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• The Case of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

  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 »There are many who believe beyond doubt that Cornelius was saved at the time the…

• 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…

• Cornelius’ Conversion–Final Thoughts

  The idea is in vogue in some quarters that Cornelius was saved when the Holy Spirit fell upon him (Acts 10:44) without any further action on his part.  One of the verses used to support this idea is 1 John 4:13, “By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (NKJV)  So, it is said that settles it. I went to take a look at that verse and read it in context.  Now understand I believe the Sp…

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

  I have written a series of articles on the subject of obeying the gospel in the first century based on the history given in the book of Acts.  The idea has been to cover every such conversion to Christianity listed in Acts.  This is another installment dealing with the same subject.  Why do so?  Because there is absolutely no possibility that Holy Spirit inspired men, some apostles, could have gotten it wrong.  The case of Cornelius is unique in…

• The Great Commission and Cornelius

  A great many people believe that Cornelius was saved the moment the Holy Spirit fell on him to which I disagree.  It seems to be a topic of interest so I have decided to write on the subject from a different vantage point than is usual. This is really, at its core, a discussion of whether or not water baptism is for the remission of sins as stated in Acts 2:38.  Since that is the basis of opposition every related subject such as conversion, 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…

• Case of Cornelius

  Was Cornelius Saved Before Baptism? The Case of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit The Great Commission and Cornelius Saved by Faith or Saved by Holy Spirit Baptism? Cornelius’ Conversion–Final Thoughts …

• Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith)

  read what Jesus and Ananias had to say about it.  Jesus said it was so Saul “might receive his sight.” (Acts 9:12 NKJV)  Ananias said Jesus “has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17 NKJV)  The only other comment we have on why Ananias was sent to Saul is found in Acts 9:6 and Acts 22:10 both quoted two paragraphs above.  So what was it that Saul was told by Ananias that he…

• Things People Do Not Know About the Church

  aved. It is only the church that Christ sanctified and cleansed “with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:25-27 NKJV)  Only the saved are in the church.  If you are saved you are in this glorious church. (2)  Jesus is the Savior of the body (Eph. 5:23) which is the church (Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:…

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

  written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.” (NASU) How is one taught of God?  The answer is through the teachings of the Holy Spirit found in our day in the pages of the New Testament.  Hear Jesus, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” (John 6:63 N…

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

  bihu “offered profane fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them” (Lev. 10:1 NKJV) “fire went out from the Lord and devoured them” (Lev. 10:2 NKJV).  God said, “By those who come near me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.” (Lev. 10:3 NKJV)  Thus doing the thing God had not commanded in what was supposed to be an act of worship resulted in death and doing the thing not commanded was also con…

• Does God Really Care?

  d with all the blessings God can give. That blessing will now, due to man’s sin, be obtained in heaven rather than on earth, a so to speak heavenly Garden of Eden figuratively if you will.  John speaking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit says of that time and that life to come that “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed a…

• Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching

  letter.  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Tim. 3:16 NKJV)  The scriptures came by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  God used men’s tongues and pens to give us the message of inspiration.  To say that one New Testament preacher/writer contradicted another is to say that God himself is inconsistent and says and teaches o…

• Acceptable Prayer

  the sense of heeding it).  In Isaiah chapter one God is speaking to his people, people who have departed from him, through the prophet Isaiah.  Isaiah says of them, “They have abandoned the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him.” (Isa. 1:4 NASU)  Then he follows up in verse 15 speaking the words of God, “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, eve…

• Ways into Christ–How Many Ways Are There?

  tionalism would say they were saved after faith and repentance and the rest of God’s command to them that day (be baptized) was not needed for salvation.  Well, who are you going to believe?  We ought to believe Peter and the Holy Spirit and not our denominational pastors. I discovered something in this passage I had literally overlooked for years until writing this piece.  Peter said, “every one of you.”  There were to be and are to be no except…

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

  220;The word which you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.” (John 14:24 NKJV)  One could add to these references but the point has been made. Before Jesus ascended back to heaven he promised to send the Holy Spirit to his apostles.  “But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26 NKJV) …

• Ashamed of Jesus and His Words

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

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

  20;He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’”  (Acts 1:4-5 NKJV) Now look the two passages over carefully and compare them.  The promise of the Father was the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5) but Luke (Luke 24:49)…

• The Grace of God in Baptism

  #8220;But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by his grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7 NKJV) I would encour…

• 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…

• One Church—A Thing Hard to Accept

  already made up their mind he could not be the Son of God (Matt. 28:11-14). In his last recorded meeting with the Jews in Rome during his imprisonment there Paul made this charge against the Jews, not all but some: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY: “HEARING YOU WILL HEAR, AND SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND SEEING YOU WILL SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE; FOR THE HEARTS…

• Why Do Men Run From God?

