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

  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 »What is it a man must believe in order to be saved according to the Bible?  If s…

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

  spel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom. 1:16 NAS)  It thus becomes essential that we learn what it is that man is to believe in order to be saved if we seek the salvation of our souls.  What is included in the gospel that must be believed? Paul helps us out and gives us a good start in defining the gospel in 1 Cor. 15:1-4:  “Now I make known to you, brethr…

• 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…

• Everlasting Life–The Believer of John 3:16

  ever in himself, one whose faith is sufficient to save.  They merely assume they know so every man becomes a law unto himself, declares himself a believer, and is in his mind (and often in his family and friend’s minds) saved without ever offering any real concern about God’s commands or any serious obedience to them.  Many have made no real attempt in years to worship God or read his word let alone put him first in their life yet the…

• Misunderstanding the Grace of God

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

• Bible Contradictions on Salvation?

  d, and then Peter’s, etc., for “all scripture is given by inspiration of God.” (2 Tim. 3:16 NKJV)  What Paul wrote he wrote by inspiration.  What James wrote he wrote by inspiration. Thus if Paul says we are saved by faith and James says we are saved by works then both are correct else you have God fighting against himself.  Even worse you have God lying in one place or the other if either Paul or James is wrong.  If both are co…

• Why Men Do Not Believe

  to do to even give thought to God or the gospel. Luke describes these people as those beside the road, “who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:12 NAS)  The Bible says, “A natural man, does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.…

• 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…

• Saved by Jesus Outside the Church?

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

• Does God Really Care?

  or good “to preserve many people alive.”  (Gen. 50:20 NASU)  There was a great famine that came and through Joseph’s leadership and the wisdom God gave him food was stored up so that thousands of people were saved from starvation including Joseph’s own family.  God knows what he is doing even when man suffers.  He is able to bring good even from evil, even from suffering. In this life we will never have the answers we desi…

• The Kind of Faith in God That Destroys

  There is a faith, a so called Christian faith, which destroys.  Those who hold such a faith, while sincere, do not understand faith from a scriptural point of view.  Faith is all too often defined as “what I believe.”  There is more to saving faith than just believing in Jesus, believing he is the Son of God. If faith alone, defined as what one believes, could save by itself then even the demons could be saved for James says, “…

• The Cleansing of the Church at Ephesus

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

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

  of him that he was “a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people, and prayed to God continually.” (NAS)  If there was ever a man so good as to be able to be saved on his own merits we suppose Cornelius would have been that man.  And, yet God’s angel instructs him to send for Peter.  Why?  Might it not be that even a good man like Cornelius needed the gospel?  If a man can …

• One Church—A Thing Hard to Accept

  hem was guided in his speech by the Holy Spirit (see Matt. 10:19-20, John 14:16-17, 26, 16:13, Gal. 1:11-12, 2 Tim. 3:16, 1 Cor. 7:40, etc.).  The idea that we have thirty some thousand faithful denominations all chockfull of saved Christians is the thinking of hearts that have been hardened to the point they can no longer reason rationally. If denomination A believes one thing, denomination B believes another, and denomination C believes somethi…

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

  lvation is impossible.  We must always remember, however, that “faith without works is useless.” (James 2:20 NAS)  “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26 NAS)  Thus in John 12 we find a group of believers who could not be saved.  “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in him but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.” (John 12:42 NAS) The faith Paul spoke of in the book of …

• How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built?

  rth that matters and every one of them ought to cease their existence immediately.  But, that is a far cry from saying that the church Christ built does not matter. The church built by Jesus matters so much that you cannot be saved outside of it, without becoming a member of it.  It is “the church of God which he purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28 NKJV)  If you are outside that church it means you were never purchased with the blood of Ch…

• Faith, Works, and Baptism

  e clearly teaches that baptism is not classified as a work of righteousness which we have done, just the opposite, as stated in Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)  The washing of regeneration is a reference to baptism and is specifically excluded by Paul as being a work of righteousness which …

• The Grace of God in Baptism

  rly 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 saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by his grace we should become heirs according to …

• For By Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith Alone

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

• Paul’s Conversion (Justified by Faith)

  orthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Cor. 15:9 NKJV)  He said as all Christians must say, “by the grace of God I am what I am.” (1 Cor. 15:10 NKJV)  We must all say I am saved by the grace of God; I am what I am (assuming we are doing our very best to be what God would have us to be) by the grace of God.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” (Eph. 2:8 NKJV) Thus far …

• Which Denomination Did Jesus Build?

  Years ago I had a lady tell me it was impossible to be just a Christian without being in a denomination.  Did Jesus build a denomination?  Which denomination did Jesus build?  I fear the lady I spoke of above was in grave error those many years ago but she was in a bind.  What do I mean?  Those who are in denominational churches generally all agree that those in other denominations can and will be saved the same as they will be.  Which means wha…

• Jesus Defines Repentance

  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 him from the dead, you will be saved.” (NKJV)  Do you think Paul meant to imply that confession is to come before faith?  How would that work?  How could Jesus be Lord if God did not raise him from the dead–if you did not believe that he did?  So we…

• Who Gets to Decide–God or the Church?

  le clearly teaches that division among Christians is sinful (1 Cor. 1:10, John 17:20-21), but then on the other hand say the differences are so minor that it does not matter which denomination you belong to for we will all be saved despite our differences or which denomination we might be in. Well, if we are all going to be saved anyway what is the big deal and why be divided?  Where and when did God give a command that his saved ones be divided …

• Ways into Christ–How Many Ways Are There?

