Born of Water and the Spirit
“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’ Jesus answered and said […]
“Nones” on the Rise
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reports that the number of Americans with no religious affiliation is on the rise. One important factor behind the growth of the religiously unaffiliated is generational replacement, the gradual supplanting of older generations by newer ones. Among the youngest Millennials (those ages 18-22, who were minors in […]
Hating Organized Religion
A fairly recent article reported that the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life said that for the first time in its history, the United States does not have a Protestant majority. One of the major reasons is that the number of Americans with no religious affiliation is on the rise. The percentage of Protestant […]
Fishers of Men
Jesus said to Simon and Andrew in Matthew 4:19, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In Luke 5:5, when Jesus told Simon to let down his net for a catch, Simon replied, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down […]
“To Boldly Go”
Star Trek has been a part of American culture since 1966. In the futuristic world of Star Trek, there is no problem that cannot be solved, and no place that cannot be explored. Even its title sequence said, “To boldly go where no man has gone before.” Exciting stuff, but Star Trek is a fantasy […]
Those Who Won’t Be Saved by Baptism
If someone diligently follows the Bible, they will no doubt learn that baptism will wash away their sins, thereby saving them (Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21). However, men and women have many ideas about baptism now. Because of this, baptism is practiced but it’s not effective. Digging into scripture can show […]
The Marvels of Mercy #4
The fifth marvel of mercy is that God would be willing to be so longsuffering. It is fitting that this marvel is discussed last because the longsuffering of God is perhaps the greatest marvel of all (Matthew 23:37; 1 Peter 3:20). That is what Peter was speaking of when he said that God is “longsuffering […]
The Marvels of Mercy #3
The third marvel of mercy is that God would condescend to reason with sinners. Man is but the “dust” of the earth (Psalm 8:3-4; 103:14). The fact that God offers to reason with us shows how unreasonable we have been in turning away from His will (Isaiah 1:18). God has made rich provisions for our […]
The Marvels of Mercy #2
The first marvel of mercy is that God would forgive at all. Man sinned in the beginning because the devil came in the form of a serpent and deceived Adam and Eve right after God expressly told them not to eat of the tree (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:4-5). Why should we expect a God who is […]
The Marvels of Mercy #1
The Seven Wonders of the World was a list made by the ancient Greeks of the most amazing structures of the ancient world. When one pictures the great pyramid of Giza, the hanging gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the colossus of Rhodes, the lighthouse of […]