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• How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built?

  …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 »Not a single denominational church was built by Christ for he built his ch…

• The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification

  ructed to do–Acts 2:38), and were baptized for the forgiveness of sins (as instructed to do–Acts 2:38) they were then translated into the kingdom of God by God himself.  It is in that kingdom, not out of it, where salvation is found.  If saved that day, does anyone doubt that they were (?), they were that day translated into the “kingdom of the Son of his love.” (Col. 1:13 NKJV) Men do not join the church (the kingdom of God) but rath…

• If Baptism is Not Essential for Salvation

  Baptism is not essential for salvation according to most denominations.  The thought came to me recently if baptism is not essential for salvation what then?  What are the necessary implications of such a doctrine?  (1)  If baptism is not essential for salvation then Jesus taught error when he said, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5 NKJV) for you can enter the kingdom of God without water …

• Unhappy With the Church of Christ?

  o one body.” (1 Cor. 12:13 NKJV)  We are baptized into Christ (“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.“—Gal. 3:27, NKJV) which is the same thing as being baptized into his body.  Salvation is in Christ, not outside of him, and we are baptized into him.  “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus…” (Rom. 6:3 NKJV)  Sins are only forgiven when one enters into Chr…

• Things People Do Not Know About the Church

  through the church that the manifold wisdom of God is made known.  “To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church.” (Eph. 3:9 NKJV)  Do not ever expect to learn about God or the gospel or salvation by those outside the church. (9)  The church is the household of God (Eph. 2:19), a spiritual building built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20), a holy te…

• 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…

• 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…

• Jesus the Foundation of and the Builder of the Church

  , as well as the high priest and as many as were of his family, Peter testified of Jesus saying, “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’  Nor is there salvation in any other.” (Acts 4:11-12 NKJV)  In verse 10 Peter names Jesus as being the one of whom he speaks. Paul said of Jesus, “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Chri…

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

  And he is the head of the body, the church.” (NKJV)  The church is thus the spiritual body of Christ which Christ will save at the last day as he is the Savior of the body.  Being a church member then is clearly essential for salvation.  However, we still have the problem of figuring out just which church it is that Christ is going to save as we have hundreds and hundreds of churches today.  Is there any help in figuring it out?  Yes, all kinds o…

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

  s would say it is not essential to be a member of their denomination to be saved.  Then please tell me of what earthly or heavenly good the denomination serves other than to be a divider of men?  If it is not essential to the salvation of men get rid of the thing that causes all the strife and division. The truth is the church Jesus built does still exist on this earth today without the help of any denomination.  The Bible has not lost its power….

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

  an be saved without repentance, meaning he can go on and still live a life of sin and be saved, then why did Jesus shed his blood for the remission of man’s sins if sin does not matter?  Repentance is thus required of man for salvation (Acts 2:38). A third condition is a confession of Jesus with the mouth.  “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with …

• Who Governs the Church if We Follow the Bible?

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

• One Church—A Thing Hard to Accept

  YES THEY HAVE CLOSED, LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, LEST THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEARTS AND TURN, SO THAT I SHOULD HEAL THEM.”‘  Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” (Acts 28:25-28 NKJV) Who had closed the eyes of these Jews who would not see?  Had God done it?  The text says “their eyes they have closed….

• 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…

• Which Denomination Did Jesus Build?

  believe in Jesus. What does it mean to believe in Jesus?  Does it mean it makes little to no difference what he taught on a subject through the inspired writers of the New Testament?  Is the idea we will believe in Jesus for salvation but we will not believe him in doctrinal teaching and it won’t matter in the least?  Is that the idea? Denominationalism by its very nature has at its core the concept that doctrine does not matter. It teache…

• Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation?

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

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

  Baptism is essential to salvation but there are many non-believers.  I want to deal with one passage today that teaches this but which is seldom used because the word baptize is not found in the passage.  The phrase used is “washing of water” as found in Eph. 5:25-27. Eph. 5:25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,…

• The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus

  Many believe the church at Ephesus (the church being the membership) was cleansed from sin by faith based on the teachings of their denomination and the famous Ephesian passage found in chapter 2 verses 8 and 9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (NAS)  Many, many passages of the New Testament teach that salvation is a matter of …

• 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…

• Christian Wars–A Misnomer

  if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (NKJV) Those in John 12:42-43 were condemned for this very failure, “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be…

• Ways into Christ–How Many Ways Are There?

  is to say saved regardless of belief, character, and conduct.  God saves 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. …

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

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

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

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

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

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

• 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…

• Hypocrites in the Church

  entance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation.” (2 Co 7:8-10 NASU) When we say we will have nothing to do with hypocrites we are really saying we have no concern about them; we do not love them as people; let them go to hell; I don’t care.  Love do…

• The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept

  one has a membership of people who are in fact Christians, not according to God’s word.  A Christian is a person who is in Christ, not one who thinks he is.  Here is what God has said about the matter from his own word. Salvation is found in Christ.  Paul said he endured “all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”  (2 Tim. 2:10 NKJV)  A teacher migh…

