Bible Study
The Two Witnesses to Your Salvation: by Dan Jenkins
The apostle Paul made an astounding affirmation when he said, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God” (Rom. 8:16). How can I know that I am saved? How can I have confidence that I am pleasing to God? Paul’s words said it all—the Holy Spirit bears witness with my spirit. There is a Biblical concept that should be remembered in all matters, but especially in this one about my salvation. There must…
Remembering the Lord’s Death Every Week
During this time of the year (Easter and the other “holy days” leading up to it), there are many religious rites, rituals, and ceremonies that take place to commemorate our Lord’s death for the sins of mankind. Many have already celebrated “Lent,” “Palm Sunday,” “Ash Wednesday,” and “Good Friday.” Many will have special “sunrise services” today. All of these celebrations are done according to the traditions of men and not according to the commandment of God (Mt 15:7-9). A lot…
The Bible, the Christian, and Illegal Immigrants
Illegal immigration in America is perhaps the greatest hot-button topic of the present day. The subject dominates the television news channels and editorial pages. People from different cultural and religious backgrounds all have strong opinions on the matter. Very few (I only know a handful) have a shrug of the shoulders or “live and let live” attitude about it. Perhaps the greatest problem is the lack of meaningful dialogue in the present discussion. Many of us would like to have…
How Did God Harden Pharaoh’s Heart?
Concerning free will, one of the more perplexing texts is the account of Pharaoh in Exodus. Ten times in this account we find some statement that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (cf 4:21, 7:3, 14:4). However, there are also ten instances where the text says that Pharaoh hardened his own heart (cf 8:15, 32, 9:34-35). Calvinists have attempted in vain to reconcile the statements to their own disgrace and the derision by skeptics. Others struggle with the apparent discrepancy in free…
Where Do Our Souls Go at Death?
Any venture into or examination of the unknown generates a great deal of interest. During my fifteen years as Respondent for the Question and Answers page for House to House Heart to Heart and seven as host of a live Bible Questions and Answers television show, no subject has incited greater interest and response than our title question. While it is nigh unto impossible to address every single issue or passage, I think there is a clear case to be…
The Value of Knowledge
Speaking of the political opposition in 1964, Ronald Reagan, (who would later become Governor of California and eventually the 40th President of the United States), said, “The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.”(1) Reagan was likely paraphrasing 19th-century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw, who said, “It ain’t ignorance causes so much trouble; it’s folks knowing so much that ain’t so.”(2) And so it is with so…
Relativism: Scourge of a Nation and Religion
Relativism. What am I talking about? No, not fusses or disputes among one’s in-laws or other family members. Oxford’s Dictionary defines relativism as “the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.” In other words, what is right for me might not be right for you. It depends upon personal experience and current circumstances. In fact, what is right for me and what is right for you may be…
The Plumb Line
Horrible injustices thrived in Jeroboam’s northern kingdom. God would wink no more. Judgment was coming: “Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said: ‘Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore‘”…
That’s Your Opinion
Many religious discussions concerning the oneness of the church or the necessity of baptism have ended with, “Well, that’s your opinion.” Many sermons on divorce and remarriage, social drinking, immodest dress, or the necessity of attended each service, have been dismissed with a careless (or couldn’t care less- JTC), “Well, that’s just his opinion.” There is a difference between opinion and application. The Bible is a book of commands, principles, and examples. It does little good to learn the Bible’s…
What Do the Scriptures Say About the Millennium?
With the year 2000 just around the corner, speculation regarding the Bible and the onset of the new millennium is well underway. This speculative teaching is based upon various interpretations of the books of Revelation, Daniel, and Ezekiel. Do these books, or any others in the Bible, make reference to the coming millennium? The short answer is no; they do not. However, let’s take a moment to understand why taking such a view of the scriptures is incorrect. According to…
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