Introduction The following is one of those passages wherein translating from the original Greek into the English renders it an enigma to many. Philippians 2:12-13 states: “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; […]
Introduction When dealing with the subject of salvation (Soteriology, meaning: “The study of the doctrine of salvation“) from a Biblical foundation, perhaps the most well-known, most thorough, and most insightful treatment of the subject is found in Ephesians 2:8-10, which states: “For by grace you have been saved through faith0, and that not of yourselves; it is […]
Introduction Hebrews 6:4-6 is one of two passages (The other is Hebrews 10:25-27) in the book of Hebrews that has been used to support the premise that believers can lose their salvation, yet the grammar proves this to be untrue. If you would take the time to consider our previous extensive articles on Eternal Security, […]
Jesus’ Allusion Concerning Sheep & Wolves (Updates ~ 4/2014) Jesus, in speaking about these false prophets used the allusion (an indirect reference to something or somebody by using symbolism) of them coming to the people as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (see #1) in order to take advantage of them. We understand that Jesus used the allusion of sheep […]
Introduction This author loves old expressions, adages, or insights which display wisdom and insights in a brief presentation. However, if you remember the old story about how when it comes to communicating verbal information; that if you gathered a group of people in a circle, and start with one person and whisper something in their ear. And then […]
What were the main problems in Corinth? 1. Divisions – Contentions based upon ownership of Different Teachers: “now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, they all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfect fit together in the same mind […]
Introduction The old expression, “familiarity breeds contempt;” is perhaps never better of use when it comes to the subject of love. Perhaps the reason why being familiar with love becomes makes it harder to understand regarding Biblical love, is because this is an everyday part of our lives, rather it is parental love, spousal love, […]
Introduction (April ~ 2017) During the time covered in the book of Judges in the Old Testament, is a time prior to Israel having a King; when God set up judges to rule over the land and fulfill His Will for the nation of Israel. There would be coming a day that God would choose […]
Introduction (Update ~ 03/26/2015) This is one of the most important subjects I have ever attempted to teach. While it is 86 pages long, please go through it slowly and thoroughly, take your time. It is a subject that changed my life. It is because faith is so much more important in the daily life […]
Introduction Of all the questions that I have been asked over almost 40 years, the most frequent and passionate inquiry has always been about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The greatest fear has been by those that were panicked that they had accidentally committed this unforgivable sin. In the following you will see that it […]
“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy […]
Introduction This first part of a two-part series on prayer deals with the fundamentals of prayer. Next week part 2, entitled: “Praying Part 2 ~ The Lord’s Prayer – Parsed,” will specifically deal with the Lord’s prayer. Therefore, before directly discussing prayer in regards to its structure in reference to what we call the “Lord’s […]
Introduction (Revised 02/06/2016) All born-again believers are aware that Jesus paid for every one of the sins we have ever committed or will commit, without exception. Yet what we do not feel as comfortable in considering is that many times there are dire consequences that we pay for those sins that we perform in the […]
There was a believer who had very vivid and hostile nightmares, that some were even sexual in nature every night. The believer could not figure out why, since they were not a violent person, nor did they give themselves over to pornography; yet these strong nightmares constantly intruded into their sleep time. They found themselves saying to […]
Introduction – Faith (update) There comes a place where as a Christian Believer, you have to take certain things at face value – on faith. Now, this is not the same as blind faith. Biblical faith is not blind faith, and those that confuse the two, show their either their ignorance or their prejudice. Biblical faith is […]
A Christophany is pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. Introduction While some competent scholars may disagree with some of the following; the Theophanies (Theophanies: a visible manifestation of a deity) of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament is an accepted doctrine, beyond dispute based solely upon Scripture. One of the examples which proves that God visited the Earth, […]
I am a tenant of this earth, Lord, A lucky soul to whom you have given a generous lease of life. The rent? You’ve asked for none, except that I have faith and live accordingly. And so, I dedicate this year to you, Lord. With a promise to improve in spirit, mind and […]
Introduction Today’s topic, “Are There Degrees of Torment in Hell” is considered because of the insights that we have concerning heaven, which many would argue is the polar opposite of hell; and perhaps we can gain some understanding from one by what we know of the other. I am approaching this subject based on the […]
Introduction Due to the corruption of the fallen nature of man, he is a sinner at birth, and no matter what will continue to be a sinner until the day he dies. This is the first fact that we must deal with before going any further in regards to our fellowship with God the Father […]
