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• Is Holy Spirit Baptism The Baptism That Saves?

  …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 »In an article I wrote some time ago I had a gentleman of the Pentecostal persuas…

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

  ded from the truth out of willingness to be blind and preference for it.  God has said you must be born of water (and spirit of course) but they say it is not so and we will not do it. Needless to say, water is a reference to baptism.  However, lest I be like the man who says water is not water but offers no proof I need to prove my statement.  First of all Jesus taught baptism as essential when he gave the Great Commission.  He says, He who has …

• Is Denominational Baptism Scriptural?

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

• 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…

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

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

• If Baptism is Not Essential for Salvation

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

• Jesus’ Baptism and You?

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

• The 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…

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

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

• Faith, Works, and Baptism

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

• The Mysterious Eloquent Evangelist

  hesus; 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 when he wanted to go across to Achaia,…

• Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith)

  rist, that you may be married to another–to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.” (Rom. 7:4 NKJV)  But, one is not married until he/she is married despite the feelings of the heart.  Baptism seems to be the marriage ceremony (so to speak) of the disciple with Christ.  Paul himself says we die in baptism (Rom. 6:4) and walk in newness of life upon our baptism, read all of Rom. 6:1-8.  This means our state…

• Christian Circumcision

  m, who is the head of all principality and power.  In him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.  And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with…

• 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.  …

• How Was Noah Saved Through Water?

  How was Noah and his family saved through water?  Peter, in 1 Peter 3:20-21, says they were but just how is a little hard to understand without some thought and study.  The passage reads as follows:  “when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.  There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the f…

• Baptism

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

• The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus

  ch, “by the washing of water with the word.” (Eph. 5:26 NAS)  Who was cleansed that way?  Those Paul said earlier had been saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8).  The washing of water with the word is clearly a reference to baptism.  What did Jesus teach about baptism?  “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16 NAS)  “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5 NA…

• How Does the Blood of Jesus and Baptism Tie Together

  w you and I do this.  He says in Rom. 6:3, “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (NKJV)  He goes on, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Rom 6:4 NKJV)  When is a person to walk in newness of life?  After baptism….

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

  not dipped in the Jordan as instructed?  Would the walls of Jericho have come crashing down without the marching around it?  You get the idea and you have the right idea exactly.  The answer is an emphatic no.  So it is with baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). I have asked the question before and never gotten an answer yet but I will ask it again.  If Jesus (God) wanted you to know baptism was for the remission of your sins how would …

• The Grace of God in Baptism

  Most Americans of a Christian persuasion believe that baptism has little to nothing to do with the grace of God. One wonders have they never read Titus 3:4-7? The truth about God’s grace and its tie in with baptism is clearly set forth in Paul’s passage to Titus which reads as follows: “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 s…

• Cornelius’ Conversion–Final Thoughts

  ence to God (gospel obedience) for there can be no obedience to what is thrust upon you (baptism of the Holy Spirit).  To say that obedience to the gospel (a command of God–2 Thess. 1:8, 1 Peter 4:17) equals Holy Spirit baptism and vice versa is to say in reality that there is nothing to obey since only Jesus could baptize one with the Holy Spirit.  Had Cornelius obeyed the gospel? Paul said, concerning the matter of salvation in Rom. 6:17-…

• A New Creation in Christ

  cur?  Paul answers. “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?  Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we als…

• Christ and Baptism in Colossians

  The fact that baptism is essential to becoming a Christian and being saved is written on page after page in the New Testament despite being rejected by most who call themselves Christians.  I have never understood how something so clearly taught can so readily be rejected by so many other than through the power that tradition and religious heritage exerts on people. Error believed has the same faith affect upon a man or woman as truth believed a…

• Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching

  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 the Lord, come into my house and stay,” (Acts 16:15 NAS) and then…

• 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 …

• Gospel Obedience at Corinth

  Did Paul preach the same gospel at Corinth that he taught elsewhere?  Everywhere else he taught, as part of the gospel, baptism for the remission of sins.  One can go to Acts 16 and read two accounts, in the same chapter, of conversions made by Paul–Lydia and the Philippian jailer–in which in both instances those being converted were baptized.  Paul himself, in his conversion, was baptized.  You may recall the words of Ananias to him…

• Ways into Christ–How Many Ways Are There?

  hrist, prerequisites if you will, namely faith, repentance, and confession all of which are absolutely essential to salvation but none of those things by themselves or even taken collectively will put you “into Christ.”  Only baptism is said to do that–no not baptism by itself (emphasis on that) but baptism that is built on faith accompanied by repentance with a willingness to confess Christ.  Baptism is the final step one takes to enter Ch…

• New Birth

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

• Christian Wars–A Misnomer

  blems and it centers around one thing.  They are wedded to the idea that a man is saved by faith alone and that the new birth, born of water and the spirit, has nothing to do with becoming a Christian.  The new birth involves baptism in water for the remission of sins and that they will not accept.  Water to them is only symbolic. It was not symbolic to Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38 for he said it was for the remission of sins.  I ha…

• The Case of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

  sion of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 NKJV)  Now note, when does the Holy Spirit promise these believers they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?  Is it before repentance and baptism for the remission of sins or after?  The answer is evident.  This raises a question.  Is there one gospel in one location and another in a different location so that we can never really know what the gospel is?  Does…

• The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept

  it.  Again, there is no being in between.  You are either in or you are out.  You cannot join his spiritual body.  Paul did not say go out and join God’s spiritual body.  He said to be baptized into it.  If there is no baptism then there is no being in the body of Christ.  Case closed.  You cannot join Christ’s body, you are baptized into it. What does this mean then as far as what is considered to be religiously correct in the denom…

• Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching

  matter no mention of faith is made in this Acts 5 sermon either but it is implied.  Where is the man to be found capable of scriptural repentance who does not first believe?  Where is the man who is willing to be obedient to baptism who does not first believe?  Can a man be scripturally baptized who does not believe?  No!  When a thing is clearly implied in scripture it does not need to be mentioned. It is said that the Catholics baptize babies …

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

  piration in Acts 2:38, we readily see why that was the case.  What did Paul preach to Lydia?  We all agree he taught the fundamentals of the Christian faith.  With Paul, as with the other evangelists of his day, that included baptism for the remission of sins.  The text says Lydia was baptized along with her household (Acts 16:15) but when did she do this and why?  The verse before, verse 14, tells us that she was responding “to the things …

• Bible Contradictions on Salvation?

  rks of obedience to Christ.  Too many are ready to say that obedience is more or less equivalent to law keeping.  Since we are not saved by law they do not see obedience as being essential.  True, for example, Christ commands baptism but one does not have to obey that to be saved.  To require it would be law keeping or salvation by works. The trouble with that way of thinking is that the idea is in conflict with passages such as those I have just…

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

  ken to Saul by Ananias?  Is there more than one gospel that will save?  It has already shown in previous articles, as taken in chronological order, that in every instance the preaching by these inspired men immediately led to baptism on the part of those who accepted the preaching.  Baptism was a part of the message.  Is it any different this time with Cornelius?  No!  Hear Peter, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized…

• For By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith Alone

  or he says it again, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal. 3:26-27 NKJV)  By the way, can you put on Christ without baptism?  (see also 1 Cor. 12:13) Why is a man a son of God through faith in Christ Jesus?  Because he was baptized into Christ.  Reread Gal. 3:26-27 again.  I challenge one and all to find even a single passage of scripture…

• 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…

• Misunderstanding the Grace of God

  ike, 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 baptism which in the context of the article submitted meant without obeying Peter’s directive on the Day of Pentecost as found in Acts 2:38. His position is not unusual.  Millions of people have read Paul’s state…

• Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize

  not he/she is baptized?  It is the purpose of this article to show the folly of taking that kind of stance based on this scripture.  Let me begin by asking a question that must be answered if one is to take the position that baptism does not matter and that Paul was teaching that in this passage.  Here is the question–if it did not matter, if it has nothing to do with salvation, if Christ did not want Paul to baptize why did Paul baptize? …

• The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification

  It begins with the Spirit in that through the Spirit’s word, the gospel message, man is led to faith and repentance and a willingness and desire to confess Christ for who he is–the Son of God–and it culminates in baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16) but more succinctly to put to death the old man of sin and to arise a new spiritual creation (Rom. 6:4-6).  The old man dies in baptism (Rom. 6:4), “we were buried with …

• Confirmation Sunday–No Bibles Required

  ady 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 a long while after that baptism.  Confirmation was thus just some words a bishop would utter in some k…

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

  usness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Rom. 10:9-10 NKJV) The final condition one is met with before it can be said he has entered the body of Christ of which Christ said he is the Savior (Eph. 5:23) is baptism.  “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.  For in fact the body is not one member but many.” (…

• A Good and Pure Conscience

  , “There is also an antitype which now saves us–baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (NKJV)  How can baptism be the answer of a good conscience toward God?  Most say that even though God commanded it (John 3:5, Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, etc.) baptism is not really necessary.  Most would say, “…

• Does God Really Care?

  Over the course of time just about all of us are confronted with the reality of suffering and abuse not just on newscasts but in our own personal world where we live day by day and experience life up close.  Why are small precious children abused?  Why do many of them from all outward appearances not have a chance from the get go due to the circumstances they were born into?  Why do old people often get in such horrible conditions as you find th…

• Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences

  ristian who has not first had to deal with his/her conscience which was convicting them of sin.  Clean, clear consciences do not lead men to repentance.  So, yes, consciences can be cleansed.  They are cleansed, made good, in baptism (see 1 Peter 3:21)–a baptism preceded by faith, repentance, and confession of Christ as the Son of God.  One meets up, spiritually speaking, with the blood of Christ in the waters of baptism, baptism being the …

• How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built?

  :38 NKJV)  There are many who will say that yes they believe in order to be saved one must also in addition to having faith repent of his sins.  However, that is where they want to stop.  They want to separate repentance from baptism in the passage and gladly ignore the fact there is a coordinating conjunction there, the word “and,” that joins the two words making one just as essential as another.  (They do the same thing with the word “and” in M…

• The Conversion of the Philippian Jailer

  u were talking about me like that.  If the whole world of Christendom gangs up on me on this issue I can only say stone me if it makes you feel good.  Be that as it may what I do know for sure is that Paul once again preaches baptism to the Philippian jailer for the text says of the jailer, “immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.” (Acts 16:33 NAS)  I say Paul preached baptism again for earlier in the same city and in t…

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

  dren of Israel had reach Mt. Sinai.  They had already been quarreling and complaining against Moses and the Lord a number of times.  There had been the rebellion at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:11-12, Psa. 106:7), the grumbling at the waters of Marah (Ex. 15:23-24), and the grumbling over food in the wilderness of Sin (Ex. 16:1, 2-3, 7-9, 12, 28), and now once again more of the same only a little farther along in their journey. They are now at a place cal…

• Who is the Believer in John 3:16?

  who will have everlasting life?  Who is this believer?  Is it not the same person that will see the kingdom of heaven if he is “born again” in verse 3 and who will enter the kingdom of God if he is “born of water and the Spirit” in verse 5?  Most certainly!  It is all the same conversation directed at the same man, the man Nicodemus. The believer of John 3:16 is the man who is born again (verse 3), is the man who is born …

