Ancient Truth

Does Miraculous Healing Occur Today (Part Three of Three)?

Does Miraculous Healing Occur Today (Part Two of Three)?

Does Miraculous Healing Occur Today (Part One of Three)?

In the first century church, there was a (rare) phenomenon known as baptism in the Holy Spirit. Is it still in the church today?

This is a fresh look at the vital topic of Christian unity.

Before the national elections in the U.S. in November of 2024, the cultural and moral state of the nation looked very bleak. Now, there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. But there is much to do. We Christians must try to bring about another Great Awakening.

What does Scripture teach with respect to illegal immigration? Que dice la biblia tocante los indocumentados?

Salvation is by faith. Faith is the act of believing. But what does this really mean? Most people just assume it means holding in one's mind and heart the correct propositions about Jesus and his way. It is thought of as mental assent to the truths of the gospel along, perhaps, we a warm "feeling" of trust. (But is trust really a feeling?) In the Bible, "to believe" is used in two basic senses: minimalistically to refer to mental agreement and maximalistically to refer to compliance with all the conditions given by grace for pardon under the New Covenant.

Is one interpretation of Scripture just as good as another? Is it impossible for us all to understand the Bible in the same basic way?

Peter was not a perfect man but he was a great man. He was not the first pope nor the head of the church. Yet he was a leading apostle within the circle of the twelve. This is a study of his ignoble fall and his courageouos repentance. We learn a lot from Peter.

The great reformer Martin Luther taught classes in Saxony at the University of Wittenberg. An assignment for one term was the Epistle to the Romans. Luther had long struggled with the idea of earning one's way to heaven via the many meritorious works of Roman Catholicism. Moreover, he was heavily influenced by the teachings of Augustine and believed in the bondage of the human will. Luther's big problem was reading Romans through the glasses of contemporary problems (like Romanism's sale of indulgences, simony, etc.) and not understanding the book in its original setting or context. Paul was not dealing with the kinds of meritorious works being promoted in Luther's day. Rather, he was talking about the Judaizers who insisted on binding parts of the law of Moses on Gentiles (esp. circumcision). "Works of the law" have to do with those works among Paul's opponents in his own time. Luther arrogantly added "allein" (alone, as in "justified by faith alone") in his translation of Romans 3:28. It is not in the Greek. It was not in the Latin. It was added by Luther himself. This translation error has vitiated the entire Reformation. Paul isn't against any and all human effort, just the Judaizers.

From a physical standpoint, the shed blood of Jesus during his crucifixion at Calvary is not a pretty scene. On the other hand, it is the most precious event in all history.

Many confidently believe in the perseverance of the saints doctrine as articulated by Augustinian-Reformed Theology. Their preacher assures them that once you are saved you are always saved, no matter what. Salvation in that scheme is unconditional. But the entire Book of Hebrews belies that belief. It is preeminently the book about conditional salvation. It is the Book of Ifs.

Will good moral (and religious) persons be found in hell? If so, how can this be? Is it enough merely to be good? No. One must be washed in the blood of Christ. Let's learn how that happens.

The only hope for salvation from sin is the blood of Jesus. Has the merit of Christ's death at Calvary already been applied to the whole human race? Is universalism true? No. Has it been applied only to the "elect?" Is Calvinism true? No. It can potentially be applied to anyone who makes contact with it. But how contact the blood? At which point is the sinner saved?

Good King Josiah of Judah was a major reformer. He helped get rid of pagan accretions to worship (idolatry), immorality, and effected a back-to-the Bible campaign. As commendable as his reform efforts were, they were too little, too late. Is this or fate today?

October 7 was a fateful day for many innocent Israeli families. Islamic terrorists from Gaza maimed, killed and kidnapped persons for no other reason than their ethnicity or nationality. Was this horrible event predicted in the Bible? Do prophecies point to the modern state of Israel and such horrendous events? Let us examine this question candidly.