Introduction One of the age-old questions is: “If God exists, and as the Bible says He is a good God is righteous, how can He allow evil to transpire within His creation as seen in the widespread wickedness that man has committed upon man.” Love My common reply is that God allows evil because of […]
Introduction We must understand that it is all three persons of the Trinity (Psalms 2 – see Endnote #1) that were involved and orchestrated the crucifixion in order to fulfill the Will of God the Father. And that men: Pontius Pilate, the Romans, the Jewish religious leaders, and the Jews themselves were simply the instruments that […]
Introduction (Edited – This was published unedited, sorry) As we have articulated many times, biblical faith (See Footnote #1) has more to do with trusting that God is in total control of the believer’s life, rather than the assumption that faith is mainly a tool for getting what is desired. There is always a place for petition […]
Introduction (Edited – This was published unedited, sorry) As we have articulated many times, biblical faith (See Footnote #1) has more to do with trusting that God is in total control of the believer’s life, rather than the assumption that faith is mainly a tool for getting what is desired. There is always a place for petition […]
I know this may sound like an unusual title for an article, but please bear with me and maybe you’ll see a connection. Due to my occupation at the time and being single, I was unable to own a dog in my mid-30s through my late 40s. For some people this is no big deal, […]
Introduction There are 3 points of focus which this ministry maintains; 1) The preeminence of Jesus Christ, 2) The authority and sufficiency of the Word of God, and 3) The presentation of authentic Biblical faith, it is this last subject that we shall now address. Faith is one of those virtues that seems so obvious, […]
Introduction When dealing with the subject of salvation (Soteriology, meaning: “The study of the doctrine of salvation“) from a Biblical foundation, perhaps the most well-known, most thorough, and most insightful treatment of the subject is found in Ephesians 2:8-10, which states: “For by grace you have been saved through faith0, and that not of yourselves; it is […]
Introduction Parables have often been misunderstood or not taught correctly. The error was not in the way they are presented but that full and complete information has been missing. A wise scholar once said the problem of the Pharisees was not in their execution of the law, but was instead that they did not go far enough with […]
Introduction Hebrews 6:4-6 is one of two passages (The other is Hebrews 10:25-27) in the book of Hebrews that has been used to support the premise that believers can lose their salvation, yet the grammar proves this to be untrue. If you would take the time to consider our previous extensive articles on Eternal Security, […]
I deeply apologize to the email subscribers for the problems I’m having editing articles wherein drafts are published prior to the completion of the article. Please bear with me as I attempt to remedy this problem. Brent Text: Exodus 4:2 We must start by understanding that there are 3 aspects to serving the Lord. Purpose […]
Introduction (Revision) Before considering this question, we need to define some words. Many theological terms would APPEAR to be opportunities to display spiritual pride, however, in reality they present shortcuts when talking about something without having to further explain the intricacies of what that subject entails – details of understanding are added when using theological terms. Atonement […]
BC 1491 The Birth of the Nation in the Exodus: They went into Egypt as a family; they came out as a nation. 1445 Conquest of Promised Land under Joshua. 1095 Saul appointed as first king (1 Sam 10:1). 1048 David captures Jerusalem from Jebusites. 1004 Solomon dedicates First Temple in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles (2 Chr 6-7). 974 The civil […]
Introduction The following essay is a brief explanation of each one of the major groups that were active in Israel at the time of Jesus, which are the: † Pharisees † Essenes † Ebionites † Scribes † Priests † Sadducees † Herodians † Zealots † Sicarii † Proselytes † Common People † Believers in […]
Introduction Contextual Analysis is the science of studying biblical words according to the context in which they exist within God’s Word as opposed to our current usage of them. One of the benefits of recognizing all the different applications of a particular word is gained in understanding the nuances and peculiarities that word may contain. […]
Introduction One of the main focuses of this ministry is the Biblical understanding of faith. One of the verses that we repeat often is Romans 10:17, which states: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.“ What this verse literally means is that faith, biblical faith is achieved when understanding […]
Text Daniel 9:25 “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” God and Almost, Do Not Go Together […]
Introduction The 9th, 10th, and 11th chapters of Romans deals exclusively with Israel, and it’s yet future destiny in prophecy. Romans 11:1-2b, states: “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his […]
Introduction The following is a presentation that I have been doing for over 20 years, yet am never tire of hearing these words myself. While on the cross Jesus made seven statements, the last thing He said is recorded in John 19:30, which states: “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is […]
Introduction (7/2014) In both the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT) the word “heart” is used to refer to the whole of the innermost part of the human, NOT merely the emotions. Culturally However, in the twenty-first century English the word “heart” is used to express the emotions as an individual compartment of the […]
Question; “What Does the Word of God Have to Say About What Christianity Is All about?” (07/25/2014) 1 – Jesus is God John 10:24-33 “Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I […]
Introduction to this Series The following is part one of a series entitled, “Reasons for Faith.” The premise of this series is based upon Romans 10:17 which states, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Part One – “So Then“ We should notice that this verse begins with the two […]
Introduction (This is a major revision of this subject ~ 7/2014) Biblical faith is one of those subjects that every Christian knows something about, yet many are limited regarding fully understanding what biblical faith is, and how it is meant to function not only at the time of their salvation, but most importantly; how it […]
Introduction – My Story Over 30 years ago while serving as an assistant pastor at a medium-sized church I was grappling with Jesus Christ’s admonition to love fellow Christians as found in John 13:34, which states: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye […]
Introduction Unfortunately, due to the fact that many of us do not understand koiné Greek we are unaware of many grammatical principles which alter the understanding of some verses when translated into the English vernacular. In Koiné Greek, verbs ending in “oo” indicate that what is already on the inside – is then displayed on […]
Introduction (Revision ~ 6/27/14) Of all the questions that I have been asked over almost 40 years, the most frequent and passionate inquiry has always been about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The greatest fear has been by those that were panicked that they had accidentally committed this unforgivable sin. In the following you will […]
Introduction Today’s topic, “Are There Degrees of Torment in Hell” is considered because of the insights that we have concerning heaven, which many would argue is the polar opposite of hell; and perhaps we can gain some understanding from one by what we know of the other. I am approaching this subject based on the […]
Introduction In considering the subject of pacifism, perhaps using the definition from Wikipedia might help to get us started. “Pacifism is opposition to war and violence. The word pacifism was coined by the French peace campaigner Emile Arnaud (1864–1921) and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress in Glasgow in 1901. […]
Introduction This article was originally released under the title: “Why so Many Christians Make Bad Choices.” We understand that the English word “church” (Greek: ekklesia) is NOT referring to a building that people meet in, but is believers as a whole (When used as a noun, with the article “the” preceding it), or as a local assembly […]
Introduction I am commonly asked why has a current church lost its power, being of such a non-affect concerning the world around us. I believe that there are two main answers of which I will deal within these next two articles: 1) Laziness, which is seen in a superficial handling of God’s word due to […]
Introduction All believers need to develop self-discernment – introspection. Introspection is the ability to see ourselves as we really are, based upon God’s word, and not clouded by our own sense of wanting to be right The Need to be Right Don’t misunderstand, it is this innate God-given desire to be right that keeps us from […]
Preface (Complete Revision ~ 01/25/2014) The following, Part 1 is a short introduction with a chart which explains the differences found in the 4 Gospels, which are four different perspectives in order to give insight into prophetic fulfillment, explain complexity, highlight detail, and to gain clarity concerning the role of Jesus’ first visit to earth; commonly […]
One of the readers presented a very interesting question which I thought would be beneficial to consider along with my response. He had A question about sin committed in our thought life. In response I had remarked to this individual that Jesus had said that if you entertain the thoughts to look upon a woman sexually, you were […]
Jesus’ Allusion Concerning Sheep & Wolves (Updates ~ 4/2014) Jesus, in speaking about these false prophets used the allusion (an indirect reference to something or somebody by using symbolism) of them coming to the people as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (see #1) in order to take advantage of them. We understand that Jesus used the allusion of sheep […]
Introduction Perhaps one of the more baffling statements that Jesus made is found in John 5:39, which states: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” The term used in the New Testament “Scriptures“, referred directly to the Old Testament which included the […]
Introduction to this Series The following is part one of a series entitled, “Reasons for Faith.” The premise of this series is based upon Romans 10:17 which states, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God“ Part One – “So Then“ We should notice that this verse begins with the […]
Introduction (Major Update ~ 4/2014) The term “Kinsman Redeemer” (Hebrew: goel, [H1350] translated: “kinsman” ~ Num. 5:8; 27:11; Ruth 2:1; 3:9, 12, 13; 4:1, 3, 6, 8, 14; John 18:26; Romans 16:11) is the title for a position of responsibility within an Old Testament Hebrew family which was established by God. This individual was entrusted with the ability […]
Introduction (Updated ~ 02/03/2016) This is one of the most important subjects I have ever attempted to teach. While it is 86 pages long, please go through it slowly and thoroughly, take your time. It is a subject that changed my life. It is because faith is so much more important in the daily life […]
Introduction – Faith (update) There comes a place where as a Christian Believer, you have to take certain things at face value – on faith. Now, this is not the same as blind faith. Biblical faith is not blind faith, and those that confuse the two, show their either their ignorance or their prejudice. Biblical faith is […]
