I've done a courtesy search for the term Does Jesus.htm for you. See if you can find what you're looking for in the list below:

• Does God Really Care?

  …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 »Over the course of time just about all of us are confronted with the reality of …

• What is it a Man Must Believe in Order to be Saved?

  What is it a man must believe in order to be saved according to the Bible?  If salvation is dependent on faith which the Bible clearly teaches then it is essential to know what it is that the Bible teaches we must believe.  This is not a subject that is studied a whole lot for the answer seems so evident–we must believe in Jesus.  Yes, that is true, but what does that mean?  I will talk about that later in the article but there are other t…

• The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father

  Hebrews 3:1-2 reads as follows:  “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him who appointed him, as Moses also was faithful in all his house.” (NKJV) Reading this passage and its surrounding context awhile back got me to thinking about the faithfulness of Jesus.  We seldom think about Jesus being “faithful,” that…

• 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….

• Jesus’ Baptism and You?

  see it. It seems to me this is taking the same attitude the Pharisees took back in the first century.  They had their settled law and there was no point in thinking there was any possibility that they might be in error.  When Jesus came along and started questioning some of their beliefs and practices there was nothing to do but crucify him for there was no possibility in their mind that they could be wrong in their religion.  What he had to say …

• Everlasting Life–The Believer of John 3:16

  Who has everlasting life?  Is it the man Jesus spoke of in John 3:16 when he said, “whoever believes in him (speaking of himself–DS) should not perish but have everlasting life” (NKJV) or is it the man he spoke of in John 5:24 when he said, “I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has everlasting life” (NKJV)?  First,  Jesus says in the former passage believe in him for everlasting life wh…

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

  Why write an article on the topic the kingdom of God and the new birth?  The answer is really quite simple.  As long as people today have a desire to be saved in the way Jesus saved some during his personal ministry on earth–by faith without baptism–there will be a need to show the error of that position.  On this subject timing makes all the difference. When did Jesus become a king with a kingdom over which to rule?  When Jesus was …

• Ashamed of Jesus and His Words

  In Luke 9:26 Jesus made the following statement, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (NAS)  There are two things here that men are told they must avoid if they are to have any hope of Jesus not being ashamed of them in the day he returns to judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31) – (1) being ashamed of …

• 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…

• Bible Contradictions on Salvation?

  If we believe the Bible is the word of God why do we often interpret it in a way that makes it contradict itself?  Truth is harmonious or else it’s not truth and cannot be.  Jesus says of God’s word, “your word is truth.” (John 17:17)  It does not oppose itself when properly interpreted. Martin Luther was persuaded he had found contradiction in the Bible between what Paul wrote in Romans about salvation being by faith ver…

• How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built?

  Not a single denominational church was built by Christ for he built his church, one and only, in the first century hundreds of years before any denominations came into existence.  The New Testament scriptures after the gospels and Acts chapter 2 all refer to the church as a then existing institution.  Paul wrote to various churches in some of his epistles.  Jesus in the book of Revelation instructs John to write concerning the 7 churches of Asia…

• Jesus the Foundation of and the Builder of the Church

  Lest the reader be misled by the title reading into it what is not there the church that is being talked about in this article may not be the one you are a member of so proceed if at all with caution having been forewarned.  You can judge for yourself after reading.  I begin with Jesus as the foundation of the church. After Jesus’ arrest he was brought before the Jewish council where he was asked, “‘Are you then the Son of God?…

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

  …se “my name” is found 118 times in the NAS and a 119 times in the NKJV Bible.  For the purpose of this study I used the NAS and read through all 118 verses where the phrase is used to get at the meaning.  What did Jesus mean when he used the phrase “my name” which he frequently did?  We seldom use the phrase today in personal conversation, certainly not like Jesus did, unless we are introducing ourselves.  Is that the way …

• 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. …

• Why Men Do Not Believe

  …ly that Saul was totally unaware of everything that had been transpiring.  He says in Acts 22:3 that he was raised in Jerusalem. That does not necessarily imply he was an eyewitness but one is reminded of what Cleopas said to Jesus, unknowingly, on the road to Emmaus, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” (Luke 24:18 NAS)  That was said before the disciples generall…

• If Baptism is Not Essential for Salvation

  …of Pentecost while preaching the first gospel sermon ever to be heard Peter commanded believers to be baptized for the remission of sins.  “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38 NKJV)  If baptism is not for the remission of sins one has to pick either Peter or the Holy Spirit as being a teacher of error.  (4)  If baptism is not essential for salvat…

• 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, “…

• Who is the Believer in John 3:16?

  Sometimes things that are the most obvious are also the easiest to overlook.  No passage in the Bible is better known nor been memorized more than Jesus’ statement in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (NKJV)  This was part of a conversation that Jesus was having with a man named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews who …

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

  Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (NASU) and then a couple of verses later clarifies his statement when he says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5 NASU) This passage has greatly troubled people over the years to the extent that many have just c…

• Indifference – The Great Destroyer

  (Heb. 11:6 NKJV) the very thing the indifferent will not do. No need to study the Bible. God is love. God is grace. God is going to save everyone no matter what he or she believes or practices just as long as he believes that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world and that in the most abstract sort of way. Attend services wherever you so desire, no matter what they teach or practice, or don’t even attend anywhere if you don’t…

• Praying to God to Bless the Bread–Really?

  … not.  Partaking of the Lord’s Supper is serious business.  It needs to be done showing all respect, reverence, honor, and thanksgiving. I do not believe there is the least bit of evidence in scripture for the idea that Jesus ever blessed  the bread or the fruit of the vine in instituting the Lord’s Supper based on what is recorded in the word.  If he did where is it found?  Furthermore, where is the example of any man in New Testamen…

• 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…

• Jesus and the Furnace of Fire

  your daughter, your son, your mother or dad, your neighbor, your friend, some of the best people you know to end up in what the Bible calls the furnace of fire.  And what people cannot comprehend and refuse to believe is that Jesus will put them there (although the reality is they really put themselves there the result of the life they chose to live). Hear Jesus, “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His king…

• Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith)

  …one personally or not.  But, the answer to the question of whether or not God will have a man this bad or not is easily answered.  The first people the gospel was ever preached to lived in Jerusalem and were guilty of putting Jesus the Son of God to death.  When Pilate wanted to release Jesus they would have none of it (John 19:12).  They wanted him crucified.  Peter confronts them with their guilt over this matter in Acts 2:23 and again in Acts …

• Saved by Jesus Outside the Church?

