Author: Jason

Is It Always Wrong to Judge?

Today there is a widespread belief that no person is allowed to question or “condemn” the actions or teachings of anyone else. Perhaps you have heard someone say, “Who are you to judge?,” or “Only Christ can judge.” Does the Bible teach that it is always wrong to judge, or has the Bible been mishandled to lead people to the wrong conclusion on this subject?

First of all, what exactly does it mean to “judge”? Some assume that to judge always means to condemn, but to judge simply means “to discern; to distinguish; to consider accurately for the purpose of forming an opinion or conclusion” (Webster).… 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

Did Jesus Condemn Homosexuality?

Some of today’s denominational churches are putting a stamp of approval on homosexuality. Some even have “gay clergy” members, as they are called, claiming that Jesus never condemned homosexuality. Is that true?  If one cannot find an explicit statement from Jesus such as, “Thou shalt not commit homosexuality,” does that mean Jesus approved of homosexuality?

First of all, Jesus condemned homosexuality when He condemned fornication (Mt. 15:19; cf. 5:32; 19:9). The word “fornication” (from the Greek porneia) is a broad term encompassing various sexual sins, including homosexuality.… Read more

Do You Stand With Israel?

If you stand with Israel, with which Israel do you stand? The word “Israel” can mean different things, based on the context in which it is found, such as: 1) The grandson of Abraham (originally named Jacob) who had twelve sons; 2) The nation which proceeded from Jacob and his twelve sons; 3) The modern nation commonly called “Israel,” which may or may not be true descendants of Jacob (nobody today can prove that his lineage goes back to Jacob—cf.… Read more

You and I Are Not the Standard of Judgment

Are we guilty of being too critical of others? Do we judge others based on our own personal standards, instead of God’s Word? Here are some questions to consider:

  • Do you look down on others if they do not smile and joke around as much as you do?
  • Do you look down on others if they buy something you personally would not buy? (though it is nothing sinful).
  • Do you look down on others if they are not as energetic and outgoing as you?
… Read more

Our Amazing Maker

No scientist can make a living cell (ever heard how complex DNA is?), but the human body makes 300,000,000,000 cells per day (300 billion). Even if a scientist could make one cell every second in a laboratory, working constantly night and day, it would take 9,500 years to do what the human body does in a single day!

Scientists could not begin to “make a brain,” which has about 100,000,000,000 neurons (100 billion) and about 100,000,000,000,000 connections (100 trillion).… Read more

Is God’s Word Strange to You?

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.
… Read more

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.

Coots was bitten by snakes eight times prior to his fatal snake bite.

… Read more

“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.
… Read more

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