• The Army of the Lord–the Church

  for the faith. One of the great failings of Christian understanding is to fail to understand that until the heart is pricked with the sword of the Spirit (and someone has to wield it) there can be no repentance, no seeking of salvation, and no turning from error to truth.  You may hurt a man’s feelings for a day yet save his soul for eternity.  Until a man is convicted of the truth in his heart, the truth of his own sin, of his own error, the tru…

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

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

• Misunderstanding the Grace of God

  ent, he said “by every word … of God”, not just by the words of one’s choosing. In the second place it needs to be pointed out that I think every single person that makes the claim to be a Christian believes salvation is by grace through faith including myself.  Is there a person on the face of the earth who thinks he has always done the right thing and never ever sinned?  I can name many of my sins.  Some of them have been an e…

• Parable of the Tares–No Middle Ground

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

• 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…

• Behold the Judge is Standing at the Door

  t against God and hope to win?  If not should we not all give consideration to the life we ought to be living?  We have today.  We ought to make use of it for “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2 NKJV)  Today is the day God will accept us if we will accept him by faith and obedience to the gospel.  But as life has well taught us today is here and gone tomorrow.  Yes, of course, today is …

• Non-Offensive Christianity

  make a decision.  What will it be?  Will we go with God and his word or will we go with the majority of men?  Will we offend God or will we offend man for that is what it comes down to? No matter how much you and I desire the salvation of all men we do not desire it any more than God does.  God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)  He “desires all men to be saved and …

• Never Give Up

  ?  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 continued to trust in God as his hope and salvation.  This is exactly what we need to do today.  Remember Moses when things get tough in your life and follow his example. Another man I would like to deal with is David.  You know the story of David, a man the Bible s…

• Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize

  to preach the gospel.” (1 Cor. 1:17a NKJV)  What is Paul saying here?  Is he saying that Christ does not care whether or not disciples are baptized?  Is he saying it is unimportant and makes no difference to one’s salvation whether or not he/she is baptized?  It is the purpose of this article to show the folly of taking that kind of stance based on this scripture.  Let me begin by asking a question that must be answered if one is to t…

• Lessons for the Church from Isaiah (Chapter 1)

  rifices made as an offering for sin if made in sincerity of heart from a penitent heart, a heart that had been genuinely changed, so the pardon was conditional.  God always has given accountable man responsibility for his own salvation.  There was never a time when salvation was unconditional.  (Of course all forgiveness under the Law of Moses looked forward to the atonement for sin made by Jesus on the cross–see Heb. 9:15, 10:1-4, Rom. 3:2…

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

  ssential to come to a correct understanding as your and my eternal life both depend on it.  Jesus says if we are not “born of water and the Spirit” we cannot enter into the kingdom of God. I need not tell you that salvation is in God’s kingdom, not outside it.  We are either in the domain of darkness or in the kingdom of God.  Paul speaking to Christians says, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred…

• Who Gets to Decide–God or the Church?

  the Bible and the New Testament is it any wonder we have come to the point where church legislative bodies get to make law and then call it the law of God?  These people pass themselves off as great men of faith and emphasize salvation by faith all the while having no faith in the word of God.  Yeah, I know what Paul said about women preachers.  So what?  We know better today.  Get out of the way for WE are now making the law for God.  That is th…

• Religious Titles Forbidden in Christianity

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

• Is Denominational Baptism Scriptural?

  her and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19-20 NKJV)  This is the “one baptism” Paul spoke of in Eph. 4:5 that places one in Christ (Gal. 3:27) where salvation is found (2 Tim. 2:10).  It is therefore spoken of as being “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38) and is a baptism into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) of which he is the “the Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23 NKJ…

• Diotrephes Loves To Have the Preeminence

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

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

  elieved what?  The gospel message (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Mark 16:15-16), the fact that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 8:37, Philippians 2:11, 1 John 3:23), that he is Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). So, faith is essential to salvation.  Where there is no faith salvation is impossible.  We must always remember, however, that “faith without works is useless.” (James 2:20 NAS)  “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26 NAS)  Thus in John 12 we fin…

• The Silence of the Scriptures

  From a book entitled A Short History of Christianity by Stephen Tomkins I quote as follows:  “The basic difference between Zwingli and Luther was in their attitudes to the Bible.  Zwingli saw it as a precise blueprint for church life.  For Luther, what is not forbidden is permitted; for Zwingli, what is not permitted is forbidden.” (page 141)  Both Zwingli and Luther lived in the Age of Reformation often called the Protestant Reforma…

• Gospel Obedience at Corinth

  bout those who were not baptized?  Did they cloth themselves with Christ?  Did Paul say for all of you who were not baptized into Christ have put on Christ?  Is that what he said?  How does one get into Christ, the only place salvation can be found?  Does not the text tell us clearly if we will only listen?  If Paul preached baptism once he preached it everywhere he went whether the text says he did nor not.  There is absolutely no choice but to …

• The New Birth and Water

  eing something other than baptism are modern day explanations.  While it may seem about everyone supports those views today it was not that way in the past, in fact, just the opposite. In the book entitled, The Gospel Plan of Salvation, first published in 1874, by T. W. Brents, I quote as follows:  “The religious world, with one voice, from the days of Christ until quite recently, has ascribed this language to water baptism.” (Page 490)  He goes …

• 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…

• Does God Really Care?