  It is not uncommon to hear people express their opinion that organized religion (the church) has nothing to do with salvation.  All that matters it is said is whether or not one has a personal relationship with Jesus. I do not know where this “personal relationship with Jesus” language came from for if you type in the phrase in any online Bible concordance you will not get a single return for the phrase is manmade and not found in sc…

• One Church—A Thing Hard to Accept

  …that would be impossible from their point of view, for like the lady with O.J. it simply cannot be so.  It cannot be so for the heart has already made up its mind and evidence will not change it.  That was the way it was with Jesus’ miracles, even his resurrection did not convince those who had already made up their mind he could not be the Son of God (Matt. 28:11-14). In his last recorded meeting with the Jews in Rome during his imprisonme…

• The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus

  … given?  So, yes, I think we are all glad salvation is a matter of God’s grace. God’s grace is granted to us as a result of faith we possess.  “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand.” (Rom. 5:1-2 NAS)  “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” (Eph. 2:8 NAS)  There are many other passages…

• The Silence of the Scriptures

  …all are agreed about the meaning of that part of the passage.  That leaves only the word truth and the question about that only revolves around the meaning of the word “truth” itself.  Pilate asked the question of Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38 NKJV)  Had he of listened carefully to what Jesus told him just prior to his question and would have believed what Jesus said he would not have needed to ask the question.  Hea…

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

  I recently had an individual ask the question that if baptism is essential for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) then why did not Jesus tell the rich young ruler?  (This individual does not believe what Peter taught on the subject in Acts 2 where Peter makes baptism essential to salvation.)  It is the wrong question to ask.  Why?  Because when Jesus was talking to the rich young ruler he was not talking to you and me.  The only lessons in the …

• Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching

  …Paul says, by inspiration, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:8 NKJV)  One gospel was preached by inspiration. Jesus commanded the apostles, “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, …

• The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept

  …an has set his own standard as regards who is a Christian and who is not and it is religiously incorrect to dispute the accepted standard. A sort of political correctness in religion is nothing new.  It existed in the days of Jesus and was something he had to fight against daily.  As far as this world is concerned he finally lost the battle as it put him on the cross.  It is pretty certain the same (persecution to the death) can be said of Paul a…

• Christianity and Multiculturalism

  ated against.  The desire is to withdraw from the majority culture.  So what does the Bible have to say, if anything, on the topic? 1 Cor. 1:10 reads as follows:  “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (NKJV)  Here we have a plea not for diver…

• The Mysterious Eloquent Evangelist

  … by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And …

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

  …doubted. One must believe that Christ died for a purpose, to accomplish a goal–he died for our sins.  He died as a propitiation for our sins.  “He himself is the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 2:2 NAS)  Jesus was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29 NAS)  He was God’s sacrificial lamb who died to make atonement for the sins of man.  God cannot be a just God nor can he maintain …

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

  Beginning in about John 6:27 Jesus begins a discussion with those with whom he is conversing that carries through most of the rest of the chapter about himself being the bread of life sent down from the Father (John 6:32-35) that man might eat of this bread and have eternal life.  There are many, many descriptive terms used in reference to Jesus in the Bible of which the bread of life is but one. In the book of John alone Jesus is described as t…

• Better to Never Have Been Born–Why?

  Jesus in reference to his betrayer Judas said, “It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (Matt. 26:24 ESV)  Most of us who believe the Bible can understand what Jesus said and why as it pertains to Judas and if we could leave it at that we could rest in peace.  Why then does such a statement torment us? The answer is because we know the truth to be that any man or woman whether it is our mother or dad, our wif…

• Is Holy Spirit Baptism The Baptism That Saves?

  …roduction of John the Baptist.  Mark says, “Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.”  (Mark 1:5 NKJV)  We know Jesus when baptized “came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.”  (Matt. 3:16 NKJV)  So our very fi…

• Acceptable Prayer

  …), the prayer coming after the repentance.  The main point here is that one must be seeking God sincerely and be willing to obey him if he is to have hope that God will look favorably upon his prayer. We know God always heard Jesus’ prayers.  Jesus himself said, speaking to the Father prior to raising Lazarus from the dead, “I know that You always hear Me.” (John 11:42 NKJV)   Elsewhere he says, “And He who sent Me is with…

• He Went Away Grieved

  People came to Jesus while he was on earth for different reasons.  Some came because they felt he could provide them with the necessities of life.  After having fed the 5,000 the crowd intended to take him by force to make him king (John 6:15).  Jesus said to them, “You seek me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” (John 6:26 NKJV) Others sought after him that they might be healed of sickness and dis…

• Misunderstanding the Grace of God

  …word to isolate and elevate part of his word over and above the rest of his word.  That approach makes me and you a judge over the word where we get to make ourselves God and decide what is vital in his word and what is not.  Jesus when tempted by the devil said that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4 NKJV)  Note the way he phrased that statement, he said “by ev…

• Unhappy With the Church of Christ?

  s impossible today to have the original church of Christ?  It was once possible but it is no longer possible, is that the idea?  Many seem to think so.  If they are right then no one can be saved today because that would mean Jesus is the Savior of something that does not exist today (reread the Eph. 5:23 quote in the paragraph above) and if it does not exist you cannot be part of it and cannot be saved. The lady’s idea was that no matter w…

• Ways into Christ–How Many Ways Are There?

  …and there are few who find it.” (Matt. 7:14 NKJV) Salvation is found only in Christ.  “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NKJV)  Jesus said he was “the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NKJV)  Again, he says, “I am the door.  If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” (John 10:9 NKJV) The point I …

• Mary of Bethany–Doing What You Can

  Sometimes even when we do good we receive criticism and blame as though that which we did was evil rather than good.  Such was the case with Mary of Bethany a friend of Jesus and one whom Jesus loved (John 11:5).  If you are not familiar with the story of Mary who anointed Jesus with some very expensive oil of spikenard not long before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion you can read the account in Matt. 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, and John 12:1-8. I w…

• Non-Offensive Christianity

  If someone was to ask you or me what constitutes Christian character what would we say?  Off the top of our head we would most likely say love for God and our fellowman and faith in the Lord Jesus.  As we thought about it more intently we would add things like the fruit of the spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23 NKJV)  We m…

• The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification

  …hurches? (1) The time of its founding.  The Lord’s church began in the first century on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.  Any church that was built or came into existence centuries later for the first time cannot be the church Jesus built. (2)  The builder–Christ himself built his church.  If a church can trace its beginnings back to a particular man or group of men that can be named for its founding it is clearly not the church Christ built…

• Christ the Savior of the Body but Which One–the Matter of Timing?

  …f the hundreds of others that could be named?  Many would say it is all of them taken collectively.  It is a subject worthy of consideration, an important study, for if we do not get it right we will be found outside the body Jesus’ is saving at the last day. It is important that we understand that when Paul said Jesus was the “savior of the body” he was talking about the church as already stated.  The church is the body, “And he (God the Father&…

• 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 …

• Things People Do Not Know About the Church

  One should never minimize the importance of the church, the church Jesus built.  I am not speaking about manmade denominational churches.  They are not one and the same.  However, many people do not understand that and have grown unhappy with the old main line denominations and as a consequence have cast them aside and decided they will take Jesus alone and forget about the church.  Years ago this sentiment was popularized by the saying, “Jesus …

• Christian Wars–A Misnomer

  on sense. Name one passage in the New Testament that teaches that a Christian ought to organize with other Christians and go to war and kill those of another religion in order to establish the faith in a geographic locality.  Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36 NKJ…

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

  …an wait hundreds of years? If it was of man who gave man the authority to bring it into the worship?  Can one just do whatever feels good or seems right to him in worship to God and do that on his own authority? Remember when Jesus was confronted by the chief priests and elders who wanted to know by what authority he was doing the things he was doing?  He told them he would answer when they answered his question which was “The baptism of John, wh…

• Ignorance Does Not Excuse Sin

  , 13, 22, 27 and Lev. 5:2 and 5:15 bearing in mind as you read that to sin unintentionally in these verses is to sin in ignorance.) God’s nature is such that he cannot bear nor tolerate sin.  The Psalmist said, in prophecy of Jesus, “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.” (Psalm 45:7 NKJV)  Jesus hates wickedness and wickedness is just another name…

• The Christian, Politics, and the Government

  …isguided lawmakers who made them in that each has a soul that is worth more than all of the wealth of this world combined.  “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matt. 16:26 NKJV)  Jesus said, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark 2:17 NKJV)  That was his mission.  What is the mission of his servants?  Are we in the condemning them to hell camp or are we in the conve…

• Who Gets to Decide–God or the Church?