• Christianity and Multiculturalism

  ndreds and hundreds of years after Christ built his church starting on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 thus they are not the church he established.  Furthermore, it takes along with faith, repentance, and confession of Christ, baptism to make a Christian which virtually every denomination denies and rejects.  Peter said baptism was for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), that it saves us (1 Peter 3:21), but they deny it making Peter out as one who …

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

  1; (Acts 22:16 NAS)  Do you not find it strikingly strange that a man who believes with his whole heart still has sins 3 days later?  It shouldn’t because Paul was begotten three days earlier, not born again. Jesus says water is a part of the new birth (John 3:1-7, see verse 5).  When we understand what is involved in the new birth thus understanding how one becomes a Christian we will know when to use the word “begotten” versus…

• God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh

  im; because of the righteousness which 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…

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

  Sometimes we take it for granted that everyone who calls themselves a Christian holds the New Testament scriptures in as high a regard as we do.  However, that is not the case.  Some, while calling themselves Christians, do not believe in the all sufficiency of the New Testament scriptures to save a man.  They feel man needs more guidance and direction than can be found in the scriptures alone. Questions immediately come to my mind.  If the New …

• Baptized For the Dead

  for the dead.”  It is common to find in most commentaries an extended discussion of the verse with much more space being devoted to it than there is to the average verse. I have no doubt that the verse is a reference to water baptism for the remission of sins (yes, I can hear my critics already).  Why do I say that?  In the very first chapter of First Corinthians Paul begins a discussion of the divisions in the church at Corinth.  To show the bre…

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

  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 preached a part of the gospel?  Did he preach by inspiration tha…

• Unhappy With the Church of Christ?

  is the denominational world does not understand what gospel obedience is.  As sincere as they may be, and I do not doubt them on that count, they do not and will not accept Peter’s preaching on the day of Pentecost that baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).  Until they are ready to accept and obey that clearly stated fact they remain outside the body of Christ which is what Christ is saving.  One gets into the body of Christ by …

• Never Give Up

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

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

  r was involved in salvation. “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5 NAS)  He said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16 NAS) What is baptism?  It is one aspect of obedience of faith.  In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost when Peter preached that first sermon would there have been obedience of faith had those he spoke to failed to heed his admonition?  What i…

• Ashamed of Jesus and His Words

  em and will not teach them.  To them those gathered on that Pentecost day were saved the minute they repented and as they would put it “received Jesus into their hearts” and so you cannot believe these words about baptism for the forgiveness of sins that Peter spoke on behalf of Christ. You can go to other passages and try and convince them.  For example, Ananias told Saul, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calli…

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

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

• Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon

  have “the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38 NAS).  What was that one thing he mentioned that it would take to obtain the forgiveness of sins in addition to repentance on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2?  It was baptism. Now note what Barnes said as quoted earlier.  “It (a reference to the Greek word translated “return” in the NAS or “be converted” in the NKJV–DS) is a word used in a general sense…

• He Feared

  ion to all who obey him.” (Hebrews 5:9 NKJV)  We either believe that or we do not. But who was the man whose fear led him to sin and unfaithfulness?  The apostle Peter’s faith failed him 3 times out of fear.  He walked on the water believing Jesus would make this possible for him until his faith failed.  He denied Jesus 3 times after Jesus was arrested.  Finally, in Galatians the second chapter Paul tells us Peter withdrew from eating with the Ge…

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

  ment, the word of God alone, as our guide a lot of things will have to be given up.  One does not read in his New Testament of, as examples, sprinkling of infants, christenings, sprinkling of any one at any age and calling it baptism, baptism for any purpose other than the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), instruments of music being used in worship, dramas being performed, group musical performances, and a host of other things that have today become…

• Abraham’s Faith (Faith Accounted for Righteousness)

  as able to do what appeared to man to be impossible.  The original promise to Abraham of a son (in Gen. 15) was made quite a number of years before Isaac, the son of promise, was born.  In the time between the promise and the birth of Isaac Ishmael had been born and was at least 13 years old by the time of Isaac’s birth.  Read Gen. 17. God appeared to Abraham when he was 100 years old and again promised him a son (Gen. 17:15-21) and then ap…

• Abortion Luke 1 – All You Need to Know

  …’s will in Isaiah 44:28 on through the first part of chapter 45, even calling Cyrus by name (Isa. 45:4), when it would be many decades to come before Cyrus would be born.  Did Cyrus exist in the mind of God prior to his birth?  Was he just fetal matter in the womb or was he the baby Cyrus?   When a woman conceives whose doing is that if not God’s?  (See Gen. 29:31 and Gen. 30:22-23 to find out.  No, don’t be lazy, open your Bibl…

• If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications

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

• Jesus the Foundation of and the Builder of the Church

  ph. 1:22-23 and Col. 1:18).  “He is the Savior of the body.” (Eph. 5:23 NKJV)  This is the body which he sanctified and cleansed “with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26 NKJV), a reference to baptism all denominations to the contrary notwithstanding, in order 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.&…

• Honestly Deceived

  tar 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 home on a route different from that by which he had come.  However, an old prophet intercep…

• Without Natural Affection and Covenant Breakers

  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 the two women (harlots) who while living together gave birth to sons 3 days apart.  The one woman lay on her son in the night killing him by accident.  She then claimed the other woman’s son as her own.  The matter was taken before King Solomon who heard both women claiming the …

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

  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 believe what he said about the new birth having water in it (John 3:5) or what he said about baptism (Mark 16:16).  One must believe Jesus, must believe what he said on each and every topic about which he spoke.  For me to say I believe in a man but I just do not believe what he said about this or that shows my beli…

