...Security of the Believer Whether or not a saved person can be lost again is a much discussed, a much disputed question. Certainly the devil hates for one to believe that a Christian is safe because this would give God all the glory. The doctrine of security gives no credit to the devil or to humans. God gets all the glory for saving and keeping. So it is the doctrine that the devil hates more than any other. Therefore if one dislikes this doctrine, you know whose side he is on. The words "eternal security" are not found in the Bible. But neither is the word substitute, or the word Trinity. Yet Christians have always believed that Christ was our substitute; that God is a Trinity. Though the exact word that we may use is not found in the Bible, the teaching is there! The terminology used by some when discussing the doctrine of the safety of the Believer may not be found exactly per say but the teaching is there, without doubt. The Bible says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous runeth into it and is safe." (Proverbs 18:10) "The fear of man bringeth a snare, but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." (Proverbs 29:25) The word "safe" used in both these verses, is an absolute term. You cannot be half safe. If you are only half safe then you are not safe. If you are safe then you are not in any danger. You are not safe until you are completely out of danger. The Bible says those who have trusted Christ are safe. The Bible is either right or wrong. We are safe...
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...Assurance of the Christian Faith is vital to someone who has made a profession of faith in and on the Lord Jesus Christ but has made mistakes along the way of growing into discipleship or may have been led astray by false doctrine or mis-representation of the Word of God. Most of the times when we here someone say they want to be sure they are saved it is after they have decided to have a relationship with the Lord but state they don’t “feel anything” or those who may have experienced a tragic life change or may be sick unto death. Either way a good time to have an assurance of one’s faith is when and while there is still breath in the body. Some of the major questions are “Am I really a child of God? How do I know my sins are truly forgiven? When I die, am I going to heaven?” While working at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association many calls would come in from those who had just been diagnosed with life threating diseases, those who converted from Catholism and from widows who knew their spouses were saved and have gone on to be with the Lord, but wanted to be sure that they too would make it to heaven and not only see Jesus but see their loved one again. Some had no idea where they stood with God. We would gently ask the callers if they would like to know how they could be absolutely certain that they were indeed going to heaven. We would explain that Jesus Christ had died for their sins and paid all of our debt and the Word of God promises us if we would believe by...
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...must I do to be saved?" (ESV). This is a common question asked by so many today when God is working in their lives. Many have a desperate desire to know how they can be saved from God's wrath but it seems so unclear in today's culture. However, although it can be complicated, it is also very simple what God requires for salvation. Ultimately, the way to God is a personal relationship with him. However, in order to have this relationship, there are three certain beliefs and truths that Christians put faith in, although many believe that one must do more to be in Christ. The three essentials to the Christian faith are: God's word is authoritative, Jesus is the perfect son of God who came as a Man to die on the cross and rose again to save Man from their sin, and it is by faith and repentance in Christ that man is able to have a relationship with Him. Although the belief is not supported by the Bible, many people say that it is essential to salvation to be baptized, thus turning Christianity into a works based religion. Church of Christ believes that it is necessary to be baptized to be saved, using Mark 16:16 as evidence (Wright). Mark 16:16 says, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (ESV). However, Houdmann states that one must notice "While this verse tells us something about believers who have been baptized (they are saved), it does not say anything about believers who have not been baptized". This does not have another...
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...person feels that the religion they grew up with is false they convert to a new belief. As a Catholic most feel that this version of christianity is the purest due to the fact that the Catholic faith stems all the way back to the disciples, when in reality there were denominations in the faith back then when catholicism was just forming. Still catholicism stood the test of time and is by far the oldest version of christianity that survives today. Personally catholicism is ones best bet as far as christianity goes. One might think how does this effect salvation is only a percentage of the christian community is correct. Well most Catholics feel that those who are good people and maybe never got the chance to experience Jesus’ word or follow another version of Christianity are still capable of being saved which depends on whether said person is good or not. Still their are those who feel that on faith in their religion alone is the only way to be saved and also that their respective versions of christianity are more...
