In our first installment of this three-part series on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we saw that Charismatics believe that Holy Spirit baptism should be experienced by all who claim to be Christians. They further suggest that one cannot be what God wants him or her to be without receiving the baptism of the […]
Pentecostal churches, such as the Assemblies of God, teach that all true believers experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Here is a quote from them concerning the purpose of being baptized with the Holy Spirit. “For salvation? No, for we are justified by faith. For life and service? Yes! Jesus commanded His disciples not […]
The devil is always on the attack. Peter tells us that he “walk about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). It is because of this that Paul exhorts us to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11). I like what Paul says in verse thirteen of that […]
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away: and there was no more sea” (Revelation 21:1). Revelation twenty-one gives us a figurative glimpse of what heaven will be like. The picture of God wiping away all tears, and the thought of death, […]
It is amazing to me that so many simple teachings in the Bible can be misunderstood. While Martin Luther had good intentions in starting the 16th century Reformation Movement, a religious revolt against Catholicism, more harm has been done religiously than good from that movement. After the Lutheran church was started in 1520, several other […]
Most of us remember the story of Gideon liberating the Israelites from the Midianites, with the help of God of course. Gideon was able to defeat an army of 135,000 with just 300 men. How were they able to do it? First, the hand of God was with them, without which such a victory would […]
Everyone wants to look beyond the veil of death to view that which is on the other side. In Lk. 16:19-31, we have at least a glimpse of that which we desire to see. That particular text gives us a picture of life after death and the condition of both the righteous and the wicked […]
That the church grew rapidly in the first century is clear from reading the book of Acts (Acts 2:47; 4:1-4; 5:12-14; 6:1; etc.). The question is why did the early church have so much success in the area of growth? I believe I know at least part of the reason. They practiced a daily religion. […]
By Wayne Jackson John Calvin (1509-64) was a religious reformer and theologian. The basic premise of his theology was the absolute sovereignty (right to reign) of God, out of which evolved his misguided theory of “predestination.” The Swiss reformer believed that human “free will” was destroyed by man’s “original sin”; thus, the innate power to […]
Some people take pride in their fearless nature. They fancy themselves as being bold and courageous and not afraid of anything. But there is something that most people fear, even the most courageous, and that is death. Men fear death because of the misery that attends it. Men fear death because of the darkness and […]