Introduction (Edited) Pride is a funny thing, it can hide itself in so many ways. Simply put, pride is simply “preoccupation with self,” which can be seen either found in grandiosity, or self-loathing, the key aspect is the point of focus which always must be on self. It is when self must be the center […]
Introduction A very wise old preacher once said that whatever a pastor repetitively keeps speaking about indicates what his own obsession is. And in the case of a particular sin that he keeps harping on; guess who has a big problem with that particular sin. Therefore, for the last 40 years I’ve watched self-righteous preachers pounding […]
Introduction The old expression, “familiarity breeds contempt;” is perhaps never better abuse that when it comes to the subject of love. Perhaps the reason why being familiar with love becomes makes it harder to understand regarding Biblical love, is because this is an everyday part of our lives, rather it is parental love, spousal love, […]
Question? Have you ran across those who try and suggest that if we openly confess we are still a work in progress ( still wrestle with sin ) that we must therefore be unsaved? Now as I read Romans 7 Paul seems to nail the equation down very well ( to the cross ), he […]
Introduction (Revised) This is written specifically to Christians, those that are truly born-again and not simply pew sitters. You that have been Christians for a few decades, have you noticed how different churches are these days. The Past In the past it was common for most Christians to attend services three times a week, Sunday […]
Introduction Part 1 of this series, “The Facts Concerning Christ ~ Apologetics ~ Part 1,” dealt with External acknowledgments concerning the existence of Jesus Christ in the form of reference to historians and notable individuals who presented Christ as a historical figure. Next we dealt with an external proof regarding the resurrection, that of the […]
Preface Updated (02/2014) Originally the name this Article was: “Apologetics ~ Part 1 ~ External Proofs regarding Christ Existence and Resurrection – The Real Passover.” Perhaps the most insightful comment made in the New Testament was made by Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit; when he stated: “But if there be no resurrection of the […]
Preface (Complete Revision ~ 01/25/2014) The following, Part 1 is a short introduction with a chart which explains the differences found in the 4 Gospels, which are four different perspectives in order to give insight into prophetic fulfillment, explain complexity, highlight detail, and to gain clarity concerning the role of Jesus’ first visit to earth; commonly […]
(This is part two of a two-part series, with The first article entitled: “Part 1 – Signs of a Christian Cult,” and “Part 2 – Indeed has God Said?) “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, […]
Updated Introduction This article below was originally penned almost 2 years ago, yet it is worth reviewing. The original heading of this article has been updated to accommodate the series. The second article address identifiable signs that can indicate if the group or church that you are meeting with is teaching error, and ultimately becoming […]
The more I watch my dog “Buddy” the more I realize there is much I can learn in regards to my relationship with God from his example. I am his world and his reason for being, he looks up at me with those big brown eyes with such adoration that I can’t help running a […]
Introduction Many teachers and preachers over the years have attempted to sidestep the issue of controversies that occurred in the first century church, fearing that this would take from the validity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In reality, the opposite is true. It is when we understand how a Holy God controls, works with, […]
Brent Writes: I did not write the following article, it is so good I would only muddy the waters concerning this issue. It was written by Charles Pogue in June of 1996, and published in the “Montana Street Bulletin.” The article‘s content is much needed in the church today, because it stresses our need to […]
Introduction (Shortened – Updated for 12/25/2013) When was Jesus born. The key is Luke 3:1, which can help determine when Christ was crucified. If we know when Jesus was crucified, and we understand that He was 33 and half years old when this occurred, we can determine when He was born by counting backwards 33 1/2 […]
Normally, I write Biblically technical messages concerning God’s Word. Some are essays that I’ve written in the past, some are written in the present, yet all have taken many hours to compose, or recompose to be fit within this blog. These are not off the top of my head; per se they involve research work […]
Introduction In both the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT) the word “heart” is used to refer to the whole of the innermost part of the human, NOT merely the emotions. Culturally However, in the twenty-first century English the word “heart” is used to express the emotions as an individual compartment of the inner […]
Every year the Jews celebrate the Passover with a ritual that is called the Passover Seder (all blue, bold, italic text are Hebrew words) which commemorates the Israelites exodus from Egypt thousands of years ago. This is found in Exodus 12, Numbers 9:9; 28:16; Dt. 16:1. At each plate, we had a Haggadah, (which Hebrew means: “the telling”) […]
Introduction The 9th, 10th, and 11th chapter of Romans deals exclusively with Israel and it’s yet future destiny in prophecy. As has been wrongly taught within Protestant Orthodoxy (Anglican, Lutheran, all Reformed churches, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Congregationalist, Puritans and Separatist, Wesleyan, and those in the Restoration Theology movement – also referred to as those added here to Replacement […]