  It is only human nature to want the way to heaven to be as broad and all-inclusive as possible thus the more ways into Christ that can be found the better from our earthly point of view.  We have people we want to see saved and yet we are pretty sure they are not due to either the way they are living or to the beliefs they hold thus a broad gate and a wide way to heaven would suit us just fine.  But it goes without saying that our love for one w…

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

  p conferences, and councils, and governing bodies, and tried to make laws for God and in many cases even overrode his will (for their own) setting aside scripture and people say it is okay, all is well, God is pleased, we are saved.  In religious bodies that have done these things it is safe to say Christ may be spoken of as the head but it is not taken seriously by those of us who have a New Testament and have read it and studied it and believe …

• The Conversion of the Philippian Jailer

  fe 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 fairly inferred that the jailer was convinced that Paul and Silas were men of God who knew God’s…

• Non-Offensive Christianity

  e not wise.” (2 Cor. 10:12 NKJV)  Christ is the only acceptable standard a Christian can have.  The goal and the desire is not to be the best of the average of everyday people but to be Christ-like.  Our desire is to be saved and in order to be saved we must live like Christ and not like the average of men.  We must seek to please God, not man.  “If I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10 NKJV)  The …

• Who is the Believer in John 3:16?

  n (verse 3), is the man who is born of water and the Spirit (verse 5).  If this is not the same man, the man of John 3:16 and the man of John 3:3,5, then we have Jesus contradicting himself and teaching one man is going to be saved one way in the earlier passages and another way in the later passage.  Surely, all can see Jesus is talking about the same individual. Unfortunately, for the faith only crowd, this makes the believer of John 3:16 who w…

• Honestly Deceived

  at it leads to disobedience to God no matter how sincere we may be (Saul of Tarsus is another great example of the very thing we are talking about–sincere but disobedient).  Will the honestly sincere and yet deceived be saved when the result ends up being disobedience to God?  Who would dare say yes to that question in view of what the Bible teaches us in the two accounts being discussed? (Please note–I do not say that either the youn…

• Why Do Men Run From God?

  guide us.  Always remember it is not what seems good or right or desirable to you or me that counts with God but whether or not we are obeying him by obeying his word. I know it is our desire to want everybody in Christendom saved and the entire world saved for that matter unless it is for the mass murderers of the world and the world’s most evil people.  But if God is God and he gets to make the rules then his word gets to decide the matt…

• Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon

  r in Acts–chapter 3.  That there was preaching being done between Peter’s first sermon and his second there is no doubt for the Bible says “the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47 NAS) and this was after Pentecost but before the events recorded in Acts 3. Of those sermons, of which we know nothing, we can only say with certainty that the truth was taught and what was taught was…

• Cornelius’ Conversion–Final Thoughts

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

• Christian Wars–A Misnomer

  t.  They thus become their own authority and have convinced people it is God’s will that it be so. However, Protestants have their own problems 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…

• Must a Man Seek God?

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

• He Went Away Grieved

  ore a major election and most certainly not for spiritual enlightenment or uplifting. There was a man in the Bible we read about who came to Jesus for what appeared to be the right motive, a spiritual motive, that he might be saved.  This meant that he saw Jesus as the one who could point him in the right way.  He had faith enough in Jesus to go seek him out and that for the purpose of finding the way of life.  Matthew tells us he was a young man…

• Disobedience to Jesus

  Disobedience to Jesus is far more widespread among people who call themselves Christians than what is generally recognized to be the case.  Over the years the doctrine that man is saved by grace through faith alone without any kind of works has become so prevalent in men’s thinking that it seems it has driven out of men’s lives the sense of any kind of responsibility to obey God other than mentally assenting to the son ship of Jesus….

• Things People Do Not Know About the Church

  ly, one can do without the church if one is talking about a denominational church (those in them will generally admit it does not matter whether or not you are a member of their particular denomination for they say you can be saved without being a member of their group).  But, with that said it is a whole different story when it comes to the Lord’s church.  Here is a list of 12 things many people do not know or understand about the Lord’s church&…

• Abraham’s Faith (Faith Accounted for Righteousness)

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

• The Truth So Called Christians Will Not Accept

  ad over all things to the church, which is His body.” (Eph. 1:22-23 NKJV) Surely, no one thinks we are baptized into Christ’s physical body.  We are baptized into his spiritual body.  It is the spirit that will be saved.  God is spirit.  “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 15:50 NKJV)  To be in Christ is to be in him in spirit.  The church is a spiritual body. “Christ is head of the church; a…

• Demas Has Forsaken Me

  ust keep on sinning despite our will not to.  If it is not this sin then it is that one.  Isn’t that true of how we often feel?  Do we not at times just feel like giving up? But, why did Jesus die?  Did he die so men could be saved by perfect law keeping?  Did he die so that only those who are really deserving could be saved, deserving because so good and perfect in their law keeping?  John says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselv…

• Jesus and the Furnace of Fire

  is lawlessness, “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4 NAS)  It is those who practice lawlessness, Jesus says, who will be cast into the furnace of fire. To be saved a man must love Jesus.  “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.” (1Co 16:22 NKJV)  “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me,” says Jesus. (J…

• Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching

  Men made sprinkling baptism, not God.  In the New Testament a man was baptized when he was buried in water.  There was no other way to be baptized.  Secondly, the Bible teaches, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16 NKJV) and not “he who is incapable of believing and is baptized will be saved.”  One comes from God; the other is a man made doctrine.  Besides, babies are pure in God’s sight, sinl…

• Jesus the Foundation of and the Builder of the Church

  er living stone was added to the building of the church and such building continues today and will until the end of time.  Shortly after Pentecost the Bible says, “The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47 NKJV)  Now note who was adding to the church?  It was the Lord; the Lord built the church and continues to build it yet today in the manner just previously described. But I want to go back to somethi…

• 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…

• 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 Case of Cornelius and the Holy Spirit

  There are many who believe beyond doubt that Cornelius was saved at the time the Holy Spirit came upon him and his household.  It is a topic that ought to be discussed.  While I have written once before on this subject more needs to be said as there has been some objection to what was written.  I know of no person who claims to be a Christian who would deny the fact that the very first gospel sermon ever preached after Christ’s death, buri…

• Unhappy With the Church of Christ?

