BAPTISM AND REBIRTH Before ascending into heaven, Christ told his disciples to go and baptize all nations (Matthew 28:18–20). The early Church often baptized whole households.[footnote]See Acts 16:14–15 and Acts 18:8.[/footnote] Today, we tend to baptize individuals. But in all cases, the ceremony is a symbol of baptism of the Spirit, which brings salvation through … Read More
WARRING NATURES Until God puts his nature within us, we cannot love God. Even if we in our human mind agree with the concept of a loving God, we are not able to respond with love in our human nature. Only God is capable of love, though he does share this ability when he gives … Read More
THE WAY TO GOD Because God created the earth and everything in it, he has every right to decide the path we are to take. The created do not get to complain to the Creator. “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to … Read More
JUDGMENT OF THE RIGHTEOUS We now come to the third of the primary end-time events. Following the return of Christ and the physical resurrection of the faithful, God will pass judgment. But on what criteria will we be judged? Will God’s assessment boil down to “justified” or “damned” in a pass/fail sense? Or will he … Read More
RECOMPENSE FOR FAITHFUL LABOR “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” —Matthew 16:27 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid … Read More
END-TIME UNITY Institutional Christianity has divided over the years into many denominations and sects. At times over the course of history, these divisions have led to bloody conflict. We act with a little more civility than that these days, but our spiritual differences are still a problem. We are supposed to spread the gospel, yet … Read More
OUTLINE OF INTERPRETATION METHODS This outline of interpretation methods utilizes an objective method. Subjectivity (personal interpretation) is not capable of obtaining truth from the Bible. Truth is objective and only comes through divine revelation. Our freedoms, free will, and choices have nothing to do with finding truth. The goal of this book is to identify … Read More
VERB TENSES OF SALVATION The following passages describe salvation timing based upon past or present tense spiritual salvation language, or utilize future tense salvation language describing the resurrection of the dead. Some passages describe both types salvation – spiritual salvation and salvation through bodily resurrection. Present = focus on past/present spiritual salvation Future = focus … Read More
Christ inheriting the whole earth: · Psalm 2:8 · Romans 4:13 · Galatians 3:16 · Colossians 1:16 · Hebrews 1:2; 2:10 The inheritance theme: · Genesis 15:7; 17:5–8 · 1 Chronicles 29:14–18 · Psalm 2:8; 37:29; 105:6–11; 115:16 · Isaiah 45:18 · Ezekiel 47:13–23; 48:29 · Matthew 5:5; 19:27–29 · Romans 4:13–18; 8:16–17; 15:8–9 · … Read More