The Bible teaches us that we need to have authority for all that we do. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3;17). Jesus spoke of some who did things in His name, yet were guilty of lawlessness (Mt. 7:21-23). One who is guilty of lawlessness is one who engages in a practice that had not been authorized by God. Some who practice lawlessness believe they are doing good, such as the ones Jesus talked about. So instead of arrogantly claiming that we have a right to do something, we must take an honest look at the Scriptures and see if the practice in question really has been authorized by God in His word. I believe it would be good to take time to see whether or not this work, the Plain Bible Teaching website, is authorized.
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Is This Website Authorized?
Always Giving Thanks
Around the time of the Thanksgiving holiday, we are reminded of how richly we have been blessed by God. James wrote, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17). Of course, we should be “always giving thanks” (Ephesians 5:20), not just during this time of year. But the holiday serves as a good reminder for us.
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Rethinking Divorce
Time.com recently posted an article titled, An Evangelistic Rethink on Divorce. The article discusses the fact that divorce, which was once looked down upon, is now accepted and defended among many religious people. Some have come to accept divorce by ignoring the Scriptures. But the article talks about those who try to use the Bible to condone it.
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Will We Recognize One Another in Heaven?
This is a question that many people have. Nowhere does the Bible specifically say we will recognize in heaven those we knew on earth. On the other hand, it does not specifically say we will not, either. So if we want to answer this question, we need to see if there are any implications in Scripture that suggest whether or not we will recognize one another in heaven.
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Husbands and Wives: Distinct Roles and Responsibilities
God’s ways have been rejected by many in our society on a number of issues. The marriage relationship is one such example. The rampant divorce rate, calls for same-sex marriage, and couples living together and engaging in sexual relations before/without marriage all demonstrate a disregard for God’s plan. In addition to these more apparent things, there are also attacks against the God-given roles and responsibilities in marriage. Let us consider what the word of God has to say about these.
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The Unchanging Standard of Truth
“What is truth?” This is the question Pilate asked of Jesus when He was brought to him (John 18:38). Throughout the ages, people have searched for and inquired about the truth. Truth is that which is right, that which can be believed and accepted. The Bible helps define truth for us.
Jesus told His disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). We see some irony in Pilate’s question. He asked what was truth while he had the one who was the embodiment of truth standing before him. Before this question, Jesus told Pilate, “For this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). Notice in each of these verses the singular nature of truth – “the truth.” There is only one truth, not different truths for different people, places, or times.
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