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

  …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 »Baptism is essential to salvation but there are many non-believers.  I want to d…

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

  am talking about as it relates to the passage we will be discussing.  One very well known Bible scholar who is also an author, and one I might add who has profited me in some of the things he has written, said of this passage words to the effect that water here simply could not mean water. In his mind this was such a settled fact that there was no reason to even think about giving a reason for making such a statement and he did not give one.  The…

• The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus

  th does not lead to action it is dead faith (James 2:17).  James says it is “useless.” (James 2:20 NAS)  Even in this world as regards worldly matters how can we say we have faith in a man when we 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 speakin…

• The Grace of God in Baptism

  you wish to use; he uses means to do so. What means? Well, what does the text say? It says, “Through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV) The washing of regeneration is baptism. The word “regenerate” is a word that means, according to my little paperback Merriam Webster Dictionary, “1 : formed or created again 2 : spiritually reborn or converted”. Since that is its meaning the Ne…

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

  the intent of pleasing God, to glorify God, is acceptable to him—anything we can dream up with no scriptural authority required. It has always been terribly difficult for me to see how one gives glory to God by adding to his word and doing things he has not commanded as acts of worship–a kind of make up your own worship as you go.  Everyone who has ever read the Old Testament knows God had what he wanted in worship and service listed down …

• Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith)

  th.” (Eph. 2:8 NKJV) Thus far we have seen the kind of man Saul of Tarsus was prior to his conversion and also the change of attitude and heart a result of his conversion but what of Paul’s conversion itself?  The word preached was having no effect upon him.  He would have none of it and to preach it in his presence would have meant as a minimum imprisonment if he could affect it at all.  Certainly, Paul had heard of Christ but wanted…

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

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

• Is Holy Spirit Baptism The Baptism That Saves?

  receive Holy Spirit baptism it will not be at the hands of men.  It will have to come directly from heaven itself.  But, it means even more.  It means it cannot be a command for it is something Christ does for you.  In other words it is a baptism you cannot obey.  It is something you get, not something you do.  Pentecostals ought to keep this in mind because it is going to cause problems down the road.  Indeed, it is going to cause problems befo…

• How Was Noah Saved Through Water?

  cannot help but think of the waters of baptism of our own era.  The water that brings salvation to some (Mark 16:16) will bring death to others who are willingly disobedient to the command. This brings us to Peter’s use of a word somewhat strange to many–the word “antitype” used in verse 21 in the New King James version and also the word that is found in the Greek text.   Let me quote that to you again.  “There is also an antitype which no…

• What Is Baptism (the Sprinkling Hoax)

  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.  We all assume that the words found in our New Testaments are English words translated from the original Greek.  You may well be surprised to learn that the word “baptize” and all of its derivatives are not English words at all.  They a…

• Cornelius’ Conversion–Final Thoughts

  Two verses down I read this, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15 NKJV)  In a broader context, but still in the book of 1 John, it is said if we keep his word we abide in him and he in us. (1 John 2:5, 1 John 3:24)  Thus we have a series of items being listed by which we can measure whether or not we are in a faithful relationship with God. The passage (1 John 4:13) is not ta…

• The New Birth and Water

  Baptism in the Early Fathers,” from whence I quote this:  “Every Christian, all the Church Fathers, bishops, and saints who lived after the apostles (and some while the apostles were still alive) interpreted our Lord’s words in John chapter 3 that to be ‘born again’ and ‘born of water and the Spirit’ refers to the Sacrament of Baptism. There are no exceptions. And Protestant scholars frankly admit this fact (note the relevent sections on B…

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

  ual gifts via means of the Holy Spirit was dependent upon the laying on of hands by an apostle. In the case of the Samaritans Luke writes, “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the…

• If Baptism is Not Essential for Salvation

  is that we die to sin in baptism and arise a new creation.  Paul says, “If we have been united together in the likeness of his death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection.” (Rom. 6:5 NKJV)  Does the word “if” have meaning?  What if we have not?  (9)  If baptism is not essential for salvation then the body of Christ does not matter, the church (Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:24), “for by one Spirit we were all baptized into one bo…

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

  in the lifetime of some of those standing there.  (2) When it came it would arrive “with power.”  Put another way you would know it when it happened for there would be power with its coming. When Jesus spoke these words the kingdom did not yet exist and if Jesus is to be the king of it he does not yet have a kingdom.  But, one might object the New Testament speaks of Jesus as being a king already before this kingdom of which you speak…

• 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…

• Who Gets to Decide–God or the Church?

  it God?  When we get this right denominationalism will cease. Jesus, just before he ascended back to heaven said to his apostles, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18 NAS)  If words mean anything the word “all” still means the entire thing.  It is a little hard to see how this leaves any authority at all for church (denominational) councils, legislative bodies, etc. James says, James 4…

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

  ” (Matt: 4:7 NASB)  Paul in telling us not to follow the example of the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings said, “Nor let us try the Lord.” (1 Cor 10:9 NASB)  A lot of translations use the word “test” here rather than the word “try” as the meaning is the same.  According to Peter, in Acts 5:9, Ananias and Sapphira “put the Spirit of the Lord to the test” (NASB) and died as a…

• Faith, Works, and Baptism

  e glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23 NKJV)  Thus “by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Gal. 2:16c NKJV)  Now here is something not many people know and something I had to learn in the past–the word “the” is not found in the original but was added by the translators in both places in the phrase just quoted.  The reality is it reads in the original, when translated properly, as follows:  “by works …

• How Does the Blood of Jesus and Baptism Tie Together

  of that being true, he had not yet shed his blood in the Bible sense of the giving up of life itself.  Surely no one believes we were saved by the literal blood of the scourging, thorns, or nails.  When Jesus uttered his last words on the cross and gave up the ghost his blood was then shed in Bible parlance.  John, in John 19:33-34, in speaking of what happened while Jesus was on the cross but after his death said, “But when they came to Je…

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

  t is my obligation if I can help to step in and help; the church being what it ought to be as a body begins with me in friendship, in fellowship, in caring, in sharing, in sacrifice, in the depths of love as measured by God’s word.  Besides if we do not care about one another who will care about us? How many bodies does Christ have?  That is a foolish question on its face.  How many bodies do you have?  It makes as much sense to ask one as to ask…