  …makes a lot of sense–or is it nonsense? But, who gets to make the rules about Christianity and the Christian life?  Is it the church, the denomination, or is it God?  When we get this right denominationalism will cease. Jesus, just before he ascended back to heaven said to his apostles, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18 NAS)  If words mean anything the word “all” still means th…

• Religious Titles Forbidden in Christianity

  …t to Matt. 23:9, “do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven,” (NKJV) and it would have no effect upon him either. Not only are men accepting religious titles, contrary to Jesus’ teaching, but the general public is just as guilty in granting these titles.  I have never seen a single instance in my lifetime of a Catholic priest being interviewed on TV without the interviewer calling him F…

• A New Creation in Christ

  In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus gave a parable of two men who went up to pray that reads as follows: “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even…

• The Great Commission and Cornelius

  …l have remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43 NKJV) Here is the point; the phrase “through His name” designates a relationship with the name.  Meaning what?  For that part we have to go back to the Great Commission Jesus gave himself in Matt. 28:18-20.  Let me quote that: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,…

• Obedience of Faith and Justification by Faith–Opposing Doctrines?

  …hought of God. Faith is always the first step in pleasing God.  “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.” (Heb. 11:6 NAS) Jesus said, in speaking of himself in John 8:24, “unless you believe that I am he, you shall die in your sins.” (NAS)  Jesus again, “he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:16 NAS)  We might say disbelieved what…

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

  les this question about whether or not we need Bible authority in the Christian faith and practice and worship once for all to those who are willing to listen.  “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col. 3:17 NKJV) What does it mean to do a thing “in the name of the Lord Jesus?”  There is a passage in the Old Testament that tells us.  In 1 Chron. 21:18-19 the Bible re…

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

  …elievers should never be judged on the basis of what one might find in a particular location.  Do we think it would be fair to judge all of the congregations that belong to Christ based on the church of Sardis as described by Jesus himself in Rev. 3?  I think not. Here is the body of Christ, the church, as God would have it be–“that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.  And i…

• Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions?

  …d that does it.  But mark this down, if your religion is emotion based sooner or later you will have what you desire no matter what the Bible says thus many denominations now have women preaching and in leadership positions.  Jesus said of God’s word that it was truth (John 17:17) but in emotion based religion truth must take a back seat and really does not matter for emotion rules whatever the issue. An emotion based religion is a religion that …

• Are Paul’s Writings as Authoritative as Jesus’ Words?

  …h of the matter is every single word of the New Testament excepting only those words added by translators for clarification (usually marked by being printed in italics) came directly from God the Father including the words of Jesus himself.  In John 1:1 Jesus is called “the Word” (NKJV) but he says later, “He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in th…

• Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon

  …n designate one specific thing but includes everything not covered by the word “repent.” One needs to ask some questions.  Earlier in this sermon Peter had accused those of whom he was speaking to of delivering up Jesus to be killed (Acts 3:13), disowning Jesus (Acts 3:13), and asking that a murderer be set free rather than Jesus thus condemning Jesus to death (Acts 3:14-15).  In view of Jesus’ innocence of all wrongdoing this w…

• Is Church Attendance Essential for Christian Salvation?

  (2) Can one be saved who does not love God?  John said, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” (1 John 5:3 NKJV)  We know from what we have discussed that one such commandment is assembling with the saints. Jesus, who is God, says “he who does not love me does not keep my words.” (John 14:24 NKJV)  Every word found in the New Testament is the word of Jesus either directly or indirectly.  Of the Holy Spirit Jesus said, “He will …

• Christ and Baptism in Colossians

  …have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 NAS) Only in Christ does this spiritual circumcision take place in which “the removal of the body of the flesh” occurs.  One is baptized into Christ.  We are, Paul’s exact words, “baptized into Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:3)  See also Gal. 3:27.  It is “in him” where we “were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands.” (Col. 2:11 NAS) Paul in talking about this circumcision in Col. 2 connects it directly with “ha…

• The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman

  …ef span of years on earth like a dog.  We are better than that. When God created man he said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” (Gen. 1:26 NKJV)  Only man was created in the image of God.  Jesus said of man in John 10:34, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods.” ‘ ” (NKJV)  I am not going to try and tell you what Jesus meant by that statement other than to sa…

• Must a Man Seek God?

  …hts” to mean that such a man never considers God in anything he does.  God is in none of his plans, is never given consideration in any of the man’s decision making, etc.  Actually, we find such a man described by Jesus in the New Testament in the parable of the rich man whose ground yielded such a plentiful crop that he knew not what to do with it all as described in Luke 12:16-21. This man decided to tear his old barns down, build b…

• Behold the Judge is Standing at the Door

  ….” (Psalms 44:21 NKJV)  Yes, he knows your evil thoughts (Matt. 9:4) and we will be judged for evil thoughts for they are listed in a list of sins as found in Matt. 15:18-19.  “God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 2:16 NKJV)  “All things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Heb. 4:13 NKJV) What I have written so far I have written both to the saint (the Christian)…

• Lincoln’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb

  …e flesh.  Were we kind with people; were we gentle, patient, and understanding?  Did we care about people?  Did we love?  Were we forgiving?  Did we seek God?  Did we obey the gospel and his commandments?  Were we faithful to Jesus and did we accept him as Lord?  Did we worship and serve God?  These are the kinds of things that matter.  These are the kinds of things that will matter when death comes. But as I thought on this visit at Lincoln’s to…

• The Need to Preach on Sin

  …e who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” (Isa. 43:7 NKJV) God knew man would sin and knew he had to punish sin but made provision to do that through his son Jesus, Jesus suffering for us, even before the world began.  “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with…

• Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation?

  …tements than are there, and do not read the full context in which we find the statements.  The very next verse coming after this Eph. 2:8-9 passage is verse 10 which reads, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (NKJV) The man who takes Eph. 2:8-9 as eliminating the need for good works is saying then that even though we were “created in Chr…

• Work Out Your Own Salvation

  …ither going to try and obey (try to be righteous) or else he is going to be disobedient (unrighteous).  It is an either or matter. Which of these two men do you think will get to heaven?  Which is going down the difficult way Jesus spoke of?  “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matt. 7:14 NKJV)  Is it the man who is unconcerned about righteousness or the man who is very concerned abou…

• The Wicked Shall be Turned into Hell

  … has to say about sin.  They do not want to hear it.  Preaching about sin is the kind of preaching that will drive many away.  It has almost gotten to the point where people consider it sin to preach against sin. Yet, why did Jesus come to earth and for what purpose did he die?  John the Baptist said it was to take away the sin of the world (see John 1:29).  The apostle John says, “He was manifested to take away our sins.” (1 John 3:5…

• God’s Hardening of the Human Heart

  d, it was not before they had an opportunity for salvation. Isa. 6:10 is where Isaiah makes the statement about the hardening of the heart that John quotes in John 12:40 above.  This same passage from Isaiah is also quoted by Jesus himself in Matt. 13:14-15 and by Paul in Acts 28:26-27.  There is a slight twist, however, in Jesus’ and Paul’s quoting of the passage which helps clarify the text when considering how the hardening affect …

• A Heart Right With God (Test Your Heart)

  …hildren of Israel who came out of Egypt.  “They always go astray in their heart.” (Heb. 3:10 NKJV, see also Psalms 95:10)  “God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” (1 John 3:20 NKJV)  The Bible says, speaking of Jesus, “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts?’’  Jesus could read a man’s thoughts and knew their hearts.  We cannot hide from God for, “There is no creature hidden from his sight, b…