  … Lord is “longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)  He has given us a time to repent, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2 NKJV)  He pleads with us.  Hear the apostle Paul, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us:  we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5…

• Finding Truth in Divided Christendom

  hall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” (John 8:31-32 NKJV)  Abiding in the word of Jesus is thus essential to (1) being a disciple of Jesus and (2) to knowing the truth.  It is also essential to salvation for Jesus said, “If anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” (John 8:51 NKJV) All the words in our New Testaments are the words of Jesus, not just the red letter words.  I will show you that shor…

• 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 …

• The Christian, Politics, and the Government

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

• A Good and Pure Conscience

  trained than anything else. Peter associates baptism with a good conscience in this scripture and none can deny that.  A good conscience (which one can readily equate with a pure heart for the two go together) is essential to salvation, baptism is thus essential to salvation.  On a practical level it matters not whether baptism is an “answer” of a good conscience as per the NKJV or an “appeal” for a good conscience as per …

• Work Out Your Own Salvation

  …ing.  I did find a couple of authors whose work I took a look at.  It seemed to me like both had worked themselves almost into a state of frenzy 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 ha…

• The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman

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

• Is America a Christian Nation—the Sandra Fluke Controversy

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

• If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications

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

• 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 …

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

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

• Fear God

  the church at Corinth Paul speaks of their repenting.  He says, “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance.” (2 Cor. 7:9 NKJV)  He goes on to say, “Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation”. (2 Cor. 7:10 NKJV)  It sounds much like repentance was a requirement for their salvation meaning, of course, that there was a period of time in which these Christians were not in a saved state.  A time when they …

• Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching

  l being preached.  Who receives the Holy Spirit?  It is “those who obey Him”–obey God, obey Jesus–as clearly stated in the text.  The Hebrew writer says of Jesus, ‘He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Heb. 5:9 NKJV) Is obedience a part of the gospel?  Did Peter preach obedience in his first gospel sermon, the first such sermon ever preached to mankind, in Acts 2?  He commanded those …

• The Grace of God in Baptism

  n on plain statements of scripture and as long as that is the case little can be done. Part of the problem is when people think of grace they too often have in their mind one thing only–the saving act of God that brings salvation. The idea is that salvation is all of God’s doing and absolutely none of our doing. Where this idea came from I have no idea as my mind cannot read the Bible and conjure up any such line of reasoning. Noah found gr…

• Christ and Baptism in Colossians

  en we were baptized (if we were) “our old self was crucified with him, that our body of sin might be done away with.” (Rom. 6:6 NAS)  “He who died is freed from sin.” (Rom. 6:7 NAS) The book of Colossians teaches clearly that salvation is found in Christ and that Christ is all any man or woman needs for salvation.  However, there are many today who are in error concerning how one enters into salvation in Christ Jesus.  Remember it is, “Christ in …

• Indifference – The Great Destroyer

  fferent toward that? Even more so what if you have a son or daughter, a husband or wife, a mother or father, a brother or sister, or a close friend who is indifferent toward God and his word and thus toward their soul’s salvation, what then? What then indeed and that is what makes the word “indifferent” such a fearful word? If God and his word are matters of no serious concern to me, if God is only going to make my top 100 list …

• How Was Noah Saved Through Water?

  KJV)  One cannot emphasize too much the teaching of this text.  That said it goes against almost everything that men today have to say about grace.  Grace today, as men see it, means you need do nothing at all toward your own salvation other than believe in Jesus.  If more was required of you that would be, so they reason, salvation by works. How did God show Noah grace?  Was it not by telling him what was going to happen (judgment was to befall …

• Baptism

  Baptism has been a hot topic down through the ages–who should be baptized, why, for what purpose, are there any prerequisites, what is accomplished in it, does it matter, is it essential for salvation or have anything at all to do with it, what is baptism (is it sprinkling, pouring, immersion, or take your choice?).  So many questions but are there no answers?  Was God such a poor communicator that he could not make the subject clear?  Wha…

• Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith)

  answer.  When Paul was told to arise and be baptized to wash away his sins did Paul doubt he had sins to be washed away?  Did he believe at that point in time that baptism was just a figure, a symbol, or a representation of a salvation already received?  Now be honest with yourself before you answer that.  A man comes from God and gives you this message and you know full well he was sent from God and you are going to do what–doubt him and h…

• Repentance–How Can I Be Sure?

  y of Pentecost in Acts 2, the conclusion of Peter’s inspired sermon was, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38 NKJV)  Repentance was made essential to salvation (as was baptism unless you have a good set of scissors which many do). Who must repent?  Sinners.  “For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.  As it is written:  ‘There is non…

