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• Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching

  …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 »It is not uncommon to hear people express doubts about the harmony of the preach…

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

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

• Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching

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

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

  …#8220;Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” (Gal. 6:7 NAS)  “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23 NAS)  One could almost say God, by definition of what it means to be God, has to punish sin.  His nature demands it and justice calls for it. God will uphold his honor and his glory but the Bible teaches us that God also loves man, “for God so loved the world that he gave hi…

• Philip Preaching the Gospel in Samaria

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

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

  atement.  I said most.  I should have said nearly 100 percent.  They do not preach it because they do not believe there is a single ounce of water in a man’s salvation despite John 3:5 and the very words of Jesus.  This means they cannot preach what Peter did. We ought to go with the man with the keys rather than with those who wish they had the keys.  Yes, Jesus could have easily saved us without any water in the plan but he chose not to d…

• Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon

  ts 3:12-26) will note that just like in Peter’s first gospel sermon (Acts 2) he does not mention faith in Christ.  Is it because he does not think it matters?  That is ridiculous in view of the fact Peter is speaking by means of the Holy Spirit and the whole New Testament emphasizes faith.  The explanation lies elsewhere.  In Acts 3 faith in Christ is understood.  How so?  No one repents until convicted by guilt.  No one is convicted by gui…

• Praying to God to Bless the Bread–Really?

  …“bless it to its intended use.”  How does that help?  What is the intended use of the bread and fruit of the vine–is it spiritual or physical?  All agree the intended use lies in the spiritual realm but that means in order for the bread and the fruit of the vine to be of benefit to me personally it is not what God does to the emblems (as they are frequently called by man–the bread and the fruit of the vine) but my attitude…

• Does God Really Care?

  … answer is only suffering without hope.  So, it is an important study. I would like to say contemplating all of this that it helps immensely to rephrase the question and ask does Christ care.  I grant you that Christ is God.  Jesus says, John 10:30, “I and My Father are one.” (NKJV)  In John 14:9 he says, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” (NKJV) Other passages teach the same thing.  “God was manifested in the…

• The Mysterious Eloquent Evangelist

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

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

  d, “You do not have his word (God’s word–DS) abiding in you, because whom he sent, him you do not believe (speaking of himself–DS).” (John 5:38 NKJV)  One must believe the things Jesus said which means believe the entire New Testament and not just the words in red in a red letter edition of the Bible (read John 16:12-15 for proof of this statement). Many are the men who say they believe in Jesus but who do not believ…

• Jesus’ Baptism and You?

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

• Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith)

  …and that clearly.  Paul’s only response after knowing it was Jesus who was speaking was, “What shall I do, Lord?’ (Acts 22:10 NKJV) Virtually every denomination in the land according to their idea of what it means to be justified by faith has to have Paul saved right there and then (while Paul was fallen to the ground – Acts 26:14).  He has all the faith any man will ever have.  He is most certainly penitent.  Nevertheless, Jesu…

• Jesus the Foundation of and the Builder of the Church

  d 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 man believes …

• Ways into Christ–How Many Ways Are There?

  …ple have swallowed the denominational line that you need not be baptized?  Here I am commanded to baptize people yet they refuse thinking it unnecessary even though Jesus commanded it.  By definition of what the word disciple means how can one do that (refuse baptism considering it a non-essential) and still claim discipleship?  Discipleship ends at that point where one bulks at a command and refuses obedience. I have said nothing on Mark 16:16, …

• Baptism

  …8220;Born of Water and the Spirit” Mean? The New Birth and Water Who is the Believer in John 3:16? Faith, Works, and Baptism Receiving the Gospel – Acts 2:41 Philip Preaching the Gospel in Samaria Preaching Jesus Means Preaching Baptism (The Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch) Moses, the Waters of Marah, and a Lesson for Today Saul’s Conversion Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith) Was Cornelius Saved Before Baptism? Th…

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

  …then have been judged to be faithful?  One final fact about Lydia’s conversion that has caused trouble is that the text says “she and her household ” were baptized (Acts 16:15 NAS).  The thought is that this means her and her young children maybe including infants.  It is easily seen that infants were not baptized for the simple reason that baptism is of no value to one who is not a sinner as its purpose is for the remission of …

• If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications

  was to be used to profit everyone, not just yourself.  “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” (1 Cor. 14:12 NKJV)  Edification means to build up spiritually.  “Let all things be done for edification.” (1 Cor. 14:26 NKJV) Understanding the purpose behind miracles and spiritual gifts helps one greatly in understanding a passage written by …

• The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father

  to by duty or promise.” The Bible speaks of God being faithful.  “Therefore know that the Lord your God, he is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy.” (Deut. 7:9 NKJV)  What does that mean?  It means if God said it you can depend on it.  God cannot lie (Titus 1:2), neither can he grow weary and tired or weak and unable to fulfill what he has said.  When God makes a covenant with man God will keep his part right dow…

• Repent–How Hard It Is To Do

  …g 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 pride plays a big role in ma…

• 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…

• Gospel Obedience at Corinth

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

• Repentance–How Can I Be Sure?