• 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…

• Abuse of the Old Testament

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

• One Church—A Thing Hard to Accept

  of truth no matter how many scriptures you show them.  They would flunk out of a high school or college class for they will not accept factual statements or any kind of sound reasoning.  Show them a passage like Acts 2:38 on baptism for the remission of sins (add to that Acts 22:16 and 1 Peter 3:21) and they will say the text cannot mean what it seems to be saying, that would be impossible from their point of view, for like the lady with O.J. it…

• Resource Sites

  . Kurfees.  As soon as you click the link here you will see the contents outlined so you can immediately go to the chapter that interests you the most.  A pretty exhaustive study and covers about every aspect of the subject.) Baptism  (A sermon by J. W. McGarvey on the subject taking an approach to its study that is unusual and one I have not taken in any of the writing I have done on the topic.  Another late 1800′s sermon.) The Course to P…

• Fornication–Take It Lightly at Your Peril

  tire school) and the school was closed the year I graduated.  That number probably represented 20 to 25 families and yet out of all those families there was not a single family where the child was not living with both his/her birth parents 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/he…

• Denominationalism’s Sin Against Peter

  e of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Act 2:38 NKJV)  Their faith was evident 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 s…

• Faith in the New Testament–Different Meanings

  The word “faith” is a word that has different meanings in different places where it is found throughout the New Testament.  It can be a little disconcerting when one first learns this but at the same time we benefit from knowing it. In preparation for this article I looked up the word “faith” in a little paperback Merriam Webster Dictionary that I have being curious as to what I would find.  I found 4 meanings listed as f…

• Why Do Men Run From God?

  le only teaches one church and one faith and it does not teach a thousand different competing doctrines.   ”There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph. 4:4-6 NKJV)  Churches today have many, many people in them who are in reality running from God but are not willing to admit …

• The Kind of Faith in God That Destroys

  they have the book of James covered by the good works which they do. The trouble is they will not take God at his word.  They cannot accept that Jesus and the Holy Spirit said what they meant and meant what they said.  Forget baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21).  They do not believe the words out of Jesus’ own mouth, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbeliev…

• Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath?

  commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” (Deut. 5:15 NKJV)  If you are a Gentile God did not bring your ancestors out of Egypt and that being the case the Sabbath law was never directed to you. It is time to move to the New Testament.  We find the Sabbath in the New Testament but we need to make some distinctions.  First we must remember Jesus was a Jew “born under the law” (Gal. 4:4 NKJV) and he and his fellow Jews were under o…

• The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father

  covenant—the Law of Moses. We can see then that being faithful means, on man’s part, being obedient to the covenant he is under with God.  Have you ever read or paid any attention to the cover page or title page of your New Testament?  The New Testament I am using as I write says on its cover page “The New Testament of Our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ.”  The older versions used to read differently.  I am now looking at the cover…

• Which Denomination Did Jesus Build?

  ice do not matter if you can be saved in any denomination regardless of belief and practice. Paul spoke of his ways in Christ which he said “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 doesn̵…

• The Joy and the Danger of a Clean Conscience

  to him” (I Kings 13:18) claiming an angel had spoken to him countermanding God’s original command. That original command to the younger (we assume) prophet had been, “‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.’” (1 Kings 13:17 NAS)  When the young prophet believed what the old prophet told him about an angel countermanding the original command, the assumption …

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

  ority? 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, where was it from?  From heaven or from men?” (Matt. 21:25 NKJV)  Thus we need to ask the question of the instrument in Christian worship, where was it from, from heaven or from man?  To ask is to answer if …

• Lessons for the Church from Isaiah (Chapter 1)

  m or understand him.  “The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not consider.” (Isa. 1:3 NKJV)  Under the Law of Moses a child was born a Jew, a child of God, by physical birth.  He/she would have to grow into a knowledge of God and his will as they grew and matured and were taught.  Under the Christian dispensation one cannot become a child of God, a Christian, without first having obtained …

• Receiving the Gospel (Acts 2:41)

  public record proclaiming that?  If you would not then why not?  Most denominational bodies run into serious trouble with this verse for if Peter did indeed preach a gospel sermon here then to receive it the text teaches that baptism is required.  They cannot accept that nor are they willing to.  The New Living Translation, a dynamic equivalence translation, puts it this way, “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to th…

• Repentance–How Can I Be Sure?

  Acts 2, the conclusion of Peter’s inspired sermon was, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38 NKJV)  Repentance was made essential to salvation (as was baptism unless you have a good set of scissors which many do). Who must repent?  Sinners.  “For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.  As it is written:  ‘There is none righteous, no, n…

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

  asing the Father? In closing it needs to be repeated for emphasis sake that it all begins with gospel obedience and contrary to the thoughts of the denominational world that does include not only faith and repentance but also baptism as well.  It is only in baptism that we die to sin for it is there where we were crucified with Christ being baptized into his death (meaning the benefits of his death).  Read carefully Rom. 6:2-8 and then read the c…

• The Pleasures of Sin

  Is there pleasure in sin?  The Bible teaches that sometimes there is–that is for a time.  You are probably familiar with the passage in the Bible found in Heb. 11:24-25 that speaks of the “pleasures of sin for a season” (KJV) or “the passing pleasures of sin” as the New King James puts it.  “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God…

• Who Gets to Decide–God or the Church?