• Hypocrites in the Church

  … for hypocrisy given by the Merriam Webster Dictionary are genuineness and sincerity.  Thus every time your Bible commands honesty and sincerity of heart it condemns hypocrisy. One needs to read no further than Matthew to get Jesus’ take on hypocrisy.  He calls the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites and then says to them, “you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matt. …

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

  … and when you get there you will know about the need for hope. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” (1 Thess. 4:13-14 NKJV)  The Christian lives “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.&#…

• Abuse of the Old Testament

  her things that should have been left there. The Hebrew writer says, “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.” (Heb. 7:12 NKJV)  Read in context the argument has been that Jesus is now our high priest and he is not of the tribe of Levi as were all the priests under the old Law of Moses.  He was of the tribe of Judah. But, our point is that the inspired writer tells us as clearly as words can m…

• Healing For the Brokenhearted

  “Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick.  And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.” (Psalms 69:20 NASU)  Read in context one sees clearly that this passage of scripture refers to Jesus toward the very end of his life on earth when facing the cross and perhaps, very possibly, on the cross itself.  The heart has been broken to the point of sickness. Is there a person whose heart has …

• Demas Has Forsaken Me

  …at we can lose our faith.  Some think if we had miracles today people would believe and would automatically become Christians strong in a steadfast faith.  I am satisfied Demas saw miracles.  I am sure Paul spoke about seeing Jesus after his resurrection from the dead.  Yet, finally in the end it made no difference with Demas.  It made no difference with the children of Israel who came out of Egypt with Moses.  The miracles did not matter.  If th…

• Jesus Defines Repentance

  The Bible clearly teaches that repentance is a command of God to all men (Acts 17:30) and that if we fail to repent we shall perish (Luke 13:3, 5).  It is essential then that we come to a proper understanding of the meaning of repentance.  What does it mean to repent?  Jesus tells us and we can find no higher authority on the subject than Christ himself.  Let us hear what he has said. “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this ge…

• For By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith Alone

  isten to except in Eph. 2.  Let him explain himself. “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe.  For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom…

• The Heart of Man from a Biblical Perspective

  …ements into the one whole that makes up the man.  Each of these aspects of the human heart is worth taking a look at. (1) The heart is the thinking aspect of man.  “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov. 23:7 NKJV)  Jesus asks, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” (Matt. 9:4 NKJV)  “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts.” (Matt. 15:19 NKJV)  “If that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming.’” (Matt. 24:…

• Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching

  house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us.” (Acts 16:14-15 NAS) We are not told exactly what Paul said in his sermon but we know he preached at least the following:  (1) Man as a sinner in need of salvation, (2) Jesus as Lord and Savior, (3) Faith in Jesus, (4) Repentance, and (5) Baptism.  We can glean a lot about Paul’s preaching from Lydia’s statement to Paul and Silas, “if you have judged me to be faithful to t…

• Faith, Works, and Baptism

  …om. 1:17 NKJV)  “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” (Rom. 3:28 NKJV)  “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Rom. 5:1-2 NKJV) In the book of Romans Paul is writing to a mixed audience of Jews a…

• If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications

  Have miracles ceased?  They have if we are talking about the kind of miracles performed by Jesus, the apostles, and those possessed of spiritual gifts in New Testament times.  The purpose of those miracles was to confirm that the word spoken was from God himself.  Such confirmation was needed.  Put yourself in the shoes of those living back then.  Here one comes into your midst claiming to speak for God.  Is he delusional, a mad man?  Is he a ch…

• The Grace of God in Baptism

  …r toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by his grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7 NKJV) I would encourage the reader to compare this passage as rendered in the…

• Deeper Spiritual Understanding–How do I Acquire It?

  … that they could tell you what they said.  Their problem was one of understanding them and making proper application but that was a result of heart failure. When you have developed your own religion as they had by the time of Jesus, an admixture of truth mixed in with manmade traditions that had the affect of law even to the extent of overriding the law of God (Mark 7:6-13), the heart ceases to be interested in anything that will disturb it.  Peo…

• Repentance–How Can I Be Sure?

  The words repent and repentance are Bible words, words hardly ever used outside of a religious context.  In reading one’s New Testament, beginning with the gospel accounts, the first preaching that is recorded is that of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 3:2 NKJV)  In Matt. 4:17 we see Jesus preaching the exact same message.  The call to men from inspiration from the very …

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

  … added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47 NKJV)  If the pure gospel message of the New Testament will not do that today then of what value is it? Does the gospel message now add you both to the church Jesus built and to a denomination simultaneously?  If so when did that begin?  If so where can I read about it in the Bible?  If so which denomination does it add me to in addition to the Lord’s church?  If so why is it need…

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

  One lesson that is clearly taught in the Bible is that man is not to test God.  Moses in speaking to the children of Israel told them, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.” (Deut. 6:16 NASB)  Jesus in speaking with the devil while he was being tempted said, “It is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Matt: 4:7 NASB)  Paul in telling us not to follow t…

• They Loved the Praise of Men

  … before we are interested in your praise. This attitude itself is sin.  All men stand equal before God.  We are to show partiality to none.  James speaks of this in James 2:1-6, “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.  For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the …

• Parable of the Tares–No Middle Ground

  The story of the parable of the tares is found in Matt. 13:24-30 and then explained by Jesus in verses 36-43.  I quote the parable as follows: “Another parable he put forth to them, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.  But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.  So th…

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

  … not rise from the dead.  Thus the faith of the non-believers and the faith of those who do believe both revolve around the matter of the resurrection (did it or did it not occur).  If it occurred there is a God in heaven and Jesus is his Son, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. The Bible itself teaches this very thing.  Speaking of Jesus the Bible says that he was, “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of hol…

• The Prodigal Son–When He Came to Himself

  The story of the prodigal son as told by Jesus in Luke 15:11-32 is too long to quote here but also so well known that almost everyone acquainted with the Bible at all knows the story and the main thrust of the lesson taught there.  However, there is one phrase in the account we do not talk enough about–the phrase “when he came to himself” found in verse 17. This verse marks the point in the young man’s life where his eyes were opened to th…

• Moses, the Waters of Marah, and a Lesson for Today

  …d of leprosy by doing what Naaman did?  What if Naaman had not gone and washed 7 times as directed?  (We know don’t we for until he did so, having refused for a time, he remained leprous and was not cleansed.) In John 9 Jesus crosses paths with a man blind from birth.  The Bible says, “He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.  And he said to him, ‘Go, wash in t…

• Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath?

  out of Egypt and that being the case the Sabbath law was never directed to you. It is time to move to the New Testament.  We find the Sabbath in the New Testament but we need to make some distinctions.  First we must remember Jesus was a Jew “born under the law” (Gal. 4:4 NKJV) and he and his fellow Jews were under obligation to keep that law.  Had Jesus not kept the law perfectly he could not have been our perfect sacrifice for sins….