  #8217;s word or was it because we had a heart problem we would not admit to or face up to?  Is your faith and trust in your own heart, in your own mind, in what seems best and right to you, or is it in the words spoken by the Holy Spirit?  God’s word is just an extension of himself.  He is revealed in his word.  Are you running away from God?  I hope not for I can promise you he will find you in the Day of Judgment when you do not wish to b…

• Baptism

  The Conversion of the Philippian Jailer Gospel Obedience at Corinth The Mysterious Eloquent Evangelist What is Baptism (The Sprinkling Hoax) Baptized For the Dead Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching Is Holy Spirit Baptism the Baptism That Saves? The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept Denominationalism’s Sin Against Peter Audio Sermons  (by Waymon Swain) Baptism The Necessity of Water Baptism Questions Abo…

• 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…

• Abortion Luke 1 – All You Need to Know

  aid it was John (Luke 1:13).  John the Baptist would be in the womb of Elizabeth, not just fetal tissue.  God named him before he was even conceived so it was John who was in the womb. (2) John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit “while yet in his mother’s womb.” (Luke 1:15 NAS, see also the HCSB, ISV, NET, NLT, and NRSV translations)  Some translations say “from his mother’s womb” (NKJV and others) but…

• The Kind of Faith in God That Destroys

  man in the synagogue possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Ha! What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are — the Holy One of God!’” Yet another example is Luke 5:41 (NAS), “And demons also were coming out of many, crying out and saying, ‘You are the Son of God!’  And rebuking them, He would not allow them …

• Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon

  fore the events recorded in Acts 3. Of those sermons, of which we know nothing, we can only say with certainty that the truth was taught and what was taught was the same as that taught by Peter in Acts 2 by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  For it to be otherwise would be to say two or more different gospels were preached which we are sure was not the case.  Peter did not preach one gospel one day and another gospel another day.  He did not have a…

• Jesus the Foundation of and the Builder of the Church

  adict one another. Yes, Peter is a stone in the church but so is every other Christian.  Peter tells us so.  “You also, (he says speaking to Christians–DS) as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5 NKJV)  The church is the spiritual body of Christ, a spiritual building being built up.  The church is Christ̵…

• 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. …

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

  gospels being preached with one apostle preaching one thing and another something different. In Peter’s gospel sermon in Acts 2, the first such sermon ever preached after Christ’s ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, Peter preached repentance and baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).  Was one required to believe him?  Was this something a person had to believe in order to be saved?  Was what he pre…

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

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

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

  and and there may well be others.  (1) The Catholic Church and they will not deny it.  (2) The Mormons and neither will they deny it.  (3) Those groups or individuals who believe they need and receive direct guidance from the Holy Spirit in addition to the scriptures.  (4) Those groups we might call modernists. A modernist, for those who might not be sure, is an individual or religious body (denomination) that takes the smorgasbord approach to th…

• The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus

  will not take the man at his word? The faith the Ephesians had that resulted in their cleansing from sin was the faith they had in what Jesus taught them through his inspired representatives.  Paul was an inspired man but the Holy Spirit whether speaking through Paul or through any other apostle or first century prophet did not speak on his own initiative.  “He will not speak on his own initiative, but whatever he hears, he will speak…he shall ta…

• The Mysterious Eloquent Evangelist

  fore about Apollos and has been part of the mystery surrounding the man.  Luke says, in Acts 19:1 that Paul found there “some disciples” referring to this group of twelve men. Because these men know nothing of the Holy Spirit Paul begins to question them concerning their baptism.  Something has to be wrong if they have been baptized and yet know nothing about the Holy Spirit, even of his existence.  Now why would that necessarily foll…

• Though He Slay Me

  of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord–that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” (NKJV)  We say, as I did, that James said this.  So he did.  However, these were truly the words of the Holy Spirit speaking through James about Job. Hundreds of years after the fact God saw fit to use James as his mouth piece and reveal more of the purpose behind suffering that seemed without reason or purpose, even unjust at…

