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

  …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 »I am sure there are millions of people who call themselves Christians who have n…

• Singing and Playing in Christian Worship

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

• The Need to Sing in Worship

  I am not sure I ever heard a sermon on just singing.  Often I have heard it discussed in a second hand sort of way when the subject of instrumental music is under discussion but I don’t think I ever heard a sermon on just singing. Almost without fail no matter how small a congregation gets you will find some brethren not singing.  If it was just a matter of having a bad cold, a sore throat, or something along those lines there would be no …

• The Silence of the Scriptures

  t separated Luther from Zwingli, namely, the silence of the scriptures.  Does the silence of the scriptures on a practice permit that practice or forbid it? This can only be answered by an appeal to the scriptures to which we will go but before doing so it would be good to make the point that many have answered this question without an appeal to scripture at all.  The Roman Catholic Church is not concerned with what the scriptures say.  Authority…

• Abuse of the Old Testament

  hapter 11 is another good illustration.  We are taught by the examples of Old Testament characters what faith is and what it means to have faith.  We are encouraged to persevere as we see what some of those men and women were willing to do and endure to be faithful to God.  We compare our trials with theirs and ours seem but little things and we are given strength to go on and not give up.  The Bible speaks of these as being those “of whom …

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

  and thus God would see to it that the bills were paid and the work would prosper and the church would grow in numbers. But here was the problem–God’s word does not one time speak of building a house to worship in.  One will read the pages of the New Testament until old age dims his eyes and never read one time of a church building such as you see on nearly every corner today.  There is no word from God on building a material brick and mort…

• 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. …

• Is Church Attendance Essential for Christian Salvation?

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

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

  many things done in worship services today for which no word of God can be found. I do know of one man I was reading after who says of the God of the Old Testament that he was a “critical God.”  Those are his exact words.  He will get to tell God that face to face in the last day and I am glad I was not the one who charged him as such.  Can you imagine saying that to God’s face on the Day of Judgment?  I am betting when that day comes this …

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

  e authority for what they do. That being the case they feel free to do as they please and make anything and everything an act of worship that their heart so desires. They are no longer restricted by the Bible. What I say here will be of no value to them for that very reason. But, I do want to investigate this subject and see if there is any merit in the argument they make based on what the Bible does say about the partaking of the Lord’s Supper. …

• The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification

  istian or child of God.  The name “Christian” is a Christ honoring name.  Denominational names dishonor Christ as his name is replaced for that which the Bible knows nothing about.  More could be said about the name but space will not allow it. (5)  Membership–how do people become members of Christ’s church?  This is an easily answered question.  The church was established on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.  When Peter confessed Jesus as th…

• Worship

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

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

  gospel message) made Christians and Christians only that were added by God to the church.  “And the Lord 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 Bi…

• Lessons for the Church from Isaiah (Chapter 1)

  aster’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not consider.” (Isa. 1:3 NKJV)  Under the Law of Moses a child was born a Jew, a child of God, by physical birth.  He/she would have to grow into a knowledge of God and his will as they grew and matured and were taught.  Under the Christian dispensation one cannot become a child of God, a Christian, without first having obtained a knowledge of Christ.  “No one can come to me unless the Father w…

• Confirmation Sunday–No Bibles Required

  student could quickly figure the answer to that one out. She says it is a public expression reconfirming the baptism received as an infant.  Book, chapter, and verse?  Don’t hold your breath waiting for scripture.  You will literally die of old age before you ever get scripture for this practice for it does not exist in the word of God. As for infant baptism it is another topic for another day.  If an infant can be baptized scripturally I …

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

  at old age is some how not life.  It has little to nothing to do with us and old people are kind of seen as living in another dimension, in a sort of twilight zone.  But the reality is that old age is life, a part of life you will see up close and personal (assuming you live that long) 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 …

• Unhappy With the Church of Christ?

  survive without it. If the New Testament church was to exist on earth today with a single name, identity, belief, and practice then it would destroy denominationalism which is the very thing denominationalism cannot allow and will not accept.  If your faith and practice in your congregation was identical to that of a New Testament church, say the church in Jerusalem or Antioch of the first century, do not kid yourself into thinking that the denom…

• Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions?

  wn the road of life. When emotions rule your life everything is done on the basis of feelings with minimal thought being given to truth or reality.  We do not see because we do not want to see.  We are not looking for fear we will see.  Divorce courts, bankruptcy courts, drug rehab facilities, prisons, and even the local hospitals maintain a heavy business because emotion has ruled in a life and reason took a back seat. We have the same thing in …

• Non-Offensive Christianity

  ian believes.  The very fact the Christian believes what he does is offensive to many.  To whom you might ask?  To those who believe otherwise—to the Islamist, to the atheist, to the secularist, to the communist, to those who will not believe and obey the gospel and live faithfully, etc.  The very fact one is a Christian instead of what they are tells them the Christian has judged his belief superior to their own.  That is offensive to them. If t…

• Does God Really Care?

  e forget it. We become self-confident and rebellious. ‘Then’ God lays his hand upon us; breaks up our plans; crushes our hopes; takes away our health, and teaches us that we ‘must’ be submissive to his will.”  Jesus is our example.  Suffering should draw us nearer to God. Suffering did not begin in the twenty first century nor has God not experienced it himself.  In Genesis 6:6 we read that due to the evil of mankind…

• God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh

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

• Why Do Men Run From God?

  ead a man’s heart.  As for you and me the Bible says, “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?” (1 Cor. 2:11 NKJV) Our best hope for knowing another lies in their willingness to open up to us.  Even then we may end up scratching our head in bewilderment.  They may tell us what they think but do they themselves even understand the processes of the heart and mind that have led them to t…

• The Christian, Politics, and the Government

  e responsible for the evil a government may allow or do in its lawmaking and governing capacity but in a democracy we are also accountable in that we vote the lawmakers and the executive into or out of office.  We as a nation will be held accountable which means we do need to vote for those candidates running for office who are most supportive of Christian principles. We can and ought to hate laws that are contrary to God’s teaching in the New Te…

• Mary of Bethany–Doing What You Can

  re 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 will summarize the story for you briefly.  A supper had been made for Jesus (John 12:2) in the home of Simon the leper (Mark 14:3).  Jesus was there as the invited guest along with others which included his disciples (Matt. …

• Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences

  ated what your heart was telling you and did not act in full faith. Moving on the New Testament speaks of an evil conscience in Heb. 10:22.  This is a conscience that has been violated and feels the sting of guilt and sin.  I will deal with that shortly in bringing this article to a close but first what is a seared conscience? A seared conscience is spoken of in 1 Tim. 4:2 where the text speaks of those “seared in their own conscience as wi…