• Diotrephes Loves To Have the Preeminence

  of Proverbs says, “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD.” (Prov. 16:5 NKJV) Peter tells us, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time”. (1 Peter 5:6, NKJV)  Jesus was the one who took the towel and washed the disciple’s feet and said we ought to be willing to do the same, that is serve our fellowman and one another. Jesus said, in speaking to the twelve, “You know th…

• Lessons for the Church from Isaiah (Chapter 1)

  …y to suit himself is found in the fact that there are hundreds if not thousands of denominations.  They all argue they know God.  Do you believe it?  I don’t. Reminds me of the church of the Laodiceans in Rev. 3:14-19 in that Jesus said of them, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-.“  (Rev. 3:17 NKJV)  The fact an individual or a ch…

• Faith is Not Just What You Believe

  …h that leads to action, to doing, to be specific it is a faith that obeys.  So many emphasize faith and grace to the extent that works (obedience) is discounted.  Who needs to obey?  Just believe is the cry.  That is not what Jesus taught. Jesus taught that a failure to obey was a failure to love.  Hear Jesus, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 NKJV)  “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” (John…

• He Feared

  …l.  Sin is a direct result of a weak faith.  We some how convince ourselves that we can disobey God and yet be saved which is another way of saying we do not believe what God has said.  To quote the Hebrew writer, speaking of Jesus, “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” (Hebrews 5:9 NKJV)  We either believe that or we do not. But who was the man whose fear led him to sin and unfaithfulness?  The apostle Peter’s faith fa…

• The Need to Sing in Worship

  …y first line of this song of Moses and of the Lamb, how it starts, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!”  To who is the song directed?  Directly to God just as much as a prayer would be. We know Jesus sang.  At the last supper when Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper the Bible says, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”  (Matt. 26:30 NKJV)  Speaking of Jesus we find …

• Pray For Others Lest You Sin

  in ceasing to pray for you.” (NKJV) Now I am not a Samuel nor are you but it makes you stop and think does it not?  Samuel was praying for God’s people.  Are we exempt from doing the same?  Are we under no obligation? During Jesus’ ministry he once was asked what the greatest commandment in the law was. (Matt. 22:36)  His response was love for God “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37 NKJV) but he then we…

• Why Do Men Run From God?

  …t last Sunday the majority by far of those the world calls Christians engaged in a worship service (if they went at all) in which they did at least some things which cannot be found in the New Testament of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, things that sprang up in some man’s mind once upon a time and that was taken up by a body of believers and has been handed down by tradition through the years as if it came from Jesus’ own mouth.  T…

• The Washing of Water by the Word–Baptism and Salvation

  …you can be outside the church and be saved but not until then.  Is there anyone who thinks they can be saved outside the Savior?  If one thinks so it is equivalent to saying the Savior is not needed. Eph. 5:25-27 teaches that Jesus sanctified the body and cleansed it by the washing of water (baptism)–that is what it says; read it for yourself.  Since you and I are the church that is how we are sanctified and cleansed.  We are as living ston…

• The Conversion of the Philippian Jailer

  …at there were things that he would have to do to be saved.  It was just not completely clear to him what those things would be.  In response to the jailer’s question Paul and Silas tell him to “believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31 NAS)  This was a statement that needed clarification calling for preaching.  What does it mean to “believe in the Lord Jesus”?  The jailer…

• Looking Down Your Nose

  The expression “looking down your nose” was and is an American idiom used with reference to looking upon someone dishonorably with a degree of contempt.  It is felt that the person so looked upon is beneath the one doing the judging in respect to honor and dignity.  That is the subject of this article. James says: “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.  For if there sho…

• The Sin of Being Unthankful and the Need for Thanksgiving

  …r them or gave to them meant nothing at all to them it hurts us down to the bone.  It tells us they do not care about us and it hurts.  It is a sin for a person to respond to an act of kindness and love that way. In Luke 6:35 Jesus ties the unthankful with those who are evil.  “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and you reward will be great, and you will be sons of the most high.  For he is kind to the u…

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

  … 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 Christian has been born again into the family of God….

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

  … of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money.” (Acts 8:14-18 NKJV) …

• Confirmation Sunday–No Bibles Required

  …ch went outside the New Testament for its practice and authority.  Who has such authority?  I would think it would take a bold man to say I’ll bring it into the worship whether I can find it in the New Testament or not. Jesus himself said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24 NKJV)  Since God’s word is truth, “your word is truth” (John 17:17 NKJV), and I “…

• Christian Circumcision

  …ale children but it was no longer required in the law of God.  “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.” (1 Cor. 7:19 NKJV)  “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” (Gal. 5:6 NKJV)  “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.&#…

• Gospel Obedience at Corinth

  …NAS)  If Paul preached more than one gospel he condemned himself by his very own words.  That did not happen.  In the book of Galatians, Paul says in chapter 3:26-27, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (NAS)  We need for the purpose of our study to emphasize the words “baptized into Christ”.  But first what does the…

• Regrets

  …u think Paul had regrets?  Do you think those regrets ever completely passed from his thoughts as he lived day to day? Peter’s case is too well known to recount here but we are all well aware of his regret having denied Jesus just at the time when Jesus could have used support the most. A lesser known case is that of James and John.  Do you remember when Jesus was heading to Jerusalem how he sent messengers before him and as they came to a …

• Repent–How Hard It Is To Do

  …nition repentance is a turning from ungodliness to righteousness. However, one greater than Noah had trouble getting people to repent and this one worked miracles in the presence of men in confirmation of his preaching.  Hear Jesus: “Then he began to rebuke the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:  ‘Woe to you, Chorazin!  Woe to you, Bethsaida!  For if the mighty works which were done in you had bee…

• The Army of the Lord–the Church

  …” (Phil. 2:25 NKJV)  He does the same with Archippus in Philemon verse 2 and about every Bible student is familiar with Paul’s admonition to Timothy where he tells him, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2 Tim. 2:3 NKJV)  If we are honest we realize that is an admonition to us as well if we desire to be a faithful Christian. We ought to put emphasis on the phrase “must endure hardship” for it is easy to think…

• The Case of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

  …o were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37 NKJV) find themselves in need of forgiveness.  What is Peter’s reply speaking by the Holy Spirit?  It is “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 NKJV)  Now note, when does the Holy Spirit promise these believers they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?  …

• I Can Do All Things Through Christ

  …rcome the world–our faith.” (NKJV)  There is power in faith to not only overcome the temptations of the world but power to climb our own personal mountains, mountains so high and so steep as to seem to be impossible but Jesus tells us all things are possible “with God.” (Matt. 19:26 NKJV)  “The word of God is living and powerful.” (Heb. 4:12 NKJV)  It has caused people to repent of their sinful lives and make a 180 degree turn in their live…

• Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize

  told him. One also has to ask another question if one is to interpret 1 Cor. 1:17 as teaching that baptism does not matter to Paul or to Christ.  Actually, two questions.  (1) Why was Paul, an apostle, exempt from the command Jesus gave to the other apostles just before his ascension to heaven in Matt. 28:19-20 where the command was, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son…

• Faith in the New Testament–Different Meanings

  …t we have heard about so long and so much that we read right over the top of it not giving it a thought thinking we understand what is being said without even a pause to consider it. We think it means trust in God or the Lord Jesus and it most certainly does.  The word is used with this meaning more than any other meaning given the word in the New Testament scriptures.  I think the classic example of this kind of faith (trust in God) found in the…

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

  …ssing over the homes of the children of Israel who had sacrificed a Passover lamb and put the blood on their two doorposts and the lintel. One can read about the institution of the Passover and what it was about in Exodus 12. Jesus is the Passover lamb for Christians, “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Cor. 5:7 ESV) It is by his blood that we are spared spiritually. The Lord’s Supper is our memorial in remembrance of…

• Cornelius’ Conversion–Final Thoughts

  …ne verse above this one, in verse 12, it is stated, “If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12 NKJV)  Two verses down I read this, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15 NKJV)  In a broader context, but still in the book of 1 John, it is said if we keep his word we abide in him and he in us. (1 John 2:5, 1 John 3:…

• Spiritual Mirages

  … us spiritually.  Just because we have a spiritual life, one we are actively involved in, does not mean it is the right religion or pleasing to God.  As far as I am able to tell from reading the New Testament the Pharisees of Jesus’ day were doing just fine as far as the blessings of this world were concerned but they were experiencing their own spiritual mirage. The Jews with which Jeremiah was dealing could not have been more wrong than t…