  sin against God. Well, if I am commanded to repent on the penalty of repent or perish what is it I must do?  What does it mean to repent?  It is very common to find people who do not understand and who simply think to repent means to be sorry. If sorrow was repentance then Judas, the betrayer of the Lord, was a saved man.  The Bible says, “Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that he had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pie…

• One Church—A Thing Hard to Accept

  …rror.  Hardened hearts can no longer think rationally for this is irrational thinking. It is sometimes said that all that really matters is that one believe in Jesus.  That sounds good until you ask people to define what that means.  What does it mean to believe in Jesus?  Does it just mean that all one must do is believe with the mind that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?  That was the confession Peter made in Matt. 16:16 and Jesus said that…

• The Need to Preach on Sin

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

• Bible Conversions

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

• The Conversion of the Philippian Jailer

  …e demons then, hadn’t it?  They believe and no repentance required for salvation.   Yes, I am sure Paul taught faith in the Lord Jesus and when understood properly that will save a man.  However, faith in the Lord Jesus means you believe everything Jesus taught and believe it so strongly you obey him without question.  Faith in the Lord Jesus is not just mental assent.  Faith in the Lord Jesus is not disregarding his word as of no account. …

• Jesus Defines Repentance

  ntance from sin and thus God is always in view in true repentance.  He is not in view in reformation of life for worldly reasons. True repentance results in a reformation of life growing out of faith and a seeking of God.  It means necessarily a turning away from sin to righteousness.  One ends up with a changed life because of a changed outlook.  The proper order of events is godly sorrow first resulting in repentance (a changed outlook – a chan…

• Religious Titles Forbidden in Christianity

  … New Testament as well as in the Old Testament many times in many different ways.  Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words lists 9 different applications of the noun as used in the New Testament alone.  This means, obviously, that the word father can be used by men when used appropriately and not in the way Jesus condemned.  What did Jesus condemn? Jesus condemned me, you, and the neighbor next door from calling any man Father a…

• 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…

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

  …19:29, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.”  Again the phrase means because of me and my cause.  The phrase stands for the person and all the person stands for or represents.  In Matt. 24:9 we see this again, “you will be hated by all nations because of my name.”  Because o…

• Ashamed of Jesus and His Words

  rit. 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, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”? (NAS)  They are ashamed of those words of Jesus and do not believe t…

• 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. …

• Disobedience to Jesus

  .  What are they saying?  Are they saying sometimes he tells the truth and sometimes he does not?  What they are really telling us is that the man Jesus (or we could say the God Jesus) is not totally dependable.  Sometimes he means what he says and other times he is not so strict about it–about not keeping his word.  I wonder how they come to that conclusion. It is a fearful thing to “not believe the Son” in every saying and com…

• How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built?

  ch built by Jesus matters so much that you cannot be saved outside of it, without becoming a member of it.  It is “the church of God which he purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28 NKJV)  If you are outside that church it means you were never purchased with the blood of Christ.  It means you are not a part of the body that he is saving.  “He is the Savior of the body.” (Eph. 5:23 NKJV)  What body?  “He is the head of the body, the church.” (C…

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

  …Acts 2.  Let us say just as an example that a church began in the 1400’s.  If a person claims the church of which he is a member is the one which Jesus is the Savior of and yet it was not begun until the 1400’s it necessarily means that for 1400 years Jesus had nothing to save and no one was saved.  If an individual readily admits his/her church was established sometime in the Middle Ages or thereafter they are admitting, like it or not, that the…

• 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…

• Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize

  … one’s salvation, is the body of Christ of which he (Christ) is the Savior (Eph. 5:23).  Now read Paul’s words carefully here.  He says “we were all baptized into one body.”  The word “all” means every one of us, no exceptions.  How many disciples did Jesus say should be baptized back in Matt. 28:19?  None were to be exempted, not a single one.  In New Testament times there was no such thing as a Christian who …

• Who Gets to Decide–God or the Church?

  …ment to 38,000 today.  How have we gotten to where we are at today? I think we all understand each denomination has a unique belief different from what other denominations have.  That is just part of the definition of what it means to be a denomination.  We also understand that the thing that distinguishes such a group from others is considered to be so important, so serious a matter, as to require separation or division from others. This is one …

• Everlasting Life–The Believer of John 3:16

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

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

  d of God.” (1 Peter 1:23 NASU)  And then James, “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth.” (James 1:18 NASU) The spirit works in bringing about the new birth in a man or woman by means of the word of God in the pages of the New Testament.  In the parable of the sower (or soils if you prefer) as found in Luke 8 Jesus said “the seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11)  As it is sown in the hea…

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

  Jesus said, “The bread that I shall give is my flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51 NKJV)  For you and I to eat of this bread, keeping in mind the language is figurative and spiritual, means simply that a man must be willing to take advantage of Christ’s death on the cross for the remission of man’s sins and by faith and obedience to the gospel surrender his life to Christ. It means we allow ou…

• When did Obedience Become Legalism?

