The Gospel Of Repentance

  I often wonder if God speaks to people audibly today. Many Christians’ replies are, “Yes! Of course He does!” Many evangelical leaders claim God is telling them specific details about someone’s life; like they are going to get a financial breakthrough in 10 days. Or their prodigal son and daughter will come home in the next 30 days. What happens when these predictions do not come to pass because most of them do not happen as the preacher “prophesied” they would? Some of them have and will blame the person they prophesied to that they lacked faith in the “word of the Lord” they heard so it neutralized the prophecy. No. What actually happened is the preacher either presumed they heard from God (some inner unction?) like several false teachers did when they claimed the Lord told them Donald Trump would be re-elected in 2020, or they willingly lied and put Jesus’ name on their false prophecy to give it “divine authority.” It has and will be continually argued that modern day prophe...

W hen we are going through the trials of life, it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I realize that is cliché. The stress is often so painful we want to give up. Quitting should never be an option. Those that quit have guaranteed their failure to see what their endurance would have shown them. Tough times are designed to test us for sure, but the pain of our trials if we endure them is building us up and making us stronger. The gospel group Commissioned captured this well in one of their songs, “One Step After Another” Trials of life can be a teacher for us if we do not just look at them negatively although the trial itself is negative. Trials come to us from the Lord, and trials can come from the devil. We suffer trials due to our own sins, and we can suffer trials from the sins of others. We are not responsible for the sins of others, but unfortunately we can become collateral damage because of their sins. Remember, be careful who you keep company with. Bad comp...

  Who determines sainthood; does God or man? Many people throughout history have been given the illustrious title of saint: Saint Peter the apostle, Saint Nicholas (i.e. Santa Claus), Saint John the apostle, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint Patrick of Ireland. Mother Teresa (1910-1997) was canonized as a Saint by the Roman Catholic Church on September 4, 2016 – nineteen years after her death. The word saint is the Greek word hagios. Saint is connected to the word holy. A saint is one that is holy, sanctified and separated to God. A saint is anyone who is a Christian (Eph 1:1; Jude 3; Rev 13:7) or in the Old Testament those whom God chose as His own (Psalm 116:15; Dan 7:22,25). A saint is a position that God confers upon those He saves. Jude 1:14b says the Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints. The New International Version (NIV) uses the words holy ones instead of saints. Both versions are correct. Contrary to popular belief, sainthood is confer...

  T he word Antinomian is not a term we use in everyday language. It is a theological word. It is a compound word. The prefix anti means against. The suffix is nomos which means law. So, an Antinomian is someone who is against the law. In particular the law of God. The apostle Paul was accused of teaching Antinomianism. In Romans 8:1-2 we read: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of the life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. The child of God should always give praise to God for this above reality. Because we are saved, we are also free from sin and death. To be judgment free speaks of the mighty power of God. Prior to Christ’s salvation we were bound by sin. Now we are free to serve God instead of sin. We have a new Master. Sadly, many Christians have taken terrible advantage of God’s grace. The...

With no direction from learned and skilled theologians, the Bible can be a very difficult collection of books to understand. The Bible is indeed a collection of ancient documents written thousands of years ago. Because the books are so old, many say they are antiquated, outdated and not relevant for today. Others are convinced the Bible contains numerous errors, and that it contradicts itself. The ones that have this attitude toward the Bible are those who do not want it to be true. For if it is, it will bring certain conviction and judgment on those who hate its truth. Social Media has allowed many to easily become critics of the God of the Bible. Many people no doubt are parroting others who discount its truth having never investigated the claims of the Bible for themselves. These individuals are the ones that are making a fool of themselves – thinking that somehow blaspheming God and His word is a virtue. It is important that the writer point out why so many are quick to ride on t...

  This phrase is often echoed by those in the charismatic movement. When their Pastor / Elder / Bishop is criticized for unbiblical teaching, they will cry out, “Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm!” This phrase is referenced in 1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15. Who was in view when this phrase was uttered? Was it the Pastor Elder or Bishop? No. Let’s examine 1 Chronicles 16:22 in context. Starting at 1 Chronicles 16:19-22 (Amplified Version) we read from King David “When they (the nation of Israel, parentheses mine), were but few, even a very few, and only temporary residents and strangers in it; when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people; He allowed no man to do them wrong; yes. He reproved kings for their sakes (Gen 12:17; 20:3; Exod 7:15-18). Saying touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm” (Gen 20:7). David is praising God and giving a brief history of his people; how they began very small in number when they were in C...

  In John chapter six Jesus miraculously feeds over five thousand people with five barley loaves and two fish. This sign should have clearly shown them that He was the Messiah. Jesus has to get away from them because they try to make Him their King by force (vs 15). Jesus made it clear later to Pilate in John 19:36 that His kingdom was not of this world. Jesus and His disciples make their way across the sea to Capernaum. The multitude finds Him and inquires when He arrives there (vs 25). Jesus rebukes them and says, “Most assuredly you did not seek me because you the saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life…”(vv 26-27a). What the Lord was telling them is not to look only for temporary fulfillment, rather seek everlasting fulfillment which only He can provide. The conversation takes a drastic turn when Jesus tells them that He is the true bread come down from heaven t...