Tag Archives: bible

How Inerrancy Improves Preaching

Posted on by
3

Churches break apart. Marriages shatter. Governments fracture. Friendships splinter. But the Scriptures cannot be broken (Jn. 10:35). This means they cannot fail. They cannot be incorrect. In every affirmation they make, the Scriptures are inerrant (without mistakes) and infallible (incapable of error).

This should not be difficult for Christians to accept, since God hates lying (Pr. 14:5; 19:22; Ps. 63:11; Ac. 5:3; 1 Jn. 2:21) and is himself incapable of lying or deceiving (Pr. 30:6-7; Num. 23:19; Ps. 89:35; Heb. 6:18).

Just as in the Word one sees perfection within the human and divine natures, so within God’s Word one sees flawlessness. Jesus believed in inerrancy, confirming its veracity by quoting the Old Testament and affirming that Scripture could never pass away (Mt. 5:18).

Inerrancy is not an ivory tower doctrine for eggheads, a belief secluded from any real-world relevance. This article of faith wears running shoes, or in this case, a suit and a tie. Here are four ways inerrancy improves preaching. Continue reading →

Is the Day of the Lord at Hand?

Posted on by
Reply

Answering 439 Bible Contradictions 

Answer: Yes, the Day of the LORD draws nearer and nearer, though God’s final judgment of sinners has not yet happened.

Problem: First Thessalonians 4:15-17 suggests an imminent return of Christ, while 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 suggests it may already have happened.

Explanation: The Day of the Lord refers to Jesus’ future judgement of sinners. The Second Coming refers to Jesus’ future, bodily return to earth. These are not exactly the same event, though they are connected. Continue reading →

Should You Answer a Fool According to His Folly?

Posted on by
1

Answering 439 Bible Contradictions 

Answer: Sometimes a wise man should respond to a fool in order to protect the truth, while at other times he should ignore foolish arguments to avoid similar idiotic behavior.

Problem: Proverbs 26:4 forbids answering a fool, while the next verse insists we respond to him.

Explanation: When responding to an idiot, there are two key principles to follow.

First, you should never respond to a fool if it means lowering yourself to his biblically immoral and foolish behavior. Even if you win the argument, if you’ll end up looking like him, don’t do it.

When a driver with road rage rolls down his window and shout insults, don’t respond in kind. If your neighbor squeals his tires while passing your house each morning, don’t gather your buddies to go drag racing by his home. Don’t lie about atheism because he lied about Christianity. You’ll look like a bonehead just like him. Continue reading →

How Long Does God’s Anger Last?

Posted on by
Reply

Answering 439 Bible Contradictions

Answer: God’s anger upon his children is temporary, while His wrath up His enemies will carry on forever.

Problem: Some passages say God’s anger lasts but for a moment, while other Scriptures teach God’s wrath is eternal.

Explanation: The nature, intensity, and extent of God’s wrath differs depending on which of His two audiences He is addressing. In the first case, God limits His anger towards His children, whom He loves. Psalm 30:5 illustrates this: “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

Plagues came on Jerusalem because of King David’s sins. But once repentance followed, God’s wrath was brief because He is merciful and slow to anger. Saints of old often spoke of God’s judgment in terms of a rod, a switch God uses to discipline His children the way a father would his son. But when his boy sheds a tear and asks for pardon, the father embraces him. Thus, Spurgeon could say: “God puts up his rod with great readiness as soon as its work is done.” Continue reading →

Did Jesus Tell His Disciples Everything?

Posted on by
Reply

Answering 439 Bible Contradictions

Answer: Jesus told His disciples everything they could bear, though more truth followed after His resurrection through the Holy Spirit’s illumination and inspiration.

Problem: Jesus says in John 15:15 that He had revealed all things to His disciples, while in John 16:12 He informs the disciples there’s far more He’s yet to tell them.

