why did Pilate find nothing with which to charge Jesus?

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:50:00 CST

A. The answer to this question is more important than we might at first think. Since at least the time of the Edict of Thessalonica in AD 380, Christendom has ignored with grave consequences Pilate's inability to charge Jesus with a crime. Today, millions of American Christians also ignore this matter. So, what is the answer to the question, and why is it so vital?

Q. Don't you think that your article, "Do you think Bible-believing Christians should keep Christmas?" is double-talk?

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 14:05:00 CST

A. The writer of this question believes that attending a Christmas dinner or having anything else to do with Christmas is observing the day and is an unacceptable compromise with pagan practices. I respect his right to his position, but I differ. Here's why.

Q. Does Jeremiah 10 describe the decorating of a Christmas tree?

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 14:05:00 CST

A. Jeremiah 10 has often been cited as describing the decorating of a tree in a fashion similar to the decorating of Christmas trees today. But is that what it is really about?

Lack of Discernment in Modern Christianity

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:17:00 CDT

To Old Covenant Israel, God wrote, "Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.... My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children" (Hosea 4:1, 6). A lack of knowledge was destroying the people of God's physical nation, Israel; and because they neglected to teach the people, God rejected Israel's leaders. Could something similar be happening among God's spiritual people today?

If you read Ezekiel 34, you will see that God issues a scathing indictment against the neglectful and self-centered leaders of Israel whom He refers to as shepherds (in Hebrew, as in the Greek of the New Testament, the word translated as "shepherds" is the same as the word translated "pastors"). Certainly, what God says here pertained to the time in which it was written. And, as you read it, you can see how it also applied to the Jewish leaders during the time of Jesus' ministry. But might the principle of these Scriptures also have a relevance for Christian leaders now?

Have Christians today become spiritually diseased and scattered because they have been feeding on Scripture that has been trampled on and distorted by their teachers? Have they been drinking what has been muddied by human doctrine?

Should We Baptize in the Name of Jesus Only?

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:28:00 CDT

There is a question over the proper baptismal formula. Most say we should baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But there are some people who advocate baptizing in the name of Jesus. Why do some Scriptures on the subject appear to contradict? And what is the correct formula?

What Is Faith?

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 18:15:00 CDT

Have you ever wondered about faith, doubted that you had it, or wished you had more? Few things are more misunderstood than faith. Yet, few things are more important.

Did you know that without faith it is impossible to please God? Try as you might, work as hard as you will, you will not and cannot please God without faith. You don't have to take my word for it. It's right in the Bible, in Hebrews 11 and verse 6: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Well, if faith is so important, how do we get it? Even more basic, what is faith, anyway?

Is Doctrine a Dirty Word?

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 08:15:00 CDT

Doctrine divides, love unites. You may have heard such bromides as this and the variations on its second half, such as ...Christ unites, ...service unites, ...spirituality unites, ...the Spirit unites, ...practice unites, and so forth. All are down on doctrine as divisive, and divisiveness is seen as bad. Those who question the importance of doctrine range from the crafty to the innocent. There are those who have an agenda and are consciously working to bring it about. And there are those who offhandedly and innocently wonder if it might not be better to lay doctrine aside so as not to cause rifts among family and friends. But did Jesus see doctrine as a problem? Did He see doctrine as something that can be laid aside? Did He come to do away with doctrine?

G.I. Jesus?

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 07:15:00 CDT

I hope the title doesn't upset anyone, but I wanted to get my point across quickly. Other titles I considered were "Rambo Jesus" and "Who Would Jesus Shoot?" (as a play on What Would Jesus Do?). My point is this: Can you picture Jesus Christ dressed for combat (or perhaps only half dressed Rambo style) carrying an M60 machine gun ready to blow away His enemies? No? Then why do so many who name the name of Christ think it is perfectly fine for them to join the military and either directly participate in or support the killing of thousands of people in wars? And why do so many politically active Christians think it right to support or even lobby for war?

How Many Religions Are There?

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:45:00 CDT

According to the World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World, 19 major religions share the earth (not always peacefully, of course). A closer look shows these further subdivided into 270 large religious groups with many smaller ones. This source identifies 34,000 separate Christian groups. Other experts might differ on the exact numbers, but the point is that most people would say that this planet sports a great many religions. But is that really true? I mean, if you were to distill these religions down to their basic essence, how many would you really wind up with? Or, to put it another way, if you can sift 19 religions into 270 by examining their finer points, can you go in the reverse direction and aggregate them into a smaller number? What if I were to tell you that, when it comes right down to it, the people of this world can be divided into only two religions? That's right, I'm making the claim that when we use the most basic component of a belief system as our criteria, we will find that only two religions exist on the earth and that all of the other divisions arise merely because of details. Sound crazy? Let's see.

Q. Should Christians participate in Halloween celebrations?

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:40:00 CDT

A. Halloween is celebrated on October 31, typically by children dressing in costumes and going house-to-house trick-or-treating (also called guising) and having parties. There is no "Thus saith the Lord" in the Bible concerning Halloween. But I do believe that it is possible to come to a conclusion about it that is in harmony with Scripture. When considering whether we should participate, we should ask ourselves some questions. 1. What are the origins of the day? 2. What do people think of the day today? 3. What Scriptures apply to the situation? Let's try to answer these questions.