Introduction Contextual Analysis is the science of studying biblical words according to the context in which they exist within God’s Word as opposed to our current usage of them. One of the benefits of recognizing all the different applications of a particular word is gained in understanding the nuances and peculiarities that word may contain. […]
Introduction Unfortunately, due to the fact that many of us do not understand koiné Greek we are unaware of many grammatical principles which alter the understanding of some verses when translated into the English vernacular. In Koiné Greek, verbs ending in “oo” indicate that what is already on the inside – is then displayed on […]
Unfortunately, I do not remember who the original author is (2006), though according to my notes, I did have permission to reprint it. It appears correct, if anyone sees any errors or has any questions please advise – I did add quit a bit to it myself. BC 1491 The Birth of the Nation in the Exodus: […]
Let me first say that I can only answer this question concerning the culture of United States in general, and the Western and South-Central states in particular. (This is A complete revision of a prior article) Though, via TV and Internet I believe the same opinion holds true for other parts of the world. So, if […]
Introduction (Revision) Before considering this question, we need to define some words. Many theological terms would APPEAR to be opportunities to display spiritual pride, however, in reality they present shortcuts when talking about something without having to further explain the intricacies of what that subject entails – details of understanding are added when using theological terms. Atonement […]
Introduction – Full Version The following introduction is my work, along with the formula concerning Christ’s death and resurrection after the heading of “My Conclusion,” This is a very brief summation of the work originally produced by Sir Robert Anderson over 100 years ago. However, there has been scholarship before and after that deal with the same considerations and come to […]
Introduction One of the main focuses of this ministry is a Biblical understanding of faith. One of the verses that we repeat often is Romans 10:17, which states: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.“ What this verse literally means is that faith is to be based upon God’s […]
The following theological terms are actually much simpler than they appear. It is because many of the words are transliterated (see below) from other languages, that they sound intimidating. . Angelology: Is the study of angels. Anthropology: Is the study of man. Anthropomorphism: Is describing human attributes to nonhuman things, such as using emotional type […]
A Christophany is pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. Major Update – Typology added) Introduction While some competent scholars may disagree with some of the following; the Theophanies (Theophanies: a visible manifestation of a deity) of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament is an accepted doctrine, beyond dispute based solely upon Scripture. One of […]
Introduction Hermeneutics, the study of the methodological principles of Biblical interpretation, is vast in its scope and beyond the intent of this paper. However, due to the nature of this subject matter it is important to present a caveat by way of an insight into the author’s particular frame of reference in order to maintain […]
Introduction (2/2018) In part one of “Figures of Speech” (LINK), we technically defined what “Figures of Speech” are and provided a few dozen examples of the different categories in regards to Figures of Speech. In part 2, we will give you specific examples of Figures of Speech, however, we will start off with a very basic […]
After republishing Rocky’s article “A dog’s Worship” I thought it wise for us to consider the example of true love as seen in dogs, wherein we fall so short. This is my dog Ty. His best friend is a squirrel. Thanks again Rocky for reminding me of true love while touching my heart. bb
Introduction A predominant theme that is seen within progressive liberalism, as well as liberalism as a whole is the idea that the “ends justify the means.” Abortion If you speak to a liberal about the moral issue of abortion, they will state that the underlying fundamental premise to be considered is the privacy of a […]
We become like the things we worship, those things that are idols to us. “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have […]
God and His Sense of Humor One of the things I love about God, that can be seen in His Word; is that He has a sense of humor, sometimes displayed in irony, or even what we would refer to as sarcasm. Most of time when people utilize sarcasm is because they do not have a […]
A modern example The following article was written by Pastor Joe Focht and exhibits how Holy Spirit many times produces what some referred to as a spiritual domino effect, wherein God causes a major effect in the life of person “Z” who God utilizes to do a major work, yet even prior to this person’s […]
“And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of […]
You might be thinking, what an unusual title for a post; and you would be absolutely correct. Let us see if I can make sense of this enigma in the form of a title. Prelude I am a second amendment advocate. I not only believe in the constitutional right to bear arms as an individual (see Endnote #1), […]
Introduction (re-edited) Unfortunately, I sent out an unedited version of this article, this is the final draft One of the things that people were astonished concerning Jesus was that He spoke having authority. The point is that He spoke with authority, yet it was not that His speaking was authoritative, or He spoke in a […]