• Mary of Bethany–Doing What You Can

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

• For By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith Alone

  No, Eph. 2:8-9 does not read that way but that is the way most seem to want to read it.  Let me quote the verses for you from the New King James version. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” There is no believer in his right mind who would discount the grace of God in man’s salvation.  You do not believe you deserve to be sav…

• The Mysterious Eloquent Evangelist

  tors 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, Priscilla and Aquila felt it was a matter so important that they drew Apollos aside to teach him this fundamental truth.  As travelers with Paul they knew the truth and…

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

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

• The Kind of Faith in God That Destroys

  (1) The word “faith” and its synonyms can be and are used from time to time as a figure of speech called a synecdoche.  What is a synecdoche?  It is where one puts the part to represent the whole.  In speaking of salvation when it is said one is saved by faith and nothing else is mentioned then it is understood that faith is used in an all inclusive sense to include everything that naturally follows from the belief. In his book entit…

• 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. …

• Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation

  to contemplate. (2) Indifference.  Some synonyms for indifference would be disinterested, uninterested, unconcerned, apathetic, etc.  Many people will be lost because they do not care enough to be saved.  With this character salvation would have to fall into his lap for him to have it for he will not make a move on his own.  He is very well pleased with the “just believe in God” doctrine (having no idea what it means to believe in Go…

• Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching

  d, come into my 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 b…

• Baptized For the Dead

  hing but that is not the point I want to drive home in this article.  The point I want to make is that 1 Cor. 15:29 shows beyond any doubt that the Corinthians had been taught and firmly believed that baptism was essential to salvation or else why be baptized for the dead?  We are always looking at this verse wondering who the dead are or what the meaning is but in doing so overlook this obvious lesson.  If baptism is a meaningless thing, only a …

• Christian Circumcision

  him from the dead.  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” (NKJV) Forgiveness of sins is found in Christ.  Salvation is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:10).  The phrase “in him” is used 3 times in the passage just quoted.  According to Paul elsewhere we are “baptized into Christ Jesus” placing us “in him.&…

• The Parable of the Talents–the Sin of Fear

  a profitable servant.  We are a Christian being a Christian in deed and not just in word. What is the teaching of the parable of the talents if it is not that we must go to work?  Can we by work alone go to heaven?  No way!  Salvation is always a matter of God’s grace, not man’s works, but if the parable of the talents does not teach the necessity of works along with faith for salvation I do not know what it teaches.  James says fait…

• 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…

• 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 …

• 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…

• Jesus and the Furnace of Fire

  living a faithful obedient life, for determining what is and is not sin, ceases to be what the book, chapter, and verse of the Bible teaches and becomes instead the feeling in the heart.  That feeling becomes the standard for salvation and the word of God is cast aside.  Commandments no longer matter and especially if they prove inconvenient or troublesome. I love God.  I will be saved.  How do you know?  My heart tells me so.  Just as long as yo…

• What Is Baptism (the Sprinkling Hoax)

  ave a group of men to vote in order to find who your inspired man was–the Pope.  You win the vote and you are automatically inspired.  But the truth is this is the approach the vast majority of those who call themselves Christians take whether they are Catholics or Protestants.  They are putting their trust in men rather than what is written.  The idea always seems to prevail that their tradition (or practice if you will) whether begun in 2…

• Confirmation Sunday–No Bibles Required

  a search on the word “confirmation.”   I did find it in 2 locations.  Paul spoke about “confirmation of the gospel” in Philippians 1:7 and the writer of the book of Hebrews spoke of how an “oath for confirmation” (Heb. 6:16) is for men an end of all dispute but was just making an observation about secular matters among men in order to make a greater point about the confirmation God has made to man.  Another se…

• Regrets

  …ot fully accept one another with all of our faults of the past and count them as but nothing (the assumption being we have repented and turned to God)?  We have all sunk our own boat and all of us are reaching up to Jesus for salvation.  We are all hoping with Christian expectation that Jesus will reach out his hand to us as he did to Peter when Peter was sinking in the water he had been walking on.  Only Jesus can save us. The past is the past b…

• Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath?

  tinue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” (Gal. 3:10 NKJV)  Thus one cannot have part of the Sabbath law, part of the Law of Moses, and ignore the rest if that is where he is seeking his salvation.  The Law of Moses, of which the Sabbath was a part, is over; it is gone; it is done. “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘The just shall live by faith.’  …

• God’s Hardening of the Human Heart

  n this passage it sounds like the Lord made it impossible for people to believe by blinding their eyes and hardening their hearts apart from their free will, that is he did it before and without giving them an opportunity for salvation.  If that would be the case then it would not be true that God “desires all men to be saved.” (1 Tim. 2:4 NKJV)  It would not be true that God is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Pete…

• Faith, Works, and Baptism

  Many are the men and women who believe that since the Bible teaches justification by faith (Rom. 5:1) and not by works (Eph. 2:8-9, Titus 3:5) that baptism is excluded as an act essential to salvation despite many passages that teach the contrary (Acts 2:38, 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Titus 3:5, Eph. 5:26, 1 Cor. 12:13 compared with Eph. 5:23, John 3:5, Gal. 3:26-27, etc.).  They are greatly mistaken. In the first place the Bible clearly teaches that …