  There are approximately 38,000 denominations in the world today calling themselves Christian according to the results I found on the subject doing a Google search.  I was astounded and find that number hard to believe but be that as it may we all know there are a vast multitude of them and I suppose the number you come up with depends on how you decide to count them.  If this number is correct we have gone from 1 church in the New Testament to 3…

• Saved by Jesus Outside the Church?

  are these men who must give an account?  It is the same men whom Paul gave Timothy the qualifications to meet (1 Tim. 3:2-7) in order to qualify them as bishops in the church (a bishop and an elder are the same person in the New Testament).  He said, in part, “If a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?” (1 Tim. 3:5 NKJV)  What is the point? It is this–Christians are to be in or…

• Saul’s Conversion

  “And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized.” (Acts 9:18 NAS)  In Acts chapter 9 verses 1 through 18 we have the account of Saul’s conversion from a persecutor of Christians to an apostle of Christ.  In the early years of Christianity when a person heard and believed the gospel, accepting it, it always led immediately to baptism.  The reader and Bible…

• Philip Preaching the Gospel in Samaria

  ptized.  Thus we see that in the beginning of the church, of Christianity, of faith in Christ, that when the gospel was preached and believed or received it led to people being baptized.  There has to be a reason for that. Is baptism a part of the gospel?  Is it a part of the good 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 Ho…

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

  ct of treachery in this case it nevertheless shows it was the traditional custom of the time), and also Matt. 7:44-45.  In the last passage Jesus is speaking to one called Simon and says, “I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet … you gave me no kiss.” (Matt. 7:44-45 NKJV)  The kiss served the purpose of being a greeting (1 Cor. 16:20), was to be holy (2 Cor. 13:12), and to be of love (1 Peter 5:14).  Thus Jesus said of Simon, the …

• Work Out Your Own Salvation

  were a vast number of Greek scholars behind these translations so I think the question as to whether or not the text has been correctly translated has been answered.  An argument based on the idea of a mistranslation holds no water. The other man I was reading after based his argument on verse 13, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure.” (NKJV)  His idea seemed to be that it is not really us working out our s…

• The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman

  spiritually minded work. But the point I want to make is that every one of us is tempted by sin.  “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15 NKJV)  Paul says, “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition…

• Demas Has Forsaken Me

  told us.  We must believe there is a reward awaiting us.  “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6)  It has often been said that Peter walked on the water as long as he looked at Jesus rather than the water and that is true.  We can figuratively walk to heaven if we continue to look to Jesus rather than at the trials and troubles and temptations we are here faced with.  …

• The Parable of the Talents–the Sin of Fear

  act.  Even Jesus had some trepidation about going to the cross but it did not stop him from obeying God so to the cross he went. Fear is contrary to faith and acts to destroy it.  When Peter got out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus he did in fact walk on the water for a time, until the time he looked around him, saw the waves, became fearful, and lost his faith. (Matt. 14:28-31 NKJV) Fear can kill us spiritually.  It led to Peter denying…

• Fear God

  e earth–to every nation tribe, tongue, and people–saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’” I believe the Bible is as clear as it can be that man is to fear God.  Call it godly fear if you will for that is what it is.  It is the kind of fear that helps a man stay faithful.  It is the fear that Noah had, th…

• The Silence of the Scriptures

  ne overrides scripture.  Where does one find in scripture the idea of praying to dead saints just as an example?  I have got time.  I can wait but it is certain I will be dead before you find the passage teaching such in your New Testament. When one takes the position Luther took one cannot complain too much, and be consistent, about wild innovations in the church.  If what is not forbidden is permitted then pretty much anything goes.  In searchi…

• Faith

  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 Implications Faith, Works, and Baptism Abel’s Sacrifice by Faith versus Cain’s Sacrifice Abraham’s Faith (Faith Accounted for Righteousness) The Faith of Enoch Moses, the Waters of Marah, and a Lesson for Today Everlasting Life–The…

• Disobedience to Jesus

  sobedience to Jesus?  Have you confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus?  Jesus commanded it (Rom. 10:9-10, Matt. 10:32-33, Phil. 2:11, 1 John 4:3).  We either confess him or we live in disobedience to Jesus.  Jesus commanded baptism and we all know it (Mark 16:15-15, Matt. 28:18-20, John 3:5) and whether you or I like it or not it does not matter.  He commanded it and the Bible says it is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).  Will we obey or w…

• The Kingdom of God

  The Kingdom of God and The New Birth   Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) The Seed of the Kingdom …

• Looking Down Your Nose

  tter than them so the thinking went. In the country of India they used to have the caste system and to an extent it is still in existence there in a few places.  The caste system was the way society was organized so that your birth determined what social/economic group you would be in for life.  If you were born into a low caste family it meant you would remain there all your life doing menial labor for low wages.  You did not marry or socialize …

• The Two Covenants

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

• Faith is Not Just What You Believe

  6:46 NKJV)  He is “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Heb. 5:9 NKJV) Thus a salvation by faith without works of obedience would also be a salvation without love for God.  Faith only advocates will not have baptism as an element of salvation for they fear it is a work.  Well, no more so than repentance.  When the Bible teaches we are saved by grace through faith and not of works, Eph. 2:8-9, is that passage teaching we are save…

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

  .” (2 Thess. 2:14 NKJV)  It is “the word of reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:19 NKJV)  “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’  And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’  And let him who thirsts come.  Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17 NKJV) It is an invitation but it is more than that.  It is a plea, “as though God were pleading through us:  we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20 NKJV)  Re…

• Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions?

  n religion than the case of the Jews who refused to believe in Jesus.  Their emotions ruled them, over rode all reason, and ended up destroying them.  There was no reasoning with them.  The miracles of Jesus were to them like water off a duck’s back.  So Lazarus was raised from the dead.  So what?  But that is the mind set you get into when you are dealing with emotion based (or should I say “emotion ruled”) religion.  You will never change a per…