  to say nothing of authority, and to write our own Bible.  The way we do that is by making the Bible we have mean anything we want it to mean and abandon all rational exegesis.  We simply say it does not mean what it says.  It means what we say it means and of course all our conclusions are based on real love, love the way we, not God, define it.  We are perverting the faith and making up our own religion as did the Jews of Jesus’ day.  They were …

• The Kind of Faith in God That Destroys

  g about the Holy Spirit coming to the apostles and how he will dwell within them and then he says in the very next verse, verse 18, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”  Jesus was coming to them via means of the Holy Spirit.  See also John 16:25. The Holy Spirit spoke the words of Jesus.  There are those who do not like that for they want to lay the cause of their troubles on Paul just being a man kind of out of step wi…

• He Went Away Grieved

  , or saw himself as being that way?  Instead of admitting the truth we proclaim we are only trying to provide for our family and be a wise steward of what God has given.  However, in the greedy or covetous man, this generally means tear down the barns and build bigger.  It means do not save up for a rainy day but save up for a hurricane even if you live in North Dakota. Our heart generally allows us to put the best light on things pertaining to o…

• If Baptism is Not Essential for Salvation

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

• Who is the Believer in John 3:16?

  te John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (NKJV) The phrase “does not believe the Son” means just that– does not believe what Jesus says.  That man shall not be saved.  That man does not believe in Jesus even though he may proclaim his faith day and night. The phrase “does not believe the Son”…

• The Wicked Shall be Turned into Hell

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

• Christian Circumcision

  …ody was cut off and cast away.  In spiritual circumcision (the circumcision of Christ) the old sinful man (sinful in heart, mind, and actions) is cast off and replaced by a new man of the spirit.  Christ does this but he uses means to do it.  By his word faith is created, the heart is changed, and then in baptism the old man is put away and one arises from the water to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4-5), a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).  This is n…

• Jesus and the Furnace of Fire

  …g that can be said concerning the Christians in the church at Laodicea was that God was going to allow them a little more time to repent.  He says, in verse 18, “be zealous and repent.”  If you are reading this it means you are being granted some time to repent if you need to do so.  You have now, today, with no promise of a tomorrow.  If you have family that are still alive as you read this it means they still have time, “if…

• Cornelius’ Conversion–Final Thoughts

  …ism.  The authority who was quoted to me in order to prove it said, “‘to believe’ is used in the sense ‘to be converted’”.  I would say it was synecdoche which is just a different word that means the same thing.  It is a figure of speech were the part is put for or stands for the whole thing, the whole conversion process which is faith, repentance, confession of Jesus, and baptism for the remission of sins.  Ou…

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

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

• The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus

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

• The Case of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

  …(Acts 10:19-20) to convince Peter it was God’s will to go to the Gentiles and preach.  Why did the Holy Spirit fall upon Cornelius and his household before baptism for the remission of sins?  Was it because that was the means of salvation or because Cornelius was already a saved man without repentance and baptism?  No.  It was because it was going to take a miracle, not now so much for Peter because he seems to be getting the idea, but in o…

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

  …V)  See also Rom. 6:3. Eph. 5:25-27 teaches that baptism is essential to salvation for note some things that are true if we fail to be washed of water.  If you are not washed by water then you are not sanctified.  To sanctify means to purify, to cleanse, to make holy, and to consecrate.  True, the Bible teaches we are sanctified by a number of things, not just the washing of water, but which one of those number of things given in the Bible by whi…

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

  …ens. After this three day journey without finding water they come to Marah, a place that has water but water so bitter it cannot be drunk.  In fact, according to the notes in the NET Bible, the Hebrew word “Marah” means bitter.  The Bible says, “The people complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’” (Ex. 15:24 NKJV)  One has to understand Moses was only God’s representative thus to complain …

• Why Do Men Run From God?

  …tell us what they think but do they themselves even understand the processes of the heart and mind that have led them to the point where they are at? If there be a God (I am not expressing doubt) then by definition of what it means to be God it is clear one could not successfully run from him.  Hear David in the 139th Psalm. “O LORD, You have searched me and known me.   You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought af…

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

  …ter day revelation hundreds of years after the completion of the New Testament.  How can we be sure revelation ceased when the New Testament scriptures were completed as we now have them? When God gave scripture he gave man a means by which man could be assured that the message given was from God.  The message was given orally then later written down by inspired men.  The Bible says the word was confirmed as the apostles went out everywhere, R…

• Unhappy With the Church of Christ?

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

• The Grace of God in Baptism

  … is one and the same thing. To be saved is to be justified. But, let us be honest–is that all the passage says and teaches? No! It teaches when God saves us by his mercy or grace, whichever term you wish to use; he uses means to do so. What means? Well, what does the text say? It says, “Through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV) The washing of regeneration is baptism. The word “regenerate&…

• Faith, Works, and Baptism

  …l.  It thus should read as follows:  “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of (“the” omitted here is not in the original manuscripts–DS) law.” (NKJV)  Deeds means works. A question thus arises.  If I am not saved by works of law why be concerned with obedience?  Paul knew this was what some would conclude and he begins to address that issue in Rom. 6:1 where he says, “What…

• The Silence of the Scriptures

  …p it would be for me John 4:24, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (NKJV)  It is easy to overlook a very important word in this passage, the word “must.”  That means neither you nor me have any choice in the matter.  It is we “must.”  It is the only worship God will accept, that which is in spirit and truth, or else the word “must” is a word without meaning….