• He Feared

  th.  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 failed him 3 times out of fear.  He walked…

• The Case of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

  The answer is evident.  This raises a question.  Is there one gospel in one location and another in a different location so that we can never really know what the gospel is?  Does the Holy Spirit preach one message concerning salvation in one location but a different one elsewhere?  Does God show partiality toward some?  Are some saved one way and others in a different way?  The Bible says, “there is no partiality with God” (Rom 2:11 …

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

  is partaken of in remembrance of Jesus, “do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:24 NKJV) The Lord’s Supper is the antitype of the Passover. The Passover meal was a remembrance of an event that brought physical salvation. The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of an event that brought spiritual salvation. The Passover meal was a major meal. There was to be a lamb for a household (Exodus 12:3 ESV). It was to be eaten with unleavened bre…

• How Does the Blood of Jesus and Baptism Tie Together

  imply a truism accepted by all.  We do not each get a microscopic drop of literal blood placed on our soul.  So the question then becomes where has God placed the blood in a spiritual sense?  It does matter; it is a matter of salvation.  In the Bible blood stands for life.  God speaking to Noah and his sons after the flood said unto them, “You shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.” (Gen 9:4 NKJV)  Again, God speaking …

• 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…

• Demas Has Forsaken Me

  nd occasional reader of the word of God and be strong in the faith.  It does not work that way. Paul, in writing to Timothy (2 Tim. 3:15 NAS), speaks of “the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” We must believe what Jesus told us.  We must believe there is a reward awaiting us.  “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who dil…

• Deeper Spiritual Understanding–How do I Acquire It?

  saved?” (Acts 16:30 NKJV)  Was he selfish in asking that question?  Am I selfish in being concerned about self?  Are you? This does not mean we would not change group A, if it is in error, if we could but we lack that power.  Salvation, in its end, is an individual matter.  That is why I am not too awfully concerned about all the religious bodies out in the world.  I am concerned about self and about individuals within my realm of influence. We a…

• Disobedience to Jesus

  not love God does not keep his commandments?  We know it is for we have already read it in John 14:24 quoted earlier in this article.  Finally, Jesus, we are told, “became to all those who obey him the source of eternal salvation.” (Heb. 5:9 NAS)  That, of course, excludes all those who do not obey him.  To many obedience is equated with salvation by works.  They get hung up on a misunderstanding (emphasis here on misunderstanding) of…

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

  the reader ask himself this question.  None of these accounts mention a word about repentance nor should they in view of the fact they are, as has been stated, summary statements.  Do we believe that there is such a thing as salvation by faith without any repentance of sins?  Again, when it is simply stated that people believed it is a summary of what took place and not a detailed account of everything they believed and believed to the point of …

• More on Willful Sin—Can Anyone be Saved?

  0;Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.  For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.   For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation…

• I Can Do All Things Through Christ

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

• Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon

  e of all wrongdoing this was sin and sin of the worst sort since Jesus was the Son of God.  What they had done was evil and repentance was needed. Now what is repentance?  Paul says, “Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation.” (2 Cor. 7:10 NKJV)  Thus godly sorrow precedes repentance and is not itself repentance.  Judas was sorry but did not repent in the biblical sense of the word and was not saved thus the sorrow he had was not…

• Faith is Not Just What You Believe

  does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.” (1 Cor. 16:22 NKJV) Jesus again says, “why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46 NKJV)  He is “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Heb. 5:9 NKJV) Thus a salvation by faith without works of obedience would also be a salvation without love for God.  Faith only advocates will not have baptism as an element of salvation for …

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

  is kingdom.  Every Christian is a subject of the king of kings–Jesus, the Lord and Savior. Why has all of this been important beyond just being a history lesson?  Why bother writing such?  What does this have to do with salvation and the new birth? Here is the application.  When Jesus spoke with Nicodemus in John 3:3-5 he spoke of a kingdom that was yet to come.  Hear the things he said in that passage.  “Jesus answered and said to hi…

• DennySmith.Net

  .  Most of the articles if printed out would average 3 pages or more.  Waymon has over 110 audio sermons here.  You may find things here you do not agree with especially if you are one who feels baptism is a non-essential for salvation.  I learned this the hard way by posting my articles on various article directories around the web beginning back in 2008.  Believe me when I say I heard about it.  Nevertheless, I think Peter gave awfully good adv…

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

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

• Everlasting Life–The Believer of John 3:16

  ssage believe in him for everlasting life while later in the latter passage he says hear my words and believe in him who sent me (God the Father). Many cling to John 3:16 with the idea being that all Jesus requires of man for salvation is a belief in Jesus without ever giving any real serious thought as to how Jesus would define a believer in himself, one whose faith is sufficient to save.  They merely assume they know so every man becomes a law …

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

  spired men.  The Bible says the word was confirmed as the apostles went out everywhere, “the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:16 NKJV) The Hebrew writer says salvation (speaking of the word of salvation) “began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of t…

• Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions?