• The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification

  re you not carnal?” (NKJV) No church that wants or insists its members be called by a denominational name in addition to the name Christian is any part of the church Jesus built.  Not only is it carnal as Paul speaking by the Holy Spirit said but it is also dishonoring to God as if it is not good enough to just be called a Christian or child of God.  The name “Christian” is a Christ honoring name.  Denominational names dishonor Christ as his name…

• Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation?

  wd. No, we all know we cannot work our way to heaven, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration (baptism–DS) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5 NKJV) but when the faith we hold is a faith that leads us to disobedience rather than to obedience we ought to realize this is not the same faith held by Peter, James, John, Paul, and the other…

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

  s not matter in the least whether you or I see a reason in a command God gives.  Sometimes he gives commands just to test our obedience (Abraham being a case in point with the sacrifice of his son Isaac).  Paul writing by the Holy Spirit said to the Corinthians, “For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.” (2 Cor. 2:9 NKJV) Many, many people who consider themselves to be Chr…

• Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath?

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

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

  ody (the fleshly physical body we each possess–DS), you will live.” (Rom. 8:13 NKJV)  It is thus spiritual beings having the Spirit of Christ within them who make up the church the body of Christ. In the description the Holy Spirit gives of the church as a spiritual body, the body of Christ, it is compared to a physical body in order to provide us with some lessons of its nature and what it is to be.  He (the Holy Spirit) says, speaking thr…

• Regrets

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

• Honestly Deceived

  to the golden calf that resided there.  As the prophet arrived he found Jeroboam at the altar preparing to burn incense to his idol. The prophet was sent to Bethel on this mission “by the word of the Lord” (1 Kings 13:1 NKJV) and given distinct instructions as how to proceed.  He was to eat no bread, nor drink any water, nor return by the way he came (1 Kings 13:9).  Having fulfilled his mission of prophecy in Bethel he obeys God and starts for h…

• Singing and Playing in Christian Worship

  long period of time it was before the church ever introduced even the first instrument of music, what an awfully long period of time it was where the only music in worship was that of singing.  This helps me get a grasp on it and maybe it will help you as well.  It is now the year 2011.  Let us take 670 years from that and see how far back we get.  That takes us back to the year 1341 A.D.  If we phrase it this way and reverse the events (in order…

• 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…

• Never Give Up

  ” (NKJV)  Do you think God was capable of doing that with David?  Do you think he is capable of doing that with you or me when we get caught up in sin?  Remember David is speaking or writing but doing so by inspiration of the Holy Spirit who led him to utter these words.  God is able and willing if we like David will repent. Then note verses 16 and 17 where David says, “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight …

• Denominationalism’s Sin Against Peter

  ident by their asking the question. Denominationalists say Peter could not have meant what the words he spoke seem to be saying–that baptism is for the remission of sins.  Hmmm!  I thought he was inspired; I thought the Holy Spirit fell on him and the other apostles that day prior to the sermon.  If so, and I thought it was, I thought God was capable of saying what he meant to say.  Have I been wrong?  But then Jesus did say that “He …

• The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept

  the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38) that he was not lying, faith that he had not lost his senses, faith that he was not deluded, faith that he said exactly what he meant to say, faith that he spoke by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, faith that when Ananias told Saul “arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16 NKJV) he knew that Saul still had sins to be forgiven, that he was not cleansed of sin on the road to Da…

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

  n and in a different location but we still see him preaching with the same result – baptism.  This time it is just said that “he preached Jesus to him.” In the book of Acts up to this chapter we have had two Holy Spirit inspired men preaching – first Peter and now Philip.  In each case baptism was a part of what was preached.  They preached it because the Holy Spirit by which they spoke required it.  Either that or they ju…

• The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father

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

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

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

• Jesus’ Baptism and You?

  Does baptism matter?  Most Americans have come to the conclusion that it does not, a person can be saved and go to heaven baptized or not.  It is such a settled conviction with most that they are not willing to give the study of the topic the time of day.  It is ridiculous to even consider it as they see it. It seems to me this is taking the same attitude the Pharisees took back in the first century.  They had their settled law and there was no …

• 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…

• Spiritual Mirages

  It is so easy to be misled in life.  Things appear to be a certain way when the reality is they are just the opposite of what they seem to be.  Ask any young man or woman or husband or wife who has been deeply in love and then found out to their utter dismay that the love they felt sure was mutual between them and their beloved was all just an illusion and the object of their affections was in reality ready to dump them.  The first reaction is o…

