July 1, 2006

The Love of the Truth

“Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10).

Those who do not possess a love of the truth will be lost. Their fate will be the same as the “lawless one” – the one who acts contrary to God’s revealed will who will be slain by the Lord. Why is it that we need to have a “love of the truth” in order to be saved? What will a love of the truth cause us to do?
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: , , , , ,
July 1, 2006

The Spirit of the Law vs. The Letter of the Law

American Law Digests

“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).

“But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans 2:29).

In these verses we see the contrast between the “Spirit” and the “letter.” This topic comes up in discussions with liberal brethren regarding their departure from the New Testament pattern. Those brethren use these verses to justify their practices and condemn so-called “legalism.”
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: , ,
June 28, 2006

Paul’s Utilization of the Aeropagus

[Article written by Matt Nevins. Originally published in his email newsletter “The Lamp.”]

No one who believes the Bible denies the need to spread the gospel of Christ. Paul said the gospel is God’s power to save those who will believe (Rom. 1:16). We understand the accounts contained in the book of Acts where the gospel was proclaimed by individuals (Acts 8:4), and at times when the saints assembled as the local church (Acts 20:7). However questions have been raised as to whether an organization separate from the local church has any right to hold a forum for the proclamation of the gospel. All things said and practiced need to have the authority of Christ to support it (Col. 3:17). The call for authority is needed, and this writer will call for it as zealously as others have done so in the past.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With:
June 1, 2006

The A.D. 70 Doctrine

The A.D. 70 Doctrine is one that will spring up from time to time. This happens so infrequently that teaching on the subject is often ignored. Therefore, many Christians do not know about the doctrine or what it teaches. Recently, however, this doctrine has found its way to the area of the author and has even been the cause of some trouble among brethren. Perhaps this issue has not arisen in your area. It is still good to study the issue to be prepared whenever it does arise so as to not be led astray and hopefully be able to help those who have been deceived. This study has been put together to help us understand the issue so we might more easily distinguish what is true from what is false.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: , ,
June 1, 2006

Jesus Christ: Prince of Peace

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

There are many terms and titles used to describe Jesus throughout the Bible. A few are found in the passage above. Isaiah, in prophesying of the birth of the Messiah, spoke of Jesus’ wisdom, power, deity, and eternality. But notice the last name – “Prince of Peace.” Jesus is the one who would bring peace. After His birth, the heavenly host proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14).
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: , , , ,
June 1, 2006

Calling on the Name of the Lord

Baptism

The Scriptures plainly teach that calling on the name of the Lord results in salvation. Nowhere is this affirmed more plainly than in Romans 10:13 – “For ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” I would imagine that the vast majority of professing Christians believe that we must call on the name of the Lord in order to be saved. The point in which we have controversy is how we call on His name.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: ,
June 1, 2006

Was Jesus a Liberal? (Part 3)

Was Jesus a Liberal? This is the accusation we set out to address. We have looked at His approach to Scripture, events in His life, and various teachings of His law. Do the things we have noticed fit into the definition of what it means to be “liberal”? Let us reexamine the terms used to describe the concept and see if Jesus fits the pattern.

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: , , , ,