Articles

• What Makes a Believer a “LEGITIMATE CHRISTIAN”?

  Occasionally you’ll come across people who have a list of doctrines that they deem mandatory for being a “legitimate believer.” This is fine if the list is comprised of actual core truths of Christianity, but not if the doctrines are peripheral and therefore unessential. So, what makes a legitimate Christian according to the God-breathed Scriptures? […]

• What Did Paul Mean By “Having the Same SPIRIT OF FAITH”?

  Here’s the verse in question: It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 2 Corinthians 4:13 Paul was partially quoting Psalm 116:10 wherein the unnamed writer knew from a recent life-or-death situation that the LORD answers when believers call in faith […]

• Should Church Leaders Be Corrected Privately or Publicly?

  Since the Word of Truth is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 2:15 & 3:16), let’s see what it says on this particular issue: 17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18For Scripture says, “Do […]

• Was There a LUCIFERIAN FLOOD Before the Noahic One?

  There are some Christians who believe that the creation account of Genesis 1-2 refers, more specifically, to the restoration of physical creation after a great cataclysm between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. These folks believe there is a great gap of time between these first two verses of Scripture — perhaps billions of years — and […]

• How to Discern OPINION and FACT in Theology

  ‘Theology’ means the study of God. In Christian theology, how do we distinguish what’s true and what’s not true concerning anything related to God and the things of God, including Church doctrine and practice? Is it “all just opinion,” as I heard someone argue? Absolutely not. Notice what the Bible says: 16All Scripture is God-breathed […]

• Why Did Jude Quote ENOCH?

  Let’s look at the passage in question: 14Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners […]

• What Is GLORY? Are There Different TYPES OF GLORY?

  Light or splendor is what I immediately think of when I think of ‘glory.’ Both the Greek word and Hebrew word for ‘glory’ bespeak of God’s splendorous intrinsic substance or essence and the perfection or excellence thereof, whether moral or otherwise. It’s basically the opposite of darkness or sin. You could say ‘glory’ involves all the attributes related […]

• Can Believers Have TATTOOS, PIERCINGS and ODD HAIRCUTS?

  Can believers have tattoos, piercings and odd haircuts and, if so, how far can they take it? How much is too much? Where do local assemblies draw the line in regard to style & dress at their services? Such questions naturally bring up connecting topics, such as the Christian’s ‘witness‘ to the culture at large, […]

• Responding to TRAGEDIES and SUFFERING

    Tragedies are a constant in “this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4). Christ commented on their reality and the difficult questions they provoke in Luke 13:1-5. C.S. Lewis said, “We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in […]

• Was Abimelech Technically the First King of Israel?

    To answer this question, let’s consider the key verses: Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelech king. Judges 9:6 After Abimelech had governed Israel three years, Judges 9:22 Abimelech (or Abimelek) was one of the sons of Gideon, who […]