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• Christian Wars–A Misnomer

  …ster WongMixxMySpaceNetvouzNewsvineoneviewOnlyWirePlugIMPropellerRedditSegnaloShoutwireSimpySlashdotSurphaceSphinnSpurlSquidooStumbleUponTechnoratiThisNextTwitterWebrideWindows LiveYahoo!Email This to a Friend  Link HTML:  Permalink:  If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.Powered by Bookmarkify™ More »Christians, God’s children, have for years taken a beating by those …

• Three Benefits of Being a Christian in This Life – Hope, Love, Peace

  One thing that is often overlooked is the value of being a Christian and living the Christian life in the here and now, not just for the benefit of the afterlife to come.  There is nothing as important as where you are going to live in eternity but there are enormous benefits to living the Christian life aside from those benefits to come when this life has ended.  I list but three of those benefits here. (1)  Hope When one takes hope away from a…

• The Army of the Lord–the Church

  do harm to another.  “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44 NKJV)  As I once wrote in another article Christian wars are a misnomer. When one looks at the armor a Christian is to put on to fight the Christian warfare,“put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:11 NKJV), that he might stand and not fall one finds that he is given “the swor…

• Non-Offensive Christianity

  … No doubt we would add humility (1 Peter 5:5), mercy and meekness (Col. 3:12), thankfulness (Col. 3:15), and truthfulness (Eph. 4:25) to our list and our list would still not be all inclusive of the good things to be found in Christian character at its best. It is hard to look back over this list and see anything that should offend anyone.  It is certainly not the Christian’s desire to offend.  The word of God teaches the Christian to ̶…

• Does God Really Care?

  Over the course of time just about all of us are confronted with the reality of suffering and abuse not just on newscasts but in our own personal world where we live day by day and experience life up close.  Why are small precious children abused?  Why do many of them from all outward appearances not have a chance from the get go due to the circumstances they were born into?  Why do old people often get in such horrible conditions as you find th…

• The Christian, Politics, and the Government

  What role if any should the Christian play in politics?  All any man can know about the subject is what the Bible says and since it was written for the benefit and enlightenment of all men in all ages of time from the time it was first penned until the last day of this earth’s existence and for all cultures and under all the different kinds of governments under which men have lived it speaks to us not in specifics but in general statements on th…

• Christianity and Multiculturalism

  d.  If a man sticks a gun in your back to convert you to his God you quickly learn what kind of God he worships–one who believes in bullets, blood, and guts. Some (most) misunderstand Christianity thinking it has caused wars in the past (the Middle Ages).  It is simply not true for Catholicism is a religion separate from Christianity that does not depend on the Bible for its existence.  The Bible alone will never make one a Catholic, will n…

• Resource Sites

  Here are some links to what I consider to be some great sites I highly recommend. Christian Courier  (This site is owned and run by Wayne Jackson who does the writing found on it.  I don’t know where you would go to find more scholarly Christian articles on the web.  The man does his homework which means he does extensive research before he starts writing.  All of this will be readily evident to you once you read an article or two of his. …

• Can one be Just a Christian in Christ’s Church without being in a Denomination?

  Many years ago I asked a lady this very question–can one be just a Christian in Christ’s church without being in a denomination?  Her answer was that while that was once possible it is no longer possible today.  I have never understood that kind of thinking.  To her the church that is Christ’s simply cannot exist today alone by itself outside of denominationalism.  That raises all kinds of problems. If what she said is true then of what va…

• Instrumental Music in Christian Worship–Is it God’s Will?

  I am sure there are millions of people who call themselves Christians who have never given the subject of instrumental music in Christian worship a thought.  It is just taken for granted that it is a part of acceptable worship to God.  I suspect even most of us who were raised in a religious setting where instruments were never used in worship wondered about it at one point in time or another.  Was it really wrong to use them in worship and if s…

• Christian Living

  Pray For Others Lest You Sin Is Church Attendance Essential for Christian Salvation? Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation? Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? More on Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? Ignorance Does Not Excuse Sin Never Give Up Does God Really Care? Three Benefits of Being a Christian in This Life – Hope, Love, Peace The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman Fear God Regrets If Miracles Have Cease…

• Assorted

  This page consists of articles that do not fit well into any of the other categories listed on the menu.  Likewise with the audio sermons at the bottom of the page. Christianity and Multiculturalism Is America a Christian Nation–the Sandra Fluke Controversy Christian Wars–A Misnomer Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions? The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications Lincoln…

• Singing and Playing in Christian Worship

  I have learned over time that no matter how familiar you are with a subject given enough time you are bound to hear something you never heard before.  It is a historical fact that instrumental music was never used in Christian worship until well over 600 years after the establishment of the church.  A simple Google search on the topic with the word “history” added will get you all the information your heart could desire. This is a historical fac…

• Is Church Attendance Essential for Christian Salvation?

  Whether or not a Christian must attend church to be saved is a question of utmost importance.  There is nothing more important than one’s eternal salvation.  Where will one spend eternity?  Will it be in a place of happiness and joy where “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain” (Rev. 21:4 NKJV) or will it be in the place of torment “where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched’” (Mar…

• Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath?

  There are many people who believe the Christian must keep the Sabbath.  It is one of the Ten Commandments and many believe we are under command to keep all the Ten Commandments.  Are they correct?  What does the Bible say about the Sabbath?  Who was to keep it–was it for all men and for all time?  How was it to be kept?  Let us see what the Bible has to say about the matter. The first time one finds the word “Sabbath” in the Bi…

• Never Give Up

  …know it seems like you are trapped in a body that not only insists on sinning but has power over one’s own will.  We become discouraged and cease feeling good about ourselves.  We think I am not good enough; I cannot live the Christian life; I am just not a strong enough person. The truth is that almost all of us at one point in time or another have felt that way, often over extended periods of time.  What do we do when that happens?  Too many ju…

• He Went Away Grieved

  …NKJV)  The rich have the means at their disposal to make a difference in the lives of widows and orphans if they will. James also gives us insight as to how God intends wealth to be used.  James, in James 4, is speaking about wars and fights among one another and says (verse 1), “Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (NKJV)  The real motive for the acquisition of wealth is generally just that, “the desires for…

• Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation?