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

• The Parable of the 10 Virgins–7 Lessons

    “You do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14 NKJV)  “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2 NKJV)  When Noah built the ark and entered therein God shut the door. (Gen. 7:16 NKJV)  That door when shut remained shut.  We need to act today before our doors are shut never to open again. The 5 fo…

• 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…

• A New Creation in Christ

  …surrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him.” (Rom. 6:5-6 NKJV) These things are so simple to understand that all could see them if not blinded by prejudice.  Men say baptism has nothing to do with salvation, is not needed, man is saved without it.  Not a chance.  Look at the word “if” in this Roman passage from chapter 6 (verses two through eight) and in the 2 Tim. 2:11 passage.  President Clinton use to s…

• Denominationalism’s Sin Against Peter

  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 Acts 2 for the first time, did so by preaching God’s plan of salvation for man.  I have never heard anyone argue against that point.  It is considered an established fact by all as far as I know. However, few to no denominationalists believe that what he said that day is bound in heav…

• God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh

  e want to see him punished.  He deserves it. However, if we are honest we all know the Bible teaches us that we all deserve it.  We deserve a beating (using the word figuratively), we deserve to be punished, we do not deserve salvation, and we ought to be punished for our sins.  “There is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Rom. 3:10 NKJV) As bad as Manasseh’s sin was I ask you can it beat this that is found in Hebrews ten?  Beginning in verse 26 the…

• Walk in Truth—the Joy of John the Apostle

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

• The Great Commission and Cornelius

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

• Jesus’ Baptism and You?

  efuse to be baptized with Jesus’ baptism, the baptism of the great commission?  If not, why not? One cannot reason his way out of this dilemma but it gets even worse for those who want to reject baptism.  Please note it was a salvation issue with Jesus concerning John’s baptism.  Are you going to say it is not a salvation issue today with Jesus’ baptism? How much difference is there in the meaning of the words, “a baptism of repentance for the re…

• Acceptable Prayer

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

• Faith in the New Testament–Different Meanings

  le Christian system, the entirety of New Testament teaching.  The best example, and one all can readily see for such a usage, is found in Jude 3, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (NKJV)  The phrase “the faith” is reference for the entire g…

• King Saul–As Long as It Glorifies God

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

• Abuse of the Old Testament

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

• The Prodigal Son–When He Came to Himself

  they can brag about for its worldly success, are seldom going to repent and answer the gospel call.  It often takes some real adversity in life to see a need for God. A man must feel a need for God before he will seek God and salvation.  The prodigal was forced into a situation where his need became overwhelming.  David was confronted with a prophet sent from God and that he was sent from God directly David did not doubt for a minute. What is wro…

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

  but it will be too late to make a difference with most.  If you are reading this it is not too late to turn to God today but the time will come when it will be for, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2 NKJV)     …

• Waymon Swain’s Audio Sermons

  ns) Christian Living (26 sermons) Faith (7 sermons) Forgiveness (6 sermons) God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit (10 sermons) Grace (3 sermons) New Birth (7 sermons) Old Testament Studies (13 sermons) Prayer (1 sermon) Salvation (26 sermons) Sin (21 sermons) The Church (7 sermons) The Heart (4 sermons) The Kingdom of God (1 sermon) Word of God (5 sermons) Worship (2 sermons) …

• The Need to Preach on Sin

  going to have to pay for my sin in doing so. No man will repent unless and until he knows he needs to repent.  Men must be made to feel the guilt of sin if they are to be converted.  “Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted.” (2 Cor. 7:10 NKJV)  It is the job of the church and every member to help bring godly sorrow into the lives of men and women who are involved in sin.  They need to know what the Bible sa…

• Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences

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

• The Conversion of the Philippian Jailer

  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 “these men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” (Acts 16:17 NAS)  All of this had occurred in the city before the jailing of Paul and Silas.   Secondly, it is clear the jailer felt confident that there were things that he would have to do to be saved.  I…

• Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?

  d the Bible says they say to Peter and the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37 NKJV) What shall we do about what?  The answer is, obviously, what do we do about sin, about forgiveness, about salvation.  Peter did not tell them there is nothing you can do; there is no preparation a man can make to meet God in judgment.  We know he did not tell them that but rather gave them an answer.  The sermon had already made…

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

  of God, that he would not lie to them, then surely they should have seen he was not about to let them die of thirst.  But, the Psalmist had this to say about them, “They did not believe in God, and did not trust in his salvation.” (Psalms 78:22 NKJV)  That was said of them at a later date in their history but was true of them basically from the beginning as their first rebellion, based on a lack of faith, was at the Red Sea (Psalms 1…

• The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father

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

• Without Natural Affection and Covenant Breakers

  t all comes down to a matter of our wills.  Do we want to be known as the man or woman who lacked natural affection or the man or woman who truly loved his/her family deeply?  It is a matter of personal choice just as much as salvation is.  Natural affection goes with salvation as much as the lack of it goes with condemnation. Love is a choice.  I cannot emphasize that too much.  Love is a choice and remember we are talking here about natural aff…

• The Need to Sing in Worship

  ble has to say about singing and would like to begin with the very first time singing is mentioned in the Bible, Exodus 15:1.  The occasion was that of the time when the Red Sea had closed over Pharaoh and his troops bringing salvation to the children of Israel.  It was a time of great relief, of joy and happiness, and thanksgiving.  The Bible says Moses and the children of Israel sang and then gives the words of the song as found in Ex. 15:1-18….

