Irresistible Grace
John Calvin taught through the doctrine of “Limited Atonement” that a person has no power to resist because what God does is change an unwilling heart to a willing heart. Calvin used Ezekiel 11:19: “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the […]
How the Spirit Works in a Christian’s Life
Indeed the Holy Spirit works in a Christian’s behalf. Much of what He does has already been completed, as studied in previous articles. Already He has given the spiritual blessings which come through Christ (Acts 2:38). Already He has revealed God’s word which is recorded in the Bible, through which one is saved, and through […]
“Lord and Christ”
The last words of Peter’s Pentecost sermon, which pricked the hearts of many of his hearers were, “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom ye crucified” (Act 2:36). The word “Lord” equals “Master”; the word “anointed” signifies one who is consecrated and […]
Division in the United Methodist Church
Over the last couple of weeks, the United Methodist Church is the latest of several mainline Protestant denominations in America to begin fracturing, just as Episcopal, Lutheran, and Presbyterian groups lost large minorities of churches and members this century amid debates over sexuality and gender issues. New York Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president of the Council […]
“We Are All Witnesses”
While the apostles waited in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come, they appointed from the multitude of disciples an apostle to take the place of Judas. In giving the essential qualifications that such a man should have, Peter said, “Of the men therefore that have companied with us … beginning from the baptism of […]
The Indwelling of the Spirit
The study of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not just academic, to determine whether or not He can dwell in a Christian; it is a powerfully practical study to see how He must dwell in a Christian. We must work diligently for the Holy Spirit to dwell in each one of us. Let’s […]
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
After Peter had declared that he and all the other apostles had witnessed the resurrected Christ, he then affirmed of Jesus, “Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this which ye see and hear” (Acts 2:33). Peter […]
Limited Atonement
As we saw in a previous post, one of the cornerstones of Calvin’s theology was the dogma of predestination. This is the notion that, consistent with His own sovereignty, God, before the foundation of the world, predetermined who would be saved and who would be lost. In view of this, when Christ died, His death […]
“Whom God Raised Up”
These were Peter’s words which showed the futility of the wicked deeds the nation of Israel had committed against Jesus. Although he was a man whom God had shown He approved of to the nation through the signs He gave Him to work, they had, by wicked hands, crucified and slain Him (Acts 2:23). His […]
Jewish Feasts and Festivals #3
In the last post we examined the new moon observance and several yearly festivals, including the Passover, Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. This final post will consider the last three yearly festivals in the Jewish culture. Feast of Tabernacles/Feast of Booths/Feast of Ingathering/Sukkoth The feast of Booths or Tabernacles was […]