Choosing a New Pastor Hard questions from real people, both believers and unbelievers, require solid, accurate, Biblically-based answers. Bible doctrine must be taught from the pulpit and must also be learned by everyday people who attend our churches. Pastors must be objective and remain objective in the Gospel declaration, regardless of ego and familiar faces in the congregation. Critical Biblical…
Mental Attitude “The real battle in life takes place in the soul, for the soul.” – C. S. Craig Recognition, Affirmation, Approbation Recognition and the need for approval are deep-seated in the soul of humanity. The need for affirmation is a necessary ingredient in all of us. Approbation, however, is one manifestation of the lust-patterns of the soul, and has…
Angelic (Spiritual) Warfare “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Scripture reveals an unseen warfare in which Satan and fallen angels are warring against God and His angels. This warfare began at…
Cross-Words Cross-Thinking Have you ever wondered what our Savior was thinking as He hung on the cross? What Jesus was thinking is the purpose of this study. We will look at the cross-words as well as the cross-thinking of Christ. What a terrible thing to be nailed to a cross. How could anyone nail another person to a cross? How…
Interesting Observations in Genesis “Genesis is where we find ourselves—our completeness.” – C. S. Craig INTRODUCTION The Bible is the most important Book ever written. The Bible does not seek to prove itself—it simply states the amazing facts of true reality as provided by the inspiration of the only Living God, who Created from nothing the heavens and the earth….
Apostasy in the World and the True Role of the Church “Apostasy is the act of believers and churches who are moving away from the truths of God’s Word.” – Anonymous 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved to God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” (All other versions of the Bible…
Spiritual Gifts “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). SPIRITUAL GIFTS Jesus bestowed ‘certain gifts’ on the Apostles only. Matthew 10:1, “And having summoned His twelve disciples, Christ gave them authority over unclean spirits (demons), to cast them…
How the Apostles Died The disciples and apostles of our Savior were scattered throughout the whole world and preached the Gospel everywhere during the first century. The Church historian Schumacher researched the lives of the apostles and recounted the history of their martyrdoms as follows: — Matthew suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound. — Mark died in…
Ungodliness Ungodliness is the root of unrighteousness. Ungodliness is the condition of man’s sin against God, with the result that man sins against man. When man denies God, he denies Truth—Absolute Truth. Because God is stamped on man’s heart, man attempts to replace God and God’s Truth with man’s own concept of truth, or concept of God, by constructing idols….
Soul Essence ORIGIN OF THE SOUL A brief categorical study for clarification “Homo Sapien” (mankind, species). In this category “homo sapiens,” the real person, the real, conscious you, is located in the soul (Genesis 2:7); the human body is merely a temporary home for the soul (2 Corinthians 5:1-4). When God created man in His Image, it was in His…
Two Trees By way of introduction: Adam and Eve had no need for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were created in perfect environment. Their knowledge was virtually unlimited because it came from God Himself. Adam & Eve are the only human beings who did not have human parents, a childhood, or relatives. Adam and Eve…
Man’s Sin Nature (Flesh) vs. the Holy Spirit Humanity’s sin nature vs. the Holy Spirit is a ceaseless inner conflict in every believer. Each believer by his/her own personal choice determines who controls their soul-thinking at any given moment—every step of the way through the details and situations of life. The nature to sin is inherent in every human being…
Six Sins God Hates This study is not meant to remind you that you are a sinner, nor cause you to embark upon a guilt-trip of any duration. With that out of the way… Learning to understand our very nature to sin and how to control our sin nature is imperative to an effective and victorious Christian life. We need…
Volition (Personal Choice) In 2 Timothy 4:7,8, Paul makes several fantastic statements regarding his course (God’s plan for his life), both now and forever. Our course as believers (God’s plan for our life) is to follow Jesus through obedience to Bible doctrine, and by following His mandate for us to grow spiritually under the teaching ministry of the local church….
Doctrine of the Trinity “The Plurality of Majesty” The word “Trinity” is not found in the Scripture, but the concept is biblical. The concept of the Trinity is firmly established in both the Old and the New Testaments. “And now the Lord God (YHWH—The Father) has sent Me, and His Spirit” (Isaiah 48:16). Generally, the Old Testament uses the word…
Amillennialism The eschatological position in theology, which denies a millennium either before or after the Second Advent of Jesus Christ—Messiah.
Amen The original Hebrew root word implied “firmness” or “solidity” meaning “a sure thing.” Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the word Amen. He is “The Great Amen” because He is proof of God’s faithfulness to His promise of Messiah. He came the first time and was rejected by religion. He will come again in great power and victory. He…
Ambassador for Jesus Christ Every believer is a personal representative; a spiritual ambassador; a “Royal Ambassador” of Jesus Christ on earth (in the devil’s world) until Christ comes again (2 Corinthians 5:20). Believers are not citizens of this world, believers are citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20). Believers are in the world, but not of the world.
Bible Doctrine Biblical Truths presented as categories, concepts and/or principles from God’s Word of Truth (Matthew 7:28; Mark 4:2; Romans 16:17; Titus 1:9; Revelation 2;14-15). See also the term “Doctrine.”
Altar The altar is a raised place on which sacrifices were made to God (Genesis 4:3; 8:20; Matthew 5:23-24; 23:18-20,35; Luke 11:51). A sacrifice that establishes communion between God and those who eat the thing offered. Christians, during communion, symbolically partake of the Lord’s body until He returns to take us home or “calls us hither” to be with Him….