By the methodologies and worldly theologies of many rock star leaders in churches today, Jesus has been reduced to a bare minimum. Christianity has been reduced to a set of truths necessary to get to heaven when you die, and not necessarily intimate discipleship under God. Altar calls by the thousands carelessly……..[Read More]

       The Muslims call the Christian faith a blasphemous lie. They say that calling Jesus the Son of God is an insult to God. Surah 4:171; 5:72-75, et al. They deny the Trinity and say that Christians will be in hell. A Mohammedan fails to find in Jesus a nature worthy of adoration……..[Read More]

       A solid understanding of all that we rightly call “salvation” is that regeneration (a precise term) precedes everything of spiritual good in a Christian’s life. Regeneration is what being “born again” is. Until a man is born again he cannot truly follow Jesus, John 3:3-8.      I very recently listened again……..[Read More]

  On 25 Sep, Elvin P. Asked,        “…Doesn’t the Protestant doctrine of a justification which is by faith alone lead a man to live in any way he chooses? When someone believes they’re completely forgiven, doesn’t it make them lazy or presumptuous upon God’s mercy?”   Response:    "Come and hear, all you who……..[Read More]

       Immediately after Jesus’ water baptism the Bible says He was, “…Led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil,” Matthew 4:1. Reading on it says that He, "…Fasted forty days and forty nights…” Matthew 4:2. Forty days in a desert without food or water! I’ve never been to Israel, but men have……..[Read More]

On 15 Sep, Chad W. asked:      “What is the Biblical response on the subject of where a child, infant or stillborn goes if they die?”   Response:      Bottom line up front, dear brother: The Bible does not give us a definitive answer. The answer is, however, proffered in several ways, and that……..[Read More]

       Many people begin reading the Bible with a lot of zeal. Genesis is often quickly devoured. Exodus is pretty good. It’s at Leviticus that people often give up. The reason is because its contents are very foreign to us. All of the ceremonial ritualism, rites performed by the priests and its other……..[Read More]

       The illustrious power to perform miracles is a legacy that should be protected in the church. It’s no show. Those who truly performed them were from God, John 3:2; 9:32-33. There is a difference between God’s providence in our lives and miracles. I want to make the proper distinction in my own……..[Read More]

       In explaining the sovereignty of God with people I sometimes use an analogy of Mt. Everest. I want people to understand that while I can indeed proclaim the absolute sovereignty of God from the Bible, I myself still remain in awe of it. God remains far beyond my imagination in every way.……..[Read More]

              In the Scriptures the two greatest deliverances that God performed were the Exodus of the Old Testament and Christ’s work on Calvary in the New Testament. The first was a type. The second was the anti-type.   Both were perfectly accomplished. Both were to be remembered perpetually. Both were done while the people……..[Read More]

       Due to several recent discussions and debates I’ve had this month, I’ve again been pouring over the doctrines of election in Scripture. I once hated the Biblical idea of God’s sovereignty. I detested any theology that taught that God decides who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. Reader, I can……..[Read More]

       Jesus called John the Baptist the greatest prophet and man of all those who’d gone before him, Luke 7:28. What a tribute! In Israel, John was sent ahead of Jesus to fulfill his predestined role in redemptive history, Malachi 3:1; cf. Matthew 11:10. He was sent to call the nation to repentance……..[Read More]

       I am currently between churches as I write this due to a move. We’re looking. Two great tools to use for this by the way are the IX Marks website church search, and the Master's Seminary alumni search. I went to a new church today. I am left, among other things, considering……..[Read More]

       There are eight or nine authors (though dead) who still speak today. Their names are Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James and Jude. Who wrote Hebrews is uncertain. Their words, with the exception of the Old Testament writers, were inspired by God in ways that no others were, 2 Peter 1:21;……..[Read More]

       Beloved, in our culture today we are a people who feel totally sure of ourselves and uncertain of what we believe. I think it’s supposed to be the other way around. In Scripture, there are varying levels or degrees of certainty we can have when it comes to divine truth. For my……..[Read More]

       The profundity and far reaching implications of the words and miracles of Jesus are completely mind boggling. No one that God has given the Scriptures to will ever stop marveling at their perfection and symmetry. Through the study of Scripture, I’ve recently realized my own complete underestimation of the power of Jesus’……..[Read More]

       There’s a collective effort or excuse of conscience at work in our culture today. I’ve heard its influence in the opinions of those I meet many times and in many ways. It could be summarized along the lines of the old adage that says that, “There’s safety in numbers.” I’ve heard a……..[Read More]

       The temple of King Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonians in the sixth century B.C. It was literally razed to the ground, and the people of Judah were taken captive into Babylon. This was a promised judgment of God against the people for their sin. Before it took place, God promised Israel through……..[Read More]

         Spiritual warfare does NOT deal with super-Christians running around telling devils what to do. Such antics gain you attention in word of faith cults, but have no place in the church. I’ll never forget wandering into a chapel one night in Bagram, Afghanistan on my way home on leave, and listening……..[Read More]

       Psalm 37:4 reads, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” You know, when I was first brought to faith I thought I knew what I wanted from the Lord. I came with a list of things in my heart like a child’s Christmas wish list. I’m……..[Read More]

          On 1 Jun, Ken M. asked:             I want to accept Jesus but I think I might have performed an unforgivable sin. I once took part in something called the blasphemy challenge where a bunch of people blasphemed and denied the Holy Spirit. I said,……..[Read More]

          On 4 Jun, Clint H. asked:           “I have a question regarding the Sacraments/Communion…My two roommates and I hold a Bible study and fellowship night every Friday at our house. [Someone] stated that we should hold communion at our home. Both myself and my roommates hold……..[Read More]

            “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,” 2 Corinthians 5:21.             The doctrine of imputation is a theological term explaining how a Christian actually receives forgiveness for sin. It is……..[Read More]

             Regeneration is another word for the new birth. I believe that regeneration is best described in John 3:8 when Jesus says that it’s like the wind. “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where……..[Read More]

       Love is the driving force and guiding light in the Christian religion. Without it, every doctrine, every effort and every conviction becomes absurd. There are many among us, either by action or omission, who pervert love by declaring it free to accept everything the world wishes, but this isn’t love. We love……..[Read More]