• Jesus Defines Repentance

  s 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 generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.” (Luke 11:32 NKJV) The book of Jonah where we are told about this is a very short book of only 4 chapters so it is not hard to find out wh…

• Cornelius’ Conversion–Final Thoughts

  4:17) equals Holy Spirit baptism and vice versa is to say in reality that there is nothing to obey since only Jesus could baptize one with the Holy Spirit.  Had Cornelius obeyed the gospel? Paul said, concerning the matter of salvation in Rom. 6:17-18, “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves o…

• Israel’s Rebellion at the Red Sea

  Does God lie?  They did not trust him. It seems they were on the verge of waving a white flag and trying to make peace with the Egyptians and return to slavery.  They feared for their lives so that would have seemed a form of salvation to them.  They were ready to give up on God. Here is another lesson we can get out of this.  God does things in his own time.  He could have shown them the way of escape before he did so they would not have panicke…

• The Peace Found in Forgiveness of Others

  is the question in the old gospel hymn we have sung since the days of my childhood which is now many decades past.  It is the question, “Why do you wait o sinner?”  “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2 NKJV)  There is peace in forgiving and in being forgiven.                 …

• Why Do Men Run From God?

  t actually is. Do we think God is unjust in condemning those who will not believe the truth and obey it?  Do we think we love more than God who gave his only begotten son on the cross to die in order to give to man a means of salvation?  Do we think we love more than Jesus who died for us all?  Do we think God is just too strict (I guarantee you many, many, many do)?  However big your heart is I can assure you it is not as big as God’s but …

• Spiritual Mirages

  , and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (NKJV) The Jews of Jeremiah’s day were attributing God’s goodness and longsuffering to them, meant for their repentance and salvation, to blessings from the idol they were worshipping–the queen of heaven.  Whether that particular idol had or took the form of an image makes little difference.  While we do not worship idols today, save in a v…

• Assorted

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

• They Loved the Praise of Men

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

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

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

• He Went Away Grieved

  h regards to the rich, “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (NKJV) The Christian life is about doing good.  John says, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17 NKJV)  Those who are ri…

• The Joy and the Danger of a Clean Conscience

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

• Why Men Do Not Believe

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

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

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

• Though He Slay Me

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

• The Wicked Shall be Turned into Hell

  is his sad state. It does not matter that the crowd applauded him while he lived for his love and tolerance of what others who know the Bible call sin.  No matter he was willing to accept all religions as being equal roads to salvation.  No matter he would never speak an evil word against any sin and was thus entirely nonjudgmental.  None of that matters for he who justifies the wicked is himself an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 17:15 NKJV).  A …

• Bible Conversions

  In the book of Acts one finds the inspired apostles and evangelists going out into the world and preaching the gospel.  That statement in itself while true is misleading to a degree for if those who preached the gospel were inspired the preaching was in reality that of the Holy Spirit.  What was 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 e…

• Faith, Manna, and Grumbling Against God

  ing their Savior nor did they throughout the course of their earthly lives.  They did not trust him for deliverance.  They were grumbling and complaining.  The lack of faith will do that to a man who does not trust in God for salvation. After the end of the crisis at the Red Sea they came to be in want of drinking water at Marah and the Bible says, “the people grumbled at Moses.” (Ex. 15:24 NASB)  Since Moses was merely God’s ma…

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

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

• Better to Never Have Been Born–Why?

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

• 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…

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

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

• Philip Preaching the Gospel in Samaria

  hey do?  The text says “they were being baptized” when they believed.  In Acts 2:41 when they received Peter’s word what did they do?  They were baptized.  Thus we see that in the beginning of the church, of Christianity, of faith in Christ, that when the gospel was preached and believed or received it led to people being baptized.  There has to be a reason for that. Is baptism a part of the gospel?  Is it a part of the good new…

• Things God Cannot Do

  The Bible teaches there are things God cannot do.  Why not?  It is certainly not because he is wanting in power or knowledge but it is a matter of who he is, his nature or character.  We can understand that.  There are things you and I could do but our character would never allow it.  I thought it would be good to use an online Bible concordance for the New King James Version and type in the word “cannot” and see what came up.  I was…

• Ashamed of Jesus and His Words

  ment of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  That is what it is exactly.  Every word on its pages came from Jesus either directly or indirectly through the Holy Spirit. Great indeed is the number of those who claim to be Christians that will not believe but parts of the word and are thus ashamed of the words of Jesus.  How many denominationalists will ever preach what Peter preached, by means of the Holy Spirit, in Acts 2;38, “Repent, …