Introduction If Christ fulfilled all the prophecies of Isaiah, including Isaiah 53:7, how could it be said that He “… , yet he opened not his mouth…,” when he responded to the High Priest and Pontius Pilot? Jesus Arrested Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane by a mob of over a hundred individuals […]
Introduction Unfortunately, due to the fact that many of us do not understand koiné Greek we are unaware of many grammatical principles which alter the understanding of some verses when translated into the English vernacular. In Koiné Greek, verbs ending in “oo” indicate that what is already on the inside is then displayed on the […]
Introduction The use of parables has been misunderstood or miss-taught for over 2000 years. The meaning of the Greek word for parable (Greek: parabole) is “similitude,” which literally means: “to lay alongside,” indicating a parallel story to a truth that is being communicated. It is not the same as the understanding in the English language concerning comparisons […]
Introduction (Updated) The following essay is a brief explanation of each one of the major groups that were active in Israel at the time of Jesus, which are the: † Pharisees † Essenes † Ebionites † Scribes † Priests † Sadducees † Herodians † Zealots † Sicarii † Proselytes † Common People Pharisees They were the […]
Introduction (Update ~ 07/19/2013) When dealing with the subject of salvation (Soteriology, meaning: “The study of the doctrine of salvation“) from a Biblical foundation, perhaps the most well-known, most thorough, and most insightful treatment of the subject is found in Ephesians 2:8-10, which states: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of […]
Introduction The following article has been expanded and updated. And though many mature believers may be tempted to pass by, I assure you there are some deeper insights they may not be aware of, and therefore worthy of their time. There are mainly two types of people that would have a vested interest in posing the question “How does […]
Introduction Man is so limited by the sin-nature that even the born-again believer is plagued with a sinful perception, wherein many times reality is beyond his comprehension. We must remember: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, […]
Introduction (06-14-2013) Our key text is 1 Corinthians 9:22, which is one of those verses that has been repeatedly abused during the last 30 years to indicate that Christians should use the ways of the world, it’s trappings in order to proclaim the gospel. . Have we forgotten Jesus’ words as recorded in John 15:19, […]
Introduction – My Story Over 30 years ago while serving as an assistant pastor at a medium-sized church I was grappling with Jesus Christ’s admonition to love fellow Christians as found in John 13:34, which states: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye […]
Introduction (Update: 06/05/2013) The following is one of those passages wherein translating from the original Greek into the English renders it an enigma to many. Philippians 2:12-13 states: “Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear […]
The Source of Godly Discernment Perhaps one of the most important, as well sophisticated passages that addresses the application of proper judgment (or “discernment”, which unfortunately is a more user-friendly word for most of use) is found in Hebrews 5:11-14, which states: “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull […]
Introduction All believers need to develop self-discernment – introspection. Introspection is the ability to see ourselves as we really are, based upon God’s Word, and not clouded by our own sense of wanting to be right (Don’t misunderstand, it is this innate God-given desire to be right that keeps us from being totally comfortable with sin […]
Introduction (Major Revision ~ 04/28/2014) This is one of the most important subjects I have ever attempted to teach. While it is 86 pages long, please go through it slowly and thoroughly, take your time. It is a subject that changed my life. It is because faith is so much more important in the daily […]
Introduction This article concerns how to function as a believer among non-believers who are in control of our government and its agencies, our institutions of higher education, the news media, entertainment; and are slowly creeping into the church. This series is meant to be pragmatic, addressing specific characteristics, behaviors, and insights. I’ve going to break from […]
Introduction (2016 Edit) Regarding the Second Coming, the inconsistencies concerning a single event are staggering, therefore, by necessity there must be two separate events, with the only answer being the Rapture as one, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as the other. One of the arguments of the opponents to the idea of the […]
Introduction (Reprinting – 05/03/2013) What is amazing about the Gospels of Jesus Christ is that they are 4 different aspects or perspectives of Christ First Coming, and that they perfectly reflect the 4 ensigns (A flag with a symbol representing the tribe) of the 4 tribes as they were located around the tabernacle, which was a shadow (type) of […]
Introduction (Update) We’ve all read the below Scripture, but do we really understand what it means. And though the immediate context concerns healing and sickness, there is a principle within a wider biblical context concerning the confession of sins to others, which may be misunderstood within the context of open confession in the church. The question […]
The question is: 1. To forgive others, must they ask for forgiveness first? 2. Must they admit that they have wronged us? 3. Must they repent (“to change their mind”) of having wronged us? 4. Must they say they will not do it again? To some, this may seem like ridiculous questions concerning how a Christian […]
