In our modern society gambling has many forms: the lottery, horse racing, bingo, casinos, and even raffles—we’ve got it all! When it comes to determining the morality of gambling, we have more defenses that confuse the issue, rather than convictions which clarify it.
The dictionary defines gambling as 1) to play a game for money or [...]
This question has resonated through centuries of Christian history. No one can deny the great significance and importance of the holiday to many people. Every year a seasonal barrage of movies, shows, and commercials heightens the holiday excitement. Cultural traditions such as ‘A Christmas Carol’, ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’, and ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ are [...]
From the earliest days of the Christian faith there has been trouble, consternation and division over the distinction between the covenants. What parts of the Law of Moses are applicable to Christians today? When did the Law of Moses end and the New Covenant begin? What about that period of time recorded in the Gospels [...]
Continue reading about A time of change: the kingdom Was at hand
There was a time in the history of the church when pornography was not too much of a problem to have to deal with. Sure, it existed, but the access was very limited. At one time, you would have to go to a convenience store or an adult bookstore in order to find a pornographic [...]
The clarity of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 14:34-36 has convinced many people that women must not speak in the church (assembly), but some of these same people are not convinced that women are forbidden to speak publicly. What about it? May women teach in a public capacity, so long as it is not a [...]
Calvinism says: Because of being born in sin, all of us are spiritually dead, so dead we are unable to even have faith (Total Depravity). Therefore, in order for us to be saved, God alone had to save us. We know that everyone doesn’t “get saved,” so, God had to choose those to whom He [...]
Continue reading about The Five Points of Calvinism: Conclusion
P – Perseverance of the Saints:
Defined:
The Westminster Confession of Faith (1648):
Chapter XVII, I. They, whom God has accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved (Palmer, p. 130; [...]
Continue reading about The Five Points of Calvinism: P – Perseverance of the Saints
I – Irresistible Grace:
Defined:
Although the general outward call of the gospel can be, and often is, rejected, the special inward call of the Spirit never fails to result in the conversion of those to whom it is made. This special call is not made to all sinners but is issued to the elect only! The [...]
Continue reading about The Five Points of Calvinism: I – Irresistible Grace
L – Limited Atonement:
Defined:
Christ’s redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ’s redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, [...]
Continue reading about The Five Points of Calvinism: L – Limited Atonement
U – Unconditional election:
Defined:
The Westminster Confession of Faith (1648):
Chapter III, I. God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass…III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto life, and [...]
Continue reading about The Five Points of Calvinism: U- Unconditional Election
T – Total depravity:
Defined:
Westminster Confession of Faith (creed of the Presbyterian Church U.S.) states in regard to the sin of Adam and Eve:
Chapter VI…II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and [...]
Continue reading about The Five Points of Calvinism: T – Total Depravity
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the [...]
If a Brother Sins against You
As is clear from this statement, a person can sin against another individual. Sin need not only be that which one commits against God. Here the term “brother” refers to any believer, male or female, who has committed some trespass against a fellow believer. Whether this sin is intentional, unintentional, [...]
A common trend in modern evangelical thought is that a Christian must forgive unequivocally and regardless of the circumstances. If someone offends or hurts you it becomes your obligation to forgive the perpetrator even though he or she demonstrates no remorse and refuses to correct the transgression. In other words the “stronger” brother must forgive [...]
Continue reading about When Forgivness Is Not An Option – Part 1
In regard to the use of the term I have no hesitation in saying that, as a people, we have fallen into error. This I well know has not been intentionally done. Still it has been done; and the circumstance should make us feel how extremely necessary it is that, while detecting small motes in [...]
From the outset of the great work in which we as a people are engaged, purity of speech has been an object never lost sight of. We looked at first and still look upon the mixed and unsanctified dialect current in religious circles, not only as a reflection upon the word of God, but as [...]
The fox spoils the hen house and the wolf threatens the sheepfold, but what happens when the unbeliever marries into the Christian home? Does it imperil the home? Does it weaken the church? Does God approve?
Satan attacks the bride of Christ from the outside (Acts 20:27), but who doubts that the devil revels most over [...]
I admire many things about our Baptist friends and neighbors. I appreciate their zeal, their respect for the Bible as the inspired Word of God, and their defense of religious freedom, among other things. Some of their acknowledgements have given me hope that they may one day seek to be true to New Testament [...]
Continue reading about Honest Admissions From Our Baptist Friends
There are a lot of folks today talking about Pharisaic behavior. It is interesting to see what is most commonly labeled with this title. Typically it is used to refer to a perceived over ambition to follow the “letter of the law.” Legalism, if you will.
There is no doubt that the Pharisee’s view of the [...]
Consider the winsome figure of Abigail who fleetingly flashes on the pages of the Bible as a peacemaker and mediator to the beloved David. The scripture affords her glowing words of praise as a “woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance” (1 Samuel 25:3) who was pleasant and humble despite being married to a nasty [...]
The Apostle Paul gives the Philippians some practical and amazing admonition:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7, NKJV)
Back in the 50’s [...]
Continue reading about Sound Theology has a Way (what about global warming?)
Concerning the resurrection, the Bible states, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”—1 Corinthians 15:20.
The term ‘firstfruits’ is first mentioned in Exodus 23:16 when God demands the first ripened fruits as an offering. This offering was to represent the bounty that God [...]
Recently I had a few younger men who wanted to study about preaching and how to give better lessons at their local congregations. While in the course of our study, I asked a simple yet pointed question: “What is righteousness?” At first, no one wanted to answer for fear of misquoting a [...]
That J.W. McGarvey, the little giant of the Restoration Movement, was opposed to instrumental music in worship, is a fact too well known to be disputed. While in Lexington, KY some years ago, my wife and I visited the Broadway Christian Church, where McGarvey preached and held membership for many years. We were met by [...]
In (Heb.10:10) it says: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” We are all going to stand before the Lord in judgment (Heb.9:27). Again and again that is a thought that is presented to us in the Word of God. [...]
The subject of contentment is not a new one, but rather a very old concept that needs to be preached and demonstrated for our current generations. “A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked.” (Psalm 37:16) Why is this important? Why is it better to have [...]
We have all probably been in places that felt like the darkness of the night was closing in around us. I personally have taken tours into the bottom of caves and they have momentarily turned off the lights and my hand could not be seen directly in front of my eyes. In my [...]
The city of Ephesus thoroughly imbibed the spirit of Paganism. They were obsessed with idols and superstitious omens. They had mingled immorality and sexual perversion with their worship. They had embraced spiritualism and occult practices such as speaking to the dead and reading signs in the heavens, and in all of this, they thought they [...]
Can you defend the faith? What do you believe? Do you think you should defend your beliefs?
In Philippians 1:3-7 the apostle Paul was in prison for the sake of preaching the Gospel. He wrote, “…inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are [...]
Lord willing, this New Year will bring us many wonderful new experiences. There will be new people that we will meet, new opportunities to let our lights shine, new songs to sing, and new memories to be made.
As we close the old year, let us be mindful that we have laid a landmark that we [...]