• What Is Baptism (the Sprinkling Hoax)

  …them in their particular faith.  We confess we believe in the Bible.  We also ought to confess that we believe in a lot of other things too, namely, man’s additions to it.  It reminds me a lot of the Jews in the days of Jesus.  They professed that they were abiding in the Law of Moses and keeping it faithfully.  Yet, what they were keeping was the Law of Moses shot through and through with their own traditions and manmade laws added.  I nee…

• Preaching Jesus Means Preaching Baptism–The Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch

  “And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.  And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:35-36 NAS) This is the account of Philip and his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch.  It shows that when Jesus is preached baptism is preached as a part of preaching Jesus to an alien sinner.  When th…

• Though He Slay Me

  …11;of whom the world was not worthy.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” (Heb. 11:36-38 NKJV) Do you wonder if any of these people ever prayed for a change in their life’s circumstances?  Jesus did for his.  Three times he prayed that he might be spared the cross.  Yes, I suspect many prayers were offered by those mentioned in Hebrews 11.  God’s people are praying people by definition.  Would you have prayed …

• The Peace Found in Forgiveness of Others

  …ave anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25 NKJV)  This forgiveness must be “from his heart” (Matt. 18:35 NKJV) which means, of course, sincerely. If Jesus could have a heart of forgiveness toward those who were crucifying him, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34 NKJV), then surely no one has done such evil to you as that done to him.  (I…

• Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?

  … are to have it–a life in heaven.  In the book of Matthew, chapter 25, verses one through thirteen we have an account of ten virgins who went out to meet the bridegroom after the manner of the customs of those days when Jesus lived.  None knew exactly when the bridegroom would arrive but some made adequate preparation for a long wait while the others did not. When the time came at midnight, when the bridegroom arrived, the 5 foolish virgins…

• Abortion Luke 1 – All You Need to Know

  … the womb was a person, not a sterile fetus, not just a mass of tissue.  When the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:19) came first to Zacharias who would be the father of John the Baptist and then later to Mary (Luke 1:26), the mother of Jesus, Gabriel spoke both times as though the child to be born already existed.  He spoke in prophecy but this tells us something in itself.  What?  In God’s eyes both John the Baptist and Jesus in the flesh already ex…

• Israel’s Rebellion at the Red Sea

  … in and of themselves do not by themselves necessarily create a lasting faith.  For a time they may strike awe and wonder into a person and for a time make a believer out of him/her but how long is it going to last?  With all Jesus’ signs that he performed the Bible says, “Although he had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in him.” (John 12:37 NKJV)  Yet, the purpose of signs (miracles) is to create faith, R…

• Denominationalism’s Sin Against Peter

  … as the Son of God.  Today, however, men who claim Christianity pretty much just ignore his sermon that day for they do not like what he said and they no longer believe it. Peter was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven by Jesus himself in Matt. 16:19, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (NKJV)  He …

• How Was Noah Saved Through Water?

  …is, eight souls, were saved through water.  There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (NKJV) How was Noah and his family saved through water?  What was he saved from?  What is an antitype?  Was he saved by grace or by works (he did build the ark)?  There are a lot of questions.  Let us start fr…

• The Faith of Enoch

  ….” (Rom. 10:17 NKJV)  The NAS (New American Standard) translation has “word of Christ” here rather than “word of God” but it is hard to see that that makes any difference in view of the fact that Jesus is the Word (see John 1:1,14) and the Word was God (John 1:1).  Enoch’s faith then had to be, as does that of all men, based on God’s word.  By that I mean he had to have heard from God to have faith (Rom. …

• Is Denominational Baptism Scriptural?

  There are many different baptisms being performed today by religious people–different methods and for different purposes.  However, the only baptism that I as an individual facing eternity ought to be concerned with is the baptism that Jesus spoke of when he said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16 NKJV) This is the baptism of the Great Commission when Jesus told the apostles, “Go therefore and make disciples of a…

• Honestly Deceived

  …do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me,” (John 5:30 NASB) that is the will of God the Father.  Again, “I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 6:38 NASB)  Jesus wanted what the Father wanted and says elsewhere “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” (John 8:29 NASB)  Paul says “Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20 NASB) meaning he had developed the same kind of will in hi…

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

  …be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16 NAS) that Paul did not object and respond to Ananias along the line of now look here Ananias, I know you have the Spirit of God but the minute I met Jesus on the road I believed and was saved and so both you and the Spirit are in error.  I need not be baptized to “wash away” any sins for they were forgiven me when Jesus appeared to me and I first believed.  W…

• The Chastening of the Lord

  … is love, God is grace, and the very idea that God would ever send upon us anything but that which is most pleasant is abhorrent to their way of thinking. There is no doubt that when one looks at the big picture that God only does what is best for us for our eternal welfare.  Loving parents are like that with their children.  All that they do in regard to their children is for the child’s welfare if they are the kind of parents they ought to be. …

• The Parable of the Talents–the Sin of Fear

  … do not know what it teaches.  James says faith without works is dead (James 2:26) and I have not argued with him like so many do.  Nothing matters with regards to salvation if you take away God’s grace and the blood of Jesus for without those there will be no salvation period.  However, with God’s grace and the blood of Jesus there are some things that do matter and the parable of the talents teaches us what one of those things is. N…

• The Conscience as a Witness

  …ect his own steps then conscience might well be a suitable guide but that is not what the scriptures teach.  The guide is what the word of God says for only God knows what is perfect in goodness, holiness, and righteousness.  Jesus said to the devil, but it is applicable to all for it remains true, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4 NKJV) …

• God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit

  Does God Really Care? Things God Cannot Do Jesus as the Bread of Life Jesus and the Furnace of Fire Behold the Judge is Standing at the Door The Need to Preach on Sin What Does the Phrase “My Name” Mean in the Bible? Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) Wonderful Jesus Who Is Jesus? Born To Die The Appearance of Jesus All Spiritual Blessings Are in Christ Enemies of Christ The Holy Spirit (Part I) The Holy Spirit (Part II) The Holy Sp…

• Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation

  who are indifferent are those who are basically satisfied with the way things are no matter what the state of things may be.  The church at Laodicea as described in Rev. 3:14-22 seems to have been trending in that direction.  Jesus described them as “lukewarm” (Rev. 3:16 NKJV) and satisfied (Rev. 3:17).  They were neither cold nor hot (Rev. 3:16).  It might be a matter of semantics, if you want to disagree with me, but it certainly so…

• Canaan and Heaven–How God Gives

  How God gives to men is not only an interesting study but also one of upmost importance as it relates to our salvation, a salvation which is clearly set forth in the scriptures as being a free gift of God to man.  “Being justified freely by is grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 3:24 NKJV)  It is by grace through faith that we are saved and not by works. (Eph. 2:8-9)  Salvation is specifically said to be “the gift of God…

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

  arried?  They would have looked on me with bewilderment thinking my mother and dad needed to take me aside and have a little talk.  What we have now was unknown, unheard of, beyond anyone’s imagination just a few decades ago. Jesus said, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one fles…

• The Blessing of Affliction and the Goodness of God

  …  Why not?  Because they have not suffered affliction like those who lack the power and nobility and worldly wisdom they have.  Is money a blessing?  It could be but most of the time it is not.  How do I know?  I know because Jesus said, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matt. 19:24 NKJV)  Why?  One big reason is because few of that class who are doing so well will ever …