The Pearl of Great Price

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:30:00 CDT

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price is the second of the hidden parables--so-called because Jesus tells them only to His disciples. They are found only in Matthew 13. There are certainly direct similarities between this parable and the Parable of the Hidden Treasure that precedes it. But there are also differences. The most common explanation of this parable is that the merchant is a sinner seeking salvation, and that the Pearl of Great Price is Jesus Christ. In this article, I show why that interpretation is contrary to the Gospel.

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:05:00 CDT

The parable I am going to cover in this article starts what I call the hidden parables. They are the last four parables in Matthew 13. These parables are related to each other, not only because they build off each other, but also because Jesus did not give these parables to the multitudes. Jesus spoke them only to His disciples. In Matthew 13:44, Jesus gives us this parable: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." In this article, we will see the Bible's explanation of the treasure, the field, the man, and selling all and buying the field. We will also see why the most common explanation of the parable--that it is a picture of an ordinary man (a sinner) stumbling across the church, or the kingdom, or the Gospel and giving up all that he has for its sake--is simply not possible.

By What Fruit Are We to Know Them?

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:55:00 CDT

Q. What is the fruit by which we are to know people? (Matthew 7:16)

A. In Matthew 7:16, Jesus says, "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Although Jesus explains in other passages and also right in the immediate context of this verse what He means by "fruits," that has not stopped people from interpreting "fruits" in imaginative ways. I'm going to briefly list what some of these imaginative but wrong ideas are and then point out from the context precisely what Jesus means by "fruits."

What Was Really Going On In Acts 15?

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 09:15:00 CDT

Q. Why did the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 tell the Gentile Christians to "abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication" and to listen to Moses read on the Sabbath day? Isn't this telling them to keep at least some of the law?

A. Absolutely not. But there is much confusion over what was decided by the elders who met in Jerusalem. Why did they give these specific rules? Why did James give the final decision? And why did they meet in Jerusalem?

Q. Why did Jesus tell the rich, young ruler to keep the commandments to be saved?

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:30:00 CDT

A. The question is based on Jesus' statement at the end of Matthew 19:17, where Jesus says, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Without an understanding of the context, this can certainly sound as if Jesus is saying that the man could have been saved by keeping the commandments. So, let's look at the surrounding verses more carefully. We may find much more in this incident than we may grasp from a quick reading.

Did Angels Marry Humans?

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:30:00 CDT

Q. Is Genesis 6:1-4 saying that angels married humans? Who are the "sons of God"?

A. Before studying into this question in depth, I assumed I knew the answer. So I surprised myself with what I found. I also found that the correct understanding of this passage is important because it serves as a lesson for us today. I will go through the common explanations of this passage, show from the Bible which is correct, and then discuss what we can learn from this lesson.

Q. Did it take God two tries to make a helper for Adam? Why did God first bring the animals to Adam?

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:20:00 CDT

A. Good question. First, it didn't take God two times to get it right. God doesn't make mistakes. And He wasn't testing Adam to see if he might like animals. But He was teaching Adam an important lesson.

Q. Where did Cain get his wife?

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:05:00 CDT

A. This question arises because most people assume that Adam and Eve had only three children: Cain, Abel, and Seth. Therefore, some people think that Cain must have found his wife from among some other family of humans.

Why Most Jews Don't Believe in Jesus

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:15:00 CDT

Q. Why don't most Jews believe in Jesus?

A. First, I want to point out that some Jews do believe in Jesus. The distinction between believers and unbelievers is not drawn along national or ethnic lines. There are believers and unbelievers among all kinds of people. We read in Philippians 3:5-6, of the man who became the apostle Paul, that he was, "Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." He was a devout, observant Jew. And he persecuted the Christian church because of what they taught--that Jesus was the Messiah and Savior. Yet, he became a Christian who believed in Jesus as Messiah and Savior and taught the very doctrines he once hated. Why?

Spiritual Abuse in the Churches

Tue, 29 May 2012 10:25:00 CDT

The article I am introducing is written by Ron Adair, one of our readers. As Ron recounts in this article, after attending a church for some thirteen years, and at a time concurrent with the deaths of his daughter and twin brother, he and his wife were abandoned and shunned by the elders of that church. As he says, this treatment by these men, many of whom he considered to be friends, "made that time painful in ways that will forever change the lens through which I look at pastors and elders.... Through this experience, we have been demonized, slandered, and have lost many precious friendships." Can this happen in your church? Can it happen to you? Is there something you can do now to prevent it? I hope you will read this article. --PD

Spiritual Abuse by Ron Adair

My burden in this article is to address an issue that needs to be trumpeted in our churches. I want to talk about spiritual abuse. Thankfully, this issue has been addressed in various ways—books, blog posts, websites, etc., but this cancer continues to cause non-Christians to run for the tall grass, far away from "the church," (who can blame them?) and those who have been victimized by authoritarian abuse in churches, to spend years trying to regain their sense of trust in those God has called to lead. The collateral damage that takes place in churches led by legalistic tyrants is both intensive and extensive. For those who have ears to hear, I hope adding my voice to others who recognize how the grace of God, the Gospel itself, is being torpedoed by pharisaical zealots, will motivate you to identify spiritual abuse in your church if it exists, and even if "your ox isn’t being gored," to respond to your leadership group as if it were. Your day is coming.

What is a real marriage? And who says so?

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:30:00 CDT

Q. What is a real marriage? Can two members of the same sex really be married? Who has the right to declare what is or is not a marriage?

