- Make sure you are faithful to God if you want His favor and greatest blessings. This involves repenting of all sins, doing what He commanded for forgiveness, living a life of obedience, and prioritizing spiritual things over material things every day (Prov. 28:9; Isa. 59:1, 2; Mt. 6:19-21; 33; 6:25-34; 7:21-27; 10:32-39; Lk. 9:23; Jn. 4:24; 9:31; Acts 2:36-42; 20:7; 22:16; Rom. 3:23; 6:3-6; 12:1, 2, 9-21; 2 Cor. 4:16-18; Eph. 1:3; Php. 2:12; Col. 3:1-4; Heb.
True Christians Don’t Reject Religion
Those who have had bad experiences with “religious people” or a certain church should not use such experiences as an excuse to totally reject religion in general. Some say they reject “organized religion” and do not “attend church” but still follow Christ. Is that possible? The word “religion” is not a bad word, as many people seem to think. James used the word in a positive way (Jam. 1:26, 27). Christ Himself was a religious person who had a “custom” of regularly assembling with others of like faith (Lk.… Read more
The Lord Our God is One: Thoughts on Deuteronomy 6:4
Deuteronomy chapter six, verses four and five, are often called the Shema, from the Hebrew word meaning “to hear” (Strong), (e.g., “Hear, O Israel…”). They are considered some of the most important words revealed in Deuteronomy and the entire Bible. The Shema begins with this statement: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD [Yahweh] our God [Elohim] is one LORD [Yahweh].” Some believe this verse could be better translated as “Hear, O Israel: ‘Yahweh (is) our God, Yahweh (is) one’” (Cloud 482).… Read more
A Mansion Just Over the Hilltop?
Does John 14:2 teach that every individual child of God will have his own mansion in Heaven? Could it be that Jesus was referring to something even better than that?
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (John 14:1-3).… Read more
Questions for Brothers Who Defend Alcoholic Beverages
True or False?
1. Even though I do not believe Christians must drink alcoholic beverages to be saved, I will fervently defend the use of beverage alcohol—even if it causes serious problems for the church or for individuals (cf. Psa. 133:1; Prov. 6:19; 20:1; Rom. 13:10; 1 Cor. 10:32-33; Eph. 4:3; 1 Jn. 2:10). True or False?
2. I honestly believe one can convert people to Christ with a beer in his hand (cf. Mt. 5:13-16). True or False?… Read more
20 Proofs for the Deity of Christ
Some who claim to believe the Bible is God’s Word deny the Deity of Christ. They are asked to please consider the following:
1. It was against God’s Law to worship anyone but God (Exo. 20:3-5; Deut. 6:13-14; 2 Kings 17:35; Matt. 4:10); therefore, either Christ is divine, or Christ sinned by accepting worship on many occasions (Matt. 2:11; 8:2; 9:18; 28:9, 17; cf. Acts 12:23; Heb. 4:15; Rev. 22:8, 9). We know Christ never sinned (Heb.… Read more
Are You in the One True Church?
Just because someone calls himself a Christian, that does not mean he is truly following Christ (1 John 1:6; 2:4), and just because a church claims to be a Biblical church, that does not mean they are truly following Christ. In fact, they may have never even done what God commanded to be added to Christ’s church in the first place (Acts 2:36-41, 47).
Christ promised to build only one church, and it belongs to Him: “…I will build my church…” (Matt.… Read more
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?
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