• The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman

  Every person that has ever contemplated the subject of life and death, the meaning of life and eternal destiny, and has chosen faith in Christ as the route he/she desires to walk has found himself/herself in a constant struggle.  On the one hand there is the deep desire to do what is right according to the will of God as we read it in the Bible and on the other hand there is that desire within us that wants to do what we want to do which often m…

• Christian Wars–A Misnomer

  Christians, God’s children, have for years taken a beating by those who make the claim that Christians have been responsible in part, at least, for religious wars that killed tens of thousands of people during the Crusades and in Europe itself during the Middle Ages.  There never was any truth to it and never will be. Just because a Catholic claims to be a Christian does not make him one.  Just because a Protestant makes the claim to be a …

• Mt. Sinai and the Day of Judgment

  20;how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself.” (Ex. 19:4 NASB)  These things they were fully aware of.  The Lord is prepared to make a covenant with them making them his own special people if they will only agree to obey him keeping his covenant (Ex. 19:5-6).  Moses goes back to the elders of the children of Israel, meets with them, and “all the people” (Ex. 19:8 NASB) agree to do whatever the Lords says. …

• Never Give Up

  When we learn the truth of the gospel message, come to believe it, and then sincerely obey it we sometimes expect more of ourselves than is humanly possible for us to deliver.  When we first come out of the water of our baptism we are determined that we will not sin, we are going to live sin free.  This attitude is to be highly commended but is also unrealistic. Many who obey the gospel do so when young and thus their own expectations about life…

• The Parable of the 10 Virgins–7 Lessons

  e thing but simply failed to do it for one reason or another.  We blame ourselves for the mess we got ourselves into and rightly so.  There is much of that in the parable of the 10 virgins. You probably know the parable but I will give a brief summary just in case.  In ancient times in the Middle East when there was a wedding it was the Jewish custom for the bridegroom to go to the house of his father-in-law to receive his bride and then to retur…

• The Army of the Lord–the Church

  mphasis on the phrase “must endure hardship” for it is easy to think in our day and age and in our country there is no hardship to be endured as a Christian.  Wrong!  Paul made it clear it is not a matter of whether or not we will be persecuted but more a matter of when or where or degree for he says, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Tim. 3:12 NKJV) There is, I think, a greater implication in Pau…

• Jesus the Foundation of and the Builder of the Church

  hosen by God and precious (1 Peter 2:4).  He goes on a couple of verses later to say, “it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on him will by no means be put to shame.’” (1 Peter 2:6 NKJV)  The chief cornerstone (a rock) is obviously a reference to a man?  I ask the reader to decide for himself whether this man Peter is describing (that if a ma…

• Christianity and Multiculturalism

  How does Christianity relate to the concept of multiculturalism?  The answer to that depends in large part on one’s definition of multiculturalism and there are many definitions of it given as you see when you begin researching the topic.  For the purpose of this article I will define it as the idea that all cultures are of equal value, none to be judged as superior to another, that society should be oriented around groups versus a common …

• Praying to God to Bless the Bread–Really?

  not the rain God blessed in sending it to man but the man who received the rain.  God blessed man, not the rain, unless you want to say the rain was blessed in the sense that God made more of it. It is true in Deut. 7:13 you will find inanimate objects being blessed but if you turn there and take a look at the passage you will see that those objects (fruit of the land, corn, wine, oil) are being increased by God’s blessing, being made abun…

• Honestly Deceived

  ings 13:21-22 NASB)  On his way home he was killed by a lion. This is a most interesting account and a little hard for us to understand.  Why?  Because the man of God from Judah, the prophet, seemed very intent on doing God’s will.  When Jeroboam after experiencing miracles at the altar while in the prophet’s presence, miracles that served as a rebuke to him, invited the man of God home with him to refresh himself the prophet replies, “If you wer…

• The Grace of God in Baptism

  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 God.” (1 Cor. 6:11 NKJV) How were they justified? Read Titus 3:4-7 again and you will be told if you read carefully. How did Jesus cleanse the church at Ephesus? “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” (Eph. 5:26 NKJV) The washing is done with water. It …

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

  n had built for God and said, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting my name there forever, and my eyes and my heart will be there perpetually.” (1 Kings 9:3 NASU)  Would a man defile the temple of God, the place where God had put his name and all that is implied by that name, and go away guilt free?  Men did defile the temple of God…

• Christian Living

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

• God’s Hardening of the Human Heart

  Does God ever harden people’s hearts?  No doubt about it.  Every Bible student is aware of God’s hardening the heart of Pharaoh back in the book of Exodus.  This was God’s plan before Moses arrived in Egypt.  “And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.”…

• 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 …

• Spiritual Mirages

  re not involved in it.  The desire was to flee to Egypt for their safety.  (Read the account in Jer. 40:13-41:18)  Before leaving for Egypt, however, they consulted with Jeremiah asking him on their behalf to seek God’s will in the matter.  Having done so and received from God an answer they were instructed and warned not to go to Egypt. “Then hear now the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah! Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of I…

• Christian Circumcision

  r father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.” (Rom. 4:12 NKJV)  This the majority of them did not do.  There is an important lesson in this that needs a little explanation. One must obey God.  Disobedience is sin and will condemn a man.  The question is not whether or not a man ought to obey for he must.  Many see an emphasis on obedience as being the same as trying to obtain heaven by works.  That is a misguided view of the matter.  The…

• Faith is Not Just What You Believe

  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 14:21 NKJV)  “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” (John 14:23 NKJV)  “He who does not love Me does not keep My words.” (John 14:24 NKJV)  Paul says, “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.” (1 Cor. 16:22 NKJV) Jesus again say…

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

  The church in the New Testament is described under various appellations the best known perhaps being the family of God.  It is the designation that touches the heart with the greatest force.  We long to be part of a family, to have people that care about us and care how we are doing and who will help us willingly and gladly should we need it, people who do love us.  One of the saddest things one can experience in life, a gut wrenching experience…

• Must a Man Seek God?

  Should a man seek God?  Many men and women who if you were to ask them if they believed there is a supreme being we call God would answer in the affirmative and yet they feel no need to seek God.  With them God is God and he is just and good and so he will save them as long as they live what they consider to be a reasonably good life (reasonably good by their own personal standards and society’s standard).  They do not concern themselves w…

• Misunderstanding the Grace of God

  nd never ever sinned?  I can name many of my sins.  Some of them have been an embarrassment to me, all of them of which I am aware have lowered my self esteem, some have hurt others, all have hurt my relationship with God.  I will never be the person I could have been due to the sin in my life.  How about you, if you are honest how about you?  Yes, we are saved by grace for we are undeserving of salvation. Grace is often defined as unmerited favo…

• The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept

  cceptable to the God of heaven and of men.  It, not man, sets the standard for who is a Christian. As there is a political correctness in our land there is likewise a religious correctness that one must adhere to unless he is willing to be branded a heretic, ostracized, ridiculed, and persecuted.  Man 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 p…

• Deeper Spiritual Understanding–How do I Acquire It?