• Singing and Playing in Christian Worship

  …ve a pretty good idea how one would sing with the spirit but I am at a loss to know how one plays, as in play a musical instrument, in the kind of spirit Paul is talking about in this chapter. In Heb. 2:12 the reference is to Jesus and the text reads, “I will declare your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to you.”  Does my brother think Jesus does this singing while playing an instrument?  And, by the way, this …

• Things God Cannot Do

  …their mind he will not care, he did not mean it for us today, he knows times have changed.  In other words God did not mean what he said and will not count our disobedience against us as sin.  We need to remember the words of Jesus, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4 NKJV)  We ought to emphasize from that passage the phrase “every word.”  God “cannot…

• Without Natural Affection and Covenant Breakers

  …nt 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 with him.  Remember his words, “This is my blood of the new covenant, w…

• The Book of Ecclesiastes

  Is the book of Ecclesiastes the most depressing book in the Bible?  Well, it can be–no doubt about it.  I don’t think it would make very many people’s list of favorite Bible books.  I know personally it always kind of depressed me in days gone by when I would read it but that was my fault, not the book’s fault.  I would like to try and show the upbeat side of the book of Ecclesiastes. What the book of Ecclesiastes does is…

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

  …ttered by the disciples.  “Lord … grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (Acts 4: 29-30 NKJV)  Then in verse 33 we read, no doubt in answer to their prayer, “with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” In Acts 5:12 Luke says, “…

• Fear God

  …eared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.”  One wonders, has that changed?  Was it ever meant to change? Well, how about the New Testament?  We can have no higher authority than Jesus who said, “I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell: yes, I say to you, fear Him!”  (Luke 12:5 NKJV)  Paul says we are to “work out your own salvation with fe…

• The Grace of God and the Parable of the Laborers–Is God Just?

  tends towards jealousy and envy) and overcome it if we are to become the person of character that we need to be having the kind of attitude God would have us have.  Those first hired in the parable fell short in this respect. Jesus used the parable about the laborers in the vineyard to teach how God’s grace works for those who become Christians.  We become Christians at different stages in life and in different circumstances and environments.  So…

• Saul’s Conversion

  …time (see earlier articles for details related to those conversions).  Verse 18 says of Saul that “he arose and was baptized.” (Acts 9:18 NAS)  The reader needs to take note of some things said in earlier verses.  Jesus, in speaking to Saul on the road to Damascus, says to him, “enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.” (Acts 9:6 NAS)  Just a few verses later we see the Lord sending a man by the name of A…

• Faith

  Paul’s Conversion–Justified by Faith Faith Comes by Hearing the Word of God–the Implications Who is the Believer in John 3:16? What is it a Man Must Believe in Order to be Saved? Faith is Not Just What You Believe Obedience of Faith and Justification by Faith–Opposing Doctrines? Disobedience to Jesus The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father I Can Do All Things Through Christ If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implicatio…

• Who Governs the Church if We Follow the Bible?

  … is a New Testament church.  If it is not we ought to get out of it. “Christ is head of the church” (Eph. 5:23 NKJV) and whatever is done in the church or anywhere else is to be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17 NKJV), meaning by his authority.  Jesus has all authority, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18 NKJV)  We cannot step outside the authority of Christ f…

• The Hardening of the Human Heart

  …on God’s will, what then?  The answer is that it is then directing the course of your life towards hell.  There is good reason to, “Guard your heart above all else.”  One’s eternal destiny is at stake. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21 NKJV)  If you look closely at the two verses just prior to Matt. 6:21 Jesus only offers two alternatives as to where a man’s …

• A Good and Pure Conscience

  …h 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 also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.” (Acts 26:9-…

• Baptized For the Dead

  …10 Paul gives a list of what were some real serious sins (they all are) and then says in the next verse, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our 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…

• 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…

• Baptism

  …swers if we will accept them. Below you will find links to many articles written by me (Denny Smith) on the subject as well as audio sermons on the topic by a friend of mine–Waymon Swain.  I hope they help. The Blood of Jesus and Baptism Jesus’ Baptism and You If Baptism is not Essential for Salvation Ways Into Christ The Grace of God in Baptism How Was Noah Saved Through Water? The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus The Washing of W…

• Never Give Up

  …g me a hard time and they are bringing me down with them and I quit, I give up. Despite my best efforts I cannot live faithfully and please God. Had Moses done this what then?  Where would he be today?  Would he have met with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration?  Would he have been called a faithful man in the book of Hebrews as is the case?  What did Moses do? He did not quit.  He accepted his sin for what it was and went on with life.  He con…

• 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…

• Receiving the Gospel (Acts 2:41)

  “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41 NAS)  In my younger days I use to hear about those preachers on tv or radio who would tell their listening audience words to the effect that if they wanted to receive Jesus and salvation just to lay their hands on top the set, say certain words in the form of a prayer, and presto–salvation.  For all I k…

• The Parable of the 10 Virgins–7 Lessons

  … who were lost.  They are lost for they have made no preparation. The rich young ruler was an example of an otherwise good man who was lost.  We find his story in Matt. 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-22, and Luke 18:18-30.  He comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus lists a number of commandments and he answers and says “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” (Mark 10:20 NKJV)  Did he lie?  No!  But, he lacked…

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

  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17 NKJV)  On its surface this proclamation by Paul is very simple and easy to understand and yet the failure to grasp its implications has brought much division and strife among those who believe Jesus is the Son of God.  Faith and opinion are mixed and it seems no one is able to separate the two.  It appears to the casual observer that one man’s faith is another man’s op…

• God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh

  … in time, I am exalting Christ the Son of God and counting the blood of the covenant a great thing, not a common thing.  Instead of insulting the Spirit of grace I am praising it and giving God glory for it. I ask you why did Jesus die on the cross if he was determined to condemn us the very first time we committed a sin knowingly after our gospel obedience?  He may as well of stayed in heaven had that been the case for who could be saved?  If I …

• Abraham’s Faith (Faith Accounted for Righteousness)

  Every person who truly believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, is interested in having what we might term “saving faith.”  The Bible could not be any clearer than it is on our need for such faith.  Paul tells the Ephesian Christians, “By grace you have been saved through faith.” (Eph. 2:8 NKJV)  To the Christians at Rome he speaks of them “having been justified by faith” (Rom. 5:1 NKJV) and then the…

• The Joy and the Danger of a Clean Conscience

  …now when we are giving into it.  We know while we are doing it that it is wrong.  Can a conscience violated, which is another way of saying a heart that has been made impure, be restored to cleanliness again?  If not, why did Jesus die?  Did he die just for those sinners who were like Paul or did he die for sinners of every stripe? When David had sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband killed the prophet Nathan came to him and confronted him.  …

• Salvation (Becoming a Christian)

  Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching Jesus as the Bread of Life Must a Man Seek God? Jesus and the Furnace of Fire Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You? Indifference – The Great Destroyer God’s Plea–On Christ’s Behalf be Reconciled to God Why You Cannot be Saved like the Thief on the Cross Bible Contradictions on Salvation How Was Noah Saved Through Water? How Doe…

• More on Willful Sin—Can Anyone be Saved?