• 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…

• Does God Really Care?

  r as they were able to do it, was continually judged to be evil, and finally was betrayed, beaten, and murdered without justice.  What a life to live.  Put yourself in his place.  During his lifetime every move he made, every word he spoke, was cast in the worst light possible by his enemies.  As far as they were concerned he could do no good.  How would you like to have people dogging you like that everyday of your adult life?  Would it wear you…

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

    Here we are talking of a specific God, the Father of Jesus Christ.  We are not talking about Allah or the God of some other religion other than Christianity.  Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has everlasting life.” (John 5:24 NKJV)  Who sent Jesus?  God the Father (see John 3:16-17, John 8:16, 1 John 4:14, 1 John 1:3).  In Rom. 4 we are told our faith will be accounted f…

• Honestly Deceived

  the altar there sacrifices were made 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 i…

• Who is the Believer in John 3:16?

  one must be born again of water and the Spirit.  Of the Spirit, yes, he believes that, but does not believe the water part. One cannot be a believer in Jesus while not believing Jesus.  You do not believe Jesus if part of his word is no good to you and you reject it.  The believer in Jesus is the man who takes Jesus at his word–yes, all his word.  In this very same chapter there is another verse confirming this very thing.  Note John 3:36, …

• The Great Commission and Cornelius

  220;To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” (NKJV)  In the very next verse (verse 44) we are told that “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” (Acts 10:44 NKJV) I want you to take a closer look at verse 43.  There are three words there I had overlooked.  What were they?  The words “through …

• He Feared

  speaks up and says to them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” (Matt. 14:27 NAS) The text says that Peter answered, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” (Matt. 14:28 NAS)  While Peter uses the word “if” it seems almost certain that he recognized the voice of Jesus.  Why else would he dare take that first step out of the boat?  We often use the word “if” not to express doubt but just as a manner of speech.  We some…

• Baptism

  Baptism Jesus’ Baptism and You If Baptism is not Essential for Salvation Ways Into Christ The Grace of God in Baptism How Was Noah Saved Through Water? The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus The Washing of Water by the Word–Baptism and Salvation A New Creation in Christ Christ and Baptism in Colossians Christian Circumcision Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching Is Denominational Baptism Scri…

• Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize

  all baptized into one body.” (1 Cor. 12:13 NKJV)  That body, the only body that matters with regards to one’s salvation, is the body of Christ of which he (Christ) is the Savior (Eph. 5:23).  Now read Paul’s words carefully here.  He says “we were all baptized into one body.”  The word “all” means every one of us, no exceptions.  How many disciples did Jesus say should be baptized back in Matt. 28:19?  No…

• 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…

• For By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith Alone

  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.” (Psalms 119:160) We pit Paul against himself in order to make sure that Eph. 2:8-9 (our perversion of it) remains on a pedestal above all other passages on the subject.  The passage in Eph. 2 teaches th…

• Jesus the Foundation of and the Builder of the Church

  rch” (Col. 1:24 NKJV – see also Eph. 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…

• Singing and Playing in Christian Worship

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

• Christian Wars–A Misnomer

  such nor can they be.  Furthermore, sprinkling is not now and never has been baptism, unless one wants to go outside the pages of the New Testament and get his authority from man rather than God.  Baptism is immersion and the word itself means that very thing. Yes, there were many religious wars killing thousands upon thousands in history but we ought to cease the nonsense about Christians having any responsibility for it.  Tell the truth.  Blame…

• Why Do Men Run From God?

  LORD, You have searched me and known me.   You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.   You comprehend my path and my lying down,  And are acquainted with all my ways.   For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether…Where can I go from Your Spirit?   Or where can I flee from Your presence?  If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are ther…

• Never Give Up

  ryone is under pressure on the job no matter what position they hold–blue collar or white collar. I want to say there are no easy answers to these kinds of situations that we find ourselves in.  I heard one preacher say words to the effect that we can quit our job.  Yes, and then what?  Will the next job be any better?  This is America in the twenty-first century.  If there are any stress free jobs in our country today I do not know where o…

• Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions?

  eligion is emotionally based and eventually, if that is the case with us, it will lead us to disaster. Truth and reason will always win out given enough time.  Emotion rules for a season, truth and reason for eternity.  God’s word is truth (John 17:17).  It does not matter how you feel emotionally about what he has said.  It doesn’t matter whether or not you like it or would like to see it changed or given a different twist than what it seems to …

• Is Denominational Baptism Scriptural?

  s man made invention on an equal plain with the baptism of the Great Commission.  Man can try it and use that procedure and pay for his error in the end.  God never gave man the authority to change the meaning of his inspired word or to add to it.  “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches.” (1 Cor. 2:13 NKJV) The words baptize, baptism, etc., found in your New Testament were words from…

• Christian Circumcision

  away.  In spiritual circumcision (the circumcision of Christ) the old sinful man (sinful in heart, mind, and actions) is cast off and replaced by a new man of the spirit.  Christ does this but he uses means to do it.  By his word faith is created, the heart is changed, and then in baptism the old man is put away and one arises from the water to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4-5), a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).  This is not water salvation but s…

• The Silence of the Scriptures

  uments and drama.”  Can you imagine in your wildest imagination Peter or Paul acting in a drama performance and that in a worship service? But that is but the tip of the iceberg.  Type into your Google search engine the words “experiential worship ideas” and do some research.  You will be amazed.  Here are some things I found that are not just ideas but things actually being done.  Tattoo stations during communion where people w…

• Praying to God to Bless the Bread–Really?

  d thanksgiving. I do not believe there is the least bit of evidence in scripture for 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 t…

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

  does not say? The New Testament is the new covenant of Christ under which we live today, not the Old Testament.  There were instruments of music used in Old Testament worship.  Why was it okay to use them?  Because there was word from God approving such under the Law of Moses (read the Psalms).  Why is it wrong to use them today?  Because there is no word from God approving such under the law of Christ under which we live today. If a man desired…

• A Heart Right With God (Test Your Heart)