  One of the great dangers we all face in Bible study is that of taking a particular passage, isolating it from all the rest of the scriptures, and make it teach a doctrine it was never meant to teach.  The question asked in the title of this article, are works essential for Christian salvation, is easily answered by taking one such passage and doing exactly that.  The passage is Eph. 2:8-9 which reads, “For by grace you have been saved thro…

• The Pleasures of Sin

  …o live the life we live.  It is a personal choice. (4) The last time we find the word “pleasures” in the New King James New Testament is in James 4:3.  Because the context is important here I will quote James 4:1-4, “Where do wars and fights come from among you?  Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  You lust and do not have.  You murder and covet and cannot obtain.  You fight and war.  Yet you do not have bec…

• Is America a Christian Nation—the Sandra Fluke Controversy

  …0;proud” is the last thing in the world my parents would have been President or no President.  He would have counted for nothing and there would have been shame, not pride. It is past time to quit calling this country a Christian nation.  It has aborted millions of babies (a holocaust), every year we have more and more states legalizing gay marriages which involve the sexual act the Bible refers to as an abomination (see Lev. 18:22), we are…

• Bible Authority, Foot Washing, the Holy Kiss, and Head Coverings?

  Does Bible authority matter or is man free to do as he sees fit in the Christian religion?  Most have come to the conclusion today that it does not matter.  The result is that there are more unheard of things going on in Christian worship today than ever before.  You name it and it is being done somewhere.  Every type of special service the mind can imagine (and many that you cannot) is being held.  The idea is that anything we do in worship wit…

• The Church as the Family of God–Things Found in It

  … no one close enough to you to even know your need? While the phrase “the family of God” is not found in the New Testament the concept is.  We are the children of God, “Beloved, now we are children of God.” (1 John 3:2 NKJV)  Christians are born of God, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” (1 John 5:1 NKJV)  We are begotten of God in that he has “according to his abundant mercy…begotten us again.” (1 Peter 1:3 NKJV)  The Ch…

• He Feared

  …Of course, there is a sense in which faith never fails.  It is the man who fails, fails to have faith in sufficient strength to remain faithful.  It is a challenge to all men to develop a strong faith. Paul, in writing to the Christians in Ephesus, in chapter 6 verse 11, tells them to, “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (NAS)  In verse 13 he explains saying, “that you may be able t…

• More on Willful Sin—Can Anyone be Saved?

  …luntary, or is committed willingly, but must refer to a deliberate act, where a man means to abandon his religion, and to turn away from God. If it were to be taken with metaphysical exactness, it would demonstrate that every Christian who ever does anything wrong, no matter how small, would be lost.” You will be hard pressed based on my research to find a commentator anywhere that would disagree.  Virtually every commentator will tell you …

• The New Birth and Water

  …uote as follows:  “The religious world, with one voice, from the days of Christ until quite recently, has ascribed this language to water baptism.” (Page 490)  He goes on to quote a Dr. Wall as follows:  “There is not any one Christian writer of any antiquity in any language, but what understands it of baptism.” (Page 490, a quote from Wall’s History of Infant Baptism, Vol. l, page 147) Burton Coffman in his Commentary on John, page 81, says, “it…

• Salvation (Becoming a Christian)

  … Why You Cannot be Saved like the Thief on the Cross Bible Contradictions on Salvation How Was Noah Saved Through Water? How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built? Saved by Jesus Outside the Church Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation? Canaan and Heaven–How God Gives Are the New Testament Scriptures Alone a Sufficient Guide to Heaven? Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) What Must I …

• The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman

  …#8221; ‘ ” (NKJV)  I am not going to try and tell you what Jesus meant by that statement other than to say it indicates we are not to live like animals.  We are to be better than that.  Then Paul says, speaking to Christians, “We shall judge angels.” (1 Cor. 6:3 NKJV)  That is a pretty high standing. We were put here to glorify God.  “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory; I have formed …

• The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept

  Most people who call themselves Christians are in reality not Christians at all no matter how dedicated they may be to their faith.  The word of God is truth (Jesus speaking–John 17:17) and stands as the one and only standard that is acceptable to the God of heaven and of men.  It, not man, sets the standard for who is a Christian. As there is a political correctness in our land there is likewise a religious correctness that one must adher…

• The Parable of the 10 Virgins–7 Lessons

  … company of God’s people. I sometimes hear people talking about their heart and how their heart tells them they are okay with God.  We must have a clear conscience before God but Paul’s heart was good while he was persecuting Christians for the simple reason he thought he was doing God’s will.  He said after his arrest in Jerusalem while before the council there, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” (Acts 23:1 NKJV)  O…

• Things People Do Not Know About the Church

  …ory when it comes to the Lord’s church.  Here is a list of 12 things many people do not know or understand about the Lord’s church–things that make all the difference in the world. (1)  The same process that makes you a Christian adds you to the church the Lord built.  There is no such thing as a Christian who is not a part of the Lord’s church.  “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47 NKJV)  Who is s…

• Acceptable Prayer

  …s us to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 NAS)  What we often fail to consider is that both writers are writing to Christians, not just anyone but to God’s own people.  Let us take a look at some passages. Prov. 15:8, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.” (NASU)  Prov. 15:29, “The Lord is fa…

• Christian Circumcision

  … of the heart.  Never let yourself be misled by one belittling obedience to a command.  In reality such a person is encouraging rebellion against God and has a heart that is not right with God. This brings us up to the era of Christianity.  When Christ died on the cross, was buried, resurrected, returned to heaven, and then sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 an old era ended (the Law of Moses) and a new era beg…

• The Church as the Body of Christ–Which Means What?

  …king to, “those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.” (1 Cor. 1:2 NKJV)  How do I know he was talking to them–because I just quoted the passage, because he says so.  They, each one individually, each Christian, was a member of the body of Christ to whom he was speaking.  “You are the body of Christ (the church at Corinth–DS), and members individually.” (1 Cor. 12:27 NKJV) Christ is the head of the body, the church …

• Lessons for the Church from Isaiah (Chapter 1)

  …aiah. As Isaiah chapter one opens (Isa. 1:1) we learn that we are being told of a vision Isaiah saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, God’s people in that Old Testament time.  I mention that for we must remember that we who are Christians are God’s people today so in terms of broad principles at least, versus specific laws, there is application for us here in Isaiah as well as for those who lived back then.  Here are some of the lessons found in th…

• Faith Comes by Hearing the Word of God–the Implications

  …eligious matter there can be no faith but only opinion.  Faith and opinion are not equal in God’s sight.  A man is saved by faith, not by opinion.  A man is to walk (live his daily life) by faith (Rom. 1:17, 2 Cor. 5:7).  The Christian religion is based on faith but it is an objective faith in that it is based on direct testimony as found in the word of God, testimony given by God himself. Where God has spoken on a matter I can take his word to t…

• Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences

  …st time one reads about a weak conscience in the New Testament is in 1 Cor. 8:7-12.  This entire chapter is devoted to the subject of eating meats offered to idols and whether or not it is acceptable in God’s eyes for a Christian to eat such meats.  One should also read 1 Corinthians 10 beginning around verse 14 through the end of the chapter on the same subject and Romans 14 also has some application even though the subject there is the ea…

• The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification

  …their names.  In the church built by Jesus no member was called anything other than a disciple, a brother or a sister as the case might be or just brethren when taken collectively, a child of God, a saint, or just by the name Christian (Acts 11:26).  Again this listing is not necessarily exhaustive but is sufficient to make a needed point.  In the New Testament church there was no such beings as Christians who also had an additional appellation o…

• The Parable of the Talents–the Sin of Fear

  … we have the ability to do.  When we are doing good to someone else because it is the Christ like thing to do, in whatever fashion or form it may take, we are working for God and striving to be a profitable servant.  We are a Christian being a Christian in deed and not just in word. What is the teaching of the parable of the talents if it is not that we must go to work?  Can we by work alone go to heaven?  No way!  Salvation is always a matter of…

• How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built?

  …t of the body that he is saving.  “He is the Savior of the body.” (Eph. 5:23 NKJV)  What body?  “He is the head of the body, the church.” (Col. 1:18 NKJV)  The church is the spiritual body of Christ of which he is the Savior. Christians are “members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. (Eph. 5:30 NKJV)  “You (Christians–DS) are the body of Christ, and members individually.” (1 Cor. 12:27 NKJV)  One is either in that body or he is not…

• Regrets

  …the church of God.” (1 Cor. 15:9 NKJV)  Elsewhere he calls himself the chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).  I believe there is every reason to believe that Paul was at the least indirectly responsible for the deaths of some Christians.  When Stephen was stoned to death the Bible says “Saul was consenting to his death.” (Acts 8:1 NKJV)  In Acts 22:4 Paul says, “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into pri…

• Behold the Judge is Standing at the Door

  It is sometimes hard for Christians to grasp emotionally that they will be judged by Christ on the Day of Judgment.  So much has been made of the grace of God and God’s love that it is hard to come to grips with the idea of judgment but James in writing to Christians says, “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.  Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:9 NKJV)  That ought to be a sober…

• Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith)

  The conversion of Saul of Tarsus, who was soon to be known as Paul the apostle, is one of the most interesting accounts of conversion to Christianity found in the Bible.  One can read about Paul’s conversion in 3 different accounts given in the book of Acts–Acts 9:1-19, 22:1-16, 26:9-20.  Saul of Tarsus was one of the really bad men we read about in the New Testament which makes his conversion even more dramatic.  How bad a man was S…

• Fear God

  I have often heard it said that a Christian should have no fear of God.  I have mixed feelings when I hear that for it is one of those truths that can easily lead to false conclusions unless the statement is clarified. John indeed says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”  (I John 4:18 NKJV)  It is true that every Christian can have fear …

• When did Obedience Become Legalism?

  We seem to be living in a time in the present Christian era where people seem to feel that all that matters in Christianity is love and God’s grace, that obedience is simply legalism, and that people do not have to obey Bible commands for salvation (except, of course, for the command to believe in Jesus as the Savior). Grace is made cheap.  Live as you like, call yourself a Christian, and God’s grace will cover you.  It is said it is what is in …

• Christ and Baptism in Colossians

  The fact that baptism is essential to becoming a Christian and being saved is written on page after page in the New Testament despite being rejected by most who call themselves Christians.  I have never understood how something so clearly taught can so readily be rejected by so many other than through the power that tradition and religious heritage exerts on people. Error believed has the same faith affect upon a man or woman as truth believed a…

• Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize

  …l wrote Hebrews as many believe he did in Heb. 10:22?  If baptism does not matter and Paul did not care whether people were baptized or not then why was Paul baptized?  Was more required of Paul than anyone else in becoming a Christian?  The command to Paul by Ananias, a man sent directly by the Lord himself (see Acts 9:10-16) to Paul (at that time called Saul), was “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins.” (Acts 22:16 NKJV) M…

• Indifference – The Great Destroyer

  …gets that high, then realistically what kind of hope do I have of salvation? To be indifferent is to not care. If you do not care about God, about his will, about going to heaven, if you are disinterested in living a faithful Christian life what joy do you bring to God? Grief and sorrow yes but joy no. A lot has been made of the fact that salvation from sin is a free gift from God. This while true when properly understood is seldom understood pro…

• The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus

  …9:2 NAS)  They respond no and that they had not even heard of the Holy Spirit.  Paul then says, “Into what then were you baptized?” (Acts 19:3 NAS)  Please note this one thing–Paul takes it for granted that if they were Christians they had been baptized.  He doesn’t ask them if they had been baptized.  Why not?  Paul doesn’t ask them because he knows what it takes to become a Christian and be saved.  “Why tarriest thou?  Arise, and be bapti…

• They Loved the Praise of Men

  …ations for elders that a man “must have a good testimony among those who are outside.” (1 Tim. 3:7 NKJV)  How do we deal then with what appears to be a contradiction? That can be answered by considering who the persecutors of Christians will be.  If you are an honest person who works hard most people will honor that.  The ordinary person who is fair appreciates the good others may do.  If you are helping the poor, the homeless, the orphans, the e…

• God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh

  It is not unusual to find in religion, as it relates to Christianity, two extremes of thought.  There are those who feel God is so full of loving kindness that he will readily forgive us of any and all of our sins if we just ask him.  We may be kind of sorry that we  did whatever it was we did, sorry about the consequences at least, so feel we must ask God’s forgiveness but the truth is if the same set of circumstances were to arise again we wou…

• Sin in the Desert–Testing God at Massah and Meribah

  … this occasion.  How did they test God?  The Bible says by saying, “Is the Lord among us, or not?” (Ex. 17:7 NASB)  What can a person learn from that? We can learn to take God at his word.  The Hebrew writer tells Christians, “He himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” (Heb. 13:5 NKJV)  Will we believe that or will we not?  Will we be like the children of Israel when times get tough; will w…

• Why Men Today Cannot Be Saved Like The Thief On The Cross?