• How Does the Blood of Jesus and Baptism Tie Together

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

• Saved by Jesus Outside the Church?

  ge one can readily pop up in a Bible concordance search? All of that aside I want to deal with the idea that one can develop this relationship with Jesus on a personal level that will save him outside the church.  If a person means they can be saved outside the Catholic Church I completely agree.  If they are saying they can be saved outside of a denominational church I again completely agree.  If, however, they are saying they can be saved outsi…

• The Christian, Politics, and the Government

  …should be clear to all who truly want to be what a Christian ought to be that one’s first order of business ought to be to be as much of a Christian as he/she can be every single day of his/her life.  What does that mean?  It means I ought to live a spiritual life daily.  “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.   Against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23 NKJV)  Ju…

• The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman

  …uggle.  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 means violating God’s will.  We have two states of mind it seems living within us.  The one is the mind of the flesh, we might say of the natural man as he exists without God in his life, while the other is that of the…

• The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification

  …the church there is more to it than just the correct object of worship–God in heaven.  Jesus said we must worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  He then says in John 17:17 that, “Your word is truth.” (NKJV)  This means, obviously, that man is not free to worship God just any old man made up way he chooses and call it worship pleasing to God.  God gets to decide what pleases, not man.  If you recall the church at Corinth in 1 Cor. 11 …

• Denominationalism’s Sin Against Peter

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

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

  in speaking to Moses, “Surely all the men who have seen my glory and my signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not listened to my voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned me see it.” (NASB) Men only test God, or attempt to, when they lack faith, when they do not believe.  When a student takes a test in…

• The Prodigal Son–When He Came to Himself

  cable here). “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” (1 Cor. 1:26 NKJV)  All men are called by the gospel so what does this verse mean?  It means that those who are living this kind of life where everything is seemingly going right and nothing going wrong, a life they can brag about for its worldly success, are seldom going to repent and answer the gospel call. …

• Mary of Bethany–Doing What You Can

  their ability, yes, and beyond their ability they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints?” (2 Cor. 8:3-4 NKJV)  Loving God means we long and desire to give to him and his work. We cannot bestow our goods on Jesus directly as did Mary of Bethany but we must remember that the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:18, 24) and that when…

• The Great Commission and Cornelius

  …0 NKJV) Here is something the reader may not be aware of.  Do you know the word “in” where it says “in the name” should correctly be translated by the word “into?”  That is to say the Greek means “into.”  If you do not believe that check it out for yourself by getting a New American Standard original edition reference Bible and check the side margin, or center column, references out.  If you do not …

• Faith in the New Testament–Different Meanings

  …g of those Greek words as used in the scriptures in the first century.  When I looked up the word “faith” in Vine’s dictionary I found the Greek word behind it to be “pistis.”  Vine says the word means, depending on the passage in which it is being used, (a) trust (b) trustworthiness or faithfulness (c) what is believed, the contents of belief (d) the grounds for faith, assurance and (d) a pledge of fidelity.  He giv…

• Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions?

  …s, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (NKJV) It is a little hard to see how one can do a thing in the name of the Lord Jesus about which the Lord Jesus has said nothing.  To do a thing in the name of the Lord Jesus means by his authority thus if he has not spoken on the matter he has not given authority.  If as a student in a high school a teacher has given you authority, either a written word or a spoken word, to leave class you have …

• 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 …

• Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation

  …d.  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 God and too disinterested to study and find out) for his nature is such that he is not concerned enough to do anything about salvation that requires any effort or work (defined as obedience) on his part. …

• What Is Baptism (the Sprinkling Hoax)

  …ed to learn that the word “baptize” and all of its derivatives are not English words at all.  They are Greek words that were anglicized.  What does that mean?  My Merriam Webster Dictionary says the word anglicize means number one “to make English” and meaning number two “to borrow (a foreign word or phrase) into English without changing form or spelling and sometimes without changing pronunciation.”  Thus thos…

• Deeper Spiritual Understanding–How do I Acquire It?

  …ake our own religion and call it God’s. When our approach to the word of God is like that then Jesus’ words where he says, “with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you” kicks in.  Hearing God’s word in scripture means you take it to heart and obey it.  If you are not obeying you are not hearing God. If one wants to draw nearer to God he will have to do more than just read and memorize scripture.  He will have to obey it.  Do you wan…

• The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept

  …isunderstanding of what faith as taught in the New Testament is.  Yes, most certainly the Bible teaches man is saved by faith in place after place but one must understand what biblical faith is and what it encompasses.  Faith means you believe what the Bible says, for starters, about any and every subject of which it speaks. I have long said that the very thing those who teach that one is saved by faith alone need is “more faith.”  Th…