  In Acts 8:21 Peter uttered the following words to Simon who was in his company, “Your heart is not right in the sight of God.” (NKJV)  How important it is that the heart be right with God.  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matt. 5:8 NKJV)  Simon could not be saved without a change of heart.  It is imperative that we know all we can about the human heart of which the Bible speaks and which we each possess.  Knowing the he…

• Religious Titles Forbidden in Christianity

  but was a present reality.  These men were actually being called Rabbi and loved it.  It was wrong then to do this but my messianic Jew says it is fine to do it today. Albert Barnes, in his commentary on Matthew, says of the word Rabbi used here that, “It was a title given to eminent teachers of the law among the Jews; a title of honor and dignity, denoting authority and ability to teach.”  No doubt Barnes was correct in also saying …

• I Can Do All Things Through Christ

  nd the two of us, my son and I, would set there and talk about this verse and it seemed to calm his fears after a while as we would talk.  Is that the way God strengthens us?  I have little doubt that there is strength in the word of God–power to strengthen not only a babe but people of all ages.  If we will only hear the word and believe it with conviction of heart we will find the power to overcome. What is there in faith that gives stren…

• Work Out Your Own Salvation

  does that negate us working out our own salvation? Of course, God is working in us to work, to will to do his will, and to do his pleasure.  That is the way it works and always has.  How does he do it?  He does it through his word.  We hear his word and it moves us to obey.  The Spirit of God gave the word, there is power in the word of God (Heb. 4:12), the word is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17), it (the word) is the tool the Spirit uses to …

• Things People Do Not Know About the Church

  non-Christian?  If God has not added you to the church there is a good reason–you are not yet one of those who are being saved. 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 sa…

• Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching

  t whom God has given to those who obey Him.’” (Acts 5:29-32 NKJV) Let us examine this sermon starting by talking about “obedience.”  As it relates to the gospel being preached it is the last use of the word “obey” in this discourse that is of greatest interest in determining the gospel being preached.  Who receives the Holy Spirit?  It is “those who obey Him”–obey God, obey Jesus–as clea…

• Resource Sites

  ate 1800′s by M. C. Kurfees.  Gives the best definition of faith I have ever read making a clear distinction between faith and opinion and then makes the application to the use of instrumental music.  If there was not a word in this pamphlet [I have it in pamphlet form] on the subject of instrumental music it would be worth its weight in gold just in the discussion on faith and opinion.) The Sonship of Christ  (Be sure and scroll down the p…

• The Hardening of the Human Heart

  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 put Him to open shame.” (Heb. 6:4…

• How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built?

  s.  It is not Jesus yes and the church no. The church is what Jesus gave himself for on the cross.  “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, 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 s…

• Who Governs the Church if We Follow the Bible?

  1; (Col. 3:17 NKJV), meaning by his authority.  Jesus has all authority, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18 NKJV)  We cannot step outside the authority of Christ found in his word and set up a way of governing the church to suit ourselves.  Well, let me revise that a little–we can but if we do we are in rebellion against the head of the church and against the one whom God the Father gave al…

• The Kind of Faith in God That Destroys

  220;And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But at these words his face fell, and he went away grieved, for he was one who owned much property.  And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!̵…

• Without Natural Affection and Covenant Breakers

  same verse from the King James Version and it reads as follows, “Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.”  The ASV of 1901 reads the same as the KJV except that it omits the word “implacable.” Here is a case where both of these older translations are more accurate than any of the newer ones, more accurate in exactness of the meaning of the original Greek words used (feel free to do your own rese…

• 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 …

• Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon

  again, that your sins may be blotted out.”  The New King James has, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Albert Barnes, the well known Bible commentator, says of the Greek word translated “return” or “turn again” or “be converted” in this passage that it “means properly to ‘turn; to return to a path from which one has gone astray; and then to tur…

• Indifference – The Great Destroyer

  Indifference is one of the scariest words in the English language for it is a word whose companion is another word called failure. The word indifference refers to an attitude held by a man or woman indicating a lack of zeal or commitment or concern regarding whatever that person is indifferent toward. There are many things a person can be indifferent toward and it does not make the least bit of difference. For example, I am indifferent toward wh…

• Non-Offensive Christianity

  inclusive of the good things to be found in Christian character at its best. It is hard to look back over this list and see anything that should offend anyone.  It is certainly not the Christian’s desire to offend.  The word of God teaches the Christian to “pursue peace with all men” (Heb. 12:14 NKJV), “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:2 NKJV), and “as …

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

  God. How does one deal with this apparent contradiction?  If you have a New American Standard Reference Edition Bible (one of the best reference Bibles on the market) you will find in the reference notes on verse 13 that the word “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 “be…

• Christ and Baptism in Colossians

  who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.” (1 Tim. 2:14 NAS)  We need to read the Bible, even more we need to study it, “a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of God.” (2 Tim. 2:15 NAS)  We need to read the book of Colossians and see what it teaches about Christ and baptism.  What Paul teaches there he teaches elsewhere in the New Testament as well. “Christ in you, the hope o…

• The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification

  (1 Cor. 2:9), God’s building (1 Cor. 2:9), the house of God (1 Tim. 3:15), the house of Christ (Heb. 3:6), the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16-17), and, of course, the most common name used for the church in the Bible is just the word “church” itself as all Bible readers know. The listing above is not an exhaustive list but it is enough of a list to give you the idea that the church is not given a formal name in the New Testament.  Are there any impl…

• Disobedience to Jesus

  es not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (NKJV)  At first glance it might well appear to you that the two translations are in conflict and are not saying the same thing.  While the wording differs the meaning is the same. First, I would have you note carefully the text of the NKJV rendering.  It says, “He who does not believe the Son.”  Well, if you do not believe the Son then what are you …

• Demas Has Forsaken Me

  hilemon is said to have been written around AD 60. However, by the time Paul wrote his last letter, the book of Second Timothy, dated anywhere from AD 64 to AD 68, Paul says sadly that “Demas has forsaken me” (NKJV) or in the wording of the NAS “has deserted me” (2 Tim. 4:10).  And why–“Having loved this present world”. (2 Tim. 4:10 NKJV) One gets the idea that Demas had been with Paul for a number of years and had only recently departed.  …