  There are many misconceptions about the church of Christ and about its membership and what they think.  It is often said that the membership of the church of Christ are the people who think they are the only ones who are going to be saved.  One wonders if people who make statements like that have ever read their Bible. The Bible clearly teaches one must be a member of the church of Christ (the church either belongs to Christ or it doesn’t—…

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

  ns should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-47 ESV) This gives us a beginning point of both time and place of the gospel message God has for us today.  Those desiring to be saved the way the thief on the cross was saved (by faith without baptism) go back too far, past Jerusalem, past the beginning, and in doing so end up with another gospel. The only way one can have the Jerusalem gospel is to …

• 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 …

• Faith and Baptism in Paul’s Preaching

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

• Repent–How Hard It Is To Do

  h “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5 NKJV).  Most Bible students believe Noah preached 120 years (based on Gen. 6:3) and yet the only ones converted by his preaching were members of his own family.  Only 8 people were saved from the flood–Noah and his wife and his sons and their wives. The Bible says of those who died in the flood that they were “disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the a…

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

  and without blemish.” (NKJV) The phrase “washing of water” is a direct reference to baptism.  “By the word” signifies the reason for the baptism–God’s word.  God’s word directs one to be baptized. Some think they can be saved outside the church.  There is no way that can happen.  Why?  Because Christians are the church and it is Christians that will be saved.  The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23); “He (Jesus–DS) is the Savi…

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

  e which now saves us, namely baptism.” (1 Peter 3:21 NKJV)  Jesus himself said, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5 NKJV) and said the man that would be saved would be the man that “believes and is baptized.” (Mark 16:16) People all over the world are convinced Jesus was in error when he said “he who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16…

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

  id not believe him, and they were not going to obey him. We hear much today about just believe in God.  We ought to ask people what they mean by that.  A lot of people that believe in God’s existence are not going to be saved anymore than were the children of Israel who believed he existed. I think most people know how this historical account ends.  God told Moses to take his staff and go and strike the rock at Horeb and water will come out…

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

  (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 to live under the Law of Moses today he could not be saved.  Much of the books of Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews discuss this very issue.  We cannot hope to be saved today by animal sacrifice, by worshipping as they worshipped, by observing Jewish festivals, etc.. Faith comes …

• Faith is Not Just What You Believe

  h that by all outward appearances has driven them to do nothing.  It is as dead as a door nail by all outward measurements.  Many who talk about their personal faith cannot even make it out to worship once a week but they are saved by faith. But, the response is made you are judging, you do not know my heart.  What I do know is that James says, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save…

• Lessons for the Church from Isaiah (Chapter 1)

  et that those who Peter said were guilty of taking Jesus by lawless hands and crucifying him were by faith and obedience to the gospel of Christ, preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, forgiven of their sins and saved.  How much greater sin can one commit than that of crucifying Christ?  If one can be forgiven of that, cleansed, and made white as snow then men need not fear that their sin is too great for God’s forgiveness. Elsewher…

• 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…

• What Is Baptism (the Sprinkling Hoax)

  ) who feeling as though he was at the point of death and knowing full well he had not been obedient to the command to be baptized (immersed) but rather had been disobedient needed the law to be changed in order to get himself saved.  He needed sprinkling as a substitution and if he had to add a new law or change an old one to get sprinkling in then so be it.  (No one had told him he was not God, the only law giver or law changer.)  Thus we see th…

• Is Church Attendance Essential for Christian Salvation?

  Whether or not a Christian must attend church to be saved is a question of utmost importance.  There is nothing more important than one’s eternal salvation.  Where will one spend eternity?  Will it be in a place of happiness and joy where “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain” (Rev. 21:4 NKJV) or will it be in the place of torment “where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched’” (Mar…

• The Need to Preach on Sin

  (1 Peter 2:24 NKJV)  As one preacher put it Jesus was born to die with the purpose of that death being to pay the penalty for the sin of man.  Jesus died physically so we do not have to die eternally which is to say we can be saved from the punishment for our sins against God if we are willing to accept the sacrifice Jesus made by obeying the gospel.  God punished sin through Jesus’ willing sacrifice on the cross.  Make no mistake about it …

• The Blessing of Affliction and the Goodness of God

  se the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by him; for whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.” (Heb. 12:5-6 NKJV)  Why does he do that?  In order that we might be saved and not led off by sin and negligence away from him.  As the Psalmist said just a few verses beyond what we earlier quoted, “in faithfulness you have afflicted me.” (Psalms 119:75 NKJV)  He chastens us “for our profit,…

• Behold the Judge is Standing at the Door

  nation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil.” (Rom. 2:6-9 NKJV)  Jesus is “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” (Heb. 5:9 NKJV)  It is certain no man can be saved without the grace of God but to imply the Christian has no obligations to meet for salvation, God’s grace will just cover it all, is a perversion of the truth. Matt. 7:22-23 ought to be an eye opener to all who w…

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

  are not Christians.  They are moral people, they are honest, they work hard, treat us well, and it is hard to see how God could reject them.  They are like Cornelius in Acts 10 but I remind the reader Cornelius in order to be saved had to hear, believe, and obey the gospel for salvation.  If he was saved in the state he was in why bother Peter?  Why does Peter need to travel to Caesarea in view of the fact it is a waste of his time to preach to C…

• Parable of the Tares–No Middle Ground

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

• Mt. Sinai and the Day of Judgment

  What do the children of Israel coming to Mt. Sinai have to do with the Day of Judgment?  More than you might think.  The children of Israel reached Mt. Sinai in the third month after they left Egypt (Ex. 19:1-2).  They had had by this time many experiences and had 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…

• The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman

  law; indeed, it cannot.  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Rom. 8:5-9 ESV) To set the mind on the flesh (the things of this life and of the fleshly body) we are told is death.  Now why is that so?  Because, Paul says, such a minded person does not submit to Go…

• How Does the Blood of Jesus and Baptism Tie Together

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

• Christian Circumcision

  sha to go dip in the Jordan 7 times.  Naaman had something to do.  When he did it he was cleansed. Now let us think about that just a little.  Who really cleansed Naaman of leprosy, was it the water or was it God?  Was Naaman saved by works or by faith?  Had Naaman never heard of Elisha and had just gone down on his own to the Jordan and dipped in it 7 times with no idea of being cleansed but just dipping as in bathing would the water have cleans…

• Better to Never Have Been Born–Why?

  obedience.  However, on that day free will ends and the choices we had will then be gone.  It will simply be too late. In Matt. 25 we are given a look into the judgment scene to come.  In it Jesus is separating the sheep (the saved) from the goats (the unsaved).  The goats are going to be told, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41 NKJV)  He says they will “go…

• Looking Down Your Nose

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

• A New Creation in Christ

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

• Praying to God to Bless the Bread–Really?