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...MacMaster IDST 1128-02 Spring Project March 24, 2011 The Truth behind Free Will: Luther vs. Erasmus The notion of free will is one of the most complex notions to define and to understand; it is defined differently according to one’s interpretation of the scriptures, especially the Bible. Both Martin Luther and Desiderius Erasmus, influenced by their faith and beliefs, write respectively against and for free will. Both try to adequately answer the questions: Does man have free will? If yes, why and how? If not, how? Possible answers to these questions given by both authors and some scholars who write against or for each one of these opponents’ arguments highlight, especially, the differences in the conception of man’s free will. Luther and his supporters view free will as an imaginary or impossible and dangerous thing to have; Erasmus and his supporters defend that the existence of man’s free will is irrefutable for it is in human nature itself as the Bible says it. In spite of some of Luther’s good ideas that prove man’s absence of free will and Erasmus’ excellent interpretation of the Bible, neither of them fully responds to the human yearning of knowing the concept of free will. After a thorough and wise analysis of the defense and abnegation of man’s free will of these authors, I find it impossible to fully deny or prove the existence of man’s free will. It is important to take into account Luther’s argument...
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...seek a blessed life. We might not use those exact words. In fact, we probably don’t. Today people talk about the “fulfilled life” or the “happy life.” But the meaning is the same. Question 1. What is it that everyone wants out of life? Answer: Happiness Lest we think that answer light or flippant, here is the second question and answer: Q. 2. Where is this happiness to be found? A. In God only. Here is a basic conundrum of life. We all by nature seek happiness. Some people think they find it in the things of this world. Late last night I was flipping through the TV channels when I happened upon a broadcast of Billy Graham preaching in some great crusade a half-century ago. As the camera panned the crowd, you could hear Dr. Graham say, “You will never find peace, you will never find joy, you will never happiness apart from Jesus Christ.” What a claim we make! I heard just that little snippet, but it stuck in my mind. What a claim we Christians make! We not only say that happiness comes through Jesus. We say that the only lasting happiness comes through him. We flatly declare that there is no ultimate peace or joy or fulfillment in sex or money or power or fame or degrees or buildings or gold medals or big estates or anything else that money can buy. Wealth can do many things, but it cannot buy peace of mind. Fame can do many things, but it cannot give us lasting joy. Power can do many things, but it cannot free us from guilt. Wealth cannot buy peace of mind Years ago...
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...effort is to try and help people understand the doctrine of Calvinism. I will try to explain what it is and the historical information behind it. It has a pretty wide doctrine that I will have the chance of defining it all through the paper. I think that it will be easy to highlight the scriptural basis linked to Calvinism. I will be glad to point out show the linkage present between Calvinism and scriptures in the Bible. There are different belief systems within Christianity of which Calvinism is one of them. Calvinism was taught by John Calvin, and it strictly pays attention to a very high view of scripture and tends to derive its theological formulations majorly on the word of God. In the course, I will be pointing out the theological development of Calvinism. How has the theology developed from the past? How did it come to be? Has it be accepted by the Christians or not? However, at the end of my work, I will be glad to show reasons that Calvinism has been criticized. Therefore, I will be able to indicate the criticism of the doctrine and the reason why some people oppose this doctrine. Different people have divergent views about Calvinism hence; the objections are present and will be highlighted. What people wonder is whether Calvinism is biblical or not. Many Christians have doubts and many questions in their mind about Calvinism. However, others believe and accept the doctrine of Calvinism and are satisfied with it. Therefore, there are those Christians who oppose...
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... 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 NO OTHER NAME (THE RESTRICTIVE VIEW)---------------------------------------------------- GOD DOES ALL HE CAN DO (THE UNIVERSAL OPPORTUNITY VIEW)------------------- HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE (THE POSTMORTEM EVANGELISM VIEW)---------------- HE HAS NOT LEFT HIMSELF WITHOUT A WITNESS (THE INCLUSIVE VIEW)--------- CONCLUSION--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BIBLIOGRAPHY------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 Introduction The terrible reality of hell and the possibility that human beings can find themselves in that horrific location is a very serious and sobering consideration. An examination of some of the opinions/views will be made in this paper, with special attention given to the authoritative Word of God, as Scripture relates to the research and question of what is the eternal destiny of people that die, never having been evangelized? The Bible clearly reveals that all mankind is born into the Original Sin of the first human parents, Adam and Eve. Humanity is under the judgment and curse of God, consequential to the Original Sin of Adam and Eve. The curse associated with...