  There is an inner longing to draw nearer to God and feel closer to him and so the way is sought to do so. But the question is how do I do this or accomplish this which I so desire?  If I just read the Bible more and pray more will that do the trick?  It would be good if we could say yes that is all it will take but that would not be telling the truth.  We suppose the scribes and the Pharisees of the New Testament era read their Bible (the Old Tes…

• Acceptable Prayer

  oned the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him.” (Isa. 1:4 NASU)  Then he follows up in verse 15 speaking the words of God, “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.” (Isa. 1:15 NASU) For a person’s prayer to be found acceptable to God one prerequisite is to be a faithful child of his.  Actu…

• The Pleasures of Sin

  iction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” (Heb. 11:24-25 NKJV) There is another passage found in 2 Thess. 2:12 that also teaches there is pleasure in sin.  That text simply speaks of those who will be condemned because they had “pleasure in unrighteousness.” (NKJV) One would be a liar and fully aware of his lie if he was to deny that sin can be pleasurable.  He would know he was lying not only because of what the …

• 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…

• Indifference – The Great Destroyer

  g to make my top 100 list of most important things to me in my life, if he gets that high, then realistically what kind of hope do I have of salvation? To be indifferent is to not care. If you do not care about God, about his will, about going to heaven, if you are disinterested in living a faithful Christian life what joy do you bring to God? Grief and sorrow yes but joy no. A lot has been made of the fact that salvation from sin is a free gift …

• Who Gets to Decide–God or the Church?

  wing the Bible clearly teaches that division among Christians is sinful (1 Cor. 1:10, John 17:20-21), but then on the other hand say the differences are so minor that it does not matter which denomination you belong to for we will all be saved despite our differences or which denomination we might be in. Well, if we are all going to be saved anyway what is the big deal and why be divided?  Where and when did God give a command that his saved ones…

• He Feared

  between his body and the swords, spears, and other weapons of the enemy his safety was assured.  Take the shield away from the soldier and his prospects for survival were greatly diminished.  Paul is telling us all that if we will build our faith strong enough we cannot be defeated in the battle for our spiritual life. The Bible teaches us clearly that faithfulness is directly associated with obedience and vice versa.  In Hebrews chapter 3 toward…

• A Heart Right With God (Test Your Heart)

  ul proposed? Paul said, “I do not even judge myself.  For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but he who judges me is the Lord.  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.  Then each one’s praise will come from God.” (1 Cor. 4:3-5 NKJV) We ought to be content to let God reveal the counsel of the heart…

• Abortion Luke 1 – All You Need to Know

  8217;s thoughts, opinions, or consensus.  Whatever it is whether living together outside of marriage, homosexual unions, abortion, or whatever, it makes no difference what public opinion polls say the majority believe and are willing to accept–not with God.  God does not care. “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD.” (Isa. 55:8 NKJV)  To the sinner in Psalms 50:21 God says,…

• What Is Baptism (the Sprinkling Hoax)

  It may well be that there is no Bible subject that has caused more confusion among men than the subject of baptism.  What is baptism?  What is its purpose?  Who should be baptized?  Why?  I would like to take a look at all of these questions and deal with all of them over time but for the present, for the purposes of this article, I will confine myself to the question what is baptism.  I doubt that very many people know what I am about to say.  …

• They Loved the Praise of Men

  called by the gospel but the meaning is that not many of this class of people–the wise, the mighty, the noble–will respond to God’s call.  And yet this is the class of people whose praise we so often desire. If we will be faithful and obedient we will in due time receive honor, honor from God.  Paul tells us God will mete out tribulation and distress to every soul of man who does evil “but glory and honor and peace to every man who do…

• Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath?

  at.  They were given instructions from God through Moses about how to gather the manna, store it, and use it. “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’” (Ex. 16:23 NKJV)  The next day comes, “Then Moses said, ‘Eat that today, for today…

• Fear God

  such a man.  Near the end of his life he says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:7-8 NKJV) One is also reminded of the stories of the early martyrs of the church who rather than deny the faith allowed…

• Ignorance Does Not Excuse Sin

  God does not consider ignorance an excuse for sin and will not overlook a sin just because you or I were ignorant of the sin when we committed it.  The verse that teaches this is found in Lev. 5:17, “If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.” (NKJV)  (See also Lev. 4:1-2, 13, 22, 27 and Lev. 5:2 and 5:…

• Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation

  Most everyone is willing to concede they desire to go to heaven after this life is over and live there with God eternally versus dying and going to hell “where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’” (Mark 9:48 NKJV)  That is the way we ought to feel and God certainly approves of our desire along that line.  Unfortunately, our desire for heaven and our attitudes while living here on earth are often in con…

• Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation?

  lk 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 Christ Jesus for good works” we do not need to do any of them.  God will save us without them.  That is like saying in the parable of the vine and the branches (John 15) that one can be a branch that does not bear fruit and still be saved yet Jesus said, “every branch in me that does n…

• The Hardening of the Human Heart

  e point where he/she is so hardened that they can no longer repent and thus lose all possibility of  being forgiven.  Sufficient hardening leads to damnation.  When your heart becomes so hard you cannot repent, for your heart will not allow it, you are done. The spiritual heart of man can be likened to cement in that when cement is wet, before it has settled and dried, you can fashion it in whatever manner you choose but once it has hardened it b…

• Jesus and the Furnace of Fire

  aughter, 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 kingdom al…

• The Wicked Shall be Turned into Hell

  ld probably call it hate speech.  People do not want to hear about hell and many reject God because of the concept of hell as taught in the Bible.  I suspect it is highly likely many who look at what I write from time to time will pass by this article just because of the title.  God is not always the most popular person around (the words of the title are his, not mine) and many there be that do not want to hear what he has to say. It is sad that …

• Salvation (Becoming a Christian)

  Grace of God When One Obeys the Gospel Things That Happen With Gospel Obedience What if I Miss Heaven? The Three Fold Nature of the Gospel A Crucial Difference No Condemnation Promises God Has Not Made The Seed of the Kingdom Is Your Name Written There? The Doctrine of Eternal Life The Goodness and Severity of God There is No Difference Are You Ready? All Spiritual Blessings Are in Christ Abiding in The Doctrine Making the Right Choices Things Go…

• The Parable of the Talents–the Sin of Fear

  s profitable to read Luke along with Matthew.  Differences aside both accounts seem to be teaching about the same lesson and one I have needed throughout my life. The account is too long to quote here in a short article but I will summarize it briefly.  A man was prepared to go on a long journey back in the days when that meant he would be gone a long time.  He being a man of means and needing to keep affairs at home going while he was gone divid…

• The New Birth and Water

  in John 3:5 pertaining to being born of water as being a clear reference to baptism.  The modern day interpretations being given to that passage should not be considered infallible or as being the traditional understanding. I will go beyond that and say that what has come to be the generally accepted understandings of the passage today are in error.  They have come to be the new traditional for they now go back a few generations but when looked a…

• More on Willful Sin—Can Anyone be Saved?