  …e has to think “they knew better” before committing some of them. John says he wrote to his little children, as he calls them, “that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1 NKJV)  I assure you a penitent Christian can be forgiven of sin.  Not a doubt in the world about it as far as scripture goes and Jesus will be your advocate.  While it was befor…

• Was Cornelius Saved Before Baptism? (Cornelius’ Conversion)

  …n that man.  And, yet God’s angel instructs him to send for Peter.  Why?  Might it not be that even a good man like Cornelius needed the gospel?  If a man can be saved without the gospel why bother to preach it, why did Jesus die on the cross, why the great commission?  You can read 2 Thess. 1:8-9 to see what will happen to those who do not obey the gospel.  Cornelius needed the gospel.  He was a man in need of salvation from his sins for n…

• Sin

  Honestly Deceived The Pleasures of Sin Better to Have Never Been Born Jesus and the Furnace of Fire Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? More on Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation Disobedience to Jesus Must a Man Seek God Indifference – The Great Destroyer Looking Down Your Nose Ghost Hunting and Consulting the Dead Christianity, Homosexuality, and Gay Marriage The Wicked Shall be Tu…

• The Pleasures of Sin

  …res” (plural) is used 4 times in the New King James version of the New Testament.  Each time it is used it is in a context related to committing sin. (1) The first time it is used is in the parable of the soils (Luke 8:14) as Jesus is explaining the parable.  “And the ones (the seeds—DS) that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” (NK…

• Faith, Manna, and Grumbling Against God

  …ael happy in Egypt?  The Bible says, “The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously; and they made their lives bitter with hard labor.” (Ex. 1:13-14 NASB)  They had enslaved them (Ex. 1:11).  This does not sound like a good life to me but I point this passage out for you need to remember it.  To hear the children of Israel tell it later in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land you would have thought Egypt h…

• Christian Living

  he Forgiveness of Others The Christian, Politics, and the Government Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath? Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation The Sin of Being Unthankful and the Need for Thanksgiving Ashamed of Jesus and His Words I Can Do All Things Through Christ The Blessing of Affliction and the Goodness of God Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) Heaven (Part I) Heaven (Part II) A Crucial Difference Christ’s Parting Charge …

• The New Birth and Water

  Having written on the subject of the new birth before I was surprised, although I doubt I should have been, to have gotten some comments back to the effect that the water mentioned in John 3:5 where Jesus says, “most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (NKJV) had reference not to baptism but to the water of childbirth.  Probably shows what a sheltered life I have led to be surp…

• 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 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’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb Abortion Luke 1 – All You …

• Mt. Sinai and the Day of Judgment

  …are unfaithful and disobedient we will see how strong and tough you are on that day and you will see for yourself.  On that day we will all know who we are and what our place is. That will be the day when “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  These shall be punished with everlasting…

• King Saul–As Long as It Glorifies God

  …  He will receive glory in our doing so, he will be pleased.  Friend there is arrogance, presumption, insolence, call it what you will, in that kind of thinking.  We will disobey God in order to please him.  Sounds ridiculous does it not but that is the way much of Christendom thinks today, just like King Saul. The Bible could not be any clearer than it is on the subject of homosexuality as all know but we presume to know more than God about it a…

• Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences

  …and may find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 NAS)  Christians sin; they violate their consciences, and need forgiveness.  It is found in sincere repentance and confession to God asking forgiveness by means of Jesus’ shed blood at the throne of grace.  Without the throne of grace there would be little but despair.  (See also 1 John 1:7-9.)  Compare this Heb. 10:22 passage with 1 Peter 3:21.  Both passages associate the consc…

• Fornication–Take It Lightly at Your Peril

  …u are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he 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,…

• Keep Your Heart With All Diligence

  … of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man.” (Matt. 15:19-20 NKJV)  Take special care here to notice that the first sin Jesus lists is “evil thoughts.”  Paul says we are to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 cor. 10:5 NKJV) We are even given directions as to what to think about.  “Finally, brethren, whatever t…

• Ghost Hunting and Consulting the Dead

  Ghost hunting has become popular on TV in recent years.  Just about all of us are curious about those things that are unknown, mysterious, and frightening and we think maybe even a little dangerous.  Some people believe in ghosts and some do not.  The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost when they saw Jesus walking on the water–Matt. 14:26, Mark 6:49–but that may have been simply because they felt there was no other way of acco…

• Abel’s Sacrifice by Faith versus Cain’s Sacrifice

  … through commandments given to their parents (Adam and Eve) and thus passed on down to them from parent to child.  That God spoke directly with not only Adam and Eve but also with Cain we see from Gen. 4:6-7 and Gen. 4:9-15.  Jesus, in the New Testament, in Luke 11:49-51, includes Abel with the prophets so we know God spoke to him as well.  A prophet was one who proclaimed God’s will and not just necessarily one who only fore-told things to…

• Philip Preaching the Gospel in Samaria

  “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.” (Acts 8:12 NAS) It would be good to read an earlier article on this web site from an earlier time in the book of Acts, an article entitled, “Receiving the Gospel–Acts 2:41,” as Acts 8:12 is pretty much a parallel passage teaching the same thing as Acts 2:41.  …

• The Fragrance of Christ

  …cept and that which condemns them. To the one who hears the gospel and accepts it there is a sense of freedom, the conscience is made clean, and burdens are lifted as the song goes “at Calvary.”  To the one who will not hear, does not want to hear, his view of Christ and his gospel is a message of enslavement, of the loss of personal freedom.  Thus the fragrance of Christ is to the one party pleasantness while to the other offensive.  One man’s h…

• Willful Sin–Can Anyone Be Saved?

  …he circumcision party.  It was a willful sin in the sense that Peter knew what he was doing. How about the man in 1 Cor. 5:1, “It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife.” (NAS)  Did this man who was doing this not know it was sin?  You know he did.  Yet, in 2 Cor. 2:7 Paul urges the Corinthians to forgive…

• 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 The C…

• Repentance

  Jesus Defines Repentance Repentance–How Can I Be Sure? Repent–How Hard It Is To Do Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? More on Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? The Chastening of the Lord The Blessing of Affliction and the Goodness of God …

• Word of God

  Are Paul’s Writings as Authoritative as Jesus’ Words? Are the New Testament Scriptures Alone a Sufficient Guide to Heaven? The Need to Preach on Sin I Can Do All Things Through Christ If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) What a Preacher Must Preach The Power of the Word of God to Change Lives False Standards of Authority What the Word of God is Like Some Great Bible Questions …

• Authority

  Are the New Testament Scriptures Alone a Sufficient Guide to Heaven? Are Paul’s Writings as Authoritative as Jesus’ Words? The Silence of the Scriptures Religious Titles Forbidden in Christianity Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) False Standards of Authority       …

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

  …an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” (2 Cor. 11:14-15 NKJV) Satan quoted scripture to Jesus while tempting him after his baptism. False teachers can quote scripture. We today are gullible. We believe about anything that is called Christian, whether in doctrine or works, is God approved. We just accept it and …

• DennySmith.Net

  …  I can only write those things I believe to be the truth. I hope you profit from the site.  I do know that what will profit some will anger others.  That is just the way it is when one writes on or talks about religion.  Ask Jesus or Paul.  As a guy who is growing older I am only trying to please one person—God—but if I can do some good for others by writing that will be a blessing to me. [Please feel free to use the articles you find here but i…

• Bible Conversions

  … demanded of those being converted for salvation was being demanded not by Peter, Philip, or Paul but rather by the Holy Spirit himself. The conversion examples we find in Acts are all important in that they teach us how what Jesus taught while on earth with regards to man’s salvation was to be understood when put into practise after his death and ascension back to heaven and the guide to that was the Holy Spirit speaking through inspired m…

• God’s Plea–On Christ’s Behalf be Reconciled to God

  …e but also about what will not be there–all of these evil things that burden the heart and bring tears and sorrow.  Heaven is a place of love.  It is not a place of alienation, anger, and bitterness. The Bible says when Jesus drew near the city of Jerusalem, as he drew near to it for the last time (from afar), “he wept.” (Luke 19:41 NKJV)  What do you think brought him to tears?  In Matthew we find his feelings expressed when he says, “O Je…