Explanation: In John 15, Jesus calls his disciples “friends” instead of slaves. This must have shocked them, because as of yet, only Abraham had been called a friend of God in Scripture (Jms. 2:23). Never is God referred to as a friend of man.

While slaves are expected to obey commands without explanation, comrades share motives and plans with each other. A captain tells his servant: “Climb to the top of the mountain.” The only valid response is: “Yes, sir!” But a friend explains why scaling the peak is important. Continue reading →

Does God Want Some to Go to Hell?

Posted on by
2

Answering 439 Bible Contradictions

Answer: God decrees all things that come to pass, including unbelievers spending eternity in hell.

Problem: Some Scriptures say God wants all to be saved and is not willing that any should perish, while other verses say He hardens sinners and creates them for destruction.

Explanation: These apparent contradictions are not difficult to reconcile if the student of Scripture maintains honesty with each text. We’ll address two important theological principles first and then apply these principles to the individual passages.

Two Principles

The first principle is that the word “all” in Scripture may mean “all without exception” or “all without distinction”. It depends on the context. When the Lord told Noah to take “all” of his household into the ark, He meant all without exception. But when Romans 11:32 says God would have “mercy on all”, it doesn’t mean all without exception (mercy on every single person) but all without distinction (both Jews and Gentiles). He shows no partiality (Ac. 10:34). Colossians 3:11 says Christ is “in all”, certainly not meaning that Christ is in every single person. Continue reading →

Review: Tiyo Soga

Posted on by
Reply

Ferdie Mulder and Ivette Coetsee, IRSA, 207 pages, 4 of 5 stars

Tiyo Soga and his Mentors (English)Last year my four oldest children memorized the Westminster Shorter Catechism. I grew up in a Christian home where, by God’s grace, my parents forced my sister and me to memorize hundreds of verses. I use “forced” on purpose because that’s really what they did and you won’t hear a peep of complaint from me. I only wish they would have pressed us to learn more.

But catechisms, sadly, were absent in our spiritual formation. Fast forward to today. As my wife and I catechized our children, we were learning right along with them. Question 64 struck me: “What is required in the fifth commandment?” Answer: “The fifth commandment requires preserving the honor…belonging to…superiors.” Often, this means honoring parents, but not always. “Superiors” also include Christian heroes, like the character of this biography, Tiyo Soga.

Overview

Ferdie Mulder and Ivette Coetsee pen the life story of Tiyo Soga (1829-1871) to help Christians obey the fifth commandment. I had never heard of Soga before but for those who have, you may only remember him as a leader of black nationalism in South Africa. But this mischaracterizes the man. He was first a Christian, family man, pastor, translator, missionary, theologian, and hymn writer. Continue reading →

