Questions and answers relating to salvation and justification
“The Bible Is Open To Interpretation” You’ve hear that one before, haven’t you? That’s almost like saying, the bible means anything that I want it to mean. That’s an awfully presumptuous attitude isn’t it? Proverbs 13:10 says; “Through presumption, comes nothing but strife.” Presumption is synonymous with pride and arrogance. When a person is too proud to listen to the words of God, he “presumes” that God’s…
Your Spirit Is On A Journey I read a quote the other day, that said; “We are not human beings on a spiritual journey; We are spiritual beings on a human journey.” And that’s absolutely true. Our spirits are all on the journey of a lifetime, right now. It’s the journey of a lifetime, because that’s how long this journey will last. Your spirit…
“You See that a Man is Justified by Works, and not by Faith Alone” James 2:24 In last week’s article, I stated that our salvation is “based” on Jesus. Jesus is the “source of salvation”, Heb 5:9. And He is the “foundation”, 1 Cor 3:11. But yet, both faith and works, are mandatory, and essential components of our salvation. “Without faith, it is impossible to…
Are Some Bible Examples Binding Upon Us As Law? That’s a question that causes a lot of division within the body of Christ. However, we’re specifically commanded in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 10; “..that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you. But you be made complete, in the same mind, and in the same judgment.” How do we rectify the problem? …
Is Salvation Faith Based, or Works Based? Haven’t you heard people say that their salvation is “faith-based”? And haven’t you also heard it suggested, that some people’s salvation is “works-based”? I don’t think that I’ve ever heard anyone actually claim that their salvation is based on works, but I’ve often heard other people, make the claim FOR them. In other words, I’ve heard many people…
“What would a man give, in exchange for his soul?” That’s a question that Jesus asked a multitude of people one day. Just prior to asking that question, Jesus asked this one; “For what does it profit a man, if he were to gain the whole world, and forfeit his own soul? (Mark 8:36-37). The question speaks for itself, there is nothing more valuable than you soul! …
The Four Gospels The first four books of the new testament, are referred to as “The Gospels”. They are the books written by Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. It’s interesting to note, that only Mathew and John were apostles of Jesus Christ. Mark and Luke were disciples, but were not among the twelve chosen apostles. It’s known from the book of Acts, which Luke also wrote, that he…
How did Jesus open your eyes ? In John chapter 9, we find the story about a man who was born blind, and had lived that way into adulthood. But then one day, along came Jesus, and He opened the man’s eyes. It says in verses 1 & 2; “And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples…
“The old has passed away, Behold, the new has come” Today I’d like us to focus on 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17. The verse reads as follows; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” There are several versions of the bible, including the King James, that translate that as saying, “Behold, ALL…
Behold, the new has come! In 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, the apostle Paul makes some contrasts between things physical, and things spiritual. First he contrasts our physical bodies with our spiritual bodies which are to come. He says in verse 1; “For we know that if our earthly tent, which is our house, is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not…
What is a principle? A principle is like a foundation isn’t it? You can take a basic principle, and then build upon that principle. For instance; you can take the basic principle that “honesty is the best policy”, and you can build a lifetime pattern of behavior, upon that principle. Or, you can begin with more than one principle, and put them together, and build upon them. …
I Will Come Again ! If we believe the words of the bible, then we believe that Jesus will return. He told us that He’ll return. He said, in John 14, verses 1 thru 3; “Let not your heart be troubled; You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house, there are many dwellings; Moreover, if it were not so, I would…
Do You Have a Will? How many of you have made out a “Will”? Everyone really should have a “Will” so that we’re sure, that whatever we own, will go to the right people. Your “Will” is really your “desire”. Your “Will” is a statement of your desires, concerning what happens to your belongings, when you’re gone. It’s my “will”, or my “desire”, that my money goes here,…
True Knowledge, and False Knowledge The bible speaks of the “TRUE knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1, verse 3. And it warns us about false knowledge, in 2 Peter 2, verses 1 thru 3. Here’s what it says; “But false prophets also arose among the people, (the reference there is to the people of Israel) just as there will…
Reverend is His Name Psalm 111, verse 9, says; “He has sent redemption to His people. He has commanded His covenant forever. Holy and reverend is His name.” I think that a lot of people hear that verse, and think that the word “reverend” is a proper name for God. It’s kind of like saying; Bill is his name, or John is his name. When referring…
Physical vs Spiritual There are two major difficulties that people encounter when attempting to understand the scriptures. One of them is differentiating between what is to be taken literally, and what is to be taken figuratively. The other is differentiating between the physical and the spiritual meaning of verses. Differentiating between the physical and the spiritual, is what I will deal with in explaining a few bible verses today….
Salvation The most important question that we could ever ask, is; “What must I do to be saved”. If we don’t know HOW to be saved, it’s pretty much guaranteed, we WON’T be saved. But before we answer the question of HOW we can be saved, let’s consider this question; “What is it, that makes us UN-saved?” To be Un-saved, is to be lost. Jesus said in Luke 19, verse…
Teaching The Truth in Love This writing is in response to the statements made in an article titled “Can a Christian lose salvation”, from the website, gotquestions.org. The belief that a Christian CANNOT lose their salvation, is an incorrect interpretation of the scriptures, resulting from being unaware of some very clear verses on the subject, and possibly by reading into other verses, things that are not actually said. My purpose here isn’t…
Severed from Christ? This question, “Can a Christian lose salvation?”, is asked over and over again. And the reason that it’s asked so repeatedly, is that people have the tendency to listen to the opinions of other people, instead of simply going to the word of God. If everyone would simply accept God’s word, as stated in the bible, the question would be put…
God’s Promise, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob The Lord our God, said to Abraham, in Genesis 12, verses 2 & 3; “And I will make you a great nation. And I will bless you, and make your name great, and so you will be a blessing. And in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Abraham was a very special person wasn’t he? God was…