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

  The word reconciliation is a very emotionally laden word.  There are millions upon millions of people in this world of billions who have sorrow in their hearts that words cannot express.  It is a sadness that goes with them day by day and night by night, month by month and year by year, and how can they tell anyone about it?  What can they say?  They cannot verbalize the feelings even to themselves let alone to others.  It is a sadness, a depres…

• The Parable of the 10 Virgins–7 Lessons

  The parable of the 10 virgins found in Matt. 25:1-13 has more to say to us than we often realize. One of the things that troubles a person most, that nags and gnaws at our spirit, is when we mess up, make a bad mistake, and then have to pay for it when we had realized from the beginning what it was we needed to do which would have avoided the whole thing but simply failed to do it for one reason or another.  We blame ourselves for the mess we go…

• The Faith of Enoch

  walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” (Gen. 5:21-24 NAS) “And about these also Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’R…

• Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions?

  mand.  He says, “For Adam was formed first, then Eve.  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” (1 Tim. 2:13-14 NKJV)  If that was the reason for the command, and Paul speaking by the Holy Spirit says it was, then it was not a cultural thing and is still binding today for those historical facts can never be changed. Am I concerned with the role of women in the church in this article?  No, but I am making …

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

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

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

  that saves–a living faith and not a dead one. In Acts chapter 2 Peter preaches the first gospel sermon ever to be preached not long after Christ’s ascension back to heaven.  All agree that he spoke by inspiration as the Holy Spirit had just fallen upon the apostles.  He argues the case that the Jesus whom they had not long ago crucified was and is the Christ of God.  What is the result?  Does he convince them?  He most certainly does for th…

• A Good and Pure Conscience

  per the NKJV or an “appeal” for a good conscience as per the ESV and the NAS (and which I think beyond any personal doubt is correct) the bottom line is baptism and a good conscience have been tied together by the Holy Spirit in this passage and only God can untie the two.  Man attempts to do so at his own peril. If baptism is an answer of a good conscience the passage teaches that a good conscience leads one to be obedient and be bap…

• Is Denominational Baptism Scriptural?

  ll be saved.” (Mark 16:16 NKJV) This is the baptism of the Great Commission when Jesus told the apostles, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 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…

• The Silence of the Scriptures

  If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Rev. 22:18-19 NKJV) If these passages do not teach one must remain inside the pages of scripture I do not know what they teach.  That being the case the …

• Who Governs the Church if We Follow the Bible?

  chapter 20 verse 17, Paul called for the elders of the church of Ephesus to come meet him at Miletus.  One of the things he said to them was this, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28 NKJV)  Several comments are in order on this passage. Take note that they had a flock to oversee and…

• Is Church Attendance Essential for Christian Salvation?

  ent 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 glorify me, for he will take of what is mine and declare it to you.  All things that the Father has are mine.  Therefore I said that he will take of mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14-1…

• If Baptism is Not Essential for Salvation

  aid, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved,” (Mark 16:16 NKJV) for the truth would be “he who believes and is not baptized will be saved.”  (3)  If baptism is not essential for salvation then Peter either lied or the Holy Spirit was in error when on the Day 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 e…

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

  and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (NKJV) The phrase “washing of water” is a direct reference to baptism.  “By the word” signifies the reason for the baptism–God’s word.  God’s word directs one to be baptized. Some think they …

• Receiving the Gospel (Acts 2:41)

  dard Version, or will he “gladly receive” his message as per the New King James Version?  Most denominationalists will do none of the above.  Not only will they not receive Peter’s words, words spoken by the Holy Spirit, but they are ashamed of them.  You could not pay them to preach the sermon Peter did with its closing of “repent, and be baptized every of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” …

• For By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith Alone

  will take into account and accept.  We tell God, in effect, do not waste your time telling me anything else for I do not want to hear it. We are unwilling to accept that the same man who wrote Eph. 2:8-9 by inspiration of the Holy Spirit also wrote other books of the New Testament by inspiration of the Holy Spirit as well and also spoke in those books on the subject.  We forget the Psalmist said, “The entirety of your word is truth.” …

• Faith, Works, and Baptism

  teousness which we have done, just the opposite, as stated in Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)  The washing of regeneration is a reference to baptism and is specifically excluded by Paul as being a work of righteousness which we have done.  To the contrary it is a part of God’s mercy a…