• The Army of the Lord–the Church

  …We are thus always right and never wrong and how dangerous that is. I close with this.  God has an army.  A man is either going to be in it and be a faithful soldier and take the sword of the Spirit and use it properly, which means for something other than buttering his bread, or else he is not.  Either way there are consequences or results that follow.  For the one who picks up the sword of the Spirit and then drops it and turns tail and runs th…

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

  …(John 16:13-15) that he did not originate truth for he did not speak on his own authority but spoke what he heard.  He glorified Jesus by taking what was of or from Jesus and declared it to them. Thus when an apostle spoke by means of the Holy Spirit he spoke not of himself but rather spoke the very words of God.  Peter speaks of “those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.” (1 Peter 1:12 NKJV)  On t…

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

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

• 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…

• The Joy and the Danger of a Clean Conscience

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

• Baptized For the Dead

  …10 Paul gives a list of what were some real serious sins (they all are) and then says in the next verse, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:11 NKJV)  Does the word “washed” here remind you of the word “wash” as in “wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16), the words of Ananias to Paul when he was yet known as Saul.  So the…

• Abuse of the Old Testament

  …217;s dealings that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” (James 5:11 NAS) Hebrews chapter 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 a…

• Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?

  …m for the remission of sins.  This many have not done and thus wait unprepared for the bridegroom. In Matt. 24:35-44 Jesus is speaking to his disciples and says: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, th…

• Is Church Attendance Essential for Christian Salvation?

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

• Singing and Playing in Christian Worship

  …use the word that way today they necessarily used it the same way 2,000 years ago in another culture. According to him the word “sing” could mean either just sing or sing and play both.  The trouble is that is not true.  Sing means sing or else words have no meaning and if that is the case we soon lose our ability to communicate.  We may put two and two together today because of the common practice that singers also often play while singing but s…

• A New Creation in Christ

  ge.  President Clinton use to say it depends on what the meaning of the word “is” is.  Are we in the Christian religious world now at the point where we must argue that it depends on what the word “if” means?  Are we all so ignorant we do not know what words like “is” and “if” mean?  May God have mercy upon us. Now please note what I have not said in this article.  I did not say we are saved or that…

• Waymon Swain’s Audio Sermons

  …eaking on many of the audio files but do not let that bother you for he will have gotten no more than a very few seconds into his subject.   All sermons were recorded in a time frame of at least 15 years ago.  Waymon has been preaching nearly 60 years now, still preaching regularly, holding meetings, doing lectureships, and has a trip to Guatemala planned for later this year.  He has a son, Bob Swain, who is an excellent preacher in his own right…

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

  …the Christian to not become bitter at life but rather have a long term optimistic outlook.  The darkness of the moment will pass and the sunshine will return.  The Christian believes this for he has hope and hope in the Bible means confident expectation, not an iffy “I hope so” the way we speak today.  “Hope does not disappoint.” (Rom. 5:5 NKJV)  It is the “anchor of the soul.” (Heb. 6:19 NKJV) (2)  Love When one becomes a Christian out of sincer…

• Hypocrites in the Church

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

• Keep Your Heart With All Diligence

  … against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” (Gal. 5:17 NKJV)  I think the TEV translation of the last phrase of this verse nails the meaning where it says, “this means that you cannot do what you want to do.”  I guess that means I am not the only one.  You must be there with me. Yes, life is a struggle to do what is right.  Perhaps this is why I get upset with Christians of a liberal…

• Why Men Do Not Believe

  …, and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.” (NAS)  Vine says the Greek word here for zealous means “an uncompromising partisan.”  Thayer says “one burning with zeal.”  Not just zealous but burning with zeal. With unbelievers who are truly deeply religious but are not able to see the truth on …

• Christian Wars–A Misnomer

  … they be.  Furthermore, sprinkling is not now and never has been baptism, unless one wants to go outside the pages of the New Testament and get his authority from man rather than God.  Baptism is immersion and the word itself means that very thing. Yes, there were many religious wars killing thousands upon thousands in history but we ought to cease the nonsense about Christians having any responsibility for it.  Tell the truth.  Blame the real in…

• Things People Do Not Know About the Church

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

• Abortion Luke 1 – All You Need to Know

  … People wanted to see it whether they had to pay to see it or not.  That is how depraved a society can get.) What American society or law, or this political party or that one, or this politician or that one, has to say really means absolutely nothing as to whether or not a thing is right in God’s eyes.  God does not determine righteousness based on man’s thoughts, opinions, or consensus.  Whatever it is whether living together outside…

• Better to Never Have Been Born–Why?