• Regrets

  od)?  We have all sunk our own boat and all of us are reaching up to Jesus for salvation.  We are all hoping with Christian expectation that Jesus will reach out his hand to us as he did to Peter when Peter was sinking in the water he had been walking on.  Only Jesus can save us. The past is the past but we can help one another, comfort and console one another, and help one another get to heaven.  We all have regrets but we all can have hope if w…

• The Hardening of the Human Heart

  udgment of God.” (Rom. 2:5 NKJV)  The impenitent heart is a hard heart.  It will not obey God and its reward is wrath.  That reward begins at the day of death.  He will be as was the rich man who desired of Lazarus some water for his tongue for he said, “I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:24 NKJV)  That time of torment for the hard-hearted man or woman could begin in the next few minutes for no one knows the minute of his d…

• Religious Titles Forbidden in Christianity

  ting on Matt. 23:8)  Man had come up with a title to give to himself that pleased his vanity. Jesus likewise forbids our calling anyone Father as a religious title in Matt. 23:9 already quoted.  The word father is used in the 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…

• Praying to God to Bless the Bread–Really?

  the idea that Jesus ever blessed  the bread or the fruit of the vine in instituting the Lord’s Supper based on what is recorded in the word.  If he did where is it found?  Furthermore, where is the example of any man in New Testament times asking God to bless the bread and/or the fruit of the vine? What does the word “bless” mean as it relates to prayer?  There is one passage that is so clear on the matter as to settle the issue…

• Things People Do Not Know About the Church

  Christ is to be baptized into his spiritual body (based upon a genuine faith, repentance of sins, and a willingness to confess him with the mouth)–“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” (1 Cor. 12:13)  Baptism is into Christ (Rom. 6:3, Gal. 3:27).  “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (the words of Jesus–Mark 16:16 NKJV) “But, why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6…

• Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation

  and respond to it. In the International Standard Version this verse reads as follows, “Brothers, think about your own calling. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.”  Why not?  The answer is because those of that class were not willing to respond favorably to the gospel call?  Why not?  Because, like the rich fool, they leave God out of their lives due to the sense of self-…

• Keep Your Heart With All Diligence

  ng entering into the picture. What is the difference between an evil thought and a temptation?  James says, “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15 NKJV)  Paul, like James, in 1 Cor. 10:13 teaches that temptation itself is not a sin.  “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is comm…

• 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 …

• Hypocrites in the Church

  1:10 NASU)  The writer of the book of Hebrews instructs us to draw near to God “with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb. 10:22 NASU)  Enough has been said without going further–God demands of us honesty, sincerity, and not hypocrisy. No one can defend a hypocrite nor would it be right to try and do so but to those who…

• God’s Hardening of the Human Heart

  an. In both the cases above just cited was God not executing judgment on men while they lived by ending their lives?  Many other such examples could be given from the Old Testament and then we have Ananias and Sapphira in the New Testament (Acts 5).  I do not see where the Bible teaches that a man can go on and on and on in sin without any need of fearing God here and now.  A person living in sin ought to be scared to death everyday.  I am not sa…

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

  l wrote is not authoritative then we cannot stop there but have to go right down the line and ask about what Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Peter, and Jude wrote as well. The truth of the matter is every single word of the New Testament excepting only those words added by translators for clarification (usually marked by being printed in italics) came directly from God the Father including the words of Jesus himself.  In John 1:1 Jesus is calle…

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

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

• The Peace Found in Forgiveness of Others

  to others (or even things we should have done as acts of consideration or kindness or love but failed to do)?  Why is it we come to see everything as one sided as though it is the world against us but our purity is as of the new fallen snow without spot? Certainly, there are some things that would be hard to forgive–adultery committed against us, desertion by a husband against his wife and children, physical abuse, lies told against us, hu…

• They Loved the Praise of Men

  st certainly will concede on doctrinal matters.  Is it not true that the desire for the praise of men is behind much of the extremely liberal views of the Bible?  The New Testament is clear in its teaching on subjects such as baptism, the role of women, homosexuality and yet it makes but little difference to many.  We must be politically correct and pleasing to the culture of the time.  To teach against things such as homosexuality is considered …

• King Saul–As Long as It Glorifies God

  ne it and receive into fellowship the unrepentant individual practicing it as long as we say “he is in a committed relationship.” Paul’s teaching on women preachers and leaders of the church again is as clear as crystal clear water.  Read 1 Cor. 14:34-37.  Paul closes that section by saying, “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 1…

• Mt. Sinai and the Day of Judgment

  ad seen God working actively on their behalf in miracle after miracle.  They had seen the plagues in Egypt from many of which they were spared.  They had crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, they had been provided with drinking water miraculously on two separate occasions (Ex. 15:22-25, Ex. 17:1-7), they had been fed with manna and quail (Ex. 16), and they had been able to defeat those who attacked them with God’s help (Ex. 17:8-13).  There w…

• Faith, Manna, and Grumbling Against God

  trust him for deliverance.  They were grumbling and complaining.  The lack of faith will do that to a man who does not trust in God for salvation. After the end of the crisis at the Red Sea they came to be in want of drinking water at Marah and the Bible says, “the people grumbled at Moses.” (Ex. 15:24 NASB)  Since Moses was merely God’s man and had no inherent power of his own a complaint against Moses was in reality a complain…

• 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…

• A Heart Right With God (Test Your Heart)

  s with my whole heart.” (Psalms119:69 NKJV)  “Oh, how I love your law!  It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalms 119:97 NKJV)  “I love your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!” (Psalms 119:127 NKJV)  “Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep your law.” (Psalms 119:136 NKJV) “Your commandments are my delights.” (Psalms 119:143 NKJV)  “My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on your word…

• 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 …

• 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…

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

  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 go on and assume it is fine with Go…

• Deeper Spiritual Understanding–How do I Acquire It?

  u read from God’s word, all of it for it is not a buffet where you get to pick and choose, or will it be you have no intention of acting on any commandment unless it suits what you think is fitting or proper? The rejection of baptism is rampant in the religious world today as is God’s teaching on marriage, divorce, and remarriage, women in leadership positions in the church, and we are heading to the point where God’s teaching on homosexuality wi…

• Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation?