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

  Everyone is pleased to have the grace of God in their life but are we disturbed by it when his grace shows up in the lives of others seemingly more generously than in our own?  I am afraid that is sometimes the case.  The parable of the laborers found in Matt. 20:1-16 is a perfect example and is also an excellent illustration of how man feels he knows more about what is just and right than God does. The passage is too long to quote here but I wi…

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

  Gen. 37:31-33, “So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, ‘We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?’ And he recognized it and said, ‘It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.’” (…

• Repent–How Hard It Is To Do

  in convincing men to repent. He was not the first preacher to have that problem.  The Bible calls Noah “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5 NKJV).  Most Bible students believe Noah preached 120 years (based on Gen. 6:3) and yet the only ones converted by his preaching were members of his own family.  Only 8 people were saved from the flood–Noah and his wife and his sons and their wives. The Bible says of those who died in the flood th…

• He Feared

  n chapter 6 verse 11, tells them to, “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (NAS)  In verse 13 he explains saying, “that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”  In speaking of this armor he refers to faith as a shield (verse 16). In ancient times in battle as long as a man had a shield and could keep it placed between his body and the swo…

• Without Natural Affection and Covenant Breakers

  Most of us prefer a version of the Bible today that is a little more up to date in its language than is the old original American Standard Version of 1901 or the King James Version thus making the Bible a little easier to read and understand.  However, in a few passages scattered about the Bible even the new literal translations like the ESV, NASB, and the NKJV, all excellent translations when taken as a whole, have led us slightly astray with i…

• Mary of Bethany–Doing What You Can

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

• Abraham’s Faith (Faith Accounted for Righteousness)

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

• The 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…

• God’s Hardening of the Human Heart

  harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.” (Exod. 4:21 NKJV) Why did God do this?  He tells us as he told Pharaoh, “But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” (Exod. 9:16 NKJV)  Paul quotes this passage in Rom. 9:17 and then in the very next verse says, “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He ha…

• The Prodigal Son–When He Came to Himself

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

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

  ve in Jesus.  Yes, that is true, but what does that mean?  I will talk about that later in the article but there are other things we also must believe according to the scriptures. (1) One must believe in God’s existence and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.  “But 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 diligently seek him.”…

• The Hardening of the Human Heart

  ve gotten themselves into a situation where it is impossible to renew them to repentance: “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and p…

• Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching

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

• Repentance–How Can I Be Sure?

  was thus essential then and essential now that repentance be preached.  We see the beginning of such preaching shortly thereafter. In the very first gospel sermon ever preached, after Christ’s ascension back to heaven and the Holy Spirit’s descending upon the apostles on the Day 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…

• Saved by Jesus Outside the Church?

  universal church and the church on the local level if he is living faithfully.  The church is made of individual members called by Peter “living stones” which he says “are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5 NKJV) There was no such thing in the New Testament as a Christian living separate and apart from a local congregat…

• When did Obedience Become Legalism?

  ptable conduct and behavior. To condemn sin as did John the Baptist, Paul, and Jesus is today seen to be unloving, intolerant, and judgmental, and thus unchristian in the minds of many.  Yet, in the New Testament Paul, by the Holy Spirit, commanded Timothy to reprove and rebuke (2 Tim. 4:2 NAS) and not go along with or to hold his silence in the presence of men sinning.  Titus was told not only to rebuke but to do so sharply (Titus 2:13, see also…

• Christianity and Multiculturalism

  said, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (NKJV)  This is one of the most abused and misrepresented passages in the Bible.  Read in context one very quickly comes to verse 6 which says, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matt. 7:6 NKJV–Jesus speaking)  Who is to judge who the dog is or who the swine is?…

• Diotrephes Loves To Have the Preeminence

  ble says, speaking of the people of Samaria with regards to Simon, that they “all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.’” (NKJV) 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 k…

• Confirmation Sunday–No Bibles Required

  er baptism and sometimes quite a long while after that baptism.  Confirmation was thus just some words a bishop would utter in some kind of formal church setting or service , according to her, to symbolize the presence of the Holy Spirit in baptism and says it involved laying on of hands and anointing with oil. She goes on to say, “Up until the Reformation the Church retained Confirmation as a sacrament but gave, over the centuries, many ex…

• Canaan and Heaven–How God Gives

  bedience then is a matter of faith, disobedience a matter of a lack of faith.  Why are men today who claim to believe not baptized “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38 NKJV) as Peter preached and commanded in the very first Holy Spirit inspired gospel sermon ever to be preached?  The answer is because disbelief leads naturally to disobedience.  The Hebrew writer sums it up well, “the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed wi…

• God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh

  ich he has done, he shall live.  Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the LORD GOD, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live?’” David, a child of God by birth, wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Psalms 86:5 (NKJV), “For You, LORD, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” I don’t know who is going to be in heaven as far as individuals go.  I cannot name nam…

• Which Denomination Did Jesus Build?