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

• Healing For the Brokenhearted

  ething to do with our healing.  We can reach out to God, we can seek him. (3)  The Psalmists says, in the third place, while the righteous have many afflictions God will deliver them out of them all.  What does this mean?  It means things will get better.  The heart can and will be mended in God’s own time.  When things are at their worst there is about to be a change, gradual though it may be, for God is a deliverer–a change for the …

• Ignorance Does Not Excuse Sin

  …, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23 NKJV)  Fortunately, God does love us and did intervene for us by sending Jesus into the world to be a propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10) which simply means Jesus paid the penalty for our sins so that we will not have to which allowed God to be just in punishing sin and yet give unto us a way to be saved through faith in Jesus.  This is the gospel story. We need to make ap…

• Faith is Not Just What You Believe

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

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

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

• Misunderstanding the Grace of God

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

• Indifference – The Great Destroyer

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

• Christianity and Multiculturalism

  …he Catholics and Protestants war all they want back in the Middle Ages.  It had nothing to do with Christianity.  Christianity is a striving for one culture (one belief, one mind) but only through teaching and persuasion as a means of obtaining that.  When you find the passage in the New Testament that shows a disciple taking up arms to promote the cause of Christ please write me and let me know where you find it.  Jesus himself said, “My k…

• He Feared

  …it to disobey God then how can a righteous judge condemn us? The truth is self evident.  If we had no control over fear then God would not be just in condemning us.  Since we will be condemned if we are fearful or cowardly it means necessarily that we have some control, some ability, to manage fear.  I think we all understand that what God condemns is not fear itself but the fear that holds us back from obedience.  He is not condemning a little f…

• Things God Cannot Do

  …the entire verse reads as follows: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful; he cannot deny himself.”  This is very, very similar then to the previous passage from Titus telling us God cannot lie.  To be faithful means we keep our word.  For God to not do this would make him unfaithful and he would be denying himself, denying what he had previously told us. This really means that you and I can take God’s word to the bank as the…

• The Hardening of the Human Heart

  … we read words like “God also gave them up” (v. 24), “God gave them up” (v. 26), and “God gave them over” (v. 28) all talking about God giving those people up to sins of various kinds which means he ceased to exercise any restraining influence on them.  The New Living Translation says “God abandoned them” in verses 24 and 26 and in verse 28 “he abandoned them.”  How would you like God to…

• Though He Slay Me

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

• Work Out Your Own Salvation

  … righteousness (obeys God’s commands).  Man is to walk uprightly and work righteousness (Psalm 15:2) if he is to abide in the tabernacle of the Lord according to the Psalmist. To say that a man is to work righteousness, which means only that he is to obey God’s commands, is a vast cry from saying that man is saved by works or that he is working his way to heaven or trying to get there by works apart from grace.  Man has his choice.  He can either…

• Acceptable Prayer

  …od glory and praise which is the very thing we all need to incorporate in our prayers.  He is worthy and we are beholden to him.  If one wants to learn how to pray the book of Psalms is a great place to learn.  David spoke by means of inspiration and inspiration knows how to give God glory and praise pleasing and acceptable to him. “Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”…

• I Can Do All Things Through Christ

  … strength to them. When Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) he was both speaking by inspiration and by personal experience.  What kind of things had he done or endured by means of the strength given by Christ?  In 2 Cor. 11, which my reference Bible says was written before the book of Philippians, Paul says he had been “in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.” (…

• The Parable of the Talents–the Sin of Fear

  … 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 divided his goods up among 3 servants.  He did not divide evenly but gave each what he thought he could reasonably be expected to succeed with.  Upon his retu…

• God’s Hardening of the Human Heart

  …r perceived self-interest as they see it).  His word rebukes the sinner who then gets his back up and rebels even further. There is much merit in the argument that God’s word does harden some.  However, is that the only means God uses to harden people’s hearts whom he hardens?  That is a very difficult question to answer.  After all of the plagues were over and Pharaoh had released the children of Israel to leave Egypt, God instructs …

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

  …e if I will have him. (3) He has prepared great things for me as a rich inheritance. (1 Peter 1:3-4) (4) He has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 NKJV)  What a wonderful Father!  That last promise means a lot to me for I know whether they want to leave me or not (some die, passing on, and have no choice but leave) it is going to happen, has already happened, friends and family will leave you.   I have someone in God m…

• Lincoln’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb

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

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

  …ers see it as a teaching to be bound for all time.  On a personal basis, because of verse 10 and my failure to understand it, I am hesitant to take a stand.  I have never known for sure what the phrase “because of the angels” means.  Yes, I have read a lot but nothing that yet has totally satisfied me.  I lean toward the position that the head covering is required, in part because of verse 10, but bind that on no one.  Every woman will have to ma…

• Non-Offensive Christianity

  matter what group they are with as long as they in the broadest sense of the term “believe” in Jesus and thus no one is offended—non-offensive Christianity.  No one is offended because in the end denominationalism means doctrine does not matter.  You read it the way you want, I read it the way I want, we are both saved, it doesn’t matter which one of us had the truth. That sounds to me like a wide gate and a broad way.  If I am …

• Without Natural Affection and Covenant Breakers

  … general and still not be “without natural affection.” Vine’s,  An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, a standard work Bible scholars consult regularly in order to see what the original Greek behind the English word means says this, “signifies without natural affection…love of kindred, especially of parents for children and children for parents.”  The Greek is the word “astorgos.” An example of natural affection is found in the story of…

• Receiving the Gospel (Acts 2:41)

  #8221;  (Acts 2:38 KJV)  They do not believe what Peter spoke, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to be true.  They are not willing to receive his words.  Be all of that as it may do not be misled.  God is able to say what he means to say.  He is able to communicate clearly.  If you gladly receive the word Peter preached (I ask again did he preach the gospel?) you will do what he by the Holy Spirit told you to do.   Please note those who did not …

