The existence of suffering has caused many to abandon their belief in God. If God is both good, and omnipotent, why is there suffering in the world? Why would God allow such a thing? The answer to this question is not far from our reach. It is possible to understand, to an extent, why God …
Continue reading Article: God and Suffering There is a popularity in seeking to cut religion out of the bible. Some say this is what Jesus came to do. However, remember what He said in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Of course Jesus …
Continue reading Article: Religion From Day To DayHaving just told Timothy to “not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner” (1:8), Paul goes on to encourage him to “hold fast the pattern of sound words” (1:13). It is important to note the “gospel according to the power of God” (1:8), and the “pattern of sound words” …
Continue reading Pondering Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:13-18When Paul went to Macedonia, he left Timothy with some work to do in Ephesus. Different heresies were threatening the churches in Asia. Timothy was told to “charge” them that they teach no other doctrine. Doctrine is an important facet of the church. By it the church is edified. By it people are saved (cf. …
Continue reading Pondering Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:3-7 If an individual from the 1940’s time traveled to present day they would be dazed and confused. The world we live in is different than it was 70 years ago. There have been changes in everything from technology to culture itself. People talk differently, and some even walk differently. It seems that just about everything …
Continue reading Article: Culture and Doctrine Words are often thrown around with little to no thought. Someone might proclaim they love their wife, and use the same word to describe how they feel about cheesecake. However, we know they don’t feel the same about their wife as they do about cheesecake. Someone might say, “My head literally exploded,” to describe their …
Continue reading Article: You call yourself a Christian?God has shown His love for Christians in His scheme of redemption. Before the foundation of the world God chose a special people for salvation (cf. Ephesians 1:4). Contrary to Calvinistic doctrine this predestination is not individual. The text clearly states that man obtains salvation “through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” …
Continue reading Pondering Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 False teaching is as old as truth. Peter said, “there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you” (2 Peter 2:1). If there is a truth there will always be a perverted version. Frauds lurk the earth seeking to inflict their false doctrines upon the masses. The …
Continue reading Article: How do I identify a false teacher?
If King Josiah heard some of the excuses given for not serving the Lord, I’d expect him to be thoroughly disappointed. I would also expect him to have some good responses to those excuses. The following are a few excuses that might be given for not living acceptably. Based on the account of Josiah in …
Continue reading Article: Josiah’s Response to Excuses The two sons of Eli strayed far from their calling as priests. Hophni and Phinehas “were corrupt; they did not know the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:12). When offering sacrifices to the Lord, the priests were given a portion of the sacrifice. This portion apparently did not suit Hophni and Phinehas. The two priests took more …
Continue reading Article: “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”