  In July 2008 I posted an article online entitled “Willful Sin – Can Anyone Be Saved?  Heb 10:26-27.”  Within the past couple of weeks I received a comment from a lady who was reading the article for the first time.  She took the position that there was no hope for a person who committed a willful sin after their conversion.  That was the way I read her comment and I was not the only one for not long thereafter another lady commented …

• Abraham’s Faith (Faith Accounted for Righteousness)

  NKJV)  And, then finally, “So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” (Gal. 3:9 NKJV)  If we can learn the nature of Abraham’s faith and then copy it in our own lives we too can and will be blessed. In Romans 4:3 Paul talks about Abraham’s faith quoting a scripture found in Gen. 15:6, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (NKJV)  The context in Gen. 15 …

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

  Testament.  However, all of the New Testament is God’s word and to disbelieve any part of it is to make God out to be a liar for all those who wrote therein wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Do we believe God or will we test him and decide then by our own standards whether or not he passes our test? The children of Israel tested God at a place called Massah and Meribah (the word “Massah” means test while the word “…

• The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus

  ch that salvation is a matter of God’s grace (Acts 15:11, Rom. 3:24, Gal. 2:21, 5:4, Eph. 1:7, 2:5, 2 Thess. 2:16, 2 Tim. 1:9, Titus 2:11, Titus 3:7, 1 Peter 1:10, 1 Peter 1:13).  I have listed most of them here so the reader will know I am well aware of them. I might also add here I am thankful it is that way.  If salvation was of works a man might well come up short (the Bible teaches he would–see Gal. 3:21).  He would worry continually a…

• 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 …

• Repentance–How Can I Be Sure?

  nd.  Paul, in his speech in the midst of the Areopagus in Athens, made this statement: “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained.  He has given assurance of this to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31 NKJV) After his resurrection while meeting with his apostles Jesus s…

• Faith in the New Testament–Different Meanings

  nt Words by W. E. Vine.  This is a standard work, a word definition book quite well known by Bible students.  This book allows you to take the English word found in your King James Bible, look it up in this dictionary, and it will give you the Greek word or words behind the English, and give you the meaning of those Greek words as used in the scriptures in the first century.  When I looked up the word “faith” in Vine’s dictionar…

• The Joy and the Danger of a Clean Conscience

  liation of admitting (confessing) our sin and making whatever restitution, if any, that can be made for it.  It is awfully hard to put oneself through that but that is exactly the price the conscience requires of us before it will let us go free. I know of a man who recently went before the church confessing his unfaithfulness.  Afterwards he spoke of what a burden was lifted from his shoulders.  The conscience was now clear and life could move f…

• Regrets

  While it would be wonderful to live a life of no regrets there are few if any of us that have or will.  By the time one reaches old age, and generally a long, long time before, one can look back at his life and see things he wishes he had done differently.  These things may relate to about any area of our life.   I think it would do us some good to look back at some of the Bible’s famous men and see if they had any regrets.  By doing so it…

• Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith)

  8211;DS) to the death.” (Acts 22:4 NKJV)  He says, testifying against himself, “many of the saints I shut up in prison … and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.” (Acts 26:10 NKJV) Will God have a man like this, a man this bad?  Saul clearly had personal responsibility in the death of Christians.  Christians died because of his actions whether he ever cast a stone personally or not.  But, the answer to…

• Behold the Judge is Standing at the Door

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

• How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built?

  astray and live in sin and hypocrisy, in indifference and unconcern, without a deep abiding faith and love, who have fallen away.  It does mean, however, that you must be in the church to be saved for that is where those who will be saved are placed by God. Upon hearing the gospel before one can be added to the church, before God will do the adding, one must believe what he has heard.  Paul defines the gospel by which we are saved if we believe …

• How Was Noah Saved Through Water?

  Do you think it strange that the water that brought salvation to the 8 brought death to the multitudes?  One cannot help but think of the waters of baptism of our own era.  The water that brings salvation to some (Mark 16:16) will bring death to others who are willingly disobedient to the command. This brings us to Peter’s use of a word somewhat strange to many–the word “antitype” used in verse 21 in the New King James version and also the …

• Bible Contradictions on Salvation?

  e does indeed make Paul and James contradict one another.  That fact alone ought to tell you he was wrong in his theology no matter how sincere.  Any time your doctrine makes the Bible contradict itself this tells you, if you will listen, that your doctrine is in error, that you are wrong in your thinking, and need a new approach to understanding the scripture. In the first place we error when we speak of the word of God as though it came from ma…

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

  a sorrow that words cannot describe. Why such sorrow, such longful mourning, such a sense of despair?  Because there is alienation within the family.  Families are torn apart because one member or another became alienated and will no longer have anything to do with the rest of the family or at least with the one with whom they are alienated.  The alienated one becomes angry and lives in bitterness and hate, resentful.  Sometimes both parties invo…

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

  robably worthwhile to read what followed seemingly immediately afterwards in conversation between God and Cain.  “So the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.’” (Gen. 4:6-7 NKJV)  It doesn’t seem like a lot to go on, these few verses,…

• The Book of Ecclesiastes

  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 lay before us the facts of this life.  Our great achievements, as we may view them, will eventually fade away into obscurity and we along with them.  Even the names on our tombstones will eventually be weathered away to the point they can no longer be read.  Our names may be found on a genealogy record some…

• The Prodigal Son–When He Came to Himself

  If the Bible is true (as it is) does any man of reason think he can fight against God and win?  How does one fight against God and win?  A sane man reasoning correctly sees there is only one course of action to pursue–a willing submission to the power that is, to the “rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2 NKJV) as the Psalmist puts it. Yet, people seemingly do not see that.  Why?  Could it be because they have not yet come to themselves a…