  “God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24 NKJV) Whose job is it to bless the bread and bless the fruit of the vine when the Lord’s Supper is being  observed in the communion service?  One hears continually prayers or petitions to God to “bless the bread” and to “bless the fruit of the vine.”  Why?  I have no idea other than it has been done so long it has…

• If Miracles Have Ceased–the Implications

  e a charlatan?  Why should I give him the time of day? People speak of blind faith.  The kind of faith the Bible demands of men is not blind faith but faith built upon reason based on the word of God confirmed by miracles.  I believe not because I am naive and will believe anything and will buy bridges in deserts but rather because God said, “come now, and let us reason together.” (Isa. 1:18 NKJV)  I have done that–reasoning bas…

• Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?

  want to go to heaven.  The idea that there is nothing we can do is not taught in the Bible. I am reminded of the Philipian jailer who fell down trembling before Paul and Silas and asked them “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30 NKJV)  In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost when the first gospel sermon ever to be preached was preached by Peter many who heard were “cut to the heart” (convicted of the truth and of thei…

• The Mysterious Eloquent Evangelist

  17;s baptism was valid and had God’s full support behind it.  This was a short period of time of maybe a year or a year and a half approximately when if one was obedient to John’s preaching and was baptized he was saved having received the remission of sins.  Apollos would have been baptized during that time. The twelve men at Ephesus would have been baptized with John’s baptism after the day of Pentecost when the baptism author…

• Resource Sites

  Here are some links to what I consider to be some great sites I highly recommend. Christian Courier  (This site is owned and run by Wayne Jackson who does the writing found on it.  I don’t know where you would go to find more scholarly Christian articles on the web.  The man does his homework which means he does extensive research before he starts writing.  All of this will be readily evident to you once you read an article or two of his. …

• The Faith of Enoch

  he truth if one is to walk in the truth, as John says we are commanded to do, thus what must be believed is the truth.  Why will men perish?  The answer is “because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.” (2 Thess. 2:10 NASU)  Jesus in his John 17 prayer to the Father said, “Thy word is truth.” (John 17:17 KJV)  When the Bible says Enoch walked with God do you think he walked in truth? John says just…

• If Baptism is Not Essential for Salvation

  ed together.  If one is figurative the other is as well.  If one is literal the other is as well.  (2)  If baptism is not essential for salvation then Jesus errored again when he said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved,” (Mark 16:16 NKJV) for the truth would be “he who believes and is not baptized will be saved.”  (3)  If baptism is not essential for salvation then Peter either lied or the Holy Spirit was in error when on the Day of …

• The Heart of Man from a Biblical Perspective

  rs?  I suspect those who have never doubted themselves are a tiny minority.  When we read passages in the Bible about men deceiving themselves like in Gal. 6:3 and James 1:26 it causes us all the more concern for the question becomes am I being honest with myself?  We obviously need to learn all we can about the human heart with the hope being that we can come to know ourselves better and improve our hearts.  Who is the real me?  Who am I?  What …

• Diotrephes Loves To Have the Preeminence

  10 NKJV) Diotrephes, was a Christian man whose faith failed.  In that he had the power to put brethren out of the church one suspects that he was an elder who had gained preeminence over time above the other elders.  He had become so emboldened that he would not even accept the apostle John. The English Standard Version reads in 3 John 1:9 as follows: “I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first,…

• 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 …

• Ignorance Does Not Excuse Sin

  into the world to be a propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10) which simply means Jesus paid the penalty for our sins so that we will not have to which allowed God to be just in punishing sin and yet give unto us a way to be saved through faith in Jesus.  This is the gospel story. We need to make 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 t…

• 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 …

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

  calling on his name” (Acts 22:16 NAS) that Paul did not object and respond to Ananias along the line of now look here Ananias, I know you have the Spirit of God but the minute I met Jesus on the road I believed and was saved and so both you and the Spirit are in error.  I need not be baptized to “wash away” any sins for they were forgiven me when Jesus appeared to me and I first believed.  Why did he not respond that way?  It a…

• They Loved the Praise of Men

  all men” (1 Peter 2:17 KJV) or as the ESV states it “honor everyone.”  With God one man is as good as another and we are to have that attitude as well, followers of him who shows no partiality and who desires that all men be 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)  Th…

• Never Give Up

  it, and how they handled it in the hope that it will help all of us. There is no doubt that Moses was a great man of God.  He spoke with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration prior to Christ’s suffering thus we know he was a saved man.  The Hebrew writer says of Moses, “And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant.” (Heb. 3:5 NKJV)  Yet, we know God would not allow Moses to enter the Promised Land because of his own sin.  What was…

• Mary of Bethany–Doing What You Can

  it matters none to God if he has done what he could in his life.  This ought to be encouraging to us for it ought to give the lowliest of us hope. You may be saying how do I know this man had done what he could?  Because God saved him.  God will not save a man who will not try, who does not care, who is indifferent.  We are not saved by works.  If we were Lazarus would probably have little to show.  His condition was such as to not be able to he…

• Willful Sin–Can Anyone Be Saved?

  .  One may struggle mightily before committing the sin that has enticed him but nevertheless it was his decision to take the leap and commit it.  If a willful sin necessarily led to condemnation without hope then who could be saved?  Would it be Peter? Peter, according to Paul, stood condemned (Gal. 2:11).  Why?  Because “he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision” (Gal. 2:12 NAS) refusing to ea…

• The Christian, Politics, and the Government

  made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:1-4 NKJV) One might say what do we pray for when we pray for them?  We might pray any number of things.  We might pray that they be given wisdom, that if there is n…

• Canaan and Heaven–How God Gives

  How God gives to men is not only an interesting study but also one of upmost importance as it relates to our salvation, a salvation which is clearly set forth in the scriptures as being a free gift of God to man.  “Being justified freely by is grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 3:24 NKJV)  It is by grace through faith that we are saved and not by works. (Eph. 2:8-9)  Salvation is specifically said to be “the gift of God…

• Healing For the Brokenhearted

  “Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick.  And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.” (Psalms 69:20 NASU)  Read in context one sees clearly that this passage of scripture refers to Jesus toward the very end of his life on earth when facing the cross and perhaps, very possibly, on the cross itself.  The heart has been broken to the point of sickness. Is there a person whose heart has …

