The Gospel Of Repentance

The first thing we need to do is define the word atonement in relation to the Bible. It comes from the Greek work katallagē  which means to reconcile. Related terms are propitiation and expiate. The Hebrew term is kapar.  This word means to cover, to pacify. When the Lord Jesus Christ died and shed his blood on the cross, He was atoning for mankind’s sins. Meaning that whosoever believed in what He accomplished would have their sins removed forever, and be guiltless before the Lord. God the Father has to punish sin for His holiness sake, and since He loved the world so much, sent His only Son to die in our place; to become a substitute and pay the penalty for our sins which is death.  Jesus the Bible says He became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him [(Christ, II Cor 5:17-21)].                  Jesus had to die in order for man to live. There was a di...

Does God have one or two wills? There are times in the Bible where God makes a declaration, and the thing comes to pass. There are other times where God gives a command, and sometimes it’s disobeyed.                           What’s going on? God’s will has two components: 1.               God’s decretive will 2.        God’s desired will God’s decreed will is that characteristic of God whereby whatever He determines will come to pass every time. It’s 100% guaranteed to occur. This is His sovereignty being put on display. God’s decreed will is prophetic. Every prophecy in the Bible has been fulfilled or will be fulfilled in the future. This element of God’s will is irresistible – meaning it under no circumstances can be disappointed. Why? Because God determined before hand that what He...

Recently there was a conversation I was privy to where a woman believes we as Christians are/or can become  "gods".  This, of course, is a misunderstanding of an O.T. passage in Psalms 82:6,7 where it says, “I said you are gods, and you are children of the Most High. But, you shall die like men, and  fall like one of the princes.” The word gods in vs. 6 is the Hebrew word Elohim. In the general sense, it means one who is a magistrate or a judge. In the supreme sense, it making reference to the Lord of all. In regards to humans, it is not making reference to deity at all. Judges are those who have great authority from Almighty God in the earth to execute justice and fairness, make right decisions regarding the welfare of man. These gods are to exonerate the innocent and punish the guilty. These gods are God’s representatives on the earth. In Roman 13:1-2 says, “ Let every soul be subject to the higher powers or governing authorities. For there is no authority ex...

In I Timothy 4:10 we read, “For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, be we trust in the living God who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.” This passage is uttered because of thoughts before it. You have to connect the prior thoughts. Paul says in vs. 8b and 9, “but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” Continuing with verse 10, “for to this end we both labor… So, in what way is God the Savior of all men? The writer believes in the sense that all men indiscriminately receive what some call “common grace”. Jesus in Matthew 5:46b declares that the Father sends the rain on the just and unjust. Rain is a universal benefit and blessing to all regardless of whether a person is a child of God or not. Another benefit all receive is labor from hard work. Whether you are eternally saved or damned, everyone that works consistently will benefit from their efforts (Prov 14:23). Th...

There are many that are convinced the gift of tongues is operative today. They are engaged in the practice of it everyday. What many will say is that it’s a private prayer language to God that, a deeper communion with the Father on a higher spiritual plane. Those that supposedly have the gift in some people’s eyes are the haves, and those who do not speak in tongues are the have nots.  The proponents of this gift are called Charismatics and Pentecostals hence the phrase Charismatic or Pentecostal movement. Those that are convinced the gift has already ceased are called Cessationists. They are the ones that believe the gift ended by the end of the first century beginning of the second century. They insist these sign gifts were for the apostolic era only. Once the apostles died, and God’s revealed word was complete, the gifts ceased.  What do you believe? Are you a Charismatic-Pentecostal or a Cessationist? Who’s right and who’s wrong?  Does it matter? One...

The elder Apostle begins by commending one of his son’s in ministry, Gaius to whom this letter is written to. John pronounced blessings upon Gaius:            a. That he be in health, vs.2       b. That he prospers as his soul prospers, vs. 2 The word prosper in the Greek is euodoo which is a compound of two Greek words. Eu means well. This root is in the word eulogy means to speak well of. This expression is done at funerals. The second word is hodos , means a way of journey. John was proclaiming physical and spiritual well being on Gaius. A loving gesture from a proud and spiritual father. John was wishing Gaius well. Something we do all the time with people we love and care about. John was full of joy because his son in faith walked and lived in truth. Gaius’s actions spoke louder than his words which should be the desire of all believers. James said, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving your own selve...

John the Elder addresses the elect lady, and her children (her name is unknown). John commends that some of her children are abiding in truth. John continues to exhort that they walk in love toward each other. John once again driving the point home regarding love just as he did in his first letter. Obedience to the commandments of God is walking in true love for the Christian. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), (vs. 1-6). John warns again regarding those that deny the incarnation of Jesus Christ (this heresy once again is called Docetism) . The God/man Jesus is central and fundamental to the Christian faith. These individuals are heretics, deceivers, and antichrists, and are children of the devil. We are to avoid them, and not provide them hospitality knowing that they’re evil. We do not want to endorse, show solidarity to those that promote false doctrine. The only way we can denounce the fake is to know the real – that is scripture. Remembe...