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

  ” (Rom. 8:9 NKJV)  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14 NKJV)  “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body (the fleshly physical body we each possess–DS), you will live.” (Rom. 8:13 NKJV)  It is thus spiritual beings having the Spirit of Christ within them who make up the church the body of Christ. In the description the Holy Spirit gives of the church as a spiritual body, the bod…

• Faith, Manna, and Grumbling Against God

  e happy or so it seems.  The children of Israel under God’s guidance with Moses being his spokesperson have been brought out of Egyptian bondage with the promise that they are headed to a land of milk and honey that God will give them (Ex. 3:16-17, see also Ex. 6:6-8).  Those of age are all aware of this mission they are on and aware of the promise of God. When God says he will do a thing that thing is certain to come about for God cannot l…

• Looking Down Your Nose

  For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’  Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.  So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.  For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:1-13 NKJV) This is a sin I see being committed day after day out in the w…

• A Good and Pure Conscience

  ce the faith is shipwrecked.  I would refer the reader again to a verse already covered in this article–Rom. 14:23. All of Bible teaching is that faith leads to obedience.  When you or I violate our conscience we either willfully disobey God’s law knowing what we are doing is wrong or we do that which we think may well be sinful and are willing to take the chance thus displaying a heart that is not pure toward God which relates back t…

• A New Creation in Christ

  ot so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’” One could probably get up several lessons from this one parable but today I want to concentrate on one specific aspect of the story–the need ma…

• Canaan and Heaven–How God Gives

  aid to be a free gift from God it is no more said to be a free gift than was the promised land to the children of Israel in the Old Testament beginning with the original promise to Abraham in Gen. 12:7, “To your descendants I will give this land.” (NKJV) (See also Gen. 13:15, 17) To Moses God said, regarding Abraham’s descendants the children of Israel, “I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan.” (Exodus 6:4 …

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

  thodist, the Nazarene, or one of 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…

• Everlasting Life–The Believer of John 3:16

  on John 3:16, as do many other passages throughout the New Testament, concerning who the believer of John 3:16 is.  When Jesus says in John 5:24, “he who hears my word” (and, of course, believes in God the Father) will have everlasting life he is not adding to what is required of man for salvation for hearing the word of God has been required of man every  since Adam and Eve.  But, who is the believer in Jesus who will be saved?  Who …

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

  he third day according to the Scriptures.” (NAS) We learn from this passage two things found in the gospel and thus things that must be believed.  (1) Christ died for our sins.  (2) He was resurrected from the dead.  We will discuss each.  We will not discuss his burial for it has never been an issue about which men have doubted. One must believe that Christ died for a purpose, to accomplish a goal–he died for our sins.  He died as a …

• Hypocrites in the Church

  Are there hypocrites in the church?  Surely, there are some.  Paul dealt with such in his day for he said in 2 Cor. 11:13, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” (NASU)  In Gal. 2:4 he speaks of “false brethren secretly brought in.” (NASU)  Hypocrisy is thus an age old problem and one we will never rid ourselves of in this life. There are hypocrites about everywh…

• Work Out Your Own Salvation

  trying to deny what the passage clearly states, that a man must work out his own salvation.  One denied the Greek was correctly translated and made his argument on that basis. Let me quote the Philippians passage to you so we will have it before us and know what it says. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God…

• The Conscience as a Witness

  A man can run from many things but one thing he cannot run from is his own conscience.  Wherever a man goes his conscience follows him just as much as his shadow and is a constant companion.  It is a man’s witness to himself and to God of his character as it relates to his willingness or unwillingness to abide in what he considers to be that which is right and good. The conscience cannot be a man’s perfect guide for it like man’…

• The Need to Preach on Sin

  at is sin and what makes it so bad?  “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4 KJV) or as the New King James Version puts it, “sin is lawlessness.”  It is disobedience to the law of God whether willful or otherwise.  What makes it so bad?  It displaces God as the rightful ruler of the world and puts man in God’s place.  It mocks God as if to say who is God that I (man) should obey him. Why must sin be punishe…

• King Saul–As Long as It Glorifies God

  Greek word behind this translation is translated “presumption” in the ESV and NET, “insolence” in the LITV, “insubordination” in the NAS, and “arrogance” in the NIV.  The meaning seems to be that Saul was determined to do his will rather than God’s.  Would he dare do it?  He did but why?  Surely he had some fear of God. It seems Saul had the same idea many men have today who believe they are pleasing God all the while clearly being disobedient to…

• Jesus’ Baptism and You?

  Does baptism matter?  Most Americans have come to the conclusion that it does not, a person can be saved and go to heaven baptized or not.  It is such a settled conviction with most that they are not willing to give the study of the topic the time of day.  It is ridiculous to even consider it as they 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 …

• The Chastening of the Lord

  hildren is for the child’s welfare if they are the kind of parents they ought to be.  Does that mean, however, that all they do is pleasant from the child’s point of view? How about a child that wants to run into the road and will not listen until you spank him?  How about forcing a child to go to school as a youngster when tears and fears abound in him and it breaks your heart that you cannot allow him to stay home with you?  Yes, parents often …

• The Peace Found in Forgiveness of Others

  only that the kind of person that takes up with them is very likely to share some of the same traits they have.  And, I might add, one of the positive things about family is they are likely to love you no matter what so they will put up with you. While I listed 5 traits it is easy to see how they are all related.  Why is a person unwilling to forgive or lacks the desire to do so?  Is it not because of hatred, anger, bitterness, and perhaps even …

• Disobedience to Jesus

  hinking 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.  Disobedience to Jesus is thus not considered a sin that will damn you just as long as you believe. What does the Bible have to say on the subject?  In John 3:36 we find this passage, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see…

• The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father

  and the Day of Judgment has come to be history that Jesus who now sits at the “right hand of the majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3 NKJV) ruling “till he has put all enemies under his feet” (1 Cor. 15:25 NKJV) will then himself “be subject to him who put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Cor. 15:28 NKJV) We are really talking here about decisions made by the Godhead before the creation of the world …

• Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching

  It is not uncommon to hear people express doubts about the harmony of the preaching and teaching found in the New Testament often doing so by making the claim that the various writers of the New Testament differed in what they taught.  Often those who make such claims will pit Paul against James or Peter against Paul. The truth is the scriptures do not belong to Paul, or James, or Peter, or to any other writer even if their name happens to be at…

• The Case of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

  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?  Is it before repentance and baptism for the remission of sins or after?  The answer is evident.  This raises a question.  Is there one gospel in one location and another in a differ…