• Demas Has Forsaken Me

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

• The Sin of Being Unthankful and the Need for Thanksgiving

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

• Honestly Deceived

  …obedience.  Our lives must be transformed spiritually so that like Paul our will is to do God’s will, where we want what he wants. Jesus says, “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matt. 16:25 NASB)  This simply means our will, and therefore our life, is to be what Christ’s will and Christ’s life would be if he was here in our place.  It is a thing hard to do for it means we give up a thought pattern that is common to all men in the…

• Is Denominational Baptism Scriptural?

  sm, etc., found in your New Testament were words from the Greek carried over into the English without ever being translated.  We call them transliterated words.  Why were these Greek words never translated?  Because the Greek means to submerge, immerse, to dip.  By the time the Bible was being translated into English men had already become wedded to their invention–sprinkling and calling it baptism.  To translate the word accurately would e…

• Behold the Judge is Standing at the Door

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

• Regrets

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

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

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

• Lessons for the Church from Isaiah (Chapter 1)

  …facts that are presented but a trust in God and his promises.  One must act upon what he has learned which is to say he must be obedient to it and that from the heart.  To know and understand God is to accept God as God which means God over me–my God.  In Isaiah’s day God had been forsaken and despised (Isa. 1:4 ESV) for what he had taught no longer mattered.  A person or a group’s attitude toward the word of God can tell you a lot about th…

• A Good and Pure Conscience

  … thus displaying a heart that is not pure toward God which relates back to the prior verse–1 Tim. 1:5.  In either case we sin.  If the desire is to be saved by faith then one must have a good conscience toward God which means one must be obedient to God for how can one be knowingly disobedient and maintain a good conscience? Heb. 13:18, “Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live h…

• 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…

• DennySmith.Net

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

• Fear God

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

• Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation?

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

• The Peace Found in Forgiveness of Others

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

• Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath?

  …he tomb.” (Matt. 28:1 NKJV)  The first day of week began after the Sabbath thus the Sabbath was a Saturday. What have we learned?  We have learned the Sabbath was the seventh day of the week and not the first day.  This means, of course, that if Christians are to keep the Sabbath they cannot keep it on a Sunday for a Sunday is not the Sabbath.  It is unscriptural and an invention of man to try and make Sunday the Sabbath.  It never was and …

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

  … had received spiritual gifts but no where is it said that any others were ever baptized in the Holy Spirit.  In fact, we know for certain that in many cases, some would say all cases, the reception of the spiritual gifts via means of the Holy Spirit was dependent upon the laying on of hands by an apostle. In the case of the Samaritans Luke writes, “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God,…

• Canaan and Heaven–How God Gives

  ean, however, because God is giving it, obey and you will succeed (no doubt about it) and become a recipient of the gift of God. God speaks in the New Testament of salvation as being a gift.  Men thinking the way they do this means to most “sit back, relax, and dump it into my lap.”  Bad mistake!  The children of Israel received the land of Canaan by God’s grace.  It was a free gift that did not have to be given.  They defeated the inhabitants of…

• King Saul–As Long as It Glorifies God

  … Cor. 14:37 NKJV)  Read also 1 Tim. 2:12-13.  But we are like Saul.  We will do our own thing and presume a little, be a little arrogant, be a little insolent.  We will give God glory in the way we see fit–through women preaching and being church leaders. I never have figured out how a woman is going to be an elder, a bishop, a pastor, in view of the fact that the qualification for such is that the individual must be “the husband of one wif…

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

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

• A Heart Right With God (Test Your Heart)

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

• Spiritual Mirages

  …ophets were continually calling for repentance with God giving time and opportunity. Romans 2 verse 4 helps us see God’s patience and longsuffering with sinful man.  I quote it here from the New Living Translation which means it is more a paraphrase but I think it is an accurate one.  “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness i…

• The Parable of the 10 Virgins–7 Lessons

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

• For By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith Alone

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

• They Loved the Praise of Men

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

• Pray For Others Lest You Sin

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

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

  …ments of the Supper thus that is what was to be shared. Is this what my liberal, make a social meal out of it, brethren want to share? To ask is to answer. Paul wants them to partake of the Lord’s Supper and do it right. That means waiting on the group to assemble, eating together the unleavened bread and drinking the fruit of the vine (with due attention to proper thoughts as to the meaning and proper behavior), and sharing in such a way so that…

• Must a Man Seek God?

