May 31, 2017

The Godhead

The Baptism of Jesus

When people talk about the “Godhead,” they often use the term “Trinity” in reference to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The term “Trinity” is not in the Bible; however, that does not necessarily mean that the concept is unbiblical. Yet many believe that there is just one person of God and deny the concept of the “Trinity.”

In this article, we are going to look at what the Bible teaches about the Godhead – what it means and whether there are three persons of God or just one.
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May 29, 2017

The Real Pharisees (Part 8): The Pharisees Were Corrupt in Their Hearts

The Real Pharisees

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:25-28).

At the beginning of this study, we noticed how the Pharisees were not as careful with the Law as we tend to think – or as their reputation suggested. Jesus made a similar point in the verses above. The Pharisees would “outwardly appear righteous” (Matthew 23:28), but they were not truly righteous. Their hearts were corrupt.
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May 22, 2017

The Real Pharisees (Part 7): The Pharisees Shut Off the Kingdom of Heaven from Others

The Real Pharisees

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in” (Matthew 23:13).

We have already discussed the fact that the Pharisees had “rejected God’s purpose for themselves” (Luke 7:30) by refusing to obey Him and be saved. Therefore, they would be left out of the Lord’s kingdom. However, in addition to this, they were also preventing others from entering the kingdom.
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May 17, 2017

David Lipscomb: “No Big Preachers”

David Lipscomb: No Big Preachers

As we look back at history, David Lipscomb (1831-1917) was one of the most influential men associated with the Restoration Movement. With his work as editor of the Gospel Advocate, it can be argued that he was the most influential preacher in the South during his life. Regardless of this, Lipscomb did not consider himself a “big preacher” and did not wish to become one.
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May 15, 2017

The Real Pharisees (Part 6): The Pharisees Took Advantage of Others

The Real Pharisees

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses…therefore you will receive greater condemnation” (Matthew 23:14).

When Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for devouring “widow’s houses,” He was condemning them for taking advantage of others. However, the Pharisees did not take advantage of just anyone. Jesus used widows in His example for a reason. These were ones who typically were in need of assistance from others. Yet the Pharisees not only failed to help these ones in need, they also took advantage of them for their own benefit.
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May 10, 2017

Words Associated with Sin

Sin

There are several words in the New Testament that refer to sin. Sometimes these words can be used interchangeably because there is a lot of overlap between them. But there are also some subtle differences in their meanings. We will consider some of these words in this article.
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May 8, 2017

The Real Pharisees (Part 5): The Pharisees Rejected God’s Purpose for Themselves

The Real Pharisees

“But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John” (Luke 7:30).

People often wonder if they have some special purpose in life. Of course, we all have the same general purpose – to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). But there are few in history that have had a specific purpose from God.

One individual with this type of specific purpose was John the Baptist. Jesus mentioned him in the context of His discussion of the Pharisees rejecting God’s purpose for themselves. Jesus said, “This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You’” (Luke 7:27; cf. Malachi 3:1). When John came, he had a specific purpose – to prepare the way for Christ.
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