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...nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, n“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 oFor we cannot but speak the things which pwe have seen and heard.” You judge for yourselves whether it’s right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God, but we can’t help speaking about what we have seen and what we have heard. For the time that we have to share today, I want to talk on the subject Can I get a Witness? Can I get a witness? It is obvious from your response, that from the announcement of that statement, that you have heard that question before. If you have been in church for about 3 and half days you probably have had that question raised before in some worship experience. For without doubt preachers across the country stand in pulpits over and over again, time and time again and ask this question in the midst of their proclamation and presentation, Can I get a witness? It is when that interrogative is raised that the proclaimer is wondering if the congregation to whom he or she is speaking is in tune and in touch with the message that is being conveyed. Every now and then if the congregation seems to get a little too quiet in church, if they seem a little too disconnected from the message, the messenger would pause parenthetically and ask the question can I get a witness. It is when that question is raised that someone is supposed to affirm and attest the truth of God’s word. And you...
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...Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible Living in a Fallen world, people tend to search for answers to life’s questions in places they should not be looking. This causes them to belittle the actual source of answers God has provided for us, the Bible. I find it hard to explain God’s authority to an unbelieving individual talk less of the Bible’s authority. If a person doesn’t believe the bible, it can be a task to convince them that it has any authority. It is easy to explain the authority of the government or police, because these are authorities they are subject to and they can see, but when to comes to the authority of God and the bible, it is a different perspective. God has given us the Bible as a gift of love for us His children to follow until He comes back. It is the divine truth to all of humanity. The Bible is God’s revelation in written form to man. That is where the authority of the Bible comes from, the divine revelation of God Himself. Biblical inspiration is the doctrine in Christian theology concerned with the divine origin of the bible and what it teaches. Compared to the modern definition of inspiration, which is the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something especially to do something creative, biblical inspiration is God breathed, divine influence of the Holy spirit. God revealed Himself to selected people whom he had inspired to write the books of the Bible. In 2 Peter 1:21 the bible says for prophecy never had it’s origin in the human...
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...Exegesis of Ephesians 2:8-13 Interpreting the Bible Blake Castator University of the Cumberlands November 27, 2012 Introduction Ephesians 2:8-13 are very important scriptures that need to be studied by Christians everywhere. These scriptures are for everyone, for people that have been Christians quite awhile, for brand new Christians, and for non-believers. These scriptures deserved to be studied more because people sometimes overlook them because they have heard the message plenty of times. There are many sermons on these scriptures and the idea of grace and salvation. This exegesis will dig deep into the true meaning of these scriptures and what the meaning of words like grace, faith, salvation, workmanship really means. The true meaning will be unveiled and how people can apply these scriptures to their lives. Also some of these scriptures may seem confusing and this will clarify any confusion. These scriptures can sometimes be misinterpreted by people that do not do their research, and if they are preaching or teaching on these scriptures they need to fully understand what it says. People deserve to be taught the true meaning of the scriptures, what it meant to the original audience, and how to apply it today to their lives. This will explain the relationships between the Jews, Gentiles, and God. Many people may skim over these scriptures and not know any background information on these two groups of people. This exegesis will dig deep into many...
