Jude describes the false teachers as “spots in your love feasts.” He likely refers to common interaction amongst Christians due to their love for one another. This often included feasting (cf. Acts 2:46). However, we note that such feasts were forbidden in the assembly (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:17-22). These “certain men” were causing harm to …
Continue reading Pondering Scripture: Jude 12-15False Doctrine
I recall a post I came across on Facebook that stated “Religion says do. Jesus says done.” This false notion is motivated by the idea that we are saved by grace alone. The doctrine removes the need for obedience, and personal responsibility. The scripture clearly describes two parts to salvation – God’s, and man’s. While …
Continue reading The Patternists: Violations of the Pattern: We are Saved by Grace AloneThe apostle John begins his first epistle in similar fashion to his gospel, the subject being “the Word of life.” This “Word of life” “was from the beginning.” Like John’s gospel, this Word was not merely an idea or illusion, but was tangible. “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14). John, and the other apostles, had …
Continue reading Pondering Scripture: 1 John 1:1-4Having just discussed the origin of prophecy (cf. 1:19-21), Peter introduces the topic of false teachers. Just like there were those who falsely claimed to be prophets of God, there will be those who falsely claim to be teachers of His word. These false teachers Peter warns about will crop up among the brethren. They …
Continue reading Pondering Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1-3There is nothing new about global terrorism. Terrorists have plagued the earth in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. There is a common denominator associated with the attacks that is supported by an overwhelming amount of evidence – they have been motivated by the Islamic religion. Recently, terrorists have once …
Continue reading Notable News: Call it what it is!51 years ago, a man by the name of Arthur Lampitt of Granite City, Missouri, crashed his 1963 Thunderbird into a truck. The accident broke Arthur’s hip, which turned the doctor’s attention away from his arm that was impaled by the 7-inch turn signal lever from his car. The man experienced little pain in his arm, …
Continue reading Notable News: “51 years after wreck, 7-inch car part removed from man’s arm.”