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

  hat man might eat of this bread and have eternal life.  There are many, many descriptive terms used in reference to Jesus in the Bible of which the bread of life is but one. In the book of John alone Jesus is described as the Word (John 1:1), the Light (John 1:9), the only begotten (John 1:14), the lamb of God (John 1:29), the Messiah (John 1:41), the Son of God (John 1:49), the bread of life (John 6:48), the light of the world (John 8:12), the d…

• Abuse of the Old Testament

  divide the truth (2 Tim. 2:15) and Peter says (2 Peter 3:16) that the scriptures can be twisted to our own destruction thus we must be careful and not make assumptions or just give our opinion.  We can only rightly divide the word of truth by following what God has said about how to do that.  We then know we are on safe ground. That the Old Testament scriptures have value for us today there is no doubt for Paul says, “For whatever was writt…

• Everlasting Life–The Believer of John 3:16

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

• God’s Hardening of the Human Heart

  arts does God harden?  Why?  How does he do it? Many that I have read after are pretty much under the conviction that the way God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and thus the heart of others whom he has hardened is through his word.  That is to say God gives a command that a man does not want to receive and obey.  He (the man) refuses to do so.  The man thus hardens his own heart but there is a sense in which it could be said God hardened the man&…

• Confirmation Sunday–No Bibles Required

  the Bible on a subject has never stopped a denomination from its own inventions and desires as pertains to its faith, or worship, or religion. After reading the article I went to my e-sword concordance and did a search on the word “confirmation.”   I did find it in 2 locations.  Paul spoke about “confirmation of the gospel” in Philippians 1:7 and the writer of the book of Hebrews spoke of how an “oath for confirmatio…

• King Saul–As Long as It Glorifies God

  ying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he also has rejected you from being king.” (1 Sam. 15:22-23 NKJV) The word “stubbornness” found in the NKJV here is an interesting word.  In other translations the Greek word behind this translation is tran…

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

  once he gets back to Jerusalem throws more light on why Cornelius, by the angel’s direction, had been instructed to send for him.  The angel had told Cornelius that “he (reference to Peter – DS) shall speak words to you by which you will be saved.” (Acts 11:14 NAS)  So there were words Cornelius needed to hear in order to be saved?  What were those words?   Was it not the same words Peter had preached on the day of Pentec…

• Ways into Christ–How Many Ways Are There?

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

• Misunderstanding the Grace of God

  that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (NKJV) and said okay, that is it, no need for further study. I would like to say first of all this is a poor approach to God’s word to isolate and elevate part of his word over and above the rest of his word.  That approach makes me and you a judge over the word where we get to make ourselves God and decide what is vital in his word and what is not….

• Fornication–Take It Lightly at Your Peril

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

• If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications

  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…

• Deeper Spiritual Understanding–How do I Acquire It?

  at had the affect of law even to the extent of overriding the law of God (Mark 7:6-13), the heart ceases to be interested in anything that will disturb it.  People become satisfied with what they have right or wrong. Hear the words of Jesus: “That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see.  They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.  This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say,…

• The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept

  Most people who call themselves Christians are in reality not Christians at all no matter how dedicated they may be to their faith.  The word of God is truth (Jesus speaking–John 17:17) and stands as the one and only standard that is acceptable to the God of heaven and of men.  It, not man, sets the standard for who is a Christian. As there is a political correctness in our land there is likewise a religious correctness that one must adher…

• The Parable of the Talents–the Sin of Fear

  while couched in the language of business affairs is really a story about spiritual matters.  Its purpose is to teach us a lesson about our relationship with God and what he expects of us.  Indeed, the parable begins with the words, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man.” (Matt. 25:14 NKJV)  The man in the spiritual application of the parable is God.  Talents were measures of money each servant was given.  However, they represented…

• The Faith of Enoch

  ut the faith of Enoch?  The answer is more than is first apparent. The Hebrew writer in Heb. 11:5 tells us “by faith Enoch was taken up.” (NAS)  Paul tells us “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17 NKJV)  The NAS (New American Standard) translation has “word of Christ” here rather than “word of God” but it is hard to see that that makes any difference in view of t…

• The Wicked Shall be Turned into Hell

  oncept of hell as taught in the Bible.  I suspect it is highly likely many who look at what I write from time to time will pass by this article just because of the title.  God is not always the most popular person around (the words of the title are his, not mine) and many there be that do not want to hear what he has to say. It is sad that people sometimes hate God but that is the way it is.  Paul specifically refers to people who are in his word…

• 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…

• 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 …

• Hypocrites in the Church

  ough they want nothing to do with such a bunch of hypocrites and it is beneath them to associate with such.  They are better than that. Certainly, the Bible condemns hypocrisy.  What may surprise the reader is that the actual word “hypocrisy” is found only in 9 verses of the New American Standard Bible Update edition and the word “hypocrite” is found in only 2 verses of the same translation.  Does that mean there is not a …

• 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…

• Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences

  ourself to do. Why is the one with a weak conscience easily led into defiling his conscience?  Paul indicates it can be because of the example of others who have strong consciences regarding the matter.  He is being taught by word and perhaps as well by the deeds of others that a matter is okay with God and others all seem to be convinced, all but himself.  He feels himself under peer pressure to go along even if no peer pressure is being brought…

• Jesus and the Furnace of Fire

  e wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Mat 13:41-42 NKJV) Many people who think they know Jesus would say, “No, he would never do that.”  Well, if not he is a liar.  If he is a liar you cannot depend on a single word he ever uttered for who would know when he was lying and when he was not?  But God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Let us take a closer look and see who it is that will be cast into this furnace.  It is “those who practic…

• Abraham’s Faith (Faith Accounted for Righteousness)

  13:18) and then read of Lot’s captivity and rescue by Abraham and later of his meeting with Melchizedek king of Salem (“priest of God Most High” – Gen. 14:18). Finally, we come to chapter 15 where “the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” (Gen. 15:1 NKJV)  Note that this is stated in Gen. 15:1 and is before Gen. 15:6.   …