Did Jesus command baptism? Yes, Matthew 28:19-20. Ought I obey Jesus? Yes. We're already pretty close to the inevitable conclusion that obedience to Christ, including to the command to be baptized, is essential for salvation. But suppose there is another way. Maybe one could be saved without obeying Christ's command. Do we think so? And if so, which commands are optional and which are not?

It is controversial to ask about this issue. Do women have the biblical right to impart religious instruction in a formal way (public discourse) where men are present? Should we seek an expanded role for women in today's church?

Who killed Jesus? Why?

It's trendy today to assert that God accepts any and all religious viewpoints as just alternate routes up to the final summit of grace. Is that so? Or might it be true, as Christians have traditionally held, that there is only one true religion recognized by God, the religion of Christ? What about the destiny of the unevangelized?

Is the Bible the only voice of God today? Or does He speak to us directly from Heaven? This is an extremely important topic.

Questions abound about whether God approves of the divergent beliefs and practices found throughout the so-called "Christian world" today. But there is a way that must be right and cannot be wrong.

Many aver that Jesus' account of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16 is nothing but an allegory or parable and teaches no certain lessons about the afterlife. Is that true? Will the minutes succeeding our own demise by like those described in this passage?

This is another look at the ideological and cultural threats to the family.

Which is the best explanation for the origin of the universe and all life therein? Is this material world all that there is or is there some reality that transcends the space-time-matter-energy continuam? These are really binary options. These propositions constitute "strong disjunction." Falsify one, and the other is thereby established. This is an apologetic for the existence of God.

This is an exegesis and homiletical application of Jesus' teachings in Matthew 7:21-23.

Protestants tout the cherished doctrine of justification by faith. But was Luther right when he interpolated in his German translation the word allein (alone) as in "justified by faith alone?" What is Biblical justification by faith?

Recently, the left has considered physical force and even gratuitous violence to be a legitimate tool of political "persuasion." These anarchists, Antifa, BLM, etc., don't mind hurting or killing innocent people or tearing up property acquired from honest and hard work. Their tactics must be exposed and opposed by right thinking people. What does Scripture have to say about this? Does "might make right" or are there higher principles?

The left's assault on the family is relentless. But Bible believers must push back. God intends for the home to be formed with a heterosexual couple, husband and wife. Ideally, children will be born of this union. How can pop culture be content with glibly using the bland description of "Baby Daddy" for an irresponsible male who impregnates a woman but doesn't act out his part as a "father?" The Baby Daddy is destroying the very core of culture.

President Donald Trump is well known as a superb deal maker. That is a useful skill to possess. But do you possess it, my friend? Do you allow yourself to get the best end of the bargain? For example, would you trade your soul for the world? If so, you didn't come out on top!

Biblical teachings about the need for continued sanctification of the Christian imply that free will is not lost in conversion and that a child of God could so sin as to be eternally condemned. Calvinism denies this and asserts instead that the believer is eternally secure or "once saved, always saved."

Believers in Christ must be united (John 17:20-21). But we aren't. How fix this situation? Some say, "let's agree to disagree." And only the "essentials" matter. But what are the essentials? Is there no common ground? In fact, there is a "way that must be right and cannot be wrong." In good conscience, there are many things one religious group does that other groups couldn't do. But there are things we can all do in good conscience (if we believe the Bible). And there is our starting point, the way that must be right and cannot be wrong. Let's begin with these things and work toward ultimate harmony.

Many say, "one religion is as good as another." But today there is an aberrant group known as the "Church of the Jedi." They claim to be jedis (a la the Star Wars series). Is that group just as right in its claims as Bible-believing evangelical Christians?

Two major approaches to Biblical interpretation are found today. On the one hand, the strict constructionist seeks the author's original intent and ferrets out ways those principles apply today. He wants authority for what he does in religion and tries to avoid adding to or taking away from the Word of God. On the other hand, the left-winger loosely construes the text to mean whatever is trendy for the times. He doesn't need explicit or implicit authority for what he does. if Scripture doesn't explicitly condemn an act (for example, in worship) then he thinks it is alright. Thus, there are theological liberals and conservatives. But, what was Jesus in that regard? We will see that Jesus himself was the preeminent fundamentalist or conservative Bible believer. We should imitate his approach to Scripture.