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...CONTENTS COVER PAGE 1 CONTENTS 2 THESIS 3 INTRODUCTION 3 CHARSMATIC GIFTS DEBATE 3-12 CONCLUSION 12 BIBLIOGRAPHY 13 INTRODUCTION This research paper will show that biblical referred to as glossolalia; the ability to “speak in tongues” is fiercely debated. While the Bible gives clear examples of genuine glossolalia, which will be examined later, the modern debate centers around the need or not, nature, importance, and usage of “tongues” today. Lastly, this paper will examine the biblical accounts of glossolalia along with more occurrences that are contemporary to determine whether modern episodes of “tongues” are needed or not needed. Out of all the gifts, the one that Paul speaks of the most controversial is the gift of tongues. "Glossolalia" is the most commonly accepted term for "speaking in tongues." It comes from the Greek words meaning "tongues" or "languages," and "to speak." Although not exclusively, "speaking in tongues" is primarily practiced by Pentecostal Christians. Glossolalia is the "prayer language" of Pentecostal churches. Some Christians who speak in tongues believe they are speaking in an existing language. Most believe they are uttering a heavenly tongue. Some Pentecostal denominations teach that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Among the greatest blessing conferred by the Christian gospel is the personal indwelling and endowment of divine Spirit. First conceived as the invisible energy of God...
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...and still call herself a Christian?" "Is he still saved, I heard he left his wife for another woman?" You've probably heard these questions asked and maybe asked them yourself at some time. It's true that people often act in ways that make you question their Christianity. And what about you? Have you ever committed some really serious sin that has caused you to wonder if you're going to make it into heaven? Have you backslidden from the Lord and can't seem to find your way back? Or are you searching for the truth and don’t know if Jesus Christ and Christianity is the right way to go. Well, I've got good news for you, and it has nothing to do with your car insurance. (Maybe a little to do with your fire insurance) Once you are biblically born again your eternal destination is sealed! You’re bound for Heaven and you're sure to get there! Which brings us to the all-important question; "So, I'm Born Again... NOW WHAT???" Well, here's the answer, the first thing we must understand is: Salvation Comes in Threes. There are three levels to salvation, each affecting a different part of your being at a different time in a different way. The Three Levels of Salvation are: (1) The Regeneration of the Spirit (2) The Restoration of the Soul (3) The Transfiguration of the Body In strictly biblical terms we call them: (1) Justification (2) Sanctification (3) Glorification 1st Corinthians 6:11 says, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified...
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...can develop close friendships with other believers. Vineyard has many kinship groups that meet on different days and in different locations throughout central Ohio. Choose one that is convenient for you so that you can be encouraged in your new relationship with God! Second, you need to pray, which is simply talking to God. Prayer is how you will grow in your relationship with God and how you can begin to allow Him to work in areas of your life. And third, you need to read the Bible on a regular basis. It is through the Bible that God will speak to you about Himself and your life needs. Beginning the Christian Life Series was developed by Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Columbus for new Christians. It is a series of Bible studies that are easy to follow and can help you as a new Christian start to learn the Scripture. Each study takes one passage from the Bible and goes through it in some depth. Many basic topics are covered in this series, which should give you a good start in both understanding the Bible and your new relationship with God. These studies can be done in a...
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...also found in the Bible. While the stories told in each book are generally comparable in most respects, important differences sometimes emerge. Anything in the Bible that agrees with the Qur'an is accepted by Muslims, and anything in the Bible that disagrees with the Qur'an is not accepted by Muslims. Many stories in the Bible are not mentioned at all in the Qur'an; with regard to such passages, Muslims are instructed to maintain neutral positions, but to read them and pass them on if they wish to do so. Often, stories related in the Qur'an tend to concentrate Islamic moral or spiritual significance of events rather than the details.[1] Western scholars tend to analyze similarities between Biblical and Quranic accounts of the same person or event as being evidence for the influence of pre-existing traditions on the composition of the Qur'an.[2] From a traditionalist Muslim perspective, such a discussion would make no sense; Muslims believe that the Qur'an was sent from God through the angel Gabriel to the prophet Muhammad in a series of revelations, and this divinely revealed text was then progressively dictated (word for word, and over and over again to make certain that there were no mistakes) by Muhammad to the followers of Islam. Moreover, Muslims believe that the Biblical tradition was corrupted over time. similarities between the bible and the qur’an By Stefan 55 Comments Categories: Article, Bible, Life, Quran and Religion The Qur’an and Bible possess many similarities...
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