The Gospel Of Repentance

The phrase, “the Church has nothing in it but hypocrites”, and “Christians are nothing but hypocrites” is popular among non believers. They love to use it when a believer is involved in sin which of course blows their witness and makes God look bad in the non believer’s eyes. It is essential as Christians for our walk to match our talk. As someone wisely said, people do not care how much you know they want to know how much you care. In defense of the Christian, it is unfair to stereotype all Christians as hypocrites because of the sins of a few. Those that make these remarks are primarily the ones that have no desire to change their evil lifestyle and can’t wait for the Christian to do or say something wrong so they can say, "I TOLD Y’ALL THOSE CHRISTIANS ARE NOTHING BUT HYPOCRITES! I AINT NEVER GOING TO CHURCH!!” Those that say these things are no better than the Christians they are judging. All of us have been hypocrites and some point in our lives. Since the word is s

                                        The tribulation is a future seven year period of horrific events. It is the time where God unleashes His Holy wrath against an unholy world of evil doers. As a matter of fact Jesus said it will be the worst time in human history (Matt 24:21).  The last three and one half years in particular will be the worst of all. All one has to do is read Revelation chapters 6-18 which describes the Great Tribulation (the last three and a half years) in great detail. Another important matter that is always the topic of discussion is where is the Church during this time in history? That is what I want to discuss. Regarding the Church there are 3 popular views: 1) Pre-tribulational,  2) Mid-tribulational, 3) Post-tribulational.                           Which view is correct? I’m admittedly a pre-tribulationalist. I believe the Church will be raptured, caught up to meet the Lord in the air before God unleashes His wrath on the earth. There ar

The original Greek word for world is the word cosmos. In the gospel of John world is used several different ways. Let’s go over them. 1.       John 1:10 – He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know  Him. In this verse the word world is making reference to the physical planet earth we live in and the fact that Jesus in eternity past created the universe. Both Col 1:15 and Heb 1:2 tells us that Jesus created all things. 2.       John 1:29 – Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.                In this passage John the Baptist is introducing to His disciples and others that Jesus is the Messiah that will take away sins. Automatically when we see the word world, we conclude that it is inclusive. The word world here has to refer only to the elect and/or chosen of God. Remember Matt 1:21 says Jesus will save his people (italics mine) from their sins            .           Another passage that would apply here w

We are converted as individuals, but function as a body – The Church. We must love God (vertical) and love our brothers/sisters (horizontal). OT word that described the congregation Israel is the Hebrew word  (qahal). Two Greek words that describe the Church are ekklesia (church or congregation), and synagog (as in Jewish synagogue or assembly). The word used for the Universal Church is: katholikos ; means general or universal. This is where we get the English word Catholic. Jesus referred to His Church as a body , a household, and a temple. The Church in relation to Israel – the church and Israel are distinct. But there are four possible views on this relationship: 1.        Unification view – argues the church and Israel are essentially identical 2.        Suppression view – argues the church is not Israel but has replaced or superceded it 3.        Distinction view – holds the view Israel and the church are two separate entities 4.        Revisioni

3 Key definitions: 1. Spirit baptism is the act of Christ whereby He unites the NT believer with himself and with every other believer through the indwelling Spirit. 2. A Spiritual gift is an extraordinary, recognizable, Spirit-given ability for service in the church 3. A local church is an assembly of baptized professing believers in Christ, organized to accomplish God’s will. Pneumatology – the area of systematic theology that is concerned with the person and work of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit can be placed in theology proper as well as pneumatology because the subjects of main theology and the doctrine of the Spirit are interwoven  Hebrew term for Spirit is ruah usually translated Spirit. Ruah can also mean wind or breath  Greek term for Spirit is pneuma. In the gospel of John the Spirit of God is also called the parakletos. In this sense the Spirit is our legal advocate. He is also a comforter  The Spirit is also called the Spirit of Truth which relates