A. A few days ago, Barack Obama, the president of the United States, said, "Same-sex couples should be able to get married."

This gives rise to three, closely-related questions: 1. What is a real marriage? 2. Can two members of the same sex really be married? and 3. Who has the right to declare what is or is not a marriage?

If the Law Has Been Abolished,What Condemns People Today?

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:25:00 CDT

In response to the question posed in the title, I will ask four more questions, and then I will answer all of the questions: In the judgment, what will condemn people who lived after Adam and before Abraham? In the judgment, what will condemn Jews who lived before Moses? In the judgment, what will condemn a person who lived in eastern Asia at the time of Moses? In the judgment, what will condemn a person who lives in a remote part of Mongolia today?

All of these people lived their lives ignorant of the Law that God gave to Israel at Mount Sinai. How can they be judged by a Law that they never even heard of? Of course, if the Law was available to them and they were supposed to know the Law, then their ignorance would be inexcusable. The driver of a car is responsible to know the traffic laws. If he violates one of them and then pleads ignorance, he has no real defense. He was supposed to know the law. But people living before Abraham, even Jews living before Moses, people living in eastern Asia even at the time of Moses, and Mongolians living in remote regions today can all legitimately claim ignorance of the Law as codified by Moses. Yet, those not in Christ will be condemned in the judgment, and by more than one means. But how?

Reprobation or Passing By?

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:20:00 CDT

Q. Did God deliberately reprobate the non-elect to hell or did He merely pass them by? Also, is the difference really a big deal?

A. I appreciate your good question. What you are asking about is what people often term the difference between predestination and double-predestination. Those who believe only in the predestination of the elect to be saved (for the sake of clarity, I'll call it single-predestination) say that God in eternity elected some to be saved. They say that God simply passed over the rest of humanity, leaving them in their sins, and they believe that double-predestination makes God the author of sin.

Those who believe in double-predestination say that God in eternity elected some to be saved and that by this choice, logically, He also reprobated the rest of humanity to be damned. Which of these the Bible teaches is a very big deal because the doctrine not taught by the Bible weakens our understanding of God's sovereignty, weakens other doctrines, and makes teachers of the Word inconsistent and confusing in their teaching.

Setting the Record Straight About Dr. George Ella

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:45:00 CDT

I get no pleasure out of publishing this kind of article, but it must be done. I also apologize for its great length, but I hope that you will at least read it a little at a time as it is instructive in showing to what lengths someone who has taken it upon himself to attack New Covenant Theology will go to avoid the issues when confronted with them.

I want to start this article by saying that I am publishing it to set the record straight about my dealings with Dr. George Ella and his dealings with me. To do this, I am fully disclosing our correspondence. The reason I am doing this is because Dr. Ella has made untrue accusations about me and what I believe. I want to be clear, however, that I am not publishing this article out of personal vendetta or hurt feelings. Dr. Ella's remarks are not only defamatory to me personally but are potentially damaging to this ministry. They are thus divisive and stumbling blocks or snares (what the King James Version means by "offences") to those who are seeking the truth. I have nothing against theological discourse where someone accurately represents what I believe and then gives a reasoned response as to why he disagrees. He may even be passionate as long as he sticks to the facts. A reader can then weigh the facts and make his or her own decision. But Dr. Ella has not taken such an approach.

The Bible tells Christians to be longsuffering, but it does not tell us to be so to the detriment of the truth. In such cases, the Word of God instructs us to "mark [skopeite--"keep an eye on," "watch"] them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid [ekklinate--"turn aside from"] them" (Romans 16:17). With this article, I am doing both. I am telling you, the reader, to keep an eye on this man and be careful, and I am giving you the evidence for why I am doing this.

What's Wrong With the Ten Commandments?

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:25:00 CDT

Q. What is wrong with the reading of the Ten Commandments each Sunday in church or with Christians wanting them posted in public places?

A. I don't want to be misunderstood as saying that it is wrong for Christians to read the Ten Commandments as we study the Old Testament or to ever refer to the existence of the Ten Commandments in a sermon. What I am saying is that it is wrong to hold the Ten Commandments up as the law for Christians, which is what is implied when Christians want them posted in public places or when preachers read them over their congregations. Christians of many denominations have fought to get the Ten Commandments posted in places such as courtrooms and city halls. The reading of the Ten Commandments on Sunday might also be practiced in churches of any denomination, but it is particularly prevalent in Reformed churches.

The End of Sola Gratia--"By Grace Alone"?

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:25:00 CDT

In Ephesians 2:8-9, the apostle Paul writes, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Clearly, this Scripture is teaching that we are saved by grace and not by works. That is sola gratia, by grace alone. There are many who teach that we are saved by grace. But their grace is laced with works. It is not grace alone. This is not just a dogma of Catholics; it is now the teaching of many Evangelicals and other Protestants. Since the way we are saved is at the heart of the Gospel, the straying from sola gratia corrupts the very Gospel itself. In this article, we will see what sola gratia means, where it is taught in the Bible, and see some examples of how it has been abandoned.

Eternal punishment in hell?

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:25:00 CST

Q. Will the wicked really suffer eternal punishment in hell? It seems to me that the Bible may teach that they are merely executed.

A. The belief that the wicked will be executed after the resurrection is called annihilationism. Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and the followers of Herbert W. Armstrong all believe this doctrine. A number of other theologians in more mainstream churches have also promoted annihilationism, or at least believed it to be a legitimate possibility based on their understanding of Scripture. Perhaps the most well known of these was the Anglican evangelical, John Stott. I believed a form of this teaching for many years when I was in the Worldwide Church of God. I no longer believe it to be the correct understanding, and I will try to briefly explain why.

Divorce?

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:50:00 CST

Q. What does the Bible say about divorce for Christians? When is it allowed?

A. Statistics show that divorce is about as common among Bible-believing Christians as it is among the general populace. For example, a Barna Report for the United States shows that 32 percent of all born again Christians who have been married have experienced at least one divorce while 33 percent of all adults—Christian and non-Christian—who have been married have been divorced. This is alarming. While the remedy to this is complex and includes understanding what the Bible teaches about marriage, knowing what the Bible teaches about divorce can also help. So, in answering this question, my hope is that it will not only give us biblical knowledge (always a good thing) but that it will also cause couples considering divorce to think again and reconsider taking such a drastic action. Because, as we will see, most divorces granted today do not meet God's criteria and are, in fact, not real divorces at all.

The Parable of the Leaven

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:25:00 CST

This parable and the Parable of the Mustard Seed are a pair. They tell much the same story, but with somewhat different emphases. Understanding the Parable of the Leaven is very straightforward. In fact, it is so straightforward that it is amazing that most commentators give a wrong interpretation for it. In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Jesus taught that the small, powerful, and simple faith that He planted would grow into a large and corrupt institution. The Parable of the Leaven focuses on the corruption.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:25:00 CST

The previous parables we have examined in this series centered on the planting of grain. The next two parables we will look at are different. The first one is about a mustard seed that grows into a large tree. The second (which will be discussed in our next installment) is about leaven that leavens the entire three measures of meal. As we study into these parables, we will find that the Bible reveals that their meanings are far different from what most commentators and preachers assume. This means that what you have heard about these parables is probably not what the Bible teaches.

Keep His Commandments?

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:35:00 CST

Q. There are Scriptures in the writings of John that speak of keeping His commandments. You say that the Ten Commandments don't apply to Christians, so what do these Scriptures mean?

A. I have, as you pointed out, many times explained that the Ten Commandments do not apply to Christians, but were given only to Old Testament Israel. So, why does the New Testament speak of keeping His commandments? Can this possibly refer to the Ten Commandments or any Old Covenant law? Or are there other commandments we are to be keeping?

Old Covenant Law and New Covenant Law--Are They the Same?

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:30:00 CST

Do you know that apples and oranges are not the same thing? Sure you do. I'm sure you also know that elephants and crocodiles are not the same. What about light and dark? That's right, they're not the same. These are pretty simple concepts. It is amazing, then, that so many preachers have such a gigantic problem with understanding that the law of the Old Covenant and the law of the New Covenant are not the same. The Bible clearly distinguishes the two. In this article, I will point out the striking differences between the law of the Old Covenant and the law of the New Covenant.

Musings About Ebenezer Scrooge and Modern Wealth and Poverty

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:05:00 CST

I am repeating this article because it is always relevant. Did you know that, before his conversion, miserly, stingy Ebenezer Scrooge gave his clerk, Bob Cratchit, Christmas day off with pay? Today, we tend to think of ourselves as more enlightened than and superior to the grimy 19th century, yet, over 160 years after Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, it will be common for countless employees to either have to work on Christmas or to have the day off with no pay. Today, 35.9 million people live below the poverty line in America--including 12.9 million children, and around the world about one person dies every second as a result, either directly or indirectly, of hunger.

Should Christians Keep Christmas?

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:15:00 CST

This question arises every year at this time. It usually is based on the indisputable facts that Jesus was not born on December 25 and that the celebrations we associate with Christmas have their origins in the pagan religions of the ancient world and pre-Christian Europe. But does this mean we must have nothing to do with this day? It is a difficult question, but I will give you my thoughts on the matter.

Did women speak on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2?

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:55:00 CST

Q. You say that women are to be silent in the assembly. But weren't women among the 120 who spoke in tongues on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2?

A. The Bible's teaching that women are to be silent in the assembly is attacked from many different angles. I received this question just recently. It is a good one because it is based on a common assumption. The assumption is that the 120 spoke on Pentecost.

Why So Many Denominations?

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:15:00 CST

Q. Why is the church fragmented into so many denominations?

A. It is estimated that there are over 43,000 Christian denominations worldwide and that by 2025 that will be 55,000. In other words, Christianity is fragmenting more all of the time. Yet Jesus prayed for the unity of His people. Has Jesus failed? Did the Father not grant His prayer? Or are we misunderstanding something about the denominations?

Do James and Paul Contradict?

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:10:00 CDT

Q. Why does James say, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only"? (James 2:24). This seems to directly contradict Paul's teaching that we are justified by faith.

If the teachings found in James's epistle contradict Paul's epistles, it would be a very serious matter. The Holy Spirit's authorship of the Bible would come into question. Still, many people do take what James says to be a contradiction of Paul. So we must take an honest look at the Scriptures. We must look at the context. To whom was he writing? What problem was James addressing? That's what I will do in this article.

Should Christians Seek to Be Magistrates?

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:15:00 CDT

It is not often questioned now whether a Christian should be a magistrate, hold a political office, or work for the government in some capacity. In fact, in recent years, the question in the United States has rather been whether it is right to vote for someone who is not a Christian. But this was not always the case. In past centuries, the question of whether Christians should be magistrates was one that many took seriously. In this article, I want to show how I came to this question, give a little historical background to the question, and point out some Scriptures that I believe answer it very clearly.

