Posts

Showing posts from May, 2014

Does God will the misery of his Creation?

In the Bible we are given numerous commands to obey. If we are honest, we disobey most of what God commands us to do. God being omniscient knows what we will do or think before it happens. So that being the case, why does God command us to do something He already knows we are incapable of doing? Is God somehow playing with our fragile emotions because He is infinitely more powerful than we are and wants to see us fall into sin? Is God some type of Cosmic-killjoy who delights in frustrating His creation with overbearing commands? These are rhetorical questions of course, but to those of us who are struggling to remain on the narrow road of life often feel like God’s commands are too much to bear. When we read God’s word and understand what it says, and look at our lives, we often want to give up because we are not meeting God’s standard. Why can we not do what God has commanded us? We should all know the answer. Simply because we are sinners, and our natural tendency

Are some Sins greater than others?

We have all heard the term “sin is sin” right? In other words, whether one is telling a lie, or someone is committing murder it is all punished the same. Is that reasoning true? I would say generally yes. But, the Bible actually declares that some sins are worse than others and based on the offense will determine a person’s degree of punishment in hell. In Matthew 11:20-24 we read the following: He (Jesus) began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say

The Dead Keep Dying!

                                                  The reader may be asking, “why such a morbid title to an article?” Well I believe I can justify the title biblically. In a few words hopefully I can express why the title makes sense. The Bible tells us in two passages in particular that we were (prior to salvation) dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13). What that means is that as a result of original sin, the human race was born dead and separated from God.  What? That small phrase is an oxymoron most readers are saying.  You would be correct. That phrase on the surface does not make any sense. How can we be dead and alive at the same time? Well actually it is simple. We are alive physically, but prior to conversion, we are dead spiritually. Every human being that has or will be born is born with this terminal spiritual disease!              We need to be healed immediately. Well, what’s the cure? Before I answer that question, let us expl

Can we tell if someone is saved or not?

Image
This matter should be approached with love and respect for the person you are concerned about. Since we are unable to see a person’s heart like God can, the only way we can possibly know if a person is truly born again is by primarily two things. 1.       Knowledge of the truth 2.       Conduct based on truth Both have to be operating in a person’s life if they’re claiming to be saved. We can not obey God without a proper understanding of God through the pages of Holy Scripture. If one is claiming to be saved then their lives should exemplify that claim or profession faithfully and consistently. The following does not necessarily mean a person is saved:       Attending Church       Singing in the choir       “Paying tithes”       Speaking, praying in tongues [1]       Getting water baptized       Walking down the aisle       Praying the sinner’s prayer       Getting slain in the spirit (i.e. falling on the ground when someone lays hands on y