• 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…

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

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

• Indifference – The Great Destroyer

  ationalism. If it really does not matter what you believe or practice just so you believe in Jesus then certainly one can be indifferent about both doctrine and practice. What difference does it make if we are all going to be saved anyway? I thus see people who think they are going to be saved who never darken a church door for a worship service. If they have a Bible they would have to hunt it before they could read it and then dust it off for it…

• Fear God

  ly sorrow produces repentance to salvation”. (2 Cor. 7:10 NKJV)  It sounds much like repentance was a requirement for their salvation meaning, of course, that there was a period of time in which these Christians were not in a saved state.  A time when they had sinned but had not yet repented. Another example of the same sort of thing was Simon the sorcerer as found in Acts 8 where Paul tells him, “You have neither part nor portion in this matter,…

• Regrets

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

• 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…

• Ashamed of Jesus and His Words

  us Christ for the forgiveness of your sins”? (NAS)  They are ashamed of those words of Jesus and do not believe them and will not abide in them 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…

• Christianity and Multiculturalism

  reached to every creature is clearly taught in the Great Commission.  “And he (Jesus–DS) said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’” (Mark 16:15-16 NKJV)  God is “the Savior of all men” (1 Tim. 4:10 NKJV), not just the Savior of one nationality, or one language, or one race of…

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

  ble in our generation?  In the early years of Christianity the Bible (the gospel message) made Christians and Christians only that were added by God to the church.  “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47 NKJV)  If the pure gospel message of the New Testament will not do that today then of what value is it? Does the gospel message now add you both to the church Jesus built and to a denomination simultaneous…

• The Parable of the Talents–the Sin of Fear

  r to withdraw from eating with the Gentile Christians “fearing those who were of the circumcision” (Gal. 2:12 NKJV) and for which Paul rightly rebuked him (Gal. 2:14).  Without repentance Peter could not have been saved from these sins. What was missing from the thinking of the man who buried his master’s talent in the parable of the talents?  Faith!  His master had faith in him or else he would never have given the man the tale…

• God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh

  at we have not repented.  It can be very tough to resist the temptation to a sin that we are attracted to.  In fact, if we could only commit a sin once and then if we did it a second time God would not forgive us who could be saved?  But, remember this, forgiveness is dependent on true repentance.  The rich young ruler went away sorrowful but did not repent. What I have been talking about is an attitude, an attitude of recklessness and carelessne…

• The Conscience as a Witness

  :37 NKJV)  Their conscience was made to feel the guilt of sin.  Until a man’s conscience is greatly bothered by sin, and he must be made to feel sin’s guilt for that to happen, he will not and cannot repent and be saved. A guilty conscience is a blessing from God if a man will allow it to be and will heed its call and repent.  The conscience is a witness to a man about the state of his heart.  Thank God if you have a conscience that i…

• Denominationalism’s Sin Against Peter

  er apostles that day prior to the sermon.  If so, and I thought it was, I thought God was capable of saying what he meant to say.  Have I been wrong?  But then Jesus did say that “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mar 16:16 NKJV)  Did Jesus promise in this Mark passage that he who is not baptized will be saved?  Some seem to think so the way they talk.  The reality of Mark …

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

  s from hearing God’s word thus the direct and necessary implication is that if there is no word from God on a religious matter there can be no faith but only opinion.  Faith and opinion are not equal in God’s sight.  A man is saved by faith, not by opinion.  A man is to walk (live his daily life) by faith (Rom. 1:17, 2 Cor. 5:7).  The Christian religion is based on faith but it is an objective faith in that it is based on direct testimony as foun…

• More on Willful Sin—Can Anyone be Saved?

  In July 2008 I posted an article online entitled “Willful Sin – Can Anyone Be Saved?  Heb 10:26-27.”  Within the past couple of weeks I received a comment from a lady who was reading the article for the first time.  She took the position that there was no hope for a person who committed a willful sin after their conversion.  That was the way I read her comment and I was not the only one for not long thereafter another lady commented …

• The Chastening of the Lord

  is grace, and the very idea that God would ever send upon us anything but that which is most pleasant is abhorrent to their way of thinking. There is no doubt that when one looks at the big picture that God only does what is best for us for our eternal welfare.  Loving parents are like that with their children.  All that they do in regard to their children is for the child’s welfare if they are the kind of parents they ought to be.  Does that me…

• Work Out Your Own Salvation

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

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

  wn from dead matter–dead matter evolving into living matter.  Now that is a scholarly concept for you is it not but that is the position of the professors of science in our schools today.  They proclaim that position as being the scientific, the reasonable, and the intellectual one.  Save us from the scholars if that is the way one defines reason. The atheist, the evolutionist, all non-believers have staked their eternal well being on their…

• Is Holy Spirit Baptism The Baptism That Saves?

  al Era.  You can read about it in Gen. 17:12-14.  If one is in covenant relationship with God he is a child of God.  He may or may not remain faithful and thus can be lost later but at the time he becomes a child of God he is saved.  I have a question.  In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost when the first gospel sermon ever preached after Christ’s ascension, after the giving of the Great Commission, when were those gathered there, the three tho…

• Repentance–How Can I Be Sure?

  hat is it I must do?  What does it mean to repent?  It is very common to find people who do not understand and who simply think to repent means to be sorry. If sorrow was repentance then Judas, the betrayer of the Lord, was a saved man.  The Bible says, “Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that he had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.” (Matt. 27:3 NKJV)  His sorrow was so gre…

• The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification

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

• The Faithfulness of Jesus to God the Father

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

• Confirmation Sunday–No Bibles Required

  God for their practice? The lady attempts to give the history of confirmation so people like me can get a handle on it but guess where she starts with that history.  Are you guessing the New Testament and the first century?  Better guess again.  She starts not in the first century but in the third approximately 200 years after the New Testament was signed, sealed, and delivered as God’s new covenant or law for man which was “once for…

• Israel’s Rebellion at the Red Sea

  The children of Israel that God sent Moses to bring out of Egyptian bondage into the Promised Land were a faithless group almost from the very beginning.  Their rebellion against God began before Mt. Sinai and even before the Red Sea crossing.  The Psalmist said, “Our fathers in Egypt did not understand your wonders; they did not remember the multitude of your mercies, but rebelled by the sea–the Red Sea.” (Psa. 106:7 NKJV)  It…