• 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…

• Lessons for the Church from Isaiah (Chapter 1)

  that he really cared about the things he had told them through the law and the prophets. Here is the great lesson for the church and individual Christians today.  Have you ever heard it said, “I know what it (reference to the word of God) says but I don’t believe it matters.”  I have heard it.  I wonder if people in Isaiah’s day were saying that sort of thing.  I once knew a lady who was gung ho on women preachers.  Paul said, “I do not permit a …

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

  aking her receptive to the gospel as Paul preached it?  Many think so.  The reality is there is no truth to such suppositions as will soon be shown.  God opened Lydia’s heart to the gospel simply by the preaching of the word.  How do I know?  That is a fair question.  If God acted miraculously on the heart of Lydia resulting in a sort of forced conversion, one of which she had no way of resisting, and God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10…

• The Conscience as a Witness

  an example a militant Islamist who believes murder and terrorism is God’s will, his conscience needs to be retrained and educated in righteousness. The real guide man has to live by is not his conscience but God’s word.  The Psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NKJV)  Man is to walk in (live by) God’s word.  Jeremiah under inspiration wrote, “O Lord, I know the …

• Israel’s Rebellion at the Red Sea

  :21 NKJV)  They were not seeing any exodus.  One suspects this was the time referred to in Ex. 14:12 at the Red Sea rebellion when the children of Israel seeing the Egyptian army approaching told Moses, “Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?’” (NKJV)  When they told Moses that back in Egypt there is little doubt their thinking was if it was not for this troub…

• 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…

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

  r.  When the preaching is received (Acts 2:41) or believed (Acts 8:12) it results in people being baptized.  The case of the Ethiopian eunuch was no exception. Why would the eunuch request baptism if he had not been taught it by Philip?  Furthermore, why would he request it unless he felt some urgency about it, unless he felt there was a need? Philip taught the eunuch baptism because as Peter said on the Day of Pentecost baptism is for the remiss…

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

  m to offer a prayer of confession to God?  He did neither.  I emphasize this–he did neither.  With Peter the job was not done.  What was left to be done?  An obedience of faith. What did that consist of?  In Peter’s own words, “repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38 NAS) Paul’s conversion was similar as found in Acts chapters 9, 22, and 26.  When the Lord appeared to…

• Assorted

  This page consists of articles that do not fit well into any of the other categories listed on the menu.  Likewise with the audio sermons at the bottom of the page. Christianity and Multiculturalism Christian Wars–A Misnomer Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions? The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications Lincoln’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb Abortion Luke 1 – All You …

• Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation?

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

• 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…

• Christian Living

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

• Saul’s Conversion

  dy?  Did he tell Saul you need to repent?  Had he not done that?  If his experience on the road to Damascus had not wrought these things what would it take?  What do you think he told Saul “you must do” as per the words of Jesus when Jesus said it would be told him?  The text said he “arose and was baptized.”  Why be baptized?  Was it not because it “shall be told you what you must do” and baptism was the thing…

• 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 …

• A Good and Pure Conscience

  ived authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.” (Acts 26:9-10 NKJV) The conscience then to be of value to us must be trained in righteousness, trained in God’s word for it is truth (John 17:17).  No one following strictly God’s word would ever do anything to another but what was beneficial and good for that person.  God is love (1 John 4:16) and his word is based on that love…

• The Pleasures of Sin

  o will be condemned because they had “pleasure in unrighteousness.” (NKJV) One would be a liar and fully aware of his lie if he was to deny that sin can be pleasurable.  He would know he was lying not only because of what the word of God has said about it in the passages above but also from his own personal life experiences.  Who can say that they have not enjoyed sin at one time or another or at least found it preferable to doing right?  If sin …

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

  if what Paul 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 Je…

• Spiritual Mirages

  ver, they consulted with Jeremiah asking him on their behalf to seek God’s will in the matter.  Having done so and received from God an answer they were instructed and warned not to go to Egypt. “Then hear now the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah! Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘If you wholly set your faces to enter Egypt, and go to dwell there, then it shall be that the sword which you feared shall overtake…

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

  sed to prove that any scripture given by God at a later date would be uninspired, say the book of Revelation for example?  That seems to be the implication. However, was none of the New Testament written when Paul spoke those words?  Most scholars believe 2 Timothy, quoted above, was written somewhere in the range of 66 to 68 AD.  While dates are all over the place on some New Testament books all scholars I know about concede that Second Timothy …

• The Parable of the 10 Virgins–7 Lessons

  it ought to be.  All I am saying is that to us the heart seems right and so we are at peace with God despite the fact we may well be at war with him unknowingly.  One must be very careful with regards to his heart.  Hear the words of the Lord spoken directly, “The heart is deceitful above all things; and desperately wicked; who can know it?  I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according t…

• The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman

  (John 17:4 NKJV)  That is our job as well.  The only way God can be given glory by man is by obedience.  That would include thanksgiving, worship, praise, teaching, giving to the needy, etc. but it can all be summed up in one word–obedience.  Disobedience to God does not bring God glory but dishonors him as God and as the ruler of humanity.  Disobedience is sin. We might ask why God gave us fleshly bodies that desire the things of the flesh…

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

  acter of that individual. God is spirit, not flesh and blood.  When we hear God’s name we cannot picture in our mind physical traits but we do picture in our mind the traits of character God has as revealed to us in his word.  The name Jehovah or Yahweh stands for or represents the divine being characterized by spiritual traits we read about in the word of God as well as power, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, etc.  The actual name stands …

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

  where the Bible is readily available–men love their denominations and would rather have them and their creeds and councils and governing bodies than just the simple New Testament church and its worship regulated by the word of God alone. Let us be honest.  If we take the New Testament, 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…

• Baptized For the Dead

  are) and then says in the next verse, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:11 NKJV)  Does the word “washed” here remind you of the word “wash” as in “wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16), the words of Ananias to Paul when he was yet known as Saul.  So the church at Corinth, meaning each Christian in it, had been washed …

• Ghost Hunting and Consulting the Dead

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

• Ignorance Does Not Excuse Sin

  make applications of these truths.  What can we learn from what we have said? (1) The person who has never heard the gospel is lost.  Everyone of us has a tendency to say to ourselves, based on emotion, not the truth of God’s word, that if a person lives in a remote land far away where the gospel has not been taught and/or is not readily available to him he will be saved without the gospel.  The Bible teaches just the opposite. Why go preach the …