  …part of the problem that causes people to misunderstand God’s plan of salvation for man is a failure to discern what we call the dispensations.  There are 3 as follows: (1) the Patriarchal, (2) the Mosaical, and (3) the Christian.  I will deal with the last two as they are the two relevant to this discussion. Jesus lived and died under the Mosaical law.  Jesus was in the fullness of time “born of a woman, born under the Law.” (G…

• Misunderstanding the Grace of God

  Sometime back I had an article rejected that I had submitted to an article directory, a site that says it is a Christian article directory.  It was a short article entitled “Receiving the Gospel” which, if you like, you can find on this site and read for yourself.  It was deemed to be unfit for a Christian article directory.  The editor of the directory made it clear to me in an e-mail that he believed man was saved by grace without …

• Saved by Jesus Outside the Church?

  …ey can be saved outside of a denominational church I again completely agree.  If, however, they are saying they can be saved outside the church one reads about in the Bible and outside of any association whatsoever with other Christians in an organized manner (an organized congregation) when such association is possible (that is such congregations exist in the area where one lives) I disagree. Here is the problem with this whole concept men have …

• The Prodigal Son–When He Came to Himself

  …Pharisees either did not, could not, or would not but as the case may be there was only one reason for it whatever the cause–sin.  Sin changes a man to the point he does not reason correctly. Not long ago I learned of a Christian man, extremely well thought of and liked, faithful by every measurement apparent to an observer, married for 39 years, who announces to his fellow Christians he is leaving his wife divorcing her to marry a divorced…

• Did Christ Rise From the Dead or is Faith Folly?

  …217;  This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.  And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’” (John 21:18-19 NKJV)  No one doubts that Paul also died simply because he was a Christian, died for Christ. How does one explain this?  What gets men to go to the extremes they were willing to go to?  There was no money in it (in being a Christian), there was no power to be had in it, there was only har…

• Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching

  …ean the physical act of hearing but rather means to obey. To obey meant to obey what?  Well, it meant to obey all things the apostles spoke by the Holy Spirit.  What was that as it related to gospel obedience, to making one a Christian?  It included what Peter commanded in his Day of Pentecost sermon in Acts 2 preached by means of the Holy Spirit.  “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of …

• Hypocrites in the Church

  … be true for you and me if we do not guard our hearts closely and act out of sincerity.  It is easy, for example, to worship out of duty rather than sincerely from the heart, out of obligation versus desire. Peter says to all Christians that we are to put “aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” (1 Peter 2:1 NASU)  The words Joshua spoke to the children of Israel in his day are just as applicable to us…

• Are the New Testament Scriptures Alone a Sufficient Guide to Heaven?

  Sometimes we take it for granted that everyone who calls themselves a Christian holds the New Testament scriptures in as high a regard as we do.  However, that is not the case.  Some, while calling themselves Christians, do not believe in the all sufficiency of the New Testament scriptures to save a man.  They feel man needs more guidance and direction than can be found in the scriptures alone. Questions immediately come to my mind.  If the New …

• The Peace Found in Forgiveness of Others

  … evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5 NKJV) It is easy to say that was generations ago and times have changed, we are not that way today.  Yes, easy to say but also easy to know we are deceiving ourselves when we do so.  Paul said to Christians, “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Eph. 3:30 NKJV)  If a Christian can grieve God how about all those who know the truth of the gospel but will not obey it…

• Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon

  Most people who know anything at all about the Christian faith realize that Peter preached the first gospel sermon ever preached on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.  The second recorded sermon in the Christian dispensation of time is again a sermon preached by Peter as found in the next chapter in Acts–chapter 3.  That there was preaching being done between Peter’s first sermon and his second there is no doubt for the Bibl…

• Deeper Spiritual Understanding–How do I Acquire It?

  A person who is a sincere Christian, a true believer from the depths of his/her heart, is a person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness (Matt. 5:6) desiring deeper spiritual understanding.  There is always a desire to know more and understand better.  There is an inner longing to draw nearer to God and feel closer to him and so the way is sought to do so. But the question is how do I do this or accomplish this which I so desire?  If I just …

• Demas Has Forsaken Me

  …urred years before? We have then a man who had traveled and worked with Paul, sacrificed and struggled along with him, endured the hardship a number of years, and saw with but little doubt miracles Paul performed and yet this Christian man fell away.  If under those circumstances a man can fall away then we all can.  If a man can walk with an apostle and fall away then any man can, every man can, and so the threat is real.  And threat it is for t…

• Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation

  …#8221; (1 Cor. 15:33 NLT)  Often the bad company is not bad in the sense that it is evil in itself but only in that it is worldly putting worldly things ahead of God and influencing us to do the same. Living successfully as a Christian is a battle. Paul calls it a fight and says, “Fight the good fight of faith.” (1 Tim. 6:12 NKJV)  He says he had fought that fight (2 Tim. 4:7 NKJV).  One of the biggest parts of that fight is no doubt …

• Diotrephes Loves To Have the Preeminence

  … he does, prating against us with malicious words.  And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” (3 John 1:9-10 NKJV) Diotrephes, was a Christian man whose faith failed.  In that he had the power to put brethren out of the church one suspects that he was an elder who had gained preeminence over time above the other elders.  He had become so emboldened that h…

• Better to Never Have Been Born–Why?

  …r dad, our wife or our husband, our son or our daughter, our grandchild, our best friend, whoever it may be, is in the exact same place with Judas just as soon as their last breath leaves their body if they are not a faithful Christian when that breath has been drawn.  It is torment to us and unrelenting sorrow to think about what is to become of those we care about and love deeply if somehow or another they do not get their lives turned around b…

• What Does the Phrase “My Name” Mean in the Bible?

  … more desired than great wealth.” (Prov. 22:1 NASU)  God’s name is to be given praise, honor, and glory for he is worthy.  Don’t drag God’s name through the sewage of an ungodly life.  To wear the name Christian likewise is special and it brings with it special obligations to uphold the honor of the being behind the name–Christ himself. When God’s name is associated with whatever it might be, as long as he is t…

• Cornelius’ Conversion–Final Thoughts

  …we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (NKJV)  So, it is said that settles it. I went to take a look at that verse and read it in context.  Now understand I believe the Spirit abides in a Christian–that is not the point.  The point is whether it necessarily follows that because the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius that he was saved instantly at that point in time. But, I read the verse in context.  One ver…

• The Great Commission and Cornelius

  …rences I have already alluded to.  The Corinthians were not being baptized into a relationship with Paul or any other man but with Christ and he wanted them to know that. I think it goes without saying that all are agreed the Christian has a relationship with the Holy Spirit and the scriptures also teach the same relationship with the Father and Jesus.  Hear Jesus, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word (is baptism for the remission of s…

• Who Gets to Decide–God or the Church?