• Why Men Do Not Believe

  life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day” (NAS) or, as the NKJV puts it, “in all good conscience.” It would be easy to say unbelievers are all dishonest but we have already shown that will not work for Paul’s case proves that some unbelievers are honest, perhaps the majority, for who can say?  Paul, or Saul, was on the scene quite early in days of the beginning of the Christian religion.  In Acts 7 …

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

  One of the wonderful things about America is that we have gotten to be smarter than God (hope you recognize satire when you read it).  We are now wiser than he is, we know better than he does how to love our fellowman and what is inherently right, and we no longer need his word as any kind of a guide to life.  God if you will just take a seat over here to our left behind us and let us handle this we will take care of it.  Yes, maybe you had it r…

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

  ay that makes this man the Messiah? While I want to discuss the entire phrase “born of water and the spirit” I first want to give you an example of the very thing I am talking about as it relates to the passage we will be discussing.  One very well known Bible scholar who is also an author, and one I might add who has profited me in some of the things he has written, said of this passage words to the effect that water here simply coul…

• How Does the Blood of Jesus and Baptism Tie Together

  n.  You would have to use other words.  What words would you use?  Men are not rational when it comes to religion.  In religion emotions generally rule.  Men often cannot see truth because as plain as it might be they are not willing to face up to it, because they do not want to see and know the truth.  Perhaps truth condemns them or their family and maybe some of the family has already passed on while living in error.  In other cases truth may p…

• Though He Slay Me

  The title for this article comes from the Old Testament book of Job, chapter 13 verse 15, where Job makes the statement, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.” (NKJV) The story of Job as told in the Old Testament is one of pain, suffering, and sorrow, of the loss of loved ones (sons and daughters), of possessions, of health, and very nearly of hope.  His state got to be such that his wife’s advice was, “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9 NKJV)  De…

• For By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith Alone

  s right mind who would discount the grace of God in man’s salvation.  You do not believe you deserve to be saved do you?  If you cannot count your own sins I suspect it would not be too hard to find someone who would be willing to do it for you.  And, I add, that is to say nothing of those internal sins that no man can see in another, those sins that only God knows about you.  Many people are unaware that even evil thoughts are sin in God&#…

• Lincoln’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb

  about 70 at the time say that when one gets older he begins to look at death differently.  I am not 70 yet but I am old enough to begin to see what he meant.  You go to a place like this cemetery and you are reminded that it will not be that long until you too will lie there or in a similar place. We love life.  Very few people have a desire to die save for perhaps those few whose physical condition is such as to make life nearly unbearable.  Go…

• 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…

• Without Natural Affection and Covenant Breakers

  intent of the original.  The original is not talking about general untrustworthiness but specific untrustworthiness in being a breaker of a covenant one has made with another. Hear the words of Malachi 2:13-16 and for this I will use the NKJV simply because it reads easier and is still accurate.  “And this is the second thing you do:  You cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and crying; so he does not regard the offering anymore,…

• The Heart of Man from a Biblical Perspective

  ts.  Who is the real me?  Who am I?  What is the true state of my heart, not what I think about it but what is its true state in reality? When the Bible speaks of the human heart it is speaking of man’s intellect, man’s will, man’s emotions or feelings, or a man’s conscience, or any given combinations of these.  However, the word may also have reference to the whole inner being of man combining all these elements into the one whole that mak…

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

  s they were ordered to not depart from Jerusalem, “he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’” (Act 1:4-5 ESV) In Acts 2 we see the arrival of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) clothing the apostles with power from on high.  Peter’s sermon th…

• Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon

  of repentance and is not in itself repentance but a result of repentance.  Repentance is that which lies between godly sorrow and reformation of life and we might ask what that is?  It is a determination made in the mind and will of man to cease sin and to turn to God and live for God.  It is a matter of the mind and will of man, a decision made because of godly sorrow that will lead to reformation of life, a turning from sin and a turning to Go…

• Diotrephes Loves To Have the Preeminence

  In the third book of John we read about a man by the name of Diotrephes as follows: “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.  Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words.  And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” (3 John 1:9-10 …

• Who Governs the Church if We Follow the Bible?

  er, rule in the church.  This can be seen in 1 Timothy where Paul says one of the qualifications is that an appointee must be “one who rules his own house well … for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?” (1 Tim. 3:4-5 NKJV)  In the book of Hebrews we are instructed to “obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must giv…

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

  who Jesus was and is. In the John 6 passage we see Jesus describing himself as the bread of life, a description we find appealing.  We see Jesus as one come down from God the Father to man to give unto man a bread which if he will eat of it gives life everlasting (John 6:50-51).  The language is figurative and the words spoken are spirit.  “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63 NKJV)  Jesus said, …

• Healing For the Brokenhearted

  een broken to the point of sickness. Is there a person whose heart has never been crushed with sorrow, one whose heart has never been broken?  Most of us who are older have experienced it and sooner or later almost everyone will if they have not already.  There are the tears that flow freely and that once in motion cannot be stopped until the well has run dry but the well soon fills back up and there they go again as though they cannot be stopp…

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

  ael together, and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, ‘I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.’ ‘R…

• The Sin of Being Unthankful and the Need for Thanksgiving

  When we are unthankful it tells a lot about our character.  It tells all who can see that we are unloving and uncaring.  Not only is it a sin to be unloving it is also a sin to be unthankful (actually the two are tied together).  In writing to Timothy, Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit lists a long list of sins in 2 Tim. 3:1-5, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lover…

• Ways into Christ–How Many Ways Are There?

  ves sinners true enough but not while they actively engage in the practice of sin unrepentant. The fact remains that no matter how much we desire another’s salvation it is up to them to bring their life into accord with God’s will for neither you nor I can broaden the gate.  “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it.” (Matt. 7:14 NKJV) Salvation is found only in Christ.  “Nor is there salvation…

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

  n for the baptism–God’s word.  God’s word directs one to be baptized. Some think they can be saved outside the church.  There is no way that can happen.  Why?  Because Christians are the church and it is Christians that will be saved.  The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23); “He (Jesus–DS) is the Savior of the body.” (Eph. 5:23 NKJV)  Nowhere does the Bible teach that one can be outside of the Savior (his body, the church) an…

• Faith, Works, and Baptism

  out.  But what is the point? The point is while it is true Paul has specific reference to the Law of Moses because that is the law his audience has in mind he phrases his statement in such a way as to include all law.  No one will ever get to heaven by perfect keeping of works of law.  Paul says the same thing in Rom. 3:28 where again the word “the” has been added by translators and is not in the original.  It thus should read as foll…

• Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize

  people in Corinth (verse 10) and directing Paul to not hold his peace but to speak up in preaching the gospel (verse 9).  Paul spent 18 months in Corinth preaching (verse 11). In 1 Cor. 6:11 Paul, after speaking of sins that will prohibit one from inheriting the kingdom of God (verses 9 and 10), says to the Corinthians, “And such were some of you.  But you were washed … .” (NKJV)  Now what kind of washing would it be that would make …

• Christ and Baptism in Colossians

  23:1) while persecuting Christ (Acts 26:14).  He believed error and was at perfect peace with himself while sinning continually–that is until the force of truth was exerted with power on the road to Damascus.  Sincerity will never change error into truth nor will it ever lead to a pardon for disobedience.  The fact that Eve was deceived by Satan in the garden did not free her of her sin.  “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman…

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

  sees.  They feared this might happen so went to Pilate and requested a guard be placed at the tomb. Speaking to Pilate they said, “’Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’  Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’  So the last decept…

• The Kind of Faith in God That Destroys

  ll have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But at these words his face fell, and he went away grieved, for he was one who owned much property.  And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!’” Here was a man Jesus loved and a man who certainly believed in Jesus.  Did his faith save him?  His faith failed when he was asked to act upon it. …

• Cornelius’ Conversion–Final Thoughts

  to insult your intelligence but I want you to take note of this.  When the eunuch left the water he was convinced he was a saved man.  He went “on his way rejoicing.”  Philip thought he was a saved man for he was willing to let him go, the preaching was ended. If it is said the baptism was simultaneous, that is that he was both baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit all at one and the same time, I then ask does that not make the go…

• Better to Never Have Been Born–Why?

  the end of the world may be years beyond.  Our fate is sealed the day of our death.  Until that day we have some control.  Until that day we can repent and turn our lives around by gospel obedience.  However, on that day free will ends and the choices we had will then be gone.  It will simply be too late. In Matt. 25 we are given a look into the judgment scene to come.  In it Jesus is separating the sheep (the saved) from the goats (the unsaved)….

• One Church—A Thing Hard to Accept

  to bear upon it contrary to what she wanted to believe would bounce off it like a rubber ball dropped on a hardwood floor.  Truth to her was what she wanted to believe, not objective reality. Is it any wonder people cannot or will not accept truth in religion?  Is it any wonder they will not accept clear statements made in scripture on various subjects?  There was a time in my life when I was yet relatively young and naive that I thought if a per…

• Israel’s Rebellion at the Red Sea

  ge land, to a land flowing with milk and honey … Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.   Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.’” (Ex. 3:6-10 NKJV) Moses was instructed to go to Egypt, gather the elders of the people together, tell them of God and…

• 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 …

• Parable of the Tares–No Middle Ground

  216;Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’  But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”” (Matt. 13:24-30 NKJV) There has been a lot of debate over the years abou…

• The Fragrance of Christ

  the newer translations sometimes uses the phrase “selfish ambition,” or the word “selfishness,” or “self-seeking” with regards to a certain state of mind) and they thus harden their heart as they do not want to hear what they will not accept 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 wi…

• The Mysterious Eloquent Evangelist

  ne of the big mysteries concerning Apollos is how he failed to come to this knowledge long before meeting up with Priscilla and Aquila.  Why did not his earlier instructors in the way of the Lord convey this truth to him?  We will never know for the Bible does not tell us. Was it important that Apollos know this truth?  Many today would say no, not at all, for baptism has nothing to do with salvation denying what Peter taught in Acts 2:38.  Yet, …

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

  parable of the laborers found in Matt. 20:1-16 is a perfect example and is also an excellent illustration of how man feels he knows more about what is just and right than God does. The passage is too long to quote here but I will jog your memory and summarize it for you.  A man had a vineyard and needed workers.  He went out to hire workers for his vineyard 5 different times during the course of the day each time sending them directly to work as…

• The Faith of Enoch

  …s 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. 10:17). We do not know how much God communicated his will to those of ancient times, pre-flood days in the case of Enoch, but we know enough to know from Rom. 1:18-21 that man was “without excuse” (Rom. 1:20 NAS) as it relates to sin and we know man was sinning.  M…

• 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…

• Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching

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

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

  s.” (2 Cor. 11:15 NKJV) Paul says, “For Satan himself transforms himself into 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 …

• The Great Commission and Cornelius

  I was doing a little reading where it was brought to my attention.  In his speech to Cornelius and his household Peter said in Acts 10:43, “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” (NKJV)  In the very next verse (verse 44) we are told that “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” (Acts 10:44 …

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

  om?  What happened to those say in the second or third century who lacked this something extra in addition to the New Testament scriptures?  Were they lost?  So, there are questions. Well, who are these Christian (?–God will decide) groups who are not satisfied with the New Testament scriptures alone?  I can think of four groups off hand and there may well be others.  (1) The Catholic Church and they will not deny it.  (2) The Mormons and n…

• Demas Has Forsaken Me

  we can. Paul says Demas loved the present world.  John says, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world.  If any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15 NAS)  The greatest battle man will ever have to fight is that of the love of the world.  We live in a body of flesh, a worldly body, and that body by nature is attracted to and desires the things of the world. John tells us, “all that is in the world, th…

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

  a difference.  If the Holy Spirit falling upon Cornelius is what saved him, he being an unsaved sinner before that happened, then man is helpless.  It then becomes God’s sole decision to either baptize you or not so he will, at his will, baptize some unsaved sinners while not baptizing other unsaved sinners. Do we have here the doctrine that man is helpless to do anything about his salvation until the Spirit intervenes directly upon a man?…

• 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…

• DennySmith.Net

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

• I Can Do All Things Through Christ

  ed to calm his fears after a while as we would talk.  Is that the way God strengthens us?  I have little doubt that there is strength in the word of God–power to strengthen not only a babe but people of all ages.  If we will only hear the word and believe it with conviction of heart we will find the power to overcome. What is there in faith that gives strength?  The writer of the book of Hebrews says, “Now faith is the assurance of things h…

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

  s spoken by Paul.”  Well, how did he do that?  Did God take a kind of spiritual crow bar to her mind and heart and force conversion on her?  Did the Holy Spirit come upon her in some mysterious operation taking over her will and making her receptive to the gospel as Paul preached it?  Many think so.  The reality is there is no truth to such suppositions as will soon be shown.  God opened Lydia’s heart to the gospel simply by the preac…

• Fornication–Take It Lightly at Your Peril

  “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:  adultery, fornication…and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21 NKJV)  One of two things is true today–the world either believes it can treat God with utter contempt or no longer believes in him and his word period.  Man has always had to battle sexual desire …