  220;I teach everywhere in every church.” (1 Cor. 4:17 NKJV)  Every church in New Testament times received the same teaching.  There were no opposing doctrines save from false teachers.  What was taught in one place by a Holy Spirit inspired teacher was taught in every place.  Now we say it doesn’t matter; they will be saved the same as we, just believe in Jesus. What does it mean to believe in Jesus?  Does it mean it makes little to n…

• If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications

  talking about the preaching of the gospel message by those who had heard Jesus says, “God also bearing witness (with them–the speakers–DS) both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.” (Heb. 2:4 NKJV)  So we clearly see the purpose behind miracles, signs, wonders, gifts of the Holy Spirit, the miraculous in general, when the word was being preached to people w…

• Who Gets to Decide–God or the Church?

  rally?  The truth is every word of the New Testament is the word of Christ and is to be taken as the literal word of God. I said before that every word in the New Testament came from Jesus.  It is time to show that.  When the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles and other inspired men who wrote the New Testament what words were the words of Christ?  Was it just those we find in red type in our Bibles?  Listen to Jesus as he talked with his apost…

• The Joy and the Danger of a Clean Conscience

  in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10 NAS) Do you think God did that?  I remind you that the words spoken here were David’s but he spoke under inspiration guided by the Holy Spirit.  So what you may ask? Ask yourself why God wanted this passage recorded in holy writ?  Why did he want it worded the way it was?  For whose benefit was it written? I think Paul answered that question in Rom. 15:…

• Christian Circumcision

  son is encouraging rebellion against God and has a heart that is not right with God. This brings us up to the era of Christianity.  When Christ died on the cross, was buried, resurrected, returned to heaven, and then sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 an old era ended (the Law of Moses) and a new era began (the era of Christianity).  The Jews continued to circumcise their male children but it was no longer requ…

• Philip Preaching the Gospel in Samaria

  Is baptism a part of the gospel?  Is it a part of the good news?  It is if it is “for the forgiveness of your sins” as per Acts 2:38.  It is if Peter preached it.  It is if Philip preached it.  It is if these two Holy Spirit inspired men preached it. Only when one receives the word, the gospel, only when one believes it, is he baptized.  Those who did not receive the word, did not believe it, were not baptized.  This pretty much tell…

• 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…

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

  born” could have been “begotten”.  It is a translator’s choice as to which word to use.  In fact, the Analytical-Literal Translation uses the word “begotten.”  Use the word “begotten” and the conflict between verse 12 and 13 disappears. How do we know the word “begotten” is the correct word to use here when either “begotten” or “born” can be used with justification as a…

• The Army of the Lord–the Church

  The army of the Lord is a phrase found only one time in the NKJV of the Bible and that in the Old Testament in Joshua 5:14 where Joshua in the vicinity of Jericho meets up with one who says of himself that he is “Commander of the army of the Lord.” (NKJV)  However, having said that, it is clear from many different New Testament passages that while the church is never called an army it is clearly described as an army in that each Christian is con…

• Demas Has Forsaken Me

  The man by the name of Demas is only mentioned in the Bible three times, all three times by the apostle Paul.  Demas was for a time a fellow traveler and fellow worker with Paul.  He is mentioned in the closing of the book of Colossians, a book written around AD 60, as one who with Paul and others sent their greetings to the church at Closse (Col. 4:14). Again in the book of Philemon in verse 23 and 24 he along with Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, …

• He Went Away Grieved

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

• 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…

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

  In Eph. 5:23 we read where Paul says “Christ is the head of the church; and he is the savior of the body.”  This passage is clear cut and easy to understand save for one thing–what body is it he is the savior of?  The New Testament teaches the body is the church (see Col. 1:24, Eph. 1:22-23) so is it the Baptist church, the Lutheran, the Methodist, the Nazarene, or one of the hundreds of others that could be named?  Many would say it is al…

