Can One Be Saved Before Having Faith in Christ?
John Calvin was a French Theologian and reformer during the days of the Protestant Reformation. Although John Calvin, who lived in the sixteenth century, did not originate the system of doctrine known as “Calvinism,” he popularized it. One component of this doctrine suggests that babies are born totally depraved because they inherit a sinful nature from their parents. This sinful nature can be traced all the way back to Adam, the first man.
“THAT’S JUST YOUR INTERPRETATION”
A popular idea of our day is that the Bible is subject to many, different interpretations. These interpretations, we are told, are all equally valid. Even when one interpretation clearly contradicts another, many are willing to affirm that “both are right.”
Baptism Saves Us
The title of this article may seem startling to some. It may cause some to shake their heads in unbelief. The question is, does the bible teach that “baptism saves us?”
"Not Saved By Works"
The Bible teaches that the foundation of salvation is the grace of God. Grace is often defined as “the unmerited favor of God.” There is nothing one can do to earn grace or merit salvation from sin. The Scriptures teach that sinners are saved by “grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8), and that eternal life is a “gift” from God (Romans 6:23).
The Bible, Divorce and Remarriage
To say that divorce is rampant in America is an understatement. According to statistics, approximately half of all marriages granted in our country, end in divorce. This does not mean that fifty percent of people who marry get divorced. Many marry and never divorce, while others marry and divorce more than once. Therefore, it would not be accurate to say that a person who marries only has a fifty percent chance of avoiding divorce. It is true that about half of “all marriages granted,” end in divorce, but some of those marriages which end in divorce include those who have been married and divorced already. Regardless of how the statistical information is analyzed, divorce is a serious problem in our day.
"What Shall I Do With Jesus?"
Pilate had a critical decision to make. Jesus had been arrested and was on “trial” before Pilate, governor of Judea. Having examined Jesus, Pilate stated that he could find no fault in Christ. On the other hand, there was a convicted murderer named Barabbas. One of these two, Jesus or Barabbas, would be set free. Pilate’s dilemma was that he knew Jesus was an innocent man, but he also knew that the religious leaders of that day wanted to destroy Jesus. He did “not” want to put an innocent man to death, but he “did” want to please the people. When the people insisted that Barabbas be released, Pilate raised the question, “What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22).
Should Christians Drink Alcoholic Beverages? Part II
Two weeks ago I wrote Part 1 to this two-part series. I stressed in the last article that I was asking whether a Christian “should” drink alcoholic beverages. I gave three reasons why a Christian should not drink: 1) Drinking leads to drunkenness; 2) The Bible warns against drinking “strong drinks”; 3) Drinking may cause others to stumble.
Should Christians Drink Alcoholic Beverages? Part 1
Christians frequently discuss whether it is sinful to drink alcoholic beverages. However, the question I raise in this article is this: “Should” Christians drink? The question is not concerning whether it is sinful; rather, the issue here is whether Christians “should” drink. I affirm for the following reasons that Christians should “not” drink alcoholic beverages:
Have You Developed a Bucket List?
It seems to be popular these days to have a “bucket list.” The term gained popularity after a 2007 movie, “The Bucket List.” The two main characters of the movie, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, both of whom were dying with cancer, put together a “bucket list” of things they would like to do before they died. Then, they set out to do the things on their lists. A bucket list, therefore, is a list of things one hopes to accomplish before he or she dies.
What Does Christmas Mean to You?
Soon it will be Christmas day. To children, it seems that day will never come. They dream about their time off from school, the presents they hope to receive, and seeing family they may seldom see during the rest of the year. These are things that make Christmas special for children, but what about those of us who are older? What makes Christmas special to us?