  …t but there are only two classes of men–those who seek God and those who do not.  All mankind fits into one category or another.  David said in the Psalm quoted above that the wicked does not seek God.  That necessarily means if a man is not a seeker after God it puts him into the only other category that exists, that of the wicked who do not seek God.  If God is “a rewarder of those who diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6 NKJV) wha…

• The Heart of Man from a Biblical Perspective

  … “From the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.” (Dan. 10:12 NKJV)  Daniel willed or determined to understand and to humble himself.  “Set your heart” means to will in your heart as used in this context. “Take from among you an offering to the Lord.  Whoever is of a willing heart.” (Exod. 35:5 NKJV)  One cannot obey God whose heart is unwilling.  There were rulers who beli…

• The Church

  in a Denomination? Christ the Savior of the Body but Which One–the Matter of Timing Who Governs the Church if we Follow the Bible? Who Gets to Decide–God or the Church? The Church as the Body of Christ–Which Means What? The Army of the Lord–the Church Unhappy With the Church of Christ? Lessons for the Church from Isaiah Chapter One Hypocrites in the Church Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) A Description of the Church The Mi…

• Looking Down Your Nose

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

• The Need to Sing in Worship

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

• More on Willful Sin—Can Anyone be Saved?

  …t is not to be construed here strictly, or metaphysically (he is here talking about the word ‘willfully’—Denny), for all sin is voluntary, or is committed willingly, but must refer to a deliberate act, where a man means to abandon his religion, and to turn away from God. If it were to be taken with metaphysical exactness, it would demonstrate that every Christian who ever does anything wrong, no matter how small, would be lost.”…

• Never Give Up

  …  Attendance at worship services begin to lag, Bible reading ceases, prayer time diminishes, there is no time for good works, we begin doing whatever it is that is required of us to stay in good standing in our job even if it means sacrificing our Christian life.  It is easy to eventually end up as a Christian drop out. This can happen and it does happen all of the time–the more professional your job, the more responsibility you have, the m…

• Christ and Baptism in Colossians

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

• Confirmation Sunday–No Bibles Required

  …side the word of God to the word of men to get her “confirmation Sunday.”  Of course I already knew it was not in the New Testament as you also know if you have ever read it. The lady says in the early church (she means the Catholic church not the first century New Testament church) confirmation was associated with baptism.  I guess from what she wrote that a bishop would confirm a new convert after his/her baptism and sometimes quite…

• How Was Noah Saved Through Water?

  …found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” (Gen. 6:8 NKJV)  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 …

• Diotrephes Loves To Have the Preeminence

  …JV) When Peter and John arrived Simon saw that the Holy Spirit could be conveyed to others by the apostles laying hands upon them.  Simon reverted back to his days prior to his conversion, desired this power, and sought it by means of offering to Peter and John money.  You know the rest of the story.  He was condemned for this.  Peter says to Simon, “your heart is not right in the sight of God.  Repent … and pray … .” (Acts 8: 21 -22, NKJV) Simon…

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

  … had information as to how that was to be done.  Thus again we see that both Cain and Abel must have had information about making sacrifices (offerings) that would please God and Cain had failed to follow the instructions. By means of his sacrifice (and the manner in which it was made–by faith) it is said that Abel “obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts.” (Heb. 11:4 NKJV)  This was not said of Cain …

• The Faith of Enoch

  …rned in researching this piece having overlooked it for years). The point that needs to be made then is that Enoch knew God’s will.  He heard the words of God and indeed spoke them as a prophet.  His faith was in God by means of what God spoke to him which is to say as Paul said “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17 NKJV)  God spoke and Enoch believed.  Without word from God Enoch could only have …

• Israel’s Rebellion at the Red Sea

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

• Saul’s Conversion

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

• Ghost Hunting and Consulting the Dead

  m, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord.” (Deut. 18:10-12 NKJV) The phrase “calls up the dead” is in the old King James Version the word “necromancer” which means, according to Albert Barnes the well known commentator, “one who interrogates the dead.”  In fact, he says that is the literal rendering of the Hebrew if I understand him correctly and I am satisfied I do.  This is exa…

• God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh

  … into the truck bed to see them. I use to fear when I was young that there might not be any hope for me when I committed a willful sin.  I had read the Hebrews passage and quite honestly misunderstood it.  The Hebrews passage means exactly what it says but at the point of repentance there is a change. Until I repent I am still guilty of the willful sin.  When I do repent I am no longer trampling the Son of God underfoot nor making light of his sh…

• Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences

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

• Fornication–Take It Lightly at Your Peril

  …nts who were married to one another–not a step child among us, not a single case of a child from a single parent home.  Do not tell me the world has not changed.  Now days you get a child in school and his/her last name means nothing.  Chances are about as good as not that he does not have the last name his/her parents have on the enrollment card.  In the year 2007, the last year I could find stats for as of the time I am writing this artic…

• The Conscience as a Witness

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

• Parable of the Tares–No Middle Ground

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

• God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit

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

• The Chastening of the Lord

  …king from God, for we are not to be “discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.” (2) It is something to be endured, “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons.” (verse 7)  When one “endures” a thing it generally means the thing being endured is unpleasant. (3) It is a correction, “we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect.  Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?”…

• The Pleasures of Sin

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

• 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…

• 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…

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

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

• 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 …

• 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…

• Mt. Sinai and the Day of Judgment

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

• The Blessing of Affliction and the Goodness of God

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

• Repentance

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

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

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

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

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

• The New Birth and Water

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

• Christian Living

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

• Abraham’s Faith (Faith Accounted for Righteousness)

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

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

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

• Authority

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

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

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

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

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

• Word of God

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