• When did Obedience Become Legalism?

  he law of God perfectly, obedient in every detail. Jesus never condemned the Pharisees for keeping the law, not once.  He condemned them for hypocrisy, for not keeping the law, for making commandments and adding them to God’s word and making them of equal force with God’s word binding them on men.  We often today say they were legalists and I do not object to that designation of them but I add this for clarification–their legalism was not f…

• The Case of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

  first gospel sermon ever preached after Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection was in the city of Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts chapter two.  Neither do I know a man who would deny but what the words spoken by Peter were given by the Holy Spirit.  The reader ought to note and carefully digest what the Holy Spirit, speaking through Peter, said on that occasion in response to those who asked “Men and brethren, …

• The Conversion of the Philippian Jailer

  ng responsible for the prisoners the jailer assumed all had escaped and was ready to take his own life when Paul called out to him.  The opportunity was given to preach the gospel to him and his household.  The first recorded words of the jailer after bringing Paul and Silas out of their cell was “what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30 NAS)  There is a lot of information that can be gleaned from those few words.  First, it can be fa…

• The Army of the Lord–the Church

  JV) But, as I said, many are not ready for the combat.  In the parable of the soils the one unprepared for combat is the one represented by the stony places soil (describing the heart of man) where when the seed was sown (the word of God) it was received and sprouted and came up but “when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he (a man with this kind of heart–DS) stumbles.” (Matt. 13:21 NKJV)  He is neither prep…

• A New Creation in Christ

  e and place of creation or birth, of coming into being, of coming into existence. Paul said, “This is a faithful saying:  For if we died with him, we shall also live with him.” (2 Tim. 2:11 NKJV – see very similar wording in Rom. 6:8 as well.)  The old man of sin must first die and be buried before a new creation can come into existence.  When and where does this occur?  Paul answers. “How shall we who died to sin live any longe…

• Faith is Not Just What You Believe

  failure to love.  Hear Jesus, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 NKJV)  “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” (John 14:21 NKJV)  “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” (John 14:23 NKJV)  “He who does not love Me does not keep My words.” (John 14:24 NKJV)  Paul says, “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.” (1 Cor. 16:22 NKJV) Jesus again says, “why do yo…

• Receiving the Gospel (Acts 2:41)

  “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41 NAS)  In my younger days I use to hear about those preachers on tv or radio who would tell their listening audience words to the effect that if they wanted to receive Jesus and salvation just to lay their hands on top the set, say certain words in the form of a prayer, and presto–salvation.  For all I k…

• Jesus’ Baptism and You?

  ess.’  Then he allowed Him.”  (Matt. 3:15 NKJV) Why was Jesus baptized?  To fulfill all righteousness for that is what he says.  What did he mean by that?  The answer is found in Psalms 119:172, “My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.”  Jesus was baptized because it was the righteous thing to do for God had commanded it and all of God’s commandments are righteousness. In Matt. 21 Jesus is being confronted…

• The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father

  r me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”  (Matt. 16:24 NKJV)  Following Jesus would include following him in faithfulness. While Jesus was in the beginning with God and the Holy Spirit when the words were uttered “let us make man in our image, according to our likeness” (Gen. 1:26 NKJV, see also John 1:1-11) once Jesus entered the world, sent by God the Father (John 17:18), he became not only the Son of…

• Philip Preaching the Gospel in Samaria

  t in their sins.  Philip preached the gospel.  I think all can agree on that. The text says “they believed Philip” with regards to what he was teaching.  This is the equivalent of “those who had received his word” with reference to Peter’s preaching in Acts 2:41.  When they believed Philip what did they do?  The text says “they were being baptized” when they believed.  In Acts 2:41 when they received Pete…

• Faith

  Paul’s Conversion–Justified by Faith Faith Comes by Hearing the Word of God–the Implications Who is the Believer in John 3:16? What is it a Man Must Believe in Order to be Saved? Faith is Not Just What You Believe Obedience of Faith and Justification by Faith–Opposing Doctrines? Disobedience to Jesus The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father I Can Do All Things Through Christ If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implicatio…

• The Chastening of the Lord

  ment are aware of how time after time after time God’s people would become unfaithful to him and how he would punish them.  However, was it just always a matter of punishment for punishment’s sake?  No, not always. “Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt.” (Amos 3:1 NKJV)  God speaking, obviously, but then note what he says in chapter 4:6, “R…

• Faith, Manna, and Grumbling Against God

  g for their lives, and said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?  Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” (Ex. 14:11-12 NASB) …

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

  e even if it is true which I do not deny?  What if the thief on the cross did not have to do what you do for salvation?  What does that have to do with either you or me? If Jesus wanted to forgive a man by merely speaking the word who is to say he is going to do that for me or you if we disobey his will and refuse to do what he has said to do for salvation under his new covenant (and that is exactly what we will be doing if we wait and expect to …

• The Blessing of Affliction and the Goodness of God

  In the book of Psalms 119, verse 71, there is a passage that has come to have personal meaning to me as I have contemplated it over time and made application to the things that have befallen me.  The Psalmist said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted.” (NKJV)  Earlier in the same chapter the writer had said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” (Psalms 119:67 NKJV) We all learn very early in life that we wi…

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

  say I?) believe God gave directions for making offerings/sacrifices.  I think this can be further confirmed by a passage found in the New Testament–Rom. 10:17.  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (NKJV)  How can you have faith when you are flying blind without any word from God?  Is an “I think so” or an “it seems to me” faith?  Is that the definition of faith?  That is opi…

• 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…

• Is Church Attendance Essential for Christian Salvation?

  he place of torment “where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched’” (Mark 9:44 NKJV) and “shall never be quenched.” (Mark 9:43 NKJV) This is a question that is really very easily answered if one will accept the word of God as being the one and only and final authority on deciding the question.  The answer is no; one cannot be saved if he will not attend church by which is meant the church worship services.  Hear God’s word on the s…