  There are approximately 38,000 denominations in the world today calling themselves Christian according to the results I found on the subject doing a Google search.  I was astounded and find that number hard to believe but be that as it may we all know there are a vast multitude of them and I suppose the number you come up with depends on how you decide to count them.  If this number is correct we have gone from 1 church in the New Testament to 3…

• The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father

  …know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Cor. 11:3 NKJV)  Paul said earlier, in the same book, “And you are Christ’s (speaking of the Corinthian Christians-–DS), and Christ is God’s.” (1 Cor. 3:23 NKJV)  When Paul wrote those words Jesus was back in heaven but if he was then subject to the Father then certainly he was subject to him earlier while on earth…

• The Kind of Faith in God That Destroys

  There is a faith, a so called Christian faith, which destroys.  Those who hold such a faith, while sincere, do not understand faith from a scriptural point of view.  Faith is all too often defined as “what I believe.”  There is more to saving faith than just believing in Jesus, believing he is the Son of God. If faith alone, defined as what one believes, could save by itself then even the demons could be saved for James says, “…

• The Case of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

  There are many who believe beyond doubt that Cornelius was saved at the time the Holy Spirit came upon him and his household.  It is a topic that ought to be discussed.  While I have written once before on this subject more needs to be said as there has been some objection to what was written.  I know of no person who claims to be a Christian who would deny the fact that the very first gospel sermon ever preached after Christ’s death, buri…

• One Church—A Thing Hard to Accept

  … the emotions overrode rational thought and the will was strong.  The eyes were deliberately closed. This brings me to what I really want to talk about it.  I have recently taken an interest in reading books on the history of Christianity from the first century up to the present.  The most recent book I have completed on the subject was a book by Stephen Tomkins who has a Ph.D. in church history from the London School of Theology.  In his book en…

• Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching

  How does a person become a Christian?  What does it take to make a person a Christian (a saved individual)?  Over the years there has been an enormous amount of debate over this very question.  It is a question that can only be resolved by seeing what the Holy Spirit inspired apostles preached, taught, and practiced as they went out into the world preaching the gospel.  In this article I want to take a look at the apostle Paul and what he taught…

• Walk in Truth—the Joy of John the Apostle

  …rom your fellowship.” (1 Cor. 5:2 NLT) That is where I see much of American Christendom today.  It should be in sorrow and shame but is rather puffed up because it is thought we are more loving and tolerant than earlier Christians were who were more inclined to take literally the things written in the New Testament and strictly hold to those things.  We have attempted to take the God of the first century and bring him into the twenty-first …

• Finding Truth in Divided Christendom

  How can one find and know the truth of Christianity that comes from God in a world that is divided over that truth to the extent that today we have thousands and thousands of denominations because they cannot agree with one another over what that truth is.  Many no longer think it is possible to know the truth in any absolute sense.  It is just a matter of individual opinion is a common thought.  Consequently, it is not unusual to hear sentiment…

• Unhappy With the Church of Christ?

  …hen has it been?  It has not been very often and not in very many places based on the historical record we have in the New Testament. In reading the book of Galatians it appears the churches there were ready to head away from Christianity and go into Judaism.  Paul starts the third chapter, “O foolish Galatians!” (Gal. 3:1 NKJV)  He says, “I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.” (Gal. 4:11 NKJV)  “…

• Faith Based On Deception–Gen. 37:31-33

  …e was fed disinformation and with good reason, based on the information he was presented with, believed that which was false. Why would he disbelieve? Did he not get his information from people he had complete trust in? Every Christian ought to immediately perk his ears up when he thinks back on this account and take heed and learn from it. We can be misled by the very people we have the utmost trust in. In Jacob’s case it was deliberate bu…

• What Must a Man Believe to be Saved by the Gospel?

  That the gospel of Christ must be believed (as well as obeyed) in order to receive Christian salvation is made abundantly clear by the apostle Paul in one of the best known passages found in the Bible–Rom. 1:16:  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1:16 NAS)  It thus becomes essential that we learn what it is that …

• Israel’s Rebellion at the Red Sea

  … the holy commandment delivered to them.” (2 Peter 2:20-21 NKJV) The children of Israel were ready to go back if they could do so in safety.  They wished they had never left.  Peter would call that kind of thing for the Christian as being like a sow having been washed returning to wallow in the mire. (2 Peter 2:22)  Jesus said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62…

• Jesus the Foundation of and the Builder of the Church

  …(Matt. 16:16 NKJV) is the rock Jesus built the church on (Matt. 16:18 NKJV) Catholic doctrine to the contrary notwithstanding.  No one can enter the church built by Jesus who does not believe this foundational doctrine of the Christian faith. Jesus is described by Peter as a living stone rejected by men but chosen by God and precious (1 Peter 2:4).  He goes on a couple of verses later to say, “it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘B…

• Disobedience to Jesus

  Disobedience to Jesus is far more widespread among people who call themselves Christians than what is generally recognized to be the case.  Over the years the doctrine that man is saved by grace through faith alone without any kind of works has become so prevalent in men’s thinking that it seems it has driven out of men’s lives the sense of any kind of responsibility to obey God other than mentally assenting to the son ship of Jesus….

• Worship

  The Lord’s Supper as a Part of a Larger Meal–Right or Wrong? Praying to God to Bless the Bread The Need to Sing in Worship Instrumental Music in Christian Worship–Is It God’s Will? Singing and Playing in Christian Worship Confirmation Sunday–No Bibles Required Bible Authority, Foot Washing, the Holy Kiss, and Head Coverings King Saul–As Long as it Glorifies God Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) The Lord’s…

• Which Denomination Did Jesus Build?