Mormons Are Not Christians

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:20:00 CDT

I want to make clear that there is no political agenda behind this article. I started planning this article because of a media blitz undertaken by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly called Mormons) in the United States to try to convince people that Mormons are Christians. Then, before I had even started the article, the question of whether Mormonism is Christian became a political issue. But my intention in writing this article is not to deal with a political issue. I am not trying to influence your votes. My concern is not with a presidential election. My concern is that some Christians actually believe that Mormons are fellow Christians. I did not write the title of this article as a question, "Are Mormons Christians?" because I want no misunderstandings. I want to show you statements from websites run by the Mormons and their Brigham Young University (BYU) that, when compared to the Bible, should make a Christian instantly know that Mormons are not Christians.

Malachi 3:7-12: Are Christians Robbing God by Not Tithing?

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:25:00 CDT

Malachi 3:7-12 is often used to try to prove that Christians should tithe, that if they don't tithe they are robbing God, and that if they will tithe God will bless them and the nation. But to whom is this written? What nation was robbing God? What storehouse is this talking about?

The End of Sola Fide, "By Faith Alone"?

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:10:00 CDT

Sola fide, "by faith alone," is a doctrine that is clearly taught in the Bible. It is confessed by many individuals and churches. The problem is that so many so misunderstand sola fide that they wind up teaching gross error. The misunderstandings concerning sola fide are so common, in fact, that there is a very good chance that the average reader of this article who thinks he or she believes sola fide, "by faith alone," does not understand it.

Virtual Monkeys Type "A Lover's Complaint"

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 08:20:00 CDT

A couple of weeks ago, the news reported that a computer programmer named Jesse Anderson announced that he was close to getting virtual monkeys to randomly type Shakespeare's "A Lover's Complaint." This was supposedly an answer to the question, Would an infinite number of monkeys pounding on an infinite number of typewriters be able to produce Shakespeare's works?

Virtual monkeys are small computer programs that generate random sequences of text. The question this supposedly answers has often been used in the creation, intelligent design, evolution, natural selection debates. So, before the evolutionists claim a victory, it is important that we understand what happened in Anderson's project.

Servants Are Brethren Who Humbly Serve

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:30:00 CDT

In this third installment of "Servants in the Body of Christ" I examine some of the minor words that are translated "minister" and show their specialized nature. But I especially want to take a good look at Matthew 23:1-12 to reveal how this passage is so often and blatantly violated today. What Jesus was doing in that passage was taking the world as it was conceived at that time, and as it is still usually understood, and turning it on its head.

Ministers and Deacons, or Just Servants?

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 07:55:00 CDT

English translations of the Bible use various words to describe what are usually called "offices" in the church. In this article, I want to examine what the Bible says about ministers and deacons, examine the Greek words behind these English translations, and see whether there might be some better translations. I am also going to take a look at Acts 6:1-6 to explore whether these verses really tell us of the ordination of the first deacons.

What is the lawful use of the law?

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:55:00 CDT

Q. What is the lawful use of the law as stated in 1 Timothy 1:8?

A. This verse states, "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully." Certainly, this is a difficult Scripture that would seem to contradict other New Testament Scriptures about the law. But we know that the Bible does not contradict itself. There is a danger when facing such a Scripture, however, to try to force our opinion on it, to read into it what we think it should say rather than accept what it does say. Keeping this in mind, let's see if we can find out what God is telling us in this Scripture. (read more)

Is All the World Under the Law?

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:55:00 CDT

Q. If, as you say, the law was given only to Israel, why does Romans 3:19 imply that all the world is under the law and judged guilty by it?

A. Paul is writing of two groups of people. Together they constitute all the world. But he does not say they are both under the law. (read more)

Servants in the Body of Christ -- How Many Offices Are In God's Assembly?

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:20:00 CDT

The Bible speaks of elders, ministers, deacons, bishops, pastors, evangelists, apostles, teachers, and prophets. Are all of these offices? What does the Bible say about offices? What does it say about each, and how are they different from one another? What does the Bible say about clergy? In this series of articles, I am going to answer these questions by addressing these functions a couple at a time. But I am going to begin the series by discussing church offices in general, the clergy, and answering the question posed in the title.

Law Is Not For the Righteous

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:30:00 CDT

Dear Mr. Sabbathkeeper,

You have written to me asking me whether, since I say that Christians are not obligated to keep the fourth commandment ("Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy"), do I then believe that it is okay to murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, and covet, prohibitions against these also being found in the Ten Commandments.

I am sorry to hear that you are not a righteous man. You might be shocked by this response. After all, it is you who are trying to get me to observe the Ten Commandments. But my response is soundly based on Scripture.

Who Said It? -- "Remember, democracy never lasts long...."

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:29:00 CDT

Who said it? "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide. It is in vain to say that democracy is less vain, less proud, less selfish, less ambitious, or less avaricious than aristocracy or monarchy. It is not true, in fact, and nowhere appears in history. Those passions are the same in all men, under all forms of simple government, and when unchecked, produce the same effects of fraud, violence, and cruelty."

Find the answer by clicking on the link.

Are church covenants and membership policies biblical?

