The Gospel Of Repentance

This is one of those apparent contradictory statements by Jesus again. I love these type of statements by the Lord. And why? Because it forces me to carefully examine the text to see what he meant by this controversial phrase.  Once again to understand what Jesus meant, we must understand the context in which he said it. Matthew 10:34-37 says, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth, but a sword . For I came to set a man against Father, and a Daughter against her Mother, and a Daughter-In-Law against her Mother-In-Law; and a man's enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves Father and Mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who will lose his life for my sake will find it." The prior verses tell us that Jesus had commissioned his disciples to preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast of demons (...

In Psalm 139:21 we read David saying, "Do I not hate them O Lord that hate you? And am I not grieved with those that rise up against you? I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them my enemies." These feelings by David are in contradiction to what Jesus taught us about loving our enemies and doing good to them right (Matt 5:44)? So why did David feel justified in hating his enemies? How could he make such an out loud and brash statement like he did? The word hate is the Hebrew word miseo. The word has several meanings; malice, disregard, preferring one thing over another, dislike. David was justified in saying he hated those that hated God because those that hate God are his enemies, and are bent on committing evil. The nations that Israel had to drive out of Canaan were perversely wicked nations that God commanded them to destroy. Why? Because God hated those nations. Would God have commanded those nations be destroyed if he loved them?  Of course not. An evil person...

To those in the Charismatic and Pentecostal communities, the question is a no-brainer. They are convinced there is a heavenly language spoken of in the Bible. If so, where would one find this language? In 1 Corinthians 13 and 14.  In 1 Corinthians 13:1 we read, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels ..." Now, when Paul says he speaks with the tongues of angels, is he speaking literally or figuratively? It would have to be figuratively. Every time an angel spoke in the Bible, they spoke in the language of the people they were talking to - not in some "angel talk". Yet many have determined that speaking with the tongues of angels is speaking in tongues. How they come to that conclusion is a mystery to me.  Are there two different gifts of tongues in the Bible? The reason I present this question is because there are those that believe and teach there are two types of tongues in scripture - one for the Church in public use that requires inte...

W hat does mean to be humble? With all of the seminars, books, and videos that tell us to "Believe in yourself", "You can create your own reality if you can just visualize it", it's no wonder why people today have very little or no humility at all. I am by no means advocating apathy, and not having confidence in one's abilities, but like most things we do as humans, we take it to the extreme. Too often many are overconfident in themselves to the degree that many believe they are better than those who they feel have not reached their status in life - money, education, corporate success, etc. Humble by definition means one of low degree, one of a lowly spirit. These are adjective forms of the word. This perfectly describes Jesus who said that he was gentle and humble in heart (Matt 11:29). To have humility is not a bad word. Some have misunderstood the term believing that to be humble is to exhibit weakness, to not have a backbone. To become a do...

The word Armageddon is the Hebrew word [Har]megiddon  which means mountain or plain of Megiddo. Megiddo is located in northern Israel in the valley of Jezreel. In ancient Biblical times battles were fought there. If you look closely at the map, you will see the half tribe of Manasseh to the left and Megiddo in the northern part of it.  In the 15th Century B.C. Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III fought against a group of Megiddo and Kadesh rulers. There are some that believe this is the same Pharaoh Moses and Aaron confronted when they demanded that Pharaoh let the Hebrews go free in the book of Exodus.  During the time of Joshua's and his army defeat of many kings, it is mentioned that the tribe of Manasseh (one of the 12 tribes of Israel) received the region of Megiddo (Josh 12:21). This is also the area where King Josiah of Judah is killed in 609 B.C. when battling against Pharaoh  Neco  (2 Kings 23:29 - 30, 2 Chr 35:20 - 35).  Th...

The above title is not an incorrect phrase. Everyone who will ever live soul will never die. God created the soul to exist forever. So no one ceases to exist as some have taught. There is no such things as annihilation-ism.  The Bible in Daniel 12:1-2 says, "At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such has never been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name is written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."   What Daniel is explaining is that those who are currently dead will be resurrected, that is raised out of the grave to receive judgment. Those who died in Christ will receive everlasting life, and those who died in sin will receive eternal damnation.  In John 5:28-29 we read Jesus speaking, "Do not...

What is this practice or phenomenon known as the slain in the spirit? Well, it is when people in the Church supposedly fall out under the power of God when hands are laid on them for physical healing or some other blessing. The biggest advocate of this practice is televangelist Benny Hinn. He is notorious for waving his hands or his coat in front of people and they fall backward under the supposed power of God.   See what happens in this video clip: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvx0xjnBGh0   To say Benny Hinn and those like him are frauds is an understatement. One does not receive the anointing of God by someone waving their hands or coat at you - ridiculous! What we are witnessing is a dog-and-pony show and not the power of God. It is utter blasphemy and shameful that men in pulpits across America would engage in this type of behavior in the name of Jesus. To be slain in the Spirit is not biblical. It makes the true Church of Jesus Christ look fo...