• Canaan and Heaven–How God Gives

  nd.” (NKJV) (See also Gen. 13:15, 17) To Moses God said, regarding Abraham’s descendants the children of Israel, “I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan.” (Exodus 6:4 NKJV)  Look up the word “given” or “give” in any Bible concordance and you will find time and again passage after passage stating that God either had given the children of Israel the land of Canaan or would do so. But if it is a gift from God …

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

  start in defining the gospel in 1 Cor. 15:1-4:  “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he w…

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

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

• Regrets

  ed.  No doubt he looked back on that occasion many times in his life with deep regret.  Not only had he done this great evil it also brought with it great consequences resulting in much harm down the road to others.  Hear the words of Nathan the prophet, “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.  Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I…

• 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 …

• Salvation (Becoming a Christian)

  –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 Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built? Saved by Jesus Outside the Church Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation? Canaan and Heaven–How God Gives Are the New Testament Scriptures Alone a Sufficient Guide to Heaven? Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Sal…

• The Joy and the Danger of a Clean Conscience

  I shall be whiter than snow.” (NAS)  And, finally, verse 10, “Create 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? …

• Fear God

  follow if we do.  So it is in our relationship with God. Those who speak of reverence for God rather than fear of God often leave out, so it seems to me, the element of godly fear.  If asked to define reverence they would use words like respect, honor, and deference but too often leave out godly fear.  Godly fear is an essential element of true reverence for God.  This kind of fear is not a contradiction of 1 John 4:18.  In fact, godly fear leads…

• Mt. Sinai and the Day of Judgment

  the elders of the children of Israel, meets with them, and “all the people” (Ex. 19:8 NASB) agree to do whatever the Lords says. Here is where we begin to get to what I want to talk about.  Moses returns with the words of the people to the Lord.  The Lord then says to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” (Ex. 19:9 NASB)…

• Unhappy With the Church of Christ?

  ays they were allowing Jezebel, “who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and beguile My servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols.” (Rev. 2:20 NKJV)  A lot of translations use the word “tolerate” rather than “allow” but the point is the church was letting it go on.  Can you imagine that? Jesus described the church at Sardis as “dead” (Rev. 3:1) yet even so there wer…

• Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching

  s, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30 NAS)  The entire conversion account follows: “And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.’  And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.  And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.  And he brought them into his…

• The Need to Sing in Worship

  closed over Pharaoh and his troops bringing salvation to the children of Israel.  It was a time of great relief, of joy and happiness, and thanksgiving.  The Bible says Moses and the children of Israel sang and then gives the words of the song as found in Ex. 15:1-18.  It is too long to quote here.  Let it suffice to say it was a song in which God was exalted and praised. I do want to quote part of verse 1, however, which says, “Then Moses …

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

  . 6:19 NKJV) (2)  Love When one becomes a Christian out of sincerity of heart in gospel obedience he can know that as a child of God that God loves him in a special way.  Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23 NKJV)  God no where makes that promise to one who does not keep his word, to the non-Christian. Which makes us happier…

• Acceptable Prayer

  ugh 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, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.” (Isa. 1:15 NASU) For a person’s prayer to be found accept…

• Christianity and Multiculturalism

  have anything at all to do with a true Christian’s love for you as a brother or sister in Christ or in his/her desire to see you have the opportunity to become a fellow Christian if you are not already one. However, the word multiculturalism as it is being used often today in American society conveys the idea that every culture is to be embraced as it is and that all have equal value.  Does the Bible teach this to be the truth?  Can one bec…

• One Church—A Thing Hard to Accept

  efore the Babylonian captivity said of them, “They refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear.  Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit.” (Zech. 7:11-12 NKJV)  It was not a matter of they couldn’t hear but rather that they wouldn’t hear. When Paul says the Gentiles “will hear itR…

• The Fragrance of Christ

  The apostle Paul made the following statement in 2 Cor. 2:15-16, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  To the one we are the aroma of death to death, and to the other the aroma of life to life.  And who is sufficient for these things?” (NKJV) I like the phrase “the fragrance of Christ.”  When I think of the word fragrance I think of that which has a pleasant smell–a f…

• God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh

  hing all over again not putting up much of a fight against it.  Somehow we feel we were justified in the act we committed. We tell ourselves the temptation was too great and thus God understands even though he has said in his word through Paul the apostle that, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make…

• Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?

  sins.” (Acts 2:38 NKJV) In further proof of this point that man can do something for himself to be saved, can make preparation that makes a difference in his salvation, I quote here Acts 2:40, “And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation.’” (ESV)  Some versions say “be saved” rather than “save yourselves” but it …

• Which Denomination Did Jesus Build?

  , and we say they will be saved too because they believe in Jesus. I have long felt people do not know what it means to believe in Jesus.  Today it seems to mean you can believe he is the Savior but you cannot believe another word he uttered.  Is that faith in Jesus, the faith that matters, the faith that saves?  Or, we just take the approach that he said it but it does not matter.  If you want to believe it and obey it okay but it does not matte…

• Willful Sin–Can Anyone Be Saved?

  saying they can do.  Why is Paul fearful that he may end up mourning?  Because they have not repented but that implies they could if they would and thus would be saved.  We also understand they knew what they were doing.  The word translated “immorality” in this verse in the NAS is translated in the NKJV and others as “fornication”.  It is the Greek word “porneia.”  Do you really believe these people did not kn…

• The Sin of Being Unthankful and the Need for Thanksgiving

  ne what it is to do good to others and then find them unthankful.  What was his crime that he should be crucified?  Was it that he went about doing good, healing, casting out demons, giving sight to the blind, etc.?  Hear the words of the Psalmist that have reference to Jesus. “You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; my adversaries are all before you.  Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone t…

• More on Willful Sin—Can Anyone be Saved?