• If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications

  im the time of day? People speak of blind faith.  The kind of faith the Bible demands of men is not blind faith but faith built upon reason based on the word of God confirmed by miracles.  I believe not because I am naive and will believe anything and will buy bridges in deserts but rather because God said, “come now, and let us reason together.” (Isa. 1:18 NKJV)  I have done that–reasoning based on the word of God confirmed by …

• 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…

• Keep Your Heart With All Diligence

  right.  Perhaps this is why I get upset with Christians of a liberal bent.  Their idea comes across to me as being as though they were saying “you go ahead and struggle I am depending on God’s grace” which translated means I will pretty much do in my life what I want and let God’s grace cover me in the end.  We are suppose to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12 NKJV) and have been given a sword (the word of God–Eph. 6:17) and a sh…

• Things God Cannot Do

  g for men today as found in this passage?  Exactly the same as it was to the people of that day.  God cannot endure hypocrisy.  Living a life of sinful indulgence and disregard for God’s word did not please God then nor will it now no matter how much “playing church” we do. Need an example or two?  How about all the unscripturally divorced and remarried couples, couples that are living in adultery, that are members in good stand…

• Pray For Others Lest You Sin

  way it often seems to us.  We just wish someone cared enough to pray for us. What is wanted is not just “Father, be with (you fill in the name).”  What we want is people that really care, really love us, whose prayer for you will be fervent, zealous, intent.  We want a sincere prayer from the heart for us not just a word said in passing.  When we become the Christians that have taken God’s command to heart when he commanded us to love one anothe…

• Baptism

  communicator that he could not make the subject clear?  What does the New Testament say about the topic?  What did the early church after the apostles passing have to say on the subject?  Surely, there are some answers 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 …

• 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…

• 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…

• 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)

  s, “those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (NAS)  What was his word that they received?  Was it the gospel?  If it was not the gospel would you be willing to stand up and shout out to the world “no it was not the gospel?”  Would you be willing to go on public record proclaiming that?  If you would not then why not?  Most denominational bodies run into serio…

• Is Holy Spirit Baptism The Baptism That Saves?

  In an article I wrote some time ago I had a gentleman of the Pentecostal persuasion respond seemingly upset with me over the issue of baptism as I was emphasizing the importance of water baptism which he was discounting as being nothing more than a picture of salvation (whatever that means).  Of course, his emphasis was on Holy Spirit baptism.  In any case since I said I would respond I will do so here thinking I might as well make an article ou…

• Old Testament Studies

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

• Gospel Obedience at Corinth

  18:8 NAS)  I stop here and ask a question.  If Paul was not preaching baptism at Corinth who was?  Someone was as people were being baptized.  But we read 1 Cor. 1:14 and doubt enters our mind.  There is no need for doubt as will be shown.  If Paul preached one gospel in one location that had baptism in it and another gospel in another location that did not then why should any of us listen to anything he had to say?  He says, “even though …

• Religious Titles Forbidden in Christianity

  er they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.  (4) For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.  (5) But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.   (6) They love the best places at feasts, the b…

• Waymon Swain’s Audio Sermons

  Waymon Swain is a gospel preacher from Bastrop, LA.  You will find Waymon’s sermons listed at the bottom of each of the following subject/topic pages.  If you have Windows Media Player they will start playing immediately once you click on the sermon title.  However, if you are using some other player other than Windows Media Player or browser other than Internet Explorer there may be a few seconds delay while the file downloads completely….

• Willful Sin–Can Anyone Be Saved?

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

• He Went Away Grieved

  e thing in the eyes of the public.  In those days a man might seek Jesus to further his career not that he was really seeking after the bread of eternal life but seeking for the bread of this life.  Even today the politicians will be sure and hit the churches before a major election and most certainly not for spiritual enlightenment or uplifting. There was a man in the Bible we read about who came to Jesus for what appeared to be the right motive…

• 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 …

• The Two Covenants

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

• Baptized For the Dead

  In 1 Cor. 15:29 Paul says, “Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?” (NKJV)  It is said by commentators that there is broad disagreement as to what is being referred to by the phrase “baptized for the dead.”  It is common to find in most commentaries an extended discussion of the verse with much more space being devoted to it than there is to the average…

• Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?

  me?  Why this?  Why now?  And, often, there are no answers to be had.  It is just that things come into our lives we have to confront.  Whatcha gonna do? I am pretty certain of this, that even though you may feel helpless you will not just set and mope but you will try and do something to alleviate the situation and to make things more tolerable and less disastrous.  You will give it your best shot and that is what you ought to do. For most peopl…

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

  m through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:3-4 NAS) Who gets to walk in newness of life?  Paul tells you.  Will you answer?  It is the man or woman who has been baptized. How is it, do you suppose, that the Romans came to know about baptism?  Do you suppose it was taught to them in the same way Peter taught those in Jerusalem on …

• The Heart

  The Heart of Man from a Biblical Perspective A Heart Right With God (Test Your Heart) Keep Your Heart With All Diligence The Hardening of the Human Heart God’s Hardening of the Human Heart He Went Away Grieved Healing For the Brokenhearted Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) Blessed Are the Pure in Heart (Part I) Blessed Are the Pure in Heart (Part II) Love Motives …

• Forgiveness

  God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? More on Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? The Need to Preach on Sin The Peace Found in the Forgiveness of Others Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) Forgiveness Contacting the Blood of Salvation No Condemnation Is Your Name Written There? The Goodness and Severity of God Are You Ready? …

• Denominationalism’s Sin Against Peter

  o 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 used those keys on the Day of Pentecost in …

• Ghost Hunting and Consulting the Dead

  God has said, “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them.” (Lev. 19:31 NKJV)  The Bible is very clear that it is a sin to try and contact the dead.  As you well know people will go to mediums today, pay them money, in hopes of making contact with departed loved ones.  This is sinful.  A person should never in their grief try and consult anyone on the other side in the spirit world other than Go…

• Grace

  Misunderstanding the Grace of God For by Grace You Have Been Saved by Faith Alone The Grace of God and the Parable of the Laborers How Was Noah Saved Through Water   Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) How God’s Grace Works The Gospel of the Grace of God Noah Found Grace …

• 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 …

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

  t 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 no man is so perfect as to have never sinned.  Peter in reporting what had happened at Corne…

• The Conversion of the Philippian Jailer

  saved?” (Acts 16:30 NAS)  There is a lot of information that can be gleaned from those few words.  First, it can be fairly inferred that the jailer was convinced that Paul and Silas were men of God who knew God’s will.  Perhaps their reputation had proceeded them as not long before this they had converted Lydia (Acts 16:14-15) and also had cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl, a spirit that was telling all that “th…