• Ignorance Does Not Excuse Sin

  if it is not needed?  If a man can be saved in his sins then the conclusion must be that sin is no big deal and Jesus died for nothing.  Do we believe that? (2)  Another lesson learned is that there is an enormous burden upon Christians to preach the gospel throughout every corner of the world no matter how remote.  If a person is lost without the gospel and we were commanded to take the gospel to them (the Great Commission) but did not nor did w…

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

  nd in the New Testament the case of the prodigal son.  David suffered immensely over Absalom.  It would take up too much space to retell the story of David’s relationship with Absalom so let me speak here only of David’s love for Absalom even after Absalom rebelled and had sought to overthrow David as King and possibly take his father’s life. Prior to David’s army going into battle against the army of Absalom David commanded Joab, the commander o…

• Who is the Believer in John 3:16?

  n admits as much for in its side margin notes it has “Or, believe” even though it translates in the text itself “does not obey.” So, what do we learn from John 3:36?  Simple!  To believe in the Son for salvation (as per John 3:16) means one believes the Son enough to be persuaded by him to obey what he says.  So we see again, looking at it from the perspective of another verse in the same chapter, that it is he who is R…

• Abraham’s Faith (Faith Accounted for Righteousness)

  required more must be believed and obeyed. Abraham was a saved man before he was required to sacrifice Isaac but what if he had failed to believe God and obey God when the command to offer Isaac was given?  A man can lose his salvation.  Our faith must always be strong enough to lead us to obedience to what we know God has commanded if it is to be accounted to us for righteousness.  Faith that will not obey is not saving faith.     &nbs…

• Repent–How Hard It Is To Do

  died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:3-4 NKJV)  True, but the gospel is not good news unless it can be obeyed and salvation obtained.  That means that part of what was veiled to these people who did not believe was their need for repentance.  Who was hiding it from them?  The god of this world. Finally, in closing, I add this.  Human pr…

• Mt. Sinai and the Day of Judgment

  race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7 NKJV)  We never know when we are about to finish the race but we can know before death that we have fought the good fight and have kept the faith and thus have the assurance of salvation.  We need not fear God as long as we are walking in the light but the fear of God ought to keep us walking in that light. (2) Another lesson we can learn from this account is that fear itself will not keep man in t…

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

  y 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 Cornelius’ house once he gets back to Jerusalem throws more light on why Cornelius, by the angel’…

• Honestly Deceived

  note–I do not say that either the young prophet or Eve were doomed for they both may well have repented and sought forgiveness prior to their deaths that is not recorded.  God only knows that.  I do know, however, their salvation [if such there was] was not and is not the message God wants you and me to get out of the stories of what happened to them.  That much is obvious to all.) Was God fair to the prophet from Judah and to Eve seeing as…

• 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…

• Anger

  :28 NAS) Man can and must learn to control his temper and thus his anger if he is to be happy, if he is to please God, if he is not going to bring himself to ruin. Anger destroys love, family, and relationships and endangers salvation and so it must be mastered. In closing we ought to deal with this question of how the angry man in our text shall be guilty before the court. We have to remember, if this clause is to be taken as pertains to this …

• The Faith of Enoch

  oing so we would be walking with God and pleasing God as Enoch did.  Much of Christendom is today guilty of disbelief while calling it faith.  Faith is more than just what is in your mind.  The faith that leads to one’s salvation is coupled with obedience and cannot be uncoupled.  You obey because you believe, you disobey because you disbelieve or just do not believe strongly enough to obey. Now what is it that must be believed if one is to…

• Must a Man Seek God?

  nal standards and society’s standard).  They do not concern themselves with reading or studying the Bible, with worship, or obedience to God’s specific commandments. Whether they realize it or not this approach to salvation is an attempt to be saved by the works of man–it is an attempt to work your way to heaven based on personal goodness.  It reminds me of Rom. 10:3, “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, …

• The Sin of Being Unthankful and the Need for Thanksgiving

  and understanding of what all he has done for us, including the sacrifices that have been made for us, the longsuffering with us, the patience, the loving kindness.  We have learned how much he yearns for us and longs for our salvation and desires us to be with him in eternity.  We have learned of heaven and mansions prepared there for you and me.  God’s expressions of love for us through these things begin to change us if we will allow it….

• A Heart Right With God (Test Your Heart)

  u will find the heart of God, the heart that is right in God’s sight.  Jesus had the same attitude toward the word of God while on earth.  What commandment did he ever call a little thing or say it makes no difference to your salvation?  You will hunt 10,000 years and come up empty in searching the pages of the Bible if you are looking for a man after God’s own heart who did not deeply treasure the word of God (every word) and obey it as fanatica…

• 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? …

• Faith

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

• The Fragrance of Christ

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

• Fornication–Take It Lightly at Your Peril

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

• Healing For the Brokenhearted

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

• 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…

• Lincoln’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb

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

• Looking Down Your Nose

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

• 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 …

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

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

• New Birth

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

• The Two Covenants

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

• The Hardening of the Human Heart

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

• Praying to God to Bless the Bread–Really?

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

• The Conscience as a Witness

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

• 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…