  Years ago I had a lady tell me it was impossible to be just a Christian without being in a denomination.  Did Jesus build a denomination?  Which denomination did Jesus build?  I fear the lady I spoke of above was in grave error those many years ago but she was in a bind.  What do I mean?  Those who are in denominational churches generally all agree that those in other denominations can and will be saved the same as they will be.  Which means wha…

• Faith

  …ead or is Faith Folly? Audio Sermons  (by Waymon Swain) Faith–What it is And What it Does (Part I) Faith–What it is And What it Does (Part II) Test of Faith What Faith Is and Does Why We Believe in God Why I Am a Christian Things God Has Joined Together …

• Jesus and the Furnace of Fire

  …e lukewarm, maybe a step up from indifference.  Is that a big enough step to avoid the furnace of fire?  Hear Jesus in the book of Revelation speaking to the church of the Laodiceans bearing in mind that the church is but the Christians who make it up.  He says, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mou…

• Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:48)

  …e remission of man’s sins and by faith and obedience to the gospel surrender his life to Christ. It means we allow ourselves by following after Christ to be remade in the image of Christ.  “But we all (speaking to Christians–DS), with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor. 3:18 NKJV)  As Paul s…

• New Birth

  Born Again at the Point of Faith – John 1:12-13 Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith) What Does the Phrase “Born of Water and the Spirit” Mean? The Kingdom of God and The New Birth The New Birth and Water A New Creation in Christ The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept   Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) Born Again When One Obeys the Gospel Things That Happen With Gospel Obedience Why I Am a Christian Keeping…

• I Can Do All Things Through Christ

  …” (Acts 9:5 NKJV) Without word from Jesus (although Paul did not know that this was Jesus until Jesus told him) Saul might well have left thinking he was being punished by the loss of his sight for not doing enough to destroy Christianity for remember Paul was thoroughly convinced that the course of action he had been pursuing was the course God would have him pursue that course being to persecute and destroy Christians and the Christian faith. T…

• If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications

  …ve in those things and make no claim to have them?  A Pentecostal would have a hard task ahead of him, if he was to be consistent in his teaching, to make any claim that a church that did not have and exercise these gifts was Christian.  He would have to deny it if he was to be logical and consistent in his teaching.  I add, however, I make no claim for logic or consistency in what passes for Christianity in today’s denominational world.  I…

• Waymon Swain’s Audio Sermons

  …s own right and so here is a link to Bob’s audio sermons as well:  Bob Swain’s Audio Sermons Assorted (22 sermons) Authority (1 sermon) Baptism (4 sermons) Bible Characters (1 sermon) Bible Conversions (5 sermons) Christian Living (26 sermons) Faith (7 sermons) Forgiveness (6 sermons) God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit (10 sermons) Grace (3 sermons) New Birth (7 sermons) Old Testament Studies (13 sermons) Prayer (1 sermon) Sa…

• God’s Hardening of the Human Heart

  …that the door of opportunity for salvation remains open endlessly for a man.  It makes, so we think, little difference whether I obey the gospel today or twenty years from now (assuming one should live that long).  If we as a Christian are living in unfaithfulness we have much the same attitude about time.  We think I can always repent.  However, the Bible says, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. …

• Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions?

  …e will see.  Divorce courts, bankruptcy courts, drug rehab facilities, prisons, and even the local hospitals maintain a heavy business because emotion has ruled in a life and reason took a back seat. We have the same thing in Christianity but pay day has not yet come so we have not yet been forced to confront reality.  We sometimes wonder why it is that a person cannot seem to see the truth.  Well, you have to have a desire to see it and thus be …

• Why Men Do Not Believe

  (While this study is meant to be primarily a study of those who reject Christianity on the grounds of disbelief some of what is said would apply equally to those who call themselves Christians but hold to false doctrine in one realm or another.) Paul in writing to the Thessalonians asked the brethren to “pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we may be delivered fro…

• The Need to Preach on Sin

  …)  Unless there has been fornication on the part of one’s spouse it is adultery to divorce and remarry and yet it is rare to hear preaching against this sin.  Why not?  Because many religious bodies that call themselves Christian have come to accept this sin and accept those involved in it as members in good standing.  What does God say about it? “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be dece…

• Religious Titles Forbidden in Christianity

  …notes ‘authority, eminence, superiority, a right to command, and a claim to particular respect.’  In this sense it is used here. In this sense it belongs eminently to God, and it is not right to give it to people. Christian brethren are equal.” Yes, it is true Paul said to the Corinthians, “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten yo…

• The Hardening of the Human Heart

  There are passages in the Bible that are frightening.  Heb. 3:12-13 is one such passage. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘TODAY,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (NKJV)  This is a passage addressed to Christians but the idea that the heart can be hardened by sin is appl…

• DennySmith.Net

  Welcome to my website, DennySmith.Net.  DennySmith.Net is a repository for my personal writings on God’s word, Christian articles if you will, and the audio sermons of Waymon Swain of Bastrop, Louisiana.  Waymon is a gospel preacher I have known since childhood, a man who has been preaching for approximately 60 years now.  In addition I have also listed under the “Resource Sites” link at the top of each page links to other webs…

• Faith is Not Just What You Believe

  …t?  Because faith is a driving force in the person’s life who has it.  It is not just a feeble thought or opinion.  It will force you to obey when it becomes as strong as God desires it to be. Paul speaks of his own life as a Christian in the New Testament and says: “Are they ministers of Christ?–I speak as a fool–I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews f…

• Repentance–How Can I Be Sure?

  …t.” (Acts 2:36 NKJV)  See also Acts 2:23.  They were guilty of crucifying the Lord as much as Judas was and yet we see later in that same chapter 3,000 of them repenting of that sin that very day, being baptized, and becoming Christians.  Judas could have done that also but he chose another course.  Peter, while he had denied the Lord after the Lord’s arrest, came back to the Lord. There are a couple of lessons here for us.  (1) Do not under esti…

• The Two Covenants

  The Kingdom of God and The New Birth Abuse of the Old Testament Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath? …

• The Kingdom of God and the New Birth–A Matter of Timing

  …s given … a kingdom.” The kingdom over which he now rules is “not of this world” (John 18:36 NKJV) but rather a spiritual kingdom which will never be destroyed.  Yes, Jesus is now king in his kingdom.  Every Christian is a subject of the king of kings–Jesus, the Lord and Savior. Why has all of this been important beyond just being a history lesson?  Why bother writing such?  What does this have to do with salvation and the…

• Faith in the New Testament–Different Meanings

  … it.  Faith is the motivating factor for the man or woman of God.  People act on God’s word because they believe it.  When one does not believe one does not obey.  This disbelief is one reason so many who claim the name Christian are never baptized.  They do not believe what the Bible says about it.  Others who do believe are baptized. Actually, the Hebrew writer explains this earlier in the book.  In Hebrews chapter 3 the writer is talking…

• The Lord’s Supper as a Part of a Larger Meal–Right or Wrong?

