Should you baptize someone who doesn’t plan to be a member of the church?
Question: I read Baptized but Not Converted on your site, but I have a more specific question. After a long study with some ladies, they all came to the conclusion that baptism was essential for salvation. One of the ladies, right before she was baptized, indicated that she wouldn’t be attending services. Should she have been…
Read MoreWould I be able to remarry?
Question: Your website is wonderful and I am learning a lot! I have seen similar questions but not quite the same. I’m not sure if I was a believer at the time of my marriage or afterward. I grew up in the church and knew who God was but I did not have the Holy…
Read MoreI love her, but she remains with her boyfriend
Question: Good day, I joined a church for close to a year now. There’s this particular lady in the church I like and wished to get closer to her to know if she’s free and available for marriage. Eventually, we got talking and it was as if she also had been waiting for me. She…
Read MoreWhen is “faith” referring to the system of faith (the Gospel) or personal faith?
Question: Dear Brother Hamilton, When “Faith of Jesus of Christ”, “by the faith of Jesus of Christ” is mentioned in Galatians 2:16; 3:19-28; and Romans 3:22 is it referring to the objective faith (gospel) or personal faith? The American Standard, ESV, and other versions translate it as Faith in Jesus Christ? Is it referring to…
Read MoreDid eating from the forbidden tree give Adam and Eve intelligence?
Question: After Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, they realized they were naked. Is it not that some kind of intelligence that was revealed in their mind? I am saying this because chimpanzees and other animals move around nude without realizing they are naked. Answer: Intelligence was already shown in the complexity of…
Read MoreIs it wrong to not consider myself a part of any specific religion?
Question: I wonder all the time if I am wrong to not consider myself to be of any specific religion. I know Jesus is our Lord and I believe in him, but when someone asks what my religion is I do not know what to say because I do not like the war that separates…
Read MoreI’m worried that I wasn’t baptized properly
Question: Hey, I’ve been reading your articles about baptism and asked my Christian parents to baptize me. They were very kind and asked me if I believed in Jesus. I did everything right, except I’m very worried I was not under the water properly. They keep saying I was so I try to believe them,…
Read MoreTruth and Law
by Terry W. Benton Today there is lawlessness going on at elevated proportions. Even churches that have claimed to be “of Christ” have been divided by a spirit of lawlessness. Some misuse “we are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:15) to give the undiscerning a scripture on which to justify their rebellion against…
Read MoreThe Church of Christ in 1771
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton In a book titled, “A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia” by Robert Baylor Semple, published in 1810 is a copy of this journal entry: “Wednesday Morning — Met and proceeded as follows: The church of Christ on Black Water, in Bedford, having sent neither letter…
Read MoreRemember Lot’s Wife (Walker)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Remember-Lots-Wife.mp3 Download Audio by Ralph Walker Was Lot’s wife’s death an unfair result of a simple reflexive action? Preaching the Bloody Bible
Read More“Junk DNA” Refuted
Source: “Oxford Journal: ‘The Days of ‘Junk DNA’ Are Over’ ,” Evolution News and Science Today, 6 October 2021. Source: Casey McGarth, “‘Junk DNA’ No More: Repetitive Elements as Vital Sources of Flatworm Variation,” Genome Biology & Evolution, Oxford University Press, October 2021. Genome Biology & Evolution, published by Oxford University Press, stated in an article…
Read MoreObligations of Grace
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Obligations-of-Grace.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 18:21-35 I. Every person is important! A. “Well, of course!” You might be thinking. “I’m glad someone sees my worth.” B. But Jesus told a parable – Matthew 18:12-14 1. When one person gets himself into trouble, it is God’s will that he be rescued, if possible. 2. And that will mean…
Read MoreExplain the statement in Job: “God giveth and God taketh away”
Question: Explain the statement in Job: “God giveth and God taketh away.” Answer: “He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD'” (Job 1:21). Job realized that we didn’t bring anything with us…
Read MoreWhat is Arminianism?
Question: Good morning Jeffrey, I’m having an issue understand something. A lot of the denominational world is under the assumption that if a person is not a Calvinist, then they are an Arminian. What is an Arminian? I’ve thoroughly studied Calvinism and its faults, but I can’t seem to find much info on Arminianism. I…
Read MoreChanging My Mind
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Changing-My-Mind.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 7:15-20 I. Solomon observed about the miser that it wasn’t the man’s words or his actions that made him a miser, but his thoughts – Proverbs 23:6-7 A. People too often say things that they don’t mean B. Given motivation, they may do things that they would rather not do…
Read MoreThe Reality of Satan
by Doy Moyer “Satan” is a descriptive term that means “adversary.” “Devil” means “slanderer.” These terms aptly describe the being who is known as the enemy of God and His people. The first encounter with the devil is seen in Genesis 3, where the creature here slandered God’s severity by telling Eve that if she…
Read MoreAre Examples Authoritative?
by Jefferson David Tant There is a school of thought among us that Biblical examples are good and instructive, but that an example is not authoritative, i.e., that we cannot bind examples today. I have seen that argument made concerning the Lord’s Supper. While one writer, a young preacher I have known for many years…
Read MoreWhy are references to the same speech worded differently?
Question: Hi, I had a question regarding the Gospels and in particular certain parts of them. I was comparing the words written in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and I believe Luke 21. I noticed these all talk about the same situation but the wonder I am having is why the words are different. Some parts…
Read MoreShould a Christian Gamble?
by R. J. Evans In 1931, the state of Nevada legalized most forms of gambling. The city of Las Vegas, in particular, became the center of gambling in the U.S. Over the course of time, it has been referred to as “Sin City”, which is not surprising. Now, the city has developed a marketing catchphrase—…
Read MoreThe Desire for Justice
by Doy Moyer Justice is an idea that is not made of materials. It is not something we can physically hold, scientifically measure, or weigh with scales. It is conceptual, grasped only by the mind, and based upon an even more foundational notion about right and wrong, good and bad (which also are non-material). Even…
Read MoreNo Condemnation (2)
by Ken Green “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his…
Read MoreWhat can we pray to remove a curse?
Question: Dear sir, I am in my mid-30s and I am unmarried. My two older siblings are also unmarried. I am working but my siblings have no jobs. We live with our uncles, aunts, and their children. Recently, my dad died of a heart attack. One of his brothers died from COVID last year and…
Read MoreSet Your Mind
by Doy Moyer How Christians think and what they think about are critical in determining how they live. Once we decide that we will live for Jesus and sanctify Him as Lord in our hearts (I Peter 3:15), we are making a priority out of thinking about things that are excellent and worthy of praise…
Read MoreNadab, Abihu, and Strange Fire
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Nadab-Abihu-and-Strange-Fire.mp3 Download Audio by Ralph Walker Did God execute these two men over a simple exchange of fire? Fire is fire, isn’t it? Preaching the Bloody Bible
Read MorePreaching the Bloody Bible
by Ralph Walker There are portions of the Bible which trouble even the most faith-filled of us – stories of blood, brutality, and barbarism. Those stories and commands provide opportunities for the enemies of God to attack His goodness and ethics. This series explores some of those troubling passages. These lessons are provocative and intense…
Read MoreElisha’s She Bears
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Elishas-She-Bears.mp3 Download Audio by Ralph Walker Did the prophet really unleash two bears to kill a host of little boys? For making fun of his baldness? How sensitive can a prophet be? Preaching the Bloody Bible
Read MoreNoah and the Flood
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Noah-and-the-Flood.mp3 Download Audio by Ralph Walker A worldwide flood? Destroying all humans except eight people? Seriously? