April 1, 2006

Must the Days of Genesis 1 Be Interpreted Literally?

Genesis

The first chapter of the Bible records the first miracle God performed – the creation of the universe. This was certainly a miracle because none of the events recorded in Genesis 1 would have happened naturally without the working of God. But the Bible does not just tell us that God created the universe, it tells us how He created everything: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made…For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:6, 9). This is exactly what we see in Genesis. God spoke everything into existence. “All that He had made” was finished on “the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31). “By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all the work which He had done” (Genesis 2:2).
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April 1, 2006

Positive Preaching

Sometimes we hear people describe a sermon preached as either “positive” or “negative.” The word of God does not use these terms to describe preaching. So to get an idea what these descriptors mean, we need to look to modern dictionaries. That which is positive is “marked by or indicating acceptance, approval, or affirmation” (Merriam-Webster). Conversely, “negative” would indicate “denial, prohibition, or refusal” (Merriam-Webster). Upon looking at these definitions, it is no wonder why people generally prefer “positive” preaching.
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April 1, 2006

Modest Apparel

Woman on the Beach

Paul instructed women to “adorn themselves in modest apparel” (1 Timothy 2:9). While this teaching was directed to women, we need to recognize that the need to dress modestly also applies to men. In the previous verse, instructions were given to men about prayer. Can women also pray? Of course, they ought to; but it is particularly important for men to heed these instructions about prayer since they have a more public role in lifting up prayers. So the instruction here regarding prayer is directed to the men. In the same way, the teaching about the need to dress modestly is addressed to women. This is not because men do not have a responsibility to heed this command, but because women are noticed more for their modesty (or in particular, their lack thereof). So both men and women are expected to dress in “modest apparel.”
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April 1, 2006

Was Jesus a Liberal? (Part 1)

You may have seen it on a bumper sticker or some other place: “Jesus is a liberal.” That is the claim by some. What exactly does this mean? Is it a fair description of our Lord? We need to be careful with terms like “liberal” or “conservative.” Anyone who has studied the Bible very much knows that those terms are not found in Scripture. Generally, in the realm of religion, “conservative” means one is more careful and particular with their handling of the Scriptures and application of them. To be “liberal” means one interprets the word of God more loosely and takes liberties in application of Biblical principles.

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March 24, 2006

Are You a Preacher or a Pastor?

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

The Scriptures affirms its inspiration of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and that learning what is presented reveals a portion of the mind of God (1 Cor. 2:11-13). Therefore when we read ‘if any man should speak, let him speak as the oracles of God’ (1 Pet. 4:11), the man that speaks as God will use God’s diction and within the context that God has spoken. So when questions arise about the function of a preacher, a pastor, deacon, steward, Christian, a local congregation, etc the answer must be put forth in terms complimentary and harmoniously to what God has already spoken. Any worthwhile, sincere study must have this foundation laid before approaching the Scriptures.
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March 1, 2006

Accepting the Exception of Matthew 19:9

Matthew 19 records an instance when a group of Pharisees came to Jesus to test Him. They did this on many occasions. This particular time, they asked Him about divorce: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” (Matthew 19:3). Some believed that a man could put away his wife for just any reason. Others believed the only lawful cause for divorce was adultery. They wanted to see which side of the controversy Jesus would take. Incidentally, we see from Jesus’ response in the following verses that when controversy arises, we need to side with the truth, not a particular party or sect. Therefore, we must look at each issue objectively, determining what God’s word teaches before choosing sides.

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March 1, 2006

Spiritual Warfare

At various times throughout the New Testament, our duty as Christians is compared to that of a soldier in battle. The Ephesians were told to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11). The evangelist Timothy was told to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) and “suffer hardship…as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3). Later, Paul said he had “fought the good fight” (2 Timothy 4:7). As Christians, we are involved in this conflict here on earth.

This is a theme that is continuously emphasized in the New Testament. Another passage that speaks of this is found in Paul’s second letter to Corinth:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

For this article, we will focus on what this passage teaches us about the war in which we are engaged.
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