  8221; (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 writers of the New Testament.  It is possible to “have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2 NKJV)  A person who believes he can and will be saved by faith alone, no need to concern oneself with obeying co…

• Grace

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

• 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…

• Israel’s Rebellion at the Red Sea

  orm before the people as proof God had sent him.  These signs can be found listed in Ex. 4:1-9 and consisted of his staff being turned into a snake when thrown to the ground, his hand placed in his cloak becoming leprous, and water from the Nile being poured on the ground and becoming blood.  The snake when picked up by the tail became a staff again and the hand placed into the cloak after becoming leprous was returned healthy.  The Bible says, &…

• The Chastening of the Lord

  the man who lacked bread in his house (verse 6), suffered from drought (verses 7-8), suffered from blight and mildew and locusts (verse 9), was thinking much on a national level.  His problems were personal–no food, no water. And, besides, how does a nation repent unless the people who comprise that nation repent on an individual basis?  There can be no national repentance without individuals repenting. There will be in life trials and tro…

• Mary of Bethany–Doing What You Can

  2 NKJV)  Mary was still choosing that good part which would not be taken away as she poured the oil onto the Lord’s head and onto his feet wiping his feet with her hair (John 12:3).  It was not cheap.  A footnote in the New Living Translation of the Bible at Mark 14:5 says that the 300 denarii cost of the oil would be the equivalent of 300 day’s wages. What lessons can we learn from this account?  There are several.  (1) When you love…

• Singing and Playing in Christian Worship

  argument that when we invite someone in to sing, speaking of today, the here and now, we just naturally assume he or she will bring their musical instruments with them and use them in the performance thus the word sing in the New Testament does not necessarily mean just sing alone.  They might have been bringing their instruments with them.  If so the historians are wrong for that is the very thing they say was not done.  Do the research yourself…

• The Need to Sing in Worship

  221; (Ex. 15:1 NKJV).  This is very important.  Please note that they sang to the Lord.  The singing was worship.  So it is today.  17 times in the Old Testament the phrase “sing to the Lord” is found based on the New King James Version and the E-Sword concordance.  There is thus no doubt as to whom the singing is addressed.  Singing is an act of worship. In Rom. 15:8-9 (ESV) Paul says, “For I tell you that Christ became a serva…

• I Can Do All Things Through Christ

  , “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and toil, in sle…

• Bible Conversions

  soul’s peril. The links below will take you to articles (written by me) and audio sermons (sermons by a friend of mine–Waymon Swain) discussing mainly conversions recorded in the book of Acts with the emphasis on baptism.  Why that emphasis?  Because very few, if any, debate the necessity of faith, repentance, or the need to confess Christ. Receiving the Gospel – Acts 2:41 Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon Peter’s Preach…

• Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?

  told you–repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins. So a man can prepare to meet God in death by hearing, believing, and obeying the gospel which includes not only faith but also repentance, confession, and baptism 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 wil…

• DennySmith.Net

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

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

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

• Lincoln’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb

  d?  Maybe they need some time in the house of real mourning where, if they are wise, they will learn. The last enemy Jesus will destroy, and that at his coming, is death. (1 Cor. 15:26 NKJV)  Won’t it be wonderful to put on a new spiritual body wherein there will be eternal life for us?  Death will be no more.  There will be no need to ever be afraid of death. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor s…

• Better to Never Have Been Born–Why?

  g to his ways,’ says the Lord God.  ’Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.  Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.  For why should you die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord GOD.  ‘Therefore turn and live!’” (Ezek. 18:30-32 NKJV) &nb…

• The Fragrance of Christ

  nce of Christ.”  When I think of the word fragrance I think of that which has a pleasant smell–a flower out of the garden.  But there are many wonderful fragrances when you live out in the country as I do.  The smell of new mown hay, the smell of a cornfield in July on a late summer evening about dusk, the smell of the farm field after having just been turned over (plowed) in the spring.  All evoke pleasant thoughts; arouse an inner peace a…

• Willful Sin–Can Anyone Be Saved?

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

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

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

• Spiritual Mirages

  20;From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sle…

• Is Church Attendance Essential for Christian Salvation?

  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 glorify me, for he will take of what is mine and declare it to you.  All things that the Father has are mine.  Theref…

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

  ook bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same manner he also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes.” (1 Cor. 11:23-26 NKJV) Paul told …

• The Need to Preach on Sin

  is forgiven.  Men need to be convicted of sin in order to motivate them to turn from it and turn to God. Well what is sin and what makes it so bad?  “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4 KJV) or as the New King James Version puts it, “sin is lawlessness.”  It is disobedience to the law of God whether willful or otherwise.  What makes it so bad?  It displaces God as the rightful ruler of the world and puts man i…

• The Parable of the 10 Virgins–7 Lessons

  e presumptions why not just take God’s word on matters relating to life and godliness.  The Bible today has basically been rewritten by many of the major religious bodies in existence today.  They will live and die with their new interpretations of what God’s word says (means).  It is a life of presumption.  As we live so we die–the day the door is shut. (6)  There is danger in living a foolish life.  “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There…

