God spoke of Israel and said: “I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing” (Hos. 8:12). God had revealed great and wonderful things, but the people had no interest in learning, and they loved worldly things more than God (Hos. 4:6; 8:11-14). Even today great things from the Bible are no longer understood by most people. Numerous truths are not being preached because of “political correctness,” and many people do not study the Bible at all; therefore, many things in God’s Word sound strange to people today.… Read more
Perfect and Blameless in Every Dispensation
In every major dispensation of time, there have been people God described as “perfect” or “blameless.” That does not mean they never sinned, but when they sinned, they repented, they did what God commanded for forgiveness, and they renewed their commitment to love God and live for Him. Whenever God gave a law to man, He knew there would be times when man would fail to obey, which is why God always had a system of forgiveness in every dispensation.… Read more
You Would Feel So Much Better
Even for Christians, it is easy to focus on ourselves, feel self-pity, and think about how bad things are. It is good to remember that there are surely others who have worse circumstances than we do. Let us focus on ways we can help others and remember how blessed we are. If we start feeling sad in our own little world, we would feel so much better if we would:
- Think about others around the world who are struggling with various problems.
Handling Snakes and Mishandling Scriptures
Gregory James Coots (November 17, 1971 – February 15, 2014) was a Pentecostal pastor in Kentucky who was featured in the National Geographic Channel reality television show Snake Salvation, which documented the lives of people who practice snake handling. Coots died from a rattlesnake bite during a service.
Wikipedia
Jamie called himself the pastor of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name in Middlesboro, KY.
… Read moreCoots was bitten by snakes eight times prior to his fatal snake bite.
“I Am” – Learning About Jesus
Much can be learned about Jesus by simply studying the “I am” statements recorded in John’s Gospel account. There are many, including these:
– I am the bread of life (John 6:35, 48).
– I am the light of the world (8:12; 9:5).
– Before Abraham was, I am (8:58; cf. Ex. 3:2, 4, 6, 14, 15; Mic. 5:2).
– I am the door (10:7).
– I am the good shepherd (10:11, 14).
– I am the Son of God (10:36).… Read more
What’s In Store for the USA?
What does God have in store for the USA? I do not know, but I know what He does NOT have in store. Friends, the USA will not last forever. The USA is not the everlasting kingdom foretold in the Old Testament to begin in Jerusalem during the days of the Roman kings (Dan. 2; Isa. 2; Joel 2; Hag. 2). The USA is not the “holy nation” referred to in First Peter 2:9. It’s not the kingdom that will be delivered up to God when Jesus returns (1 Cor.… Read more
The Prophesied Prince
The Bible is God’s Word, and it speaks of Christ from cover to cover. The Scriptures confirm that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, and there are a great number of Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. Here are a few examples, with the approximate dates for when the prophecies were first revealed:
- 4000 B.C. – The “seed of woman” would be “bruised” (Gen. 3:15 > Matt. 1:18-22)
- 1900 B.C. – He would be the seed of Abraham (Gen.
Mount Moriah and the Messiah
Around 2000 B.C., God told Abraham to offer his “only son” Isaac on a mountain in Moriah (Gen. 22:2). Abraham was stopped before he offered his son, but in many ways, this was a foreshadowing of God giving His only Son to save man. About 1000 years later, God told David to build an altar and make sacrifices there, and Solomon would also build the temple in that same location! “Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah…” (2 Chr.… Read more
Calvin or Christ?
Some have never heard the name John Calvin (A.D. 1509-1564), but it is likely that they have heard of his doctrines. Widespread teachings such as babies inheriting sin and the impossibility of falling from grace became staples of many types of denominations because of Calvin’s influence. He caused people to believe that God “freely and unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to pass,” which implies that man has no free will to make his own choices. The main tenets of Calvinism can be summarized by the acronym T.U.L.I.P.… Read more
You Want Christ, But Not His Church?
Perhaps you have heard statements like these: “Salvation is in Christ, not in a church.” “Your relationship with Christ is not defined by your attendance at a church.” “I want Christ, but I don’t want the church.” “Christ did not die for us to be religious, but for us to be like Him.” “I don’t attend church, but I read my Bible and pray every day, so I know I’m right with God.” Do statements like these accurately express what God expresses in His Word?… Read more
Simple Logical Arguments for Baptism
- Salvation/reconciliation to God is only in the one church/body of Christ (Eph. 2:16; 5:23; cf. 1:22, 23; 4:4). One is not in the one body/church of Christ until he is “baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:38-41, 47); therefore, one is not saved/reconciled until he is baptized (cf. Jn. 3:5; Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16; Gal. 3:27; Eph. 5:26; Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:11-13; Titus 3:5; Heb. 10:22; 1 Pet. 3:20, 21).
- Salvation is “in Christ” (2 Tim.
Sincere, but Sincerely Lost
Just because someone is sincere and religious, that does not mean that he is a saved child of God. Even if he believes in Christ, that does not automatically make him saved. There were sincere religious people in the Bible who were lost, and even people who believed in Jesus were still lost until they were “baptized into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3; cf. Acts 2:36-41; 1 Pet. 3:20, 21).
The Ethiopian was sincere, but sincerely lost until baptism (Acts 8:26-39).… Read more
Maybe You Don’t Really Know God
Just because someone thinks he knows God, that does not mean he really does. God can be known through His Word (Jn. 17:3; 1 Cor. 2:9-13; 1 Jn. 2:3-6), but God is who He says He is, not who someone may imagine He is. God said, “…Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee…” (Psa. 50:21). Let us not be quick to assume anything about God, based on our own feelings or experiences, for God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.… Read more
Nobody Will “Smooth Talk” His Way Into Heaven
Some people seem to think they can smooth talk their way out of any situation. They take pride in their ability to weave words in such a way that allows them to “get away” with whatever they have done or may want to do. Surely some of their confidence comes from a prideful assumption that they are smarter or craftier than the individual to whom they are speaking. Sometimes that may be the case, but true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (Psa.… Read more
Holy Spirit Baptism, or Water Baptism?
When Paul wrote his first inspired epistle to the church at Corinth, he wrote these words: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
When reading the verse above, those who are familiar with the Bible probably automatically think of similar passages, such as Acts 2:38-47, when people were added to the church upon baptism, or Galatians 3:26-28, where Paul said we are “baptized into Christ” and “there is neither Jew nor Greek…neither bond nor free,” etc.… Read more