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

  Should the Lord’s Supper be incorporated as a part of a larger meal in the worship of God in the Christian religion? Some are today arguing for such a practice. All any of us can know about what we should or should not do is found in the Bible, at least that has been the traditional view of conservatives. Today there is a liberal element in Christianity who feels they no longer need Bible authority for what they do. That being the case they feel…

• Keep Your Heart With All Diligence

  If you are like me you were always a little fearful that you were perhaps not normal.  That is to say you have struggled being the person you ought to be and like Eve have desired the forbidden fruit and the thought has come to your mind that that is not normal, not normal for those who want to do what is right.  We get to the point where we question our heart.  Maybe we just have a bad heart.  Maybe we are just a little more depraved than other…

• 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…

• Christ Did Not Send Paul to Baptize

  KJV) Most today, if they were to be consistent in what they teach, would have to tell you that Ananias was mistaken and could not possibly have meant what he said about Paul having sins to be washed away for they say a man is saved from his sins at the point of faith and thus Paul had no sins to be washed away so they know more about it than the man sent directly by the Lord himself to Paul.  They also would have to tell you, because they believe…

• The Prodigal Son–When He Came to Himself

  n the account we do not talk enough about–the phrase “when he came to himself” found in verse 17. This verse marks the point in the young man’s life where his eyes were opened to the extent he could now see clearly what before had been hidden from his eyes and as a result repentance entered his heart.  As the text says (NKJV), “he came to himself.” To me there is a teaching in that phrase that has generally been overlooked or at least not t…

• God’s Hardening of the Human Heart

  h’s heart. Does God harden people’s hearts arbitrarily; just pick out people at random to harden their hearts?  We know he does not for “God is love.” (1 John 4:8 NKJV)  He “desires all men to be saved.” (1 Tim. 2:4 NKJV)  He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)  “He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.”…

• The Wicked Shall be Turned into Hell

  srael?” (Ezek. 33:11 NKJV)  Has God changed?  The Bible says, “I am the Lord, I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6 NKJV) God’s desire is that all men come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), obey the gospel, and be saved.  As long as the wicked are made to feel as though all the general public they know is siding with them in their evil ways how can they be brought to repentance?  We must be careful lest by holding our silence against …

• The Need to Sing in Worship

  I am not sure I ever heard a sermon on just singing.  Often I have heard it discussed in a second hand sort of way when the subject of instrumental music is under discussion but I don’t think I ever heard a sermon on just singing. Almost without fail no matter how small a congregation gets you will find some brethren not singing.  If it was just a matter of having a bad cold, a sore throat, or something along those lines there would be no …

• When did Obedience Become Legalism?

  ry “legalism” against the teaching of obedience is in reality a smoke screen to cover up and make an excuse for a life lived for self, a this worldly life.  It is my life and I want to live it the way I want to.  The claim of saved solely by love and God’s grace provides the cover one needs for such a life to legitimize it before the public. We all have a tendency to try and hide the wrong we know we are doing and one of the best ways (?) of doin…

• Christianity–Who Rules Reason or Emotions?

  n?)  The central theme of this article is not that emotions are bad and the lack of emotions are good but only that emotions cannot be the ruling force in the life of one who would live a Christian life pleasing to God and be saved in the end. In speaking to Judah through Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 1:18 the Lord said, “Come now, and let us reason together.” (NKJV)  That is what we ought to do and must do (use the head, not the emotions) if we a…

• 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…

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

  is no.  Well then how did he use it and what did he mean? The Jews of Jesus’ time were used to the statement as the exact phrase was found 86 times in the Old Testament according to our English NAS translation thus the best place to start to understand the meaning as Jesus used it is in the Old Testament scriptures.  It is a phrase that can be used in more than one way thus have more than one meaning.  Some meanings are easy enough to figu…

• 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…

• The Army of the Lord–the Church

  godly in Christ Jesus–the battle fought was a religious fight, the very kind many feel it too unchristian, or unchristlike, to fight. It was a fight over doctrine, over who was right and who was wrong, over who would be saved and who would not, over the way to heaven.  Too many people today see this as an exceedingly nasty type of fighting that drives people away from Christ they say.  Hey, don’t talk to me.  Your fight would be with Jesus,…

• Abortion Luke 1 – All You Need to Know

  is a very serious sin it is no worse than the killing of Jesus on the cross.  As many of those people who were responsible for his death who were later willing to believe the gospel, repent of their sins, and be baptized were saved (read Acts 2). If you have had an abortion God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).  He will freely and fully forgive if you will but obey the gospel from the heart or having already done that prior to …

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

  ion and worship.  We must believe and we must obey to the best of our ability.  There is a throne of grace which we are invited to come to boldly (Heb. 4:16) and a God who is willing to forgive and who desires that all men be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) and who “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV) The critic’s desire is that we find his God, the God who allows him to in…

• Faith, Manna, and Grumbling Against God

  lack of faith. This was the plague the children of Israel suffered from one could almost say from the get go.  It is also a plague many who claim to be believers suffer from today. Why are some who claim to be Christians and saved disobedient to God’s command to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Heb. 10:24-25); why do some go through life claiming faith but never submit themselves to being baptized (Acts 2:38); why do some …

• Spiritual Mirages

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

• The Hardening of the Human Heart

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

• A Good and Pure Conscience

  faith have suffered shipwreck.” (NKJV)  Paul couples a good conscience again with faith declaring that without a good conscience faith is shipwreck.  This is a way of saying that without a good conscience one cannot be saved by faith.  Why not?  Because without the good conscience the faith is shipwrecked.  I would refer the reader again to a verse already covered in this article–Rom. 14:23. All of Bible teaching is that faith leads …

• 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…

• 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…

• Hypocrites in the Church

  nning in verse about 15.  We have earlier in this piece talked about Peter’s own hypocrisy but if you will read closely verses 18 and 19 you will see that Peter was to die a death that would glorify God.  He would die a saved man so hypocrites can be saved; they can repent and be saved. But, my point is not that.  It is rather this.  When Jesus told Peter about what kind of death he Peter would die Peter turned around and saw the disciple w…

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

  at God is is not saving faith.  There is more to it than just that.  “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble!” (James 2:19 NKJV)  Do we believe Cain and the demons were saved?  If not we need to continue to study to learn what saving faith consists of.  It certainly involves more than just believing a God exists in the heavens. The writer of the book of Hebrews says of Abel that he “o…

