There Is One Baptism
There is one baptism (Eph. 4:5). The scriptures speak of a number of different baptisms. There was the baptism of Israel unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (1 Cor. 10:1f). Then John the Baptist spoke of the Messiah who was to come and baptize in the Holy Spirit and Fire (Matt. 3:11). […]
Offensive Teaching
From time to time some preachers are told that their lesson or article offended someone. The lesson may have been on the errors of the Baptist church, modest dress, filthy language, false teachers or marriage, divorce and remarriage. When the complaint is lodged, it is either explicitly stated or implied that the preacher needs to […]
Did Jesus Break the Sabbath?
John 5 records the details of a Sabbath healing. Jesus was in Jerusalem and passed a pool called Bethesda which was believed to have healing power for the first person who stepped into it after there was a bubbling in its waters (John 5:3-4, KJV). He saw a man there and just as he knew […]
No Book Written by Christ
One of the complaints against Christianity lodged by skeptics is that “Jesus didn’t even write a book.” It is true that Jesus did not personally write a book for inclusion in the New Testament. The only time we know of Him writing anything, is when He wrote on the ground — and we don’t even […]
Narrow-Minded?
R. L. Whiteside wrote, “Narrow-minded? Well, a person’s mind should be narrow enough to shut out everything but the truth, and broad enough to accept all truth.” How true a statement this is! Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). He said in John 14:6, […]
The Nobleman’s Faith
John 4:46-54 records the story of a nobleman who looked for Jesus so that He would heal his son who was near death. Some confuse the nobleman with a centurion who also sought help from Jesus to heal a servant who was deadly ill. This account is recorded in Matthew 8:13 and Luke 7:1-10. The […]
Naming Groups in Sin
May we publicly identify groups of people as being in error? For instance, may we say that Baptists believe in the church-degrading doctrine of premillennialism? Or, is it wrong to lump a group of people together and tag them with the onus of error? Let the Bible be our guide. The New Testament of Jesus […]
“My Sheep Hear My Voice”
Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (Jn. 10:27). The force of this statement is that only those who “hear” the voice of Jesus and “follow” Him are of His fold, His flock. Only those who heed the commands of the Lamb can rightfully claim to be […]
The Little Word “Except”
The word “except” (ĕan, also translated “unless” and “if”) is a conditional particle. It presents a condition which must be met to bring about its explicitly stated or necessarily implied effect. If the condition is met, then the result occurs. For example, Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless (ĕan, except, ASV) your […]
Acceptable Worship to God
The Samaritan woman’s interview with Jesus brought enlightenment to her, her fellow-Samaritans, and to countless multitudes when John recorded the exchange she had with the Master (John 4). The woman came to the well for water and received information of living water which would always quench her thirst. Perceiving Jesus to be a prophet, she […]