  Should the Lord’s Supper be incorporated as a part of a larger meal in the worship of God in the Christian religion? Some are today arguing for such a practice. All any of us can know about what we should or should not do is found in the Bible, at least that has been the traditional view of conservatives. Today there is a liberal element in Christianity who feels they no longer need Bible authority for what they do. That being the case they feel…

• For By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith Alone

  …t the symbols are supposed to mean for the Bible does not tell them).  Paul could not have literally meant that a man enters Christ by baptism no matter what he said about it for that would mean one had to be baptized to be a Christian, to be in Christ, the very thing they deny.  They thus pit Paul against himself by their man made tradition. Paul was baptized to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16) and taught that one enters Christ by baptism.  He sa…

• The Need to Sing in Worship

  …is a problem. What is that problem?  The question is answered with another.  Is singing a command of God for worship?  If it is but I fail to do it when I am able am I sinning?  I see no way around that conclusion.  If I am a Christian and the Lord’s Supper is being observed and the emblems are passed around but I fail to partake is it sin?  How can it be anything else? I would like to take a look at what the Bible has to say about singing …

• Praying to God to Bless the Bread–Really?

  …t in–the Lord’s Supper.  Jesus gave thanks but we often don’t.  We need to be educated on the subject.  Jesus gave his life for us and yet in observing that event we do not give thanks.  Friends if you are a Christian you ought to think long and hard about that. Instead of doing what we ought to do we do that which was unheard of in scripture and that which no one can explain with regards to what it is they want God to do.  We s…

• What Does The Phrase “Born Of Water And The Spirit” Mean? (The New Birth)

  … the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5 NASU) This passage has greatly troubled people over the years to the extent that many have just come to accept that which is religiously correct (political correctness in the field of the Christian religion) feeling it is a subject that is just a little too deep for them.  The real problem lies not in the difficulty of the passage but rather with theologians, scholars, commentators, and religious leaders (pre…

• Born Again At The Point Of Faith – John 1:12-13

  John 1:12-13 from the New American Standard Version:  “(12) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name:  (13) who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will on man, but of God.” [verse numbers added by me for clarification—DS] Many believe that they are born again (become Christians) at the moment they come to believe in Jesus as t…

• Gospel Obedience at Corinth

  …e likely there would be those claiming to be of Paul and Paul wanted no part of this division in the church that was occurring.  His point is that men are baptized into Christ, not into a man, and thus should wear the name of Christian only.  There is no such thing as being of Paul, or of Apollos, or of Cephas and it is wrong to claim allegiance to such and divide the church.  (2) The second thing we must understand is that just because Paul did …

• Be Faithful to the Lord (The Conversion of Lydia)

  …as that believers were baptized.  When we believe the words of Peter preaching by inspiration in Acts 2:38, we readily see why that was the case.  What did Paul preach to Lydia?  We all agree he taught the fundamentals of the Christian faith.  With Paul, as with the other evangelists of his day, that included baptism for the remission of sins.  The text says Lydia was baptized along with her household (Acts 16:15) but when did she do this and why…

• Receiving the Gospel (Acts 2:41)

  … emotion often overcomes the ability to think and reason correctly.  We have so much invested in a false proposition we will not allow our minds to even think it could be otherwise or even consider such a thing.  However, the Christian religion is based on truth (not error), and the overcoming of self, and acceptance of God which means accepting what he says.  You can obey Jesus by obeying the words of Peter if you will.  Emotions can change over…

• The Church

  Things People Do Not Know About the Church How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built? Saved by Jesus Outside the Church Jesus the Foundation of and Builder of the Church One Church–A Thing Hard to Accept Which Denomination Did Jesus Build? The Church as the Family of God–Things Found in It The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification Can One be Just a Christian in Christ’s Church Without being in a Denomination? Ch…

• How Does the Blood of Jesus and Baptism Tie Together

  I know of no one who claims to be a Christian but what believes we are saved by the blood of Jesus.  All believe that for the Bible clearly teaches it stating it plainly, “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Eph 1:7 NKJV)  There are very few, however, who realize where God has placed that blood spiritually speaking.  Christianity is a religion of the spirit.  No man is saved by coming into physical contac…

• The Grace of God in Baptism

  Most Americans of a Christian persuasion believe that baptism has little to nothing to do with the grace of God. One wonders have they never read Titus 3:4-7? The truth about God’s grace and its tie in with baptism is clearly set forth in Paul’s passage to Titus which reads as follows: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he s…

• Is Holy Spirit Baptism The Baptism That Saves?

  …r John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” (Acts 1:3-5 NKJV)  Thus the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was only to a select few, not to all Christians.  Many received spiritual gifts, and thus had the Holy Spirit in that sense, but the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was only to those few Jesus chose.  I remind the reader that while Holy Spirit baptism…

• Baptized For the Dead

  …God.” (1 Cor. 6:11 NKJV)  Does the word “washed” here remind you of the word “wash” as in “wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16), the words of Ananias to Paul when he was yet known as Saul.  So the church at Corinth, meaning each Christian in it, had been washed of their sins the same way Paul himself had in the waters of baptism where the blood of Jesus is contacted spiritually. What does all of this have to do with 1 Cor. 15:29 and the baptism for …

• A New Creation in Christ

  …ord “if” in this Roman passage from chapter 6 (verses two through eight) and in the 2 Tim. 2:11 passage.  President Clinton use to say it depends on what the meaning of the word “is” is.  Are we in the Christian religious world now at the point where we must argue that it depends on what the word “if” means?  Are we all so ignorant we do not know what words like “is” and “if” mean?  May …

• Who Governs the Church if We Follow the Bible?

  Who governs the church ought to matter a great deal to all those who want to be Christians and Christians only by following what the Bible says.  I know of no other way to be just a Christian, that and nothing more, other than to follow the Bible as closely as humanly possible.  That means one must ignore the traditions of men in religion and must ignore all teachings that cannot be found in book, chapter, and verse in the New Testament. Too oft…

• A Good and Pure Conscience

  …en cannibals in the distant jungles of Africa and Southeast Asia were justified.  Their cultures said those things were right and thus their conscience did not bother them by participating in such acts. Paul while persecuting Christians even to the death had a good conscience at the time he was doing so.  He said, in reference to that time, “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  This I al…

• King Saul–As Long as It Glorifies God

  …nt to his word.  They consider themselves godly men and would defend themselves as Saul did before Samuel, at least as long as he could. (1 Sam. 15:20-21)  The idea is prevalent today that we can do whatever we want to in our Christian work and worship just so we give glory to God, or as some might say as long as God receives the glory. That was exactly the case with King Saul.  God said destroy all these animals but Saul’s thinking is we will ta…

• Christianity, Homosexuality, and Gay Marriage–What Do We Do With the Bible?