• Acceptable Prayer

  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 acceptable to God one prerequisite is to be a faithful child of his.  Actually there are two prerequisites in that–(1) be a child of God and (2) be faithful.  Does this mean God will not hear the prayer of one…

• Salvation (Becoming a Christian)

  Peter’s Second Gospel Sermon Peter’s Preaching and the Apostle’s Preaching Jesus as the Bread of Life Must a Man Seek God? Jesus and the Furnace of Fire Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You? Indifference – The Great Destroyer God’s Plea–On Christ’s Behalf be Reconciled to God Why You Cannot be Saved like the Thief on the Cross Bible Contradictions on Salvation How Was Noah Saved Through Water? How Doe…

• The Peace Found in Forgiveness of Others

  of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Tim. 1:16 NLT) Of those 3,000 on the day of Pentecost who obeyed the gospel and were saved that day Peter says to them about Jesus, “you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death,” speaking in reference to what they had done to Christ.  Surely, if God would forgive them he will forgive yo…

• I Can Do All Things Through Christ

  The passage written by the apostle Paul and found in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (NKJV) is a verse I became very familiar with when our young son entered kindergarten many years ago.  Tears and fear is what we had on a regular basis that first year.  It tears a Dad and Mom’s heart out to send them off into what is for them the dark terrifying unknown when as they leave the house it is all they can d…

• He Feared

  just around the corner and that the only thing keeping us from going there is faithful obedience we will be faithful.  Sin is a direct result of a weak faith.  We some how convince ourselves that we can disobey God and yet be saved which is another way of saying we do not believe what God has said.  To quote the Hebrew writer, speaking of Jesus, “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” (Hebrews 5:9 NKJV)  We either believe…

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

  Many years ago as a young man I heard it said by a young lady of my own age that the apostle Paul just had a thing against women with the idea being that what he wrote on the subject of women had no authority but was merely the expression of personal prejudice on his part.  That young lady many years later became a preacher (?) within her denominational body contrary to Paul’s teaching on the subject in 1 Tim. 2:12. Over the course of the …

• Without Natural Affection and Covenant Breakers

  ranslations when taken as a whole, have led us slightly astray with inferior translations in an attempt to make reading easier for us. One such example is found in Rom. 1:31.  In Romans 1 Paul toward the middle of the chapter begins to talk about the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (v. 18) and then in the last few verses lists a series of sins into which mankind had fallen.  Verse 31 is a part of this listing and reads as follows from the …

• The Pleasures of Sin

  things, spiritual matters, and in the end result in a man having no spiritual crop to harvest.  In the last day what do they do who have no crop to give to the Lord?  “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!” (Jer. 8:20 NKJV) I understand what a disaster it would be for a farmer to come to the end of the season and have no crop but how about a man who comes to the end of life and has no spiritual crop worthy of being harv…

• 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…

• Though He Slay Me

  The title for this article comes from the Old Testament book of Job, chapter 13 verse 15, where Job makes the statement, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.” (NKJV) The story of Job as told in the Old Testament is one of pain, suffering, and sorrow, of the loss of loved ones (sons and daughters), of possessions, of health, and very nearly of hope.  His state got to be such that his wife’s advice was, “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9 NKJV)  De…

• Weak, Defiled, and Seared Consciences

  The Bible speaks of the conscience of man describing it in several different ways as the state of the conscience varies from man to man and sometimes from time to time within the same man.  The conscience can be good, pure, and without offense but it can also be weak, defiled, evil, and even seared.  It is the negative traits of the conscience I wish to discuss in this article.  What is a weak conscience?  The first time one reads about a weak c…

• The Book of Ecclesiastes

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

• Gospel Obedience at Corinth

  you do not have any so evidently Ananias felt pretty sure that Paul still had some that needed to be taken care of.  Many modern day preachers speak as though they know more about it than what Ananias did as they say men are saved at the point of faith without baptism and thus have no sins to wash away.  There is a passage in 1 Corinthians that cause some people trouble on the subject of baptism–1 Cor. 1:14.  Paul preached baptism, persona…

• The Joy and the Danger of a Clean Conscience

  cks us continually without let up.  It is the perfect tormentor.  Day and night we suffer from its attacks.  Wherever we go it travels with us.  We cannot lose it.  It is determined to give us no rest or relief. Rest can only be had at what is generally felt to be a hard price to pay.  That price is the shame and humiliation of admitting (confessing) our sin and making whatever restitution, if any, that can be made for it.  It is awfully hard to …

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

  y 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 door through which one must enter if he is to be saved (John 10:9), the good shepherd (John 10:11), the resurrection and the life (John 11:25), the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), the true vine in which one must abide or be cast out and thrown into the fire (John…

• Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation

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

• Religious Titles Forbidden in Christianity

  I recently got into a discussion with a messianic Jew who insisted he had the right to use the title “Rabbi” without any violation of scripture.  I pointed him to Matt. 23:8, “but you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren” (NKJV) to no avail.  He is not alone for you could point a Catholic priest to Matt. 23:9, “do not call anyone on earth your father; f…

• Saul’s Conversion

  sins.” (NAS)  This is the very reason in every account of conversion that we have discussed in earlier articles those who believed were baptized.  As Jesus said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.” (Mark 16:16 NAS)  Is it so hard to believe Jesus?  Is it so hard to believe Peter, to believe Philip, to believe Ananias?  Judged by the belief and practice of the world it must be. …

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

  e hearts of the early hires at the end of the day when the owner of the vineyard paid those who came into the field last, late in the day, the same amount as those who had gone to work first.  They complained feeling they had been treated unjustly.  “These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.” (Matt. 20:12 NKJV) It is easy to read this account and at first impulse fee…

• The Parable of the 10 Virgins–7 Lessons

  ndments and despite Jesus’ love for him he was lost.  Yes, people you and I might call good people can and will be lost.  Not all people we call good people, because they are good by society’s standards, are going to be saved. (2)  Not every person who will be lost has a bad heart.  The 5 who fell out of favor wanted the right thing.  They had a desire to do well and be with the right people.  In the parable the wedding party and guests rep…

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

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

• Deeper Spiritual Understanding–How do I Acquire It?

  ngs are you reach the point, if you are like me, where you no longer care about group A, B, or C but rather about self.  You become like the Philippian jailer in Acts 16 who said to Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30 NKJV)  Was he selfish in asking that question?  Am I selfish in being concerned about self?  Are you? This does not mean we would not change group A, if it is in error, if we could but we lack that power….