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 08:15:00 CDT

I am sometimes asked to evaluate a specific membership policy or covenant, but this answer really covers all church covenants and membership policies. Church covenants and membership policies list certain requirements for membership and/or describe the expected behavior of members. Many Christians and many churches claim that they abide by the principle of the Bible alone. Then they will turn around and formulate something called a church membership policy or church covenant. But where does the Bible tell us to have such a thing? What motivates churches to have these covenants/policies?

Was Jesus a vegetarian? Should Christians be vegetarians?

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:05:00 CDT

Vegetarianism is the practice of excluding meat from the diet. Some vegetarians also exclude other animal products, such as eggs, milk, cheese, rennet, gelatin, and honey. There are a variety of reasons that people have for being vegetarians, including health, cultural, economic, environmental, ethical (opposition to killing animals or objections to the ways in which they are slaughtered), and religious. Vegetarianism is found among many religions, including Christianity. Although what I will say here might possibly have implications for any of the other reasons for practicing vegetarianism, I specifically want to address the question of whether the Bible teaches that Christians should be vegetarians. Is there any biblical evidence that Jesus was a vegetarian? Since Jesus' death ended animal sacrifices, does this mean that Christians should no longer eat meat? Is there evidence in the Bible that God does not intend Christians to be vegetarians?

Am I Wrong in Saying That the Law Was Given Only to Israel?

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:50:00 CDT

Q. Exodus 12:49 says that there is one law for Israel and the stranger. Exodus 20:10 also says that the stranger is to keep the Sabbath. Doesn't this prove you wrong when you say that the law, including the Sabbath, was given only to Israel?

A. In Exodus 12:49, we read, "One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you." As with any Scripture, to understand this verse, we must look at the context and know how its terms are defined. The terms that we should pay particular attention to here are "homeborn" and "stranger."

The Superiority of Jesus Christ and His New Testament Revelation

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:28:00 CDT

Christians rightly believe that the written Word of God consists of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. And, in theory, many Christians would also say that Jesus Christ is the most important figure in the Bible. In practice, however, many of those same Christians elevate Moses above Christ by stressing Old Testament law. But Jesus is not only superior to Moses, He is the pinnacle and goal of the entire revelation of the Bible; He is, in fact, what is revealed. The New Testament, being His New Covenant ("covenant" and "testament" are translated from the same Greek word) in His blood (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25) is, thus, the culmination of Biblical revelation and is the superior testament. In this article, I will show that the Bible teaches the superiority of Christ and the New Testament, thus supporting this tenet of New Covenant Theology.

How can I prove the Bible true?

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 07:55:00 CDT

I am always flabbergasted by the utter confusion surrounding the question of proving the Bible to be true. Many prominent theologians, creation scientists, evolutionists, famous scientists, agnostics, and atheists have fallen flat on their faces trying to either prove or disprove the Bible to be true. The real answer to the question is that the Bible cannot be proved to be true. But then, that same answer must be given to the question, Is science true? Why, then, does anyone believe either science or the Bible or anything else?

Ekklesia or Church, Does It Matter?

Tue, 17 May 2011 10:55:00 CDT

In the New Testaments of most English Bibles, the words "church" and "churches" appear a total of over one hundred times. (From now on, I will use "church" to stand for both the singular and plural.) With one exception in the King James Version (found in Acts 19:37), all of these instances of "church" are mistranslated from the Greek word ekklēsia. That's right, I said mistranslated. Not only that, they are a deliberate mistranslation of ekklēsia. The fact that this mistranslation is so widespread and that it is deliberate should cause us to suspect that it is important to know what ekklēsia really means. In this article, I am going to tell you the origins of the word "church" and its meaning, what ekklēsia means and how it was used in history and the Bible, what Jesus meant by His ekklēsia, why ekklēsia was deliberately mistranslated as "church", and why all of this is important.

Hebrews 10:25: What Are We Not To Forsake?

Tue, 03 May 2011 19:35:00 CDT

I have a confession to make. I saw the truth of Hebrews 10:25 well over twenty years ago. But I looked the other way. I convinced myself that I must be wrong, and that--despite what the Greek clearly says--what almost everyone else says must be right. Nevertheless, all through those years, in the back of my mind, I knew full well that Hebrews 10:25 doesn't say what virtually every church, elder, and Bible commentator says it does. The misinterpretation of this verse has become a sacred cow that few people dare to address. But I hope that my confession in this article will encourage others, who also know the truth of Hebrews 10:25, to also come clean.

Should Christians Celebrate Easter?

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:45:00 CDT

Coincidentally, this year the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches agree that Easter is this coming Sunday. Because the Protestant churches follow the lead of the Roman Catholic Church, most of them will also celebrate Easter this Sunday. But there are some Christians who say that Easter shouldn't be celebrated at all. Each year, millions of people observe Easter. They believe they are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Probably few wonder whether the Bible tells them to do so or even whether the Bible approves the celebration. Should Christians celebrate Easter?

Did Jesus Become Sin?

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:45:00 CDT

Q. Does 2 Corinthians 5:21 mean that Jesus Christ actually became sin? A. The verse in question says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." If you read the context, you will see that "he" in the verse refers to God, and "him" refers to Jesus Christ. So, the verse appears to be saying that God made Jesus to be sin for us. There are those who say that this is exactly what Paul is saying here; that, although we may not fully understand it and it may have to remain a mystery to us, we must accept that somehow God actually made Jesus to be sin for us. Others say that the verse merely means that God imputed our sins to Jesus. If you are not aware of it, it might be hard to believe that this verse is a source of division and controversy among a number of pastors and their churches. Which side of the issue is right? Or is neither side right?