• 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…

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

  ast that has been the traditional view of conservatives. Today there is a liberal element in Christianity who feels they no longer need Bible authority for what they do. That being the case they feel free to do as they please and make anything and everything an act of worship that their heart so desires. They are no longer restricted by the Bible. What I say here will be of no value to them for that very reason. But, I do want to investigate this…

• Faith is Not Just What You Believe

  Sometimes I think faith is about the only subject everyone is an expert on but faith is a complex subject involving far more than just the mind and its thoughts and is a subject that needs continual study to mine all its depths. Faith is not just thought but action.  It is a driving force, an inward power that drives man to act and do, to sacrifice, to seek, to suffer, to endure, to commit, and drive on when there appears to be no longer reason …

• Misunderstanding the Grace of God

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

• Ghost Hunting and Consulting the Dead

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

• The Book of Ecclesiastes

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

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

  Paul, in answer to the question proposed, would say faith is but folly if Christ did not rise from the dead.  “For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (1 Cor. 15:16-17 NKJV)  If Christ did not rise from the dead what hope do we have as we grow old and face the inevitable?  Are we but animals? The evolutionist would say yes we are only animals and talk l…

• Ignorance Does Not Excuse Sin

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

• The Heart of Man from a Biblical Perspective

  The Bible has much to say about the heart of man.  The word “heart” in the New King James Version of the Bible is found 835 times in 775 verses according to the E-Sword concordance for the NKJV.  The study of the heart of man is thus a massive study and I might add from a human point of view a complex one.  God knows all of our hearts, “For you alone know the hearts of all the sons of men.” (I Kings 8:39 NKJV)  The question is do you and I know …

• Disobedience to Jesus

  3:36 we find this passage, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (NAS – see also the ASV, ESV, RSV, NRSV, LITV, GNB, and the ISV)  The New King James Version translates it, “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)  At fi…

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

  Sometimes we run across phrases in the Bible that we really do not understand yet we think we can kind of guess at the meaning and come close enough thus we never bother to study them out to get at the truth.  The phrases trouble us a little but not enough for us to do any extra work to find out the meanings.  The phrase “my name” as found in the Bible is just such a phrase. The exact phrase “my name” is found 118 times i…

• What Is Baptism (the Sprinkling Hoax)

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

• Fornication–Take It Lightly at Your Peril

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

• King Saul–As Long as It Glorifies God

  Paul said, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Rom. 15:4 NKJV)  The NIV translates the first part of that verse as follows, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us.” Paul had reference primarily to the writings found in the Old Testament when he made that statement.  As we read the Old Testament we need t…

• The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman

  g.  The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63 NKJV)  The words of God are spirit.  Paul said, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches.” (1 Cor. 2:13 NKJV) Spiritual mindedness does not come in the work place, the fitness club, the golf course, in attendance at school activities, on family outings, etc.  It comes with reading and s…

• The Peace Found in Forgiveness of Others

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

• Non-Offensive Christianity

  spite Peter’s exact words to that effect.  “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; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 NKJV)  He had to be mistaken, he could not have meant it, it is offensive, the very thought is offensive.  We want non-offensive Christianity.  Non-offensive Christianity demands disregard for …

• Unhappy With the Church of Christ?

  lace.  A little later we find two bold faced deceivers in the church (Ananias and Sapphira).  Even the model church had problems. Who would even know where to begin in talking about the problems of the church at Corinth?  The Holy Spirit himself speaking through Paul calls them carnal (1 Cor. 3:3).  He speaks of envy, strife, and divisions among them (1 Cor. 3:3).  They had in full fellowship a man living with his stepmother in a sexual relations…

• Waymon Swain’s Audio Sermons

  s Audio Sermons Authority  (1 sermon) Baptism  (4 sermons) Bible Characters  (1 sermon) Bible Conversions  (5 sermons) Christian Living  (26 sermons) Faith  (7 sermons) Forgiveness  (6 sermons) God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit  (10 sermons) Grace  (3 sermons) Miscellaneous  (22 sermons) New Birth  (7 sermons) Old Testament Studies  (13 sermons) Prayer  (1 sermon) Salvation  (26 sermons) Sin  (21 sermons) The Church  (7 sermons) The Hea…

• The Need to Preach on Sin

  1:18-20 NKJV)  Note the phrase “foreordained before the foundation of the world.” Another like passage is found in Eph. 1:4, “Just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” (NKJV)  Note again, “before the foundation of the world.”  Jesus is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev. 13:8 NKJV)  John the Bapt…