• 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…

• The Conscience as a Witness

  ten 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, and that we may need to retrain our conscience to bring it into accord with that word.  Saul, who was to become the apostle Paul, had to when he met up with Jesus on the road to …

• Jesus Defines Repentance

  He must believe God is.  He must believe he stands guilty before God.  He must believe he is a condemned man in his present state.  Belief is thus a necessary prerequisite to repentance. There are two or three passages in the New Testament that put repentance before belief (Acts 20:21, Heb. 6:1, Mark 1:15).  I will make a comment or two and go on without going into a long excursion on these passages.  If Jews are being addressed in a passage it i…

• The Faith of Enoch

  The Bible tells us that, “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.” (Heb. 11:5 NAS)  Enoch and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) were the only two men to ever be born and not die a physical death.  Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven after a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated him from …

• The Christian, Politics, and the Government

  nation will be held accountable which means we do need to vote for those candidates running for office who are most supportive of Christian principles. We can and ought to hate laws that are contrary to God’s teaching in the New Testament and also the kind of thinking that leads to those laws but yet have compassion for the misguided lawmakers who made them in that each has a soul that is worth more than all of the wealth of this world combined….

• Jesus and the Furnace of Fire

  ce lawlessness.” (Matt. 13:41 NKJV)  I know vast numbers of people while good in many respects, many proclaiming that they believe in God, who never make any effort to obey Jesus and thus they practice lawlessness.  The New Testament is the law of Christ, the law he gave, the law he is talking about in the passage under discussion. Have they ever been baptized for the remission of sins?  (Acts 2:38)  No!  Do they intend to?  No!  Do they wo…

• Canaan and Heaven–How God Gives

  cessarily mean no effort is required to take possession of the gift.  It does mean, 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 w…

• Things God Cannot Do

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

• Though He Slay Me

  have struggled financially, done all you can do and have gotten nowhere and now wonder what you will do perhaps even reaching a point of desperation.  You find no answers.  In an article in a recent edition of the local area newspaper I read of a woman who had been living in an alley with her two children eating out of garbage dumps until finally someone was made aware of her plight and came to her aid.  Yes, we have desperate people living amon…

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

  d if you will just take a seat over here to our left behind us and let us handle this we will take care of it.  Yes, maybe you had it right once but you have grown old and we are young and our intellects are sharp and it is a new day. We are so arrogant that sometimes it is hard to believe.  Maybe we ought to call this the Age of Arrogance.  We would prefer to call it something like the Age of Enlightenment but if memory serves me correct that ap…

• When did Obedience Become Legalism?

  conceptions of what is acceptable 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 sh…

• The Wicked Shall be Turned into Hell

  could not find a wicked man in 10 counties here in America.  You can find plenty of fornicators, adulterers, liars, coveters, backbiters, proud and boastful, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, and many others mentioned in the New Testament but you cannot find any sinners that need preaching to in the public assembly about the subject of sin. To talk about sin today is to be perceived as intolerant.  We are more loving than God, more tolerant, mor…

• Diotrephes Loves To Have the Preeminence

  andard Version reads in 3 John 1:9 as follows: “I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.” In studying various Christian men in the New Testament in order to understand how faith can fail we need to try and analyze the cases to see why it happened and what we personally can learn from them that will be of benefit to us. The lust for power is one of the u…

• Must a Man Seek God?

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

• More on Willful Sin—Can Anyone be Saved?

  f a state of sin, for the force of the verb is repeated action—’if we go on sinning,’ ‘if we continue to sin,’ ‘if we persist in sin.’”  That this is true can be seen from some of the newer Bible translations of the passage.  “For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” (Heb. 10:26 NRSV)  “Dear friend…

• Pray For Others Lest You Sin

  neighbor?  We are if we love him and if we do not love him we stand condemned already. We are clearly commanded to love one another as disciples of Jesus for none other than Jesus himself gave the commandment when he said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34 NKJV)  Thus in the book of 1 John we read in chapter 3, verse 16, “by this we know love, because he …

• Everlasting Life–The Believer of John 3:16

  al home for visitation and we hear how this man or woman is now in a better place. Jesus never taught even once what such men have assumed.  John 5:24 offers a commentary on John 3:16, as do many other passages throughout the New Testament, concerning who the believer of John 3:16 is.  When Jesus says in John 5:24, “he who hears my word” (and, of course, believes in God the Father) will have everlasting life he is not adding to what i…

• 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       …

• 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 …

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

  s are easy enough to figure out for in some few places the phrase is used like we would use it today but I am not interested in those passages.  I want to know the unique way in which God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament used the phrase.  We start in the Old Testament. Exodus 9:16 is a good place to start.  God has instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh, “for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you my pow…

• Waymon Swain’s Audio Sermons

  Guatemala planned for later this year.  He has a son, Bob Swain, who is an excellent preacher in his own right and so here is a link to Bob’s audio sermons as well:  Bob Swain’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 …

• He Went Away Grieved

  ct. He says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3 NKJV)  Wealth is not given a man for the purpose of having multiple homes in different locations, expensive new cars, luxurious vacations, dining out at the most exclusive restaurants, a private box at sporting events, swimming pools, grounds keepers, servants, etc. The rich young ruler wanted to be good, do right, and inherit ete…

• Acceptable Prayer

  to be answered, that are in accord with God’s will.  He gives only what is best as “every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above.” (James 1:17 NAS)  Why pray for myself that God grant me a new half million dollar home?  I don’t need it and neither do you and we know what he has said about those who desire to be rich in the book of 1 Timothy (6:8-10). What I am getting at is that if we want our prayers to…