Is it biblical for a woman to talk to an elder about her husband's sin?

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:15:00 CDT

Someone speaking to an elder about his or her spouse's sin is a fairly common practice that is rarely questioned. Let's see if the Bible supports it.

Denying the Lord Who Bought Them

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:57:00 CDT

Question: "In 2 Peter 2:1, the apostle says that false teachers will deny the Lord that bought them and bring swift destruction on themselves. If Christians can deny the Lord who bought them and be damned for it, doesn't this mean that not all saints persevere and that Jesus purchased with His blood people who are not eventually saved? If so, this contradicts the teachings of limited atonement and perseverance of the saints that you say are biblical." This is a good question. How can anyone deny the Lord who bought him?

Who afflicted Job? Was it Satan or God?

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:50:00 CDT

The answer to this question is found within the Book of Job. By examining some key verses, we will see that the answer is very clear. Whether we accept that answer is another story.

Is God unfair, unloving, unmerciful and the author of sin?

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:45:00 CDT

This is the essence of a question I received: "You say that God hardened Pharaoh's heart and the hearts of the people who did not believe Jesus. Doesn't this make God unfair, unloving, and unmerciful as well as the author of sin?" In a single word, my answer is no. But let me explain.

New Wine

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:45:00 CDT

What do a patch of fabric, a leather bag, and wine have in common? They are all used by Jesus in three related parables--parables that Jesus used to tell us some very important truths about the kingdom of God. These parables deal with a subject that affects both the things we believe and the life we as Christians are to live. They are parables that, if rightly understood, will help us understand the Bible and help us grow and mature as Christians until we come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. But misunderstanding these parables can stunt our spiritual growth.

Are You Following the Weak and Beggarly Elements, Rudiments, and Principles of this World?

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:59:00 CST

Galatians 4:4, 9; Colossians 2:8; and Hebrews 5:12 talk about the weak and beggarly elements, rudiments, and principles of the world. The word translated "elements" in Galatians 4, "rudiments" in Colossians 2, and "principles" in Hebrews 12 is stoicheion. The word stoicheion comes from stoicheo, which means to march in orderly ranks. Stoicheion means first, elementary things. It was used for the letters of the alphabet. But what does the Bible mean by these elements, rudiments, and principles, and how might many Christians be turning back to these weak and beggarly elements and coming under bondage?

Does God Harden People's Hearts?

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:59:00 CST

I received a question that can be summarized as follows: Many Calvinists say that it is God who hardens people's hearts. But John 12:40 uses two different pronouns: "He hath blinded...I should heal them." Certainly, God heals, so the "he" who hardens seems to be someone else. Doesn't this mean that God does not harden people's hearts?

When are women supposed to be silent in church?

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:40:00 CST

Does the command for a woman to be silent in church apply from the moment she walks into the building or only during meetings, prayer times, and classes? And must women remain silent during prayer meetings, Sunday School classes, and Bible studies that are not a part of the regular assembly? These are good questions.

Am I a Nestorian? What's that?

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:33:00 CST

"Are you a Nestorian? By saying that Mary is not the mother of God, are you not guilty of separating the two natures of Jesus?"

The above questions are the essence of an email I recently received from a Roman Catholic. Referring to my article, "Was Mary the Mother of God?" (http://www.wordofhisgrace.org/motherofgod.htm), this man said, among many other things, "I smell the stench of Nestorianism!" and "I hope you will recant of the heresy of denying that Mary truly is the Mother of our Lord, the Mother of God." Because the remainder of his email is relatively level-headed and well-argued, and because his position represents the general position of the Catholic Church, I have decided to reproduce my answer to him as an article.

The Real Poison of Biblical Dietary Laws and "Health Secrets"

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:15:00 CST

Is the Bible a health manual? Are the dietary laws found in the Bible God's ways of telling us what is healthy and unhealthy to eat? Or did God have an entirely different reason for putting these laws in the Bible? What's more, do these laws given to ancient Israel have anything at all to do with Christians today?

Herbert W. Armstrong, the late founder and "apostle" of the Worldwide Church of God, taught that Christians must obey the laws of clean and unclean meats found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. On page 18 of Principles of Healthful Living, he wrote: "This is a basic law--a revelation from God to man about which kinds of flesh will properly digest and assimilate in the human system, and which will not" (Principles of Healthful Living [Pasadena, CA: Worldwide Church of God, Chapter Three 1958, 1978; Chapter Four 1979], version 1.0, May 1990 printing).

As might be expected, most of the splinter groups of the Worldwide Church of God that continue to follow Armstrong's teachings have their requisite publications on clean and unclean meats. More surprising, perhaps, is the number of others--including physicians, dieticians, and cooks--who have written popular books that claim to reveal the health secrets God has stashed into the pages of the Bible. And, being the narcissistic, health-crazed society we are, these books sell well. In fact, it has become common for many Christians who do not strictly follow the Old Testament dietary laws to nevertheless think of them as health guidelines. They believe the meats listed as unclean in the Old Testament are not as healthful as other meats, and they also think that the Bible contains many other health secrets. But are we to consider the Bible to be a health manual? And are Christians to be following the Old Testament dietary laws?

Every Man His Own Pope?