• The Sin of Being Unthankful and the Need for Thanksgiving

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

• Assorted

  es Have Ceased–the Implications Lincoln’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb Abortion Luke 1 – All You Need to Know Non-Offensive Christianity Ghost Hunting and Consulting the Dead Bible Authority, Foot Washing, the Holy Kiss, and Head Coverings Christianity, Homosexuality, and Gay Marriage When Did Obedience Become Legalism? Healing For the Brokenhearted Better to Have Never Been Born Though He Slay Me The Fragrance of Christ Deeper Sp…

• Faith, Manna, and Grumbling Against God

  Yet, while there they were not so enthralled with it. The grumbling against God began at the Red Sea (if not before for an argument can be made that it began even before the first plague based on Ex. 6:9).  At the Red Sea the Holy Spirit said through the Psalmist that the children of Israel “rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.” (Psa. 106:7 NASB)  They looked off into the distance and saw Pharaoh’s army, became terrified fearing…

• The Need to Sing in Worship

  , and the song of the Lamb, saying:  ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!  Just and true are Your ways, O king of the saints!  Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?  For You alone are holy.  For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.’” (NKJV) Every song I have found in the Bible is a song wherein God is being praised, and glorified, and exalted …

• How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built?

  and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:25-27 NKJV) Salvation is in Christ which is the same as to say in his body, the church.  “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation wh…

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

  Abel, the son of Adam and Eve, is the first person listed among many in Hebrews chapter 11 commended by the Holy Spirit for their faith.  Of Abel it is said, “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.” (Heb. 11:4 NKJV)  Men have long been troubled by this passage trying to figure ou…

• Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize

  to the other apostles just before his ascension to heaven in Matt. 28:19-20 where the command was, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”? (NKJV)  Is he some kind of special apostle who was exempted from this command to ba…

• 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…

• The Conscience as a Witness

  e, “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)  This was originally written in Deut. 8:3 by Moses by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. No, we cannot ignore our conscience.  I do not argue that we can for we cannot.  I only argue that our conscience must be trained by the word of God as found in the New Testament, God’s law for man today, …

• Israel’s Rebellion at the Red Sea

  t, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.  For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.” (2 Peter 2:20-21 NKJV) The children of Israel were ready to go back if they could do so in safety.  They wished they had never left.  Peter would call that kind of thing for the Chr…

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

  church.  Can we say these churches are faithful to the Bible?  Can we say they believe the Bible?  They are in effect saying a practicing homosexual can inherit the kingdom of God and thus claim to know more about it than the Holy Spirit himself as he spoke through Paul. In 1 Tim. 1 Paul talks about some who wanted to be teachers of law and he says this, “the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly a…

• Willful Sin–Can Anyone Be Saved?

  AS)  Did this man who was doing this not know it was sin?  You know he did.  Yet, in 2 Cor. 2:7 Paul urges the Corinthians to forgive the man as he had repented.  I remind the reader Paul wrote and spoke by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor. 12:21 clinches the meaning of Heb. 10:26 for me.  It reads as follows, “I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in t…

• Work Out Your Own Salvation

  to me.  “Utterly destroyed” are the words.  Who will be utterly destroyed–those who will not hear (meaning heed or obey) his words.  Remember the entire New Testament is the words of Jesus for Jesus himself said of the Holy Spirit who inspired men to write, “He will not speak on his own authority … he will glorify me, for he will take of what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-14 NKJV) How men can say we are not to work out our ow…

• Abuse of the Old Testament

  ies.  Henceforth Christ was the one to be heard and followed. In Hebrews 3 the Hebrew writer has been talking about Moses and Christ and how Christ is superior to Moses and then in verse 7 and 8 says, “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:  ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” (NKJV)  The day of hearing Moses is over as regards law to be followed.  Hear the voice of Christ which is the voice of God.  Hea…

• Christian Living

  Man or Woman Fear God Regrets If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications Work Out Your Own Salvation Behold the Judge is Standing at the Door Looking Down Your Nose He Went Away Grieved Bible Authority, Foot Washing, the Holy Kiss, and Head Coverings King Saul–As Long as it Glorifies God When Did Obedience Become Legalism? Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions? Healing For the Brokenhearted Deeper Spiritual Understanding They…

• Healing For the Brokenhearted

  old 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 time of need.  The Holy Spirit speaking through James says, “Is anyone among you suffering?  Let him pray.” (James 5:13 NAS)  Let us pray at the throne of grace for God’s power to heal our broken heart. If you are one who is …