  …l it something like the Age of Enlightenment but if memory serves me correct that appellation has already been taken.  Oh, well, maybe we can find another that will flatter us just as well. The subject of this little piece is Christianity, homosexuality, and gay marriage and what we are going to do with what the Bible has to say about it all.  There is really no need to discuss it for it is becoming more obvious what we are going to do with it ev…

• Looking Down Your Nose

  … socializing with an executive in their home.  Teachers and cooks do not get together and visit in each others homes but it is that way pretty much all across our society. James by inspiration tells us this is not the way the Christian is supposed to be.  We are to treat each other honorably and show no respect of persons. I would like to go back now and take a look at parts of the text quoted from James.  Verse 1 teaches us clearly there is to b…

• Work Out Your Own Salvation

  …s in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:12-13 NKJV) Is this a correct translation of the Greek text?  It is according to the American Standard Version of 1901, the English Standard Version, the Holman Christian Standard, the International Standard Version, the New International Version, the King James, the New King James, the New American Standard, the New American Standard Update, the NET, and the Revised Standard Versio…

• Willful Sin–Can Anyone Be Saved?

  The text for this article is Heb. 10:26-27, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.  But a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (NKJV) These verses have probably caused Christians about as much anguish as any you will find in the pages of the New Testament.  Make no mistake about it the verse…

• Healing For the Brokenhearted

  ….  “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”  (2 Thess. 3:16 NKJV)  When the scripture says give you peace in every way that includes overcoming heart break. Christians are told to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:15 NASU)  One needs grace to heal a broken heart.  It is a t…

• Fornication–Take It Lightly at Your Peril

  …who has done this deed might be taken away from among you…deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Cor. 5:2-5 NKJV)  This was a man who was a Christian but who stood condemned because of his fornication. Today we celebrate, or are expected to, the birth of children born of fornication.  Now do not get me wrong, such babies are deserving of all love, care, kindness…

• The Fragrance of Christ

  …ere Lord over all his creation.  Strange how smells can direct one to thoughts of God but then God created them that way.  Nature is a witness of God (Rom. 1:20, also read God’s answer to Job beginning in Job 38). If we are a Christian when we think of Christ the thought of him should have the same kind of effect on us as the aromas we have been talking about.  It is pleasant to think about Christ.  Like the pleasant smells of a country evening i…

• Though He Slay Me

  …ionate and merciful.” I am reminded of Paul’s words in Rom. 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (NKJV)  He is speaking to Christians. Do you ever despair in your life?  I know Paul did at least once.  He said in 2 Cor. 1:8-9, speaking of the trouble he had in Asia, “we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of l…

• Mary of Bethany–Doing What You Can

  …d.  Just before he raised her from the dead the Bible says, “And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.” (Acts 9:39 NKJV)  Tabitha was a Christian lady who had done what she could while living. Lazarus the beggar.  Of this man the Bible says, “But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with …

• Lincoln’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb

  …natural body (which can and will die–DS) and is raised a spiritual body (which cannot die–DS).” (1 Cor. 15:42-44 NKJV) No, give me Jesus’ tomb every time over Lincoln’s tomb.  People wonder why a person would be a Christian.  I wonder how it is that anyone who desired life could keep from being one.  Where else can life be found?  Where else is there a promise of life?  I want to live. I close with this.  According to a recent Harris …

• Parable of the Tares–No Middle Ground

  …wheat.  There is no middle ground to be had.  One is either a tare or wheat and which one it is makes all the difference in the world. Let us say for the sake of argument the parable is a reference to the church and the saved Christians in it (the wheat) versus those who are ungodly characters in it (the tares).  There is no middle ground there and to bring the point home if the ungodly in the church are not to be saved (and they are not) then wh…

• The Joy and the Danger of a Clean Conscience

  …ainly such a thing as sinning without violating one’s conscience, a thing we have to be aware of.  Paul is the perfect example.  He said in Acts 22:4 “I persecuted this Way to the death,” (NAS) the way being Christianity.  Then he says in Acts 26:10, “not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them…

• The Conscience as a Witness

  …ing them?  Their conscience, yes, but the conscience was the heart.  Their hearts were pricking them. We find the same thing on the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached the first gospel sermon and the first converts under the Christian dispensation were made.  Peter preached to them in a way to convince them that not only was Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, but that they were guilty of putting him to death (Acts 2:23,36).  The Bible says when t…

• Faith, Manna, and Grumbling Against God

  In 1 Cor. 10:10 the Christian is commanded to not grumble (NASB).  Taken in context (1 Cor. 10:1-11) the passage is telling us not to follow the example of the children of Israel in the things they did of which grumbling against God was one and which thing seemed to be a national pastime.  If you read the book of Exodus you soon learn they were continually grumbling against God.  They were a dissatisfied and unhappy lot and their dissatisfaction…

• Saved by Faith or Saved by Holy Spirit Baptism–Which Is It?

  Is a man saved by faith or saved by Holy Spirit baptism?  I personally do not believe either but there are many advocates of one or the other.  (Yes, I believe faith is essential but just not that it is the final step to salvation.) There are a number of people in what is commonly called the Christian community who are thoroughly convinced that one is saved by Holy Spirit baptism.  I do not believe they are in the majority but they are out ther…

• Abuse of the Old Testament

  There are many things practiced in the name of Christianity today that have no biblical basis to be found in the law of Christ.  The Old Testament is, at times, appealed to as the source of authority.  Does the Old Testament have the same authority for Christians today as the New Testament?  How should Christians today relate to and handle the Old Testament scriptures?  These are questions we all ought to be interested in for we are saved by tru…

• Baptism

  …rist The Grace of God in Baptism How Was Noah Saved Through Water? The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus The Washing of Water by the Word–Baptism and Salvation A New Creation in Christ Christ and Baptism in Colossians Christian Circumcision Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching Is Denominational Baptism Scriptural? What Does the Phrase “Born of Water and the Spirit” Mean? The New Birth…

• Old Testament Studies

  Abuse of the Old Testament The Book of Ecclesiastes King Saul–As Long as it Glorifies God Canaan and Heaven–How God Gives Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath? Spiritual Mirages  (a lesson from Jeremiah) Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) Moses–The Fork in the Road When Your Walking Stick Comes Home The Valley of Dry Bones The Weaver’s Shuttle Remove Not the Ancient Landmarks On to Canaan But He Lingered The Day of Decision …

• Without Natural Affection and Covenant Breakers

  …ent and the word popped up 31 times in 28 total verses.  The New Testament is sometimes called the New Covenant (it is listed as that on the title page of the copy I have of the original American Standard Version of 1901). As Christians we have entered into a covenant relationship with God.  When Jesus died on the cross and we come to accept him as Lord, Savior, and King of our life by gospel obedience we have entered into a covenant relationship…