Satan and his influencers have convinced many people that a person does not have to obey God to get to Heaven. They have been sold the lie that as long as someone “accepts Jesus into his heart,” nothing else really matters. Friends, anybody who tells you that you don’t have to obey God is working for Satan, whether they realize it or not. Don’t you know that has been Satan’s plan from the beginning in the Garden of Eden, to convince man not to obey God?… Read more
Category: Salvation
Surprised When Searching the Scriptures
With today’s technology, Bible study has become easier and quicker than ever before. One innovation that expedites Bible study is the ability to search for anything in the Bible very quickly with Bible software. One can learn rapidly from some simple searches, and many people are very surprised at what they find (or fail to find). For example:
- Search for the phrase “faith only” and you only get one verse: “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24).
Question Your Answers!
If someone were to ask you why you believe what you believe, or why you do what you do religiously, would you be able to answer? More importantly, would your answers come from the Bible? God commands us to “…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15). Are we able to do that? In the next chapter of Peter’s same epistle, we are commanded: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). … Read more
The Seven Churches of Asia and Their Works
Did Jesus emphasize works as an essential part of man’s relationship with God, or did He emphasize “faith alone”? Please notice what Jesus said to the seven churches of Asia:
I know thy works…Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent…I know thy works…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life…I know thy works…I know thy works…and thy works…I will give unto every one of you according to your works…And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations…I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.… Read more
Politically Conservative, but Religiously Liberal
Many who are politically conservative are liberal when it comes to religion, and they don’t even realize it.
Just because a man “identifies” as a woman, that does not make him a woman.
Just because a man identifies as a turtle, that does not make him a turtle,
and just because a man identifies as a Christian, that does not make him a Christian!
Facts matter – especially God’s requirements to become faithful and remain faithful.… Read more
The Great Commission Commands Water Baptism, Not Prayer
Do you know how John prepared people for the Savior? He was “preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk. 1:5; cf. Lk. 24:47; Acts 2:38). People were being baptized “to flee the wrath to come…unquenchable fire” (Mt. 3:7-12). John was getting people ready for the Great Commission of Jesus, who had come to save people from their sins and would thus command the whole world to be baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins.… Read more
“Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock”
Revelation 3:20 records encouraging words from Jesus to His church at Laodicea, urging them to repent. It is sad that many have taken His words and twisted them into a false plan of salvation that Jesus never authorized. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Some have used this passage to teach that all one must do to become a Christian is to believe and pray a prayer to Jesus.… Read more
An Honest and Good Heart
Today there are a lot of people in “the Bible belt” of the USA and many other places in the world who would be described by most as good people—good religious-minded people who believe in Jesus, but are they all saved? Are they truly honest about what God’s Word requires for man’s salvation, or have many chosen to believe what seems convenient and comfortable? In religious discussions, whether online or in person, it is common to see many known as “good religious people” being dishonest, denying what the Scriptures plainly say.… 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
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
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
Which Comes First – Salvation, or Baptism?
Can alien sinners (sinners who have never been saved) be saved before water baptism, or without water baptism?
Notice the Biblical order:
- Believeth…baptized…saved (Mark 16:16).
- Born of water and of the spirit…enter the kingdom (John 3:5).
- Repent…be baptized…remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
- Gladly received his word…baptized…added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47).
- Be baptized…wash away thy sins (Acts 22:16).
- Baptized into Jesus Christ…raised to newness of life…made free from sin (Romans 6:3-18).
- The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God…And such were some of you: but ye are washed…sanctified…justified in the name of the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; cf.
20 Things to Understand About Romans 10:9, 10
Romans can be a difficult book to understand. Even Peter said some of Paul’s writings are difficult to understand (2 Pet. 3:15-18), but one should not get discouraged like those of John 6:66. Be like Peter, who persevered (Jn. 6:67, 68). Sadly, Romans 10:9, 10 has been misunderstood or twisted by untold numbers of people. Some seem to think this is the only passage in the Bible telling man how to be saved, and many have interpreted this confession to be “the sinner’s prayer.”… Read more