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

  John 1:12-13 from the New American Standard Version:  “(12) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name:  (13) who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will on man, but of God.” [verse numbers added by me for clarification—DS] Many believe that they are born again (become Christians) at the moment they come to believe in Jesus as t…

• King Saul–As Long as It Glorifies God

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

• 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

  made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (NKJV) God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV) In Rom. 10:1 Paul speaks of his praying for those who were not C…

• 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…

• 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…

• The Silence of the Scriptures

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

• 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 …

• Fornication–Take It Lightly at Your Peril

  the fellowship.  He says, “you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you…deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Cor. 5:2-5 NKJV)  This was a man who was a Christian but who stood condemned because of his fornication. Today we celebrate, or are expected to, the birth of children born of fornicati…

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

  on, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)  He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (1 Peter 3:9 NKJV)  He “desires all men to be saved.” (1 Tim. 2:4 NKJV)  “We love him because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 NKJV) (2) He will never give up on me or come to the point he no longer wants me as long as I will come home even if I was to wonder afar–…

• 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…

• Philip Preaching the Gospel in Samaria

  ed in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of you sins.” (Acts 2:38 NAS) If you have never been baptized for the remission of sins you are in a fight against God.  Don’t be one of those who insist on being saved their way rather than the way taught by Peter and Philip, by the Holy Spirit.  You cannot win in a fight against God.  It is his narrow gate or the wide gate and the gate you enter makes all the difference in the world…

• Sin

  Honestly Deceived The Pleasures of Sin Better to Have Never Been Born Jesus and the Furnace of Fire Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? More on Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? Three Attitudes That Destroy the Hope of Salvation Disobedience to Jesus Must a Man Seek God Indifference – The Great Destroyer Looking Down Your Nose Ghost Hunting and Consulting the Dead Christianity, Homosexuality, and Gay Marriage The Wicked Shall be Tu…

• Christian Living

  Pray For Others Lest You Sin Is Church Attendance Essential for Christian Salvation? Are Works Essential for Christian Salvation? Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? More on Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? Ignorance Does Not Excuse Sin Never Give Up Does God Really Care? Three Benefits of Being a Christian in This Life – Hope, Love, Peace The Struggle to be a Spiritually Minded Man or Woman Fear God Regrets If Miracles Have Cease…

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

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

• Receiving the Gospel (Acts 2:41)

  ing 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 know they may still be telling them that as I do not watch TV evangelists.  It sounds good but was there ever any truth to it?  In Acts 2 just about everyone I know of or ever heard of admits that Peter preaches the first gospel sermon there ev…

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

  nless 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 remission of sins (Acts 2:38) without which one cannot be saved. When Philip preached in the city of Samaria the Bible says he preached “the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12 NAS) with the result being that men and women “…

• Repentance

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

• Baptism

  topic by a friend of mine–Waymon Swain.  I hope they help. The Blood of Jesus and 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 P…

• 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 …

• Forgiveness

  God’s Willingness to Forgive–King Manasseh Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? More on Willful Sin–Can Anyone be Saved? The Need to Preach on Sin The Peace Found in the Forgiveness of Others Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) Forgiveness Contacting the Blood of Salvation No Condemnation Is Your Name Written There? The Goodness and Severity of God Are You Ready? …

• The Sin of Being Unthankful and the Need for Thanksgiving

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

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

  r daughter who has gone astray who waits patiently until their return if only they are willing to be reconciled.  He is longsuffering and forbearing not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).  He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4 NKJV) The gospel is as if God was standing and calling to us to come for as Paul said to the Thessalonians, “He called you by our gospel.” (2 Thess. 2:14 NKJV)  I…

• Bible Conversions

  In the book of Acts one finds the inspired apostles and evangelists going out into the world and preaching the gospel.  That statement in itself while true is misleading to a degree for if those who preached the gospel were inspired the preaching was in reality that of the Holy Spirit.  What was demanded of those being converted for salvation was being demanded not by Peter, Philip, or Paul but rather by the Holy Spirit himself. The conversion e…

• 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…

• The Church

  Things People Do Not Know About the Church How Does One Get Into the Church Christ Built? Saved by Jesus Outside the Church Jesus the Foundation of and Builder of the Church One Church–A Thing Hard to Accept Which Denomination Did Jesus Build? The Church as the Family of God–Things Found in It The Church Christ Built–Marks of Identification Can One be Just a Christian in Christ’s Church Without being in a Denomination? Ch…

• Lincoln’s Tomb and Jesus’ Tomb

  My wife and I went to visit Lincoln’s Tomb yesterday, March 21, 2009, in Springfield, Illinois.  I must say it is a massive structure, very impressive, and quite a sight to see in a very scenic setting.  As for the cemetery itself I guess one could say as cemeteries go this was and is as beautiful a cemetery as one is likely to see anywhere.  It is very hilly with giant oak trees and quiet as cemeteries generally are, very well kept. It was for …

• Assorted

  1 – All You Need to Know Non-Offensive Christianity Ghost Hunting and Consulting the Dead Bible Authority, Foot Washing, the Holy Kiss, and Head Coverings Christianity, Homosexuality, and Gay Marriage When Did Obedience Become Legalism? Healing For the Brokenhearted Better to Have Never Been Born Though He Slay Me The Fragrance of Christ Deeper Spiritual Understanding Things God Cannot Do Without Natural Affection and Covenant Breakers The …

• 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…

• Contact Info

  If you would like to contact me, Denny Smith, the man behind this site then I can be reached by mail at Denny Smith, 4545 State Hwy 157, Coal City, IN  47427  …

• The Heart

  The Heart of Man from a Biblical Perspective A Heart Right With God (Test Your Heart) Keep Your Heart With All Diligence The Hardening of the Human Heart God’s Hardening of the Human Heart He Went Away Grieved Healing For the Brokenhearted Audio Sermons (by Waymon Swain) Blessed Are the Pure in Heart (Part I) Blessed Are the Pure in Heart (Part II) Love Motives …