Corruption abounds. Cheating is everywhere. Society suffers for it. And the nation will be lost if the trend isn't reversed. The fundamental virtue upon which rest the others is honesty. Dr. Phillip Gray discusses this issue in a half-hour presentation designed to inform and motivate us to do better and trade in truth alone.

The question of personal assurance of one's salvation is perennial and always disturbing (for some). Can we know? If so, how? Salvation is conditional. It is conditional for initial justification and remains conditional for continued sanctification. Man is endowed with freedom of the will. We must exercise it to stay faithful to God until the end.

Amos the prophet warned the northern kingdom of Israel in the long ago, "prepare to meet thy God, O Israel!" He meant that a judgment day awaited them. It finally fell on them in the Assyrian invasion. But his warning is just as applicable for our modern culture and for the same reasons (sins) outlined in the prophecy.

Jesse Reagan presented a stirring sermon one Sunday as he substituted for his uncle, Phillip Gray.

An up-to-date analysis of the parable of the prodigal son with key principles for current controversies.

When am I forgiven by God? In which moment am I freed from sin's guilt? Is it at the moment of belief (faith alone)? Is it upon my repenting? When is it. Let's study how the Bible answers.

The parable of workers in the vineyard contains many valuable and relevant lessons for today's hot button issues.

Nadab and Abihu were two priestly sons of Aaron, Moses' brother, who died violently before the Lord during the dedication of the tabernacle in the wilderness. What did they do wrong? What was their sin? It is the same sin committed regularly in churches today who approach God in worship without proper authorization.

Jesus met a young wealthy ruler who manifested special qualities. Jesus seemed to take a real "liking" to him. The young man wanted to know what he needed to do further to have eternal life. He lacked something in his life. This illustrates that being a good moral person is not of itself enough. Do you lack something in your life that may prevent you from having eternal life? If so, what is it? And how correct it?

Dr. Geisler was a great Christian apologist. He published many books in his lifetime and presented many helpful lectures. However, on the question of Christian unity and the essentials of the gospel, this great scholar made significant blunders from a biblical (and practical) point of view.

Odd title. But it summarizes important episodes in Biblical history that illustrate three great principles involved in the salvation of the human soul: grace, faith and obedience. God has not changed. Thus these basic principles remain.

Clearly, the modern nation of Israel is a lone democracy surrounded by hostile despotic regimes. Israel is a friend to America, and well it should be. Politically, this is the right stance to take. Her values are much more closely alligned with ours than many other nations of the world. However, there is a problem in the contemporary Christian world. A number of prominent spokesmen have begun to advocate a theory that is best described as "Christian Zionism." Now, "zionism" is often used by haters of Israel as a perjorative. In some way, they think it describes an unjust occupation of Palestine. I am not using the term in any way remotely akin to this negative connotation. Rather, there are preachers who are totally misinterpreting the New Testament plan of salvation. They don't understand the difference between the Mosaic covenant and the New Covenant of Christ. The implications of their beliefs are very dangerous. In fact, this is a major heresy that must be answered.

The left holds onto a woman's so-called "right" of abortion tenaciously. This seems their one nonnegotiable. No matter what, they will cry for abortion to remain legal in as many jurisdictions as possible. Under the euphemism of "reproductive rights," they push the agenda that a mother must be allowed to take the life of her unborn if she so desires. But abortion is just the proverbial tip of the ideological iceberg. It is just a conceptual avatar of a much broader issue.

Are you in church? Are you in the right church? How could such a question be answered? Let's to a look at Scripture to find out.

There is a great day coming, a day to end all days. Christ will return. The dead will be raised. And we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. I think most of us deep down sense that this is going to occur. This isn't mysticism or a noncognitive way of knowing. What I mean is that we humans realize we've messed up our world big time! And since we are made in God's image, we understand that a judgment must ensue to right all wrongs. Are you ready for that great day?