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 07:25:00 CST

I have recently received some questions that can be summarized as follows: The Catholic Church accuses that the doctrine of sola scriptura, or the Bible alone, makes every person his own pope. How do you answer this?

Who Said It? -- "Christian tradition has never recognized the right to private property as absolute and untouchable."

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:57:00 CST

Who said it? "Christian tradition has never recognized the right to private property as absolute and untouchable."

Find the answer by clicking on the link.

Christians, Voting, and Politics

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 07:35:00 CST

We recently had an election here in the United States. I didn't vote. Why? Besides the fact, as I have stated before, that even the best choice is still merely the lesser or two or three evils--and the lesser among evils is still evil--another reason I didn't vote is that my real citizenship is not in the United States of America. Oh yes, I was born in the United States, but many years ago, I died, and my citizenship in the United States died with me. When I arose to a new life, I became a citizen of another country. Yes, the United States would allow me to vote because it doesn't recognize my true citizenship. But I know it, and God knows it, and that's enough.

Who Said It? -- "We have restricted credit, we have restricted opportunity, we have controlled development...."

Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:50:00 CST

Who said it? "We have restricted credit, we have restricted opportunity, we have controlled development, and we have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated, governments in the civilized world -- no longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and the duress of small groups of dominant men."

Find the answer by clicking on the link.

Authority and Accountability in the Bible

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:10:00 CST

Here is the question I want to answer in this article: Does the Bible teach that Christians are to be accountable to, covered by, or under the authority of a church, a pastor, someone called an "accountability partner," or any other member of the church? In answering this question, I will address authority in the church, church discipline, Scriptures that speak of obeying "them that have the rule over you" and "They that must give account."

Who Said It? -- "The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element...."

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:00:00 CST

Who said it? "The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the larger centers has owned the Government ever since the days of Andrew Jackson."

Find the answer by clicking on the link.

Why doesn't everyone respond positively to the Gospel?

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 11:45:00 CST

There are examples in the Bible of people having reactions to the Gospel that vary from readily receiving it to reacting with murderous rage. These reactions are still found today. What makes the difference in how people respond to the Gospel?

Who Said It? -- "There is not sufficient evidence from Scripture to justify the initiation of infant baptism...."

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:10:00 CST

Who said it? "There is not sufficient evidence from Scripture to justify the initiation of infant baptism.... Baptism is a Greek word, and may be translated immersion, as when we immerse something in water that it may be wholly covered.... they ought...to be wholly immersed, and then immediately drawn out, for that the etymology of the word seems to demand.... They who seriously want to be Christians, want to confess to the Gospel, in word as well as deed, these ought to have their names put in a ledger, and they ought to gather in a house apart for the purpose of prayer, the reading of the Scriptures, the administration of baptism, and to engage in still other Christian performances."

Find the answer by clicking on the link.

Women and Authority

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:00:00 CST

What does Paul mean when he says that he does not permit a woman to usurp authority over a man?

The question comes from 1 Timothy 2:12: "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." Although I have touched upon this verse before, it merits further discussion, especially because of the controversy surrounding the word that is translated "usurp authority." This is the only place in the Bible this word is found, so understanding this verse requires a careful look at the meaning of this and other Greek words, the syntax of the wording in the verse, and the context of 1 Timothy 2:12. This is what I attempt to do in this article so that we can arrive at what Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was really saying.

Who Said It? - "The United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion."

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:18:00 CST

Who said it? "The United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion."

Find the answer by clicking on the link.

Are We At the End of the Reformation? Part One: The End of Sola Scriptura--"By Scripture Alone"

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:18:00 CDT

Most scholars date the start of the Protestant Reformation to October 31, 1517, when the Roman Catholic Augustinian monk and priest, Martin Luther (1483-1546) nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the door of All Saints' Church, often called "Castle Church," in Wittenberg, Germany. But as the ball of the Reformation got rolling, the importance of the Ninety-five Theses faded in comparison to other fundamental tenets of belief that arose as the central differences between Catholics and Protestants. Five of the central beliefs took expression in what have been called the Five Solas: 1. Sola Scriptura--"By Scripture Alone," 2. Sola fide--"by faith alone," 3. Sola gratia--"by grace alone," 4. Solus Christus or Solo Christo--"Christ alone" or "through Christ alone," 5. Soli Deo Gloria--"glory to God alone."

Over the years individuals and individual churches have wandered from the Five Solas to where, today, we are on what appears to be the verge of a crumbling away of Protestantism and a return to Catholicism. In this series of articles, I will clarify the teachings of each of the Five Solas and explain how they do not match what is now commonly believed in many Protestant, Reformed, or Baptist churches.

The first installment is about sola scriptura, the teaching that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the only authoritative revelation of God.

Who Said It? - "I join you, therefore, in sincere congratulations that this den of the priesthood is at length broken up...."

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 21:35:00 CDT

Who said it? "I join you, therefore, in sincere congratulations that this den of the priesthood is at length broken up, and that a Protestant Popedom is no longer to disgrace the American history and character."

Find the answer by clicking on the link.

Is Speaking in Tongues for Today?

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:05:00 CDT

There are two common ideas that people have about speaking in tongues or glossolalia: 1) Speaking in tongues in the Bible is speaking in the language of angels or some other language that no people on earth normally know, and 2) The same gift of speaking in tongues we read of in the Bible continues today. In this article, I will show from the Scriptures whether these ideas are right or wrong. I will then also present some of the conclusions of linguists who have studied glossolalia.