Introduction I once had the following three questions posed to me in a class (This is a subject I am revisiting today, and all Believers need to remember periodically) I was taking. What is a “Saint,” what is a (Greek) “doulos,” (translated into the English word: “servant” literally rendered: “bond slave” ~ Romans 1:1; Titus 1:1) and […]
Jesus’ Allusion Concerning Sheep & Wolves Jesus, in speaking about these false prophets used the allusion (an indirect reference to something or somebody by using symbolism) of them coming to the people as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (see #1) in order to take advantage of them. We understand that Jesus used the allusion of sheep in describing people, […]
Introduction Part 1 of this series, “The Facts Concerning Christ ~ Apologetics ~ Part 1,” dealt with External acknowledgments concerning the existence of Jesus Christ in the form of reference to historians and notable individuals who presented Christ as a historical figure. Next we dealt with an external proof regarding the resurrection, that of the […]
Introduction The word “apologetics” is derived from the Greek word “apologia,” which means “to make a defense.” It is used in a reference of a systematic discipline in which a position is defended in a rigorous and analytical fashion. Apologists is a term that was used in the second and third centuries of those Christian teachers […]
Judgment Within our current generation, due to this Gondi like presentation of Christ, wherein pacifism is the standard; how easy it is to demand that people not use discernment, biblically speaking, judgment; which appears to be so hard-hearted. “Let each man stand before his God,” is heard as an excuse to not exercise biblical judgment. […]
Introduction Man is so limited by the sin-nature that even the born-again believer is plagued with a sinful perception, wherein many times reality is beyond his comprehension. We must remember: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, […]
Introduction (Reprinting) What is amazing about the Gospels of Jesus Christ is that they are 4 different aspects or perspectives of Christ First Coming, and that they perfectly reflect the 4 ensigns (A flag with a symbol representing the tribe) of the 4 tribes as they were located around the tabernacle, which was a shadow (type) of God’s Throne […]
Introduction Unfortunately, due to the fact that many of us do not understand koiné Greek we are unaware of many grammatical principles which alter the understanding of some verses when translated into the English vernacular. In Koiné Greek, verbs ending in “oo” indicate that what is already on the inside is then displayed on the […]
Let’s look at Jesus’ teaching concerning prayer. First we must realize that this is a prayer that is stated prior to Jesus going to sit at the right hand side of the Father. It is His instructions while He was still on the earth, yet the template (Jesus doesn’t say that we have to stay […]
Introduction One of the things that people were astonished concerning Jesus was that He spoke having authority. The point is that He spoke with authority, yet it was not that His speaking was authoritative, or He spoke in a commanding manner; it is that He seated authority in Himself. Display vs. Essence This has less […]
What were the main problems in Corinth? 1. Divisions – Contentions based upon ownership of Different Teachers: “now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, they all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfect fit together in the same mind […]
Introduction The English word gospel comes from the Greek word “Euangelizo” translated “good tidings” in certain passages, and “gospel” in others. The general idea is that gospel literally meant “good news.” Old Testament In the Old Testament, the Septuagint Greek translation, the word “gospel” could mean any kind of good news1, or even God’s […]
Introduction I once had the following three questions posed to me in a class (This is a subject I am revisiting today, and all Believers need to remember periodically) I was taking. What is a “Saint,” what is a (Greek) “doulos,” (translated into the English word: “servant” literally rendered: “bond slave” ~ Romans 1:1; Titus 1:1) and […]
Introduction I am going to do something different and present an article by someone else without comment. I believe this presentation is something we Christians should think about. bb “Hell’s Best Kept Secret” By Ray Comfort (This message was first preached in August 1982.) You can Listen to “Hell’s Best Kept Secret” at: LINK In the late seventies, […]
Introduction The following list of words are used by God to describe the state of man. Jeremiah 17:9 says, concerning the human heart (See Endnote #1), that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” The Hebrew word translated “desperately,” means in the literal “incurable.” With the human heart […]
Introduction Without getting too far in the weeds, as I normally do, let me start by saying that there is a Biblical principle of “begetting“ (to “beget as seen in Gen. 17:20; Gen. 48:6; Deu. 4:25; Deu. 28:41; 2 King. 20:18; Pro. 17:21; Pro. 23:24; Ecc. 5:14; Ecc. 6:3; Isa. 39:7; Isa. 45:10; Jer. 29:6; Eze. 18:10; […]
Introduction Personally, I love expressions which display wisdom; especially those regarding God and his word, such as: “The Bible: in the old the new is concealed, in the new the old is revealed.” “The Bible: in the old the new is contained, in the new the old is explained.” “An apparent Biblical contradiction is the […]
Introduction For many years it has been commonly taught that the “Bride of Christ” is synonymous with the “Body of Christ,” which is the church (1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 4:12), and therefore the two references refer to the same thing. We should remember Christ’s Words: “You make void the word of God by your traditions […]