  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)  I want you to hear the words of Albert Barnes, perhaps the best known of all English Bible commentators, in his comments on the willful sin of this passage.  He says: “It is not to be construed here strictly, or metaphysically (he is here ta…

• Behold the Judge is Standing at the Door

  d (Jesus) the creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is.  I cannot imagine the terror of one who is forced into that situation knowing that he or she had lived a life of rebellion against God.  Terror is too mild a word for that experience. Can a man fight against God and hope to win?  If not should we not all give consideration to the life we ought to be living?  We have today.  We ought to make use of it for “behold, now is the…

• Looking Down Your Nose

  command those who are rich … not to be haughty.” (1 Tim. 6:17 NKJV) I also want to look at the second part of verse 4 from our text where Paul says if we show partiality we become judges with evil thoughts, the last two words.  What kind of “evil thoughts?”  First of all the Bible teaches that evil thoughts themselves are sin. Hear Jesus, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile…

• Better to Never Have Been Born–Why?

  will know terror, you will know you are no longer in charge, and there will not be a doubt in your mind.  There will be terror on that day like no man has ever experienced in this life. The reality is that we have no English word that can describe the kind of terror those who have disobeyed God all their life and have never become Christians will have that day as they stand in the presence of the glorified Jesus to be judged knowing in their min…

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

  not based on works, not on how much work one has done, not on how difficult it has been, not on how long one has had to endure. God is always just in the sense that he treats us honestly and fairly and does not go back on the word he has given.  In the parable those who went to work in the vineyard earliest in the day were glad to go, to have the opportunity, and agreed that the wage set was fair and the work required was just.  He did not ask of…

• Mary of Bethany–Doing What You Can

  a memorial to her.” (Mark 14:6-9 NKJV)  Is that not what we are doing even now as we bring up this story and seek lessons from it? Mary of Bethany loved Jesus deeply and had “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word” (Luke 10:39 NKJV) gladly at an earlier time.  Jesus said of her then, “Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42 NKJV)  Mary was still choosing that good part…

• Lincoln’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb

  ved here we enjoy what we have found even if we are poor and lack what many others have.  God gave us an innate desire for life.  Why do we desire eternal life otherwise? But, lest I stray from my topic, I was reminded of the words of The Preacher (Solomon) in Eccl. 7:2, “Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart.” (NKJV) What does that mean?  Ou…

• The Mysterious Eloquent Evangelist

  baptized again after receiving John’s baptism nor was there a need for them to do so.  Jesus said they were “clean.” (John 13:10-11, John 15:3)  He says in his prayer to the Father “they have kept thy word” (John 17:6 NAS), “I have been glorified in them” (John 17:10 NAS), “they are not of the world” (John 17:16 NAS), and finally, “not one of them perished but the son of perdition, that…

• Parable of the Tares–No Middle Ground

  thfulness is no big deal.  What they are thinking (or how) I will never know, I guess, and that saddens me too?  I am not sure they know.  Do they think the Bible is a fairy tale?  Do they believe you cannot trust God’s word?  Do they believe God exists or do they believe, as absurd as it sounds, that life somehow evolved from non-living matter?  Or, do they think they are special and God is going to give them a free pass despite their ill …

• The Need to Preach on Sin

  but rather than having men like John the Baptist preaching against it many religious bodies just welcome in the adulterous couple as full fledged members in good standing.  They welcome them in on their way to hell with not a word to warn them.  John the Baptist lost his head in preaching against the sin but who is to say the modern day preacher will not lose his soul for holding his silence refusing to preach against it and other sins? When we f…

• Repentance–How Can I Be Sure?

  The words repent and repentance are Bible words, words hardly ever used outside of a religious context.  In reading one’s New Testament, beginning with the gospel accounts, the first preaching that is recorded is that of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 3:2 NKJV)  In Matt. 4:17 we see Jesus preaching the exact same message.  The call to men from inspiration from the very …

• Must the Christian Keep the Sabbath?

  There are many people who believe the Christian must keep the Sabbath.  It is one of the Ten Commandments and many believe we are under command to keep all the Ten Commandments.  Are they correct?  What does the Bible say about the Sabbath?  Who was to keep it–was it for all men and for all time?  How was it to be kept?  Let us see what the Bible has to say about the matter. The first time one finds the word “Sabbath” in the Bi…

• Pray For Others Lest You Sin

  is not just “Father, be with (you fill in the name).”  What we want is people that really care, really love us, whose prayer for you will be fervent, zealous, intent.  We want a sincere prayer from the heart for us not just a word said in passing.  When we become the Christians that have taken God’s command to heart when he commanded us to love one another then and only then will we get the kind of prayers that are needed. It is “the effective, f…

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

  e them put to death? So was the body stolen?  You do not believe that if you are a rational person.  The next argument is in my opinion so strong as to completely close the case on the side of the resurrection without another word being spoken about the matter. After Jesus was resurrected even his closest disciples did not believe it when it was reported to them.  “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unb…

• Keep Your Heart With All Diligence

  God’s grace” which translated means I will pretty much do in my life what I want and let God’s grace cover me in the end.  We are suppose to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12 NKJV) and have been given a sword (the word of God–Eph. 6:17) and a shield (faith–Eph. 6:16).  Where is the fight in liberal Christianity (a misnomer)?  Paul said he had “fought the good fight.” (2 Tim. 4:7 NKJV)  It is a cop out to live as you want, …

• Denominationalism’s Sin Against Peter

  let every one of you be baptized in the name 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 th…

• Must a Man Seek God?

  seeking God’s will in his life.  One cannot seek God’s will without seeking God. It is God’s will for man that man seek him, all of mankind.  James made that clear in reference to the Gentiles by quoting the words of the prophets in Acts 15:15-17, “And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:  ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen down.  I will re…

• DennySmith.Net

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

• Jesus Defines Repentance

  d in God.  What they needed to do was to repent of their sins against him and then believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of the world. The second comment I will make in passing is that the order of the wording does not necessarily imply that the one action preceded the other.  Paul, in Rom. 10:9, puts confession before faith, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised …

• They Loved the Praise of Men

  saved.  Indeed of those who are more powerful and influential God has said, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” (1 Cor. 1:26 NKJV)  The words “are called” are supplied words to complete the thought.  All men are called by the gospel but the meaning is that not many of this class of people–the wise, the mighty, the noble–will respond to God’s call…

• Waymon Swain’s Audio 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 Heart  (4 sermons) The Kingdom of God  (1 sermon) Word of God  (5 sermons) Worship  (2 sermons) …