50 Names and Descriptions of Jesus

Posted on by
Reply

  1. Advocate: Jesus stands between sinners and the Father (1Jn. 2:1).
  2. Almighty: Jesus has power over good and evil (Rev. 1:8).
  3. Amen: Jesus can be trusted (Rev. 3:14).
  4. Anointed: Jesus is the Messiah, the chosen one of God (Ps. 2:2).
  5. Apostle: Jesus was sent to earth to die (Heb. 3:1).
  6. Author of Salvation: Jesus causes us to believe in Him (Heb. 5:9).
  7. Beginning of Creation of God: Jesus is the source of all creation (Rev. 3:14).
  8. Bishop of Souls: Jesus guards and protects our souls (1Pt. 2:25).
  9. Branch: Jesus took on human nature, born of Mary (Isa. 4:2).
  10. Bread of Life: Jesus satisfies the desires of our heart (Jn. 6:35).
  11. Captain of our Salvation: Jesus gives us the ability to believe (Heb. 2:10).
  12. Chief Shepherd: Jesus is the shepherd that all others must obey (1Pt. 5:4).
  13. Chief Cornerstone: Jesus makes wise plans (Isa. 9:6).
  14. Christ Jesus my Lord: Jesus is the master of all we do (Phil. 3:8).
  15. Counselor: Jesus makes wise plans (Isa. 9:6).
  16. Deliverer: Jesus will save sinners (Rm. 11:26).
  17. Door: Jesus is the only way to enter God’s kingdom (Jn. 10:7).
  18. Emmanuel: God is with us (Mt. 1:23).
  19. End of the Law: Jesus kept the Law for sinners (Rm. 10:4).
  20. First and the Last: Jesus has always existed (Rv. 22:13).
  21. Firstborn of Every Creature: Jesus is ranked higher than all created things (Col. 1:15).
  22. Firstborn of the Dead: Jesus was the first to rise with a resurrected body (Col. 1:18).
  23. Friend of Publicans and Sinners: Jesus loves those who are not loved (Lk. 7:24).
  24. Good Shepherd: Jesus is willing to die for His sheep (Jn. 10:11).
  25. Helper: Jesus will come to those who call upon Him (Hb. 13:6).
  26. High Priest: Jesus prays for believers (Hb. 3:1).
  27. Higher than the Heavens: Jesus cannot be touched by sin (Hb. 7:26).
  28. Holy One of God: Jesus defeats demons by the power of the Spirit (Hb. 4:34).
  29. I AM: Jesus quotes Ex. 3:14 to show he is God (Jn. 8:58).
  30. Immortal: Jesus is not affected by the power of death (1Tm. 1:17).
  31. Jesus: The Lord saves (Mt. 1:21).
  32. King of kings: Jesus has authority over the rulers of this world (1Tm. 3:15).
  33. King Eternal: Jesus was never created (1Tm. 1:17).
  34. Lamb Slain: Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins (Rv. 13:8).
  35. Lamb Without Spot: Jesus is sinless (1Pt. 1:19).
  36. Lamb of God: Jesus was sacrificed by His own Father (Jn. 1:29).
  37. Last Adam: Jesus is the first example of one with a spiritual body (1Cor. 15:45).
  38. Life: Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe (Jn. 11:25).
  39. Light of the World: Jesus opens the eyes of those in darkness (Jn. 8:12).
  40. Lord of the Harvest: Jesus will send out evangelists if we ask him (Mt. 9:38).
  41. Man of Sorrows: Jesus experienced much grief on earth (Isa. 53:3).
  42. Name Above Every Name: Jesus is greater than all the rulers of this world (Phil. 2:9).
  43. Potter: Jesus can create humans how he wants (Rm. 9:21).
  44. Prince of Peace: Jesus desires peace with his enemies (Isa. 9:6).
  45. Resurrection: Jesus rose again and so will his followers (Jn. 11:25).
  46. Servant: Jesus chose to humble himself (Phil. 2:7).
  47. Shield: Jesus protects us (Ps. 18:2).
  48. The Word: Jesus is the speech of God (Jn. 1:1).
  49. True Vine: Jesus helps us to bear fruit (Jn. 15:1).
  50. The One Who Is to Come: Jesus will return to earth one day (Rv. 1:8).

Review: Father of Faith Missions

Posted on by
Reply

Robert Dann, Authentic Media, 606 pages, 5 of 5 stars | Full Summary HERE.

Father of Faith Missions is the story of Anthony Norris Groves and his life as missionary in Persia and India.

What makes the book so spectacular is the way Dann unpacks dozens of themes around the life of Groves: suffering, apologetics, the life of George Muller, child raising, money, church planting, language study, Islam and so forth.

Groves was a man ahead of his time. He never served under a church denomination, never was promised a salary and never received a formal theological education. He lacked much. What he did have, as he liked to say, was the promises of God.

Groves was born in 1795 in the south of England. He married at age twenty-one and soon opened a surgery as a qualified dentist. Converted just before age 30, Groves wrote a little 28-page booklet just one year later. Christian Devotedness would prove to be one of the most influential Christian books of the 19th century. Continue reading →