Well I’m back. During the last few months, I have been filling in as pastoral director in charge of chaplaincy at the hospital I work at. During the last month there have been many deaths and traumas, and supervisory responsibilities which have kept me away from my writing. This assignment should be completed in a […]
Introduction In human history (his-story) the most destructive rationale ever used to do mass murder and mayhem is, “the ends will justify the means.” This justification has been used to start more wars, torture more people, and steal more plunder than any other excuse man conjures up. This validation is seen in such verbiage as, […]
Introduction No, this post is not what you think it’s about, at least not directly. This is not a political question, nor does it concern politics in regards to partisanship in general, or party affiliation in particular. This has to do with words. Words are the backbone of every society. Words are what we used […]
Introduction The focus of this ministry is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and as such we do not address political issues as in political affairs. Rocky’s recent article concerning the “Separation of Church and State,” some might say is political, yet this displays a very generic and broad definition of the word, particularly in regard to how […]
Introduction Noting that I have not written anything in the last 16 days, I am currently attempting to write 3 important articles, provocative; yet more important hopefully insightful concerning Biblical doctrine. At some future date I will write an article concerning November 6. I am glad to read what Rocky wrote (Thoughts after the election) concerning that which […]
Introduction In part 1 of “Figures of Speech” (LINK), we technically defined what “Figures of Speech” are and provided a few dozen examples of the different categories in regards to Figures of Speech. In part 2, we will give you specific examples of Figures of Speech, however we will start off with a very basic introduction […]
Introduction The previous article in regards to self-esteem and the depravity of man, while meant to be read by all; there is one particular group of individuals that needs it more than others. This group, wherein self-esteem is promoted (Such as Christian psychologists, secular psychologist, Christians in the self-help community, those in the “name it […]
Introduction (10/12/2012 ~ Expanded, Revised, Fixed, & Reformatted) Unfortunately, While this article has been one of the most viewed, due to the insertion of the table necessary to present it; it has been the most flawed due to the editor’s inability to present it properly. Recently, I have not only reformatted it in attempting to deal with this […]
Jesus’ Allusion Concerning Sheep & Wolves Jesus, in speaking about these false prophets used the allusion (an indirect reference to something or somebody by using symbolism) of them coming to the people as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (see #1) in order to take advantage of them. We understand that Jesus used the allusion of sheep […]
Introduction The word “apologetics” is derived from the Greek word “apologia,” which means “to make a defense.” It is used in a reference of a systematic discipline in which a position is defended in a rigorous and analytical fashion. Apologists is a term that was used in the second and third centuries of those Christian teachers […]
Introduction Part 1 of this series (Apologetics ~ Part 1 ~ External Proofs Regarding Christ’s Existence & Resurrection), dealt with External acknowledgments concerning the existence of Jesus Christ in the form of reference to historians and notable individuals who presented Christ as a historical figure. Next we dealt with an external proof regarding the resurrection, […]
Introduction I am giving some of my personal background information to exhibit that I am not attacking psychology as an outsider, but as one that has spent many years studying the subject as a proponent, that had turned opponent. At one time, I was totally fixated concerning the observations and study of psychology as a […]
Introduction The following is taken from the home page of our teaching website (as well as a page on this blog site), and greatly updated and repeated here because as Believers we all need to stand back every so often and examine our life style, our Christian walk (2 Corth. 13:5). Because of the fast pace of our lives […]
The following theological terms are actually much simpler than they appear. It is because many of the words are transliterated (see below) from other languages, that they sound intimidating. . Angelology: Is the study of angels. Anthropology: Is the study of man. Anthropomorphism: Is describing human attributes to nonhuman things, such as using emotional type […]
Introduction Before we address the leaven of the Pharisees, and the spiritual insights that can be achieved, wherein faith is grown; the following introduction, while somewhat long is necessary in order to gain a fruitful insight concerning one of the many ways that God’s Word validates itself, thus literally fulfilling Romans 10:17, which states: “Faith […]
Introduction Unfortunately, due to the fact that many of us do not understand koiné Greek we are unaware of many grammatical principles which alter the understanding of some verses when translated into the English vernacular. In Koiné Greek, verbs ending in “oo” indicate that what is already on the inside is then displayed on the […]
Judgment Within our current generation, due to this Gondi like presentation of Christ, wherein pacifism is the standard; how easy it is to demand that people not use discernment, biblically speaking, judgment; which appears to be so hard-hearted. “Let each man stand before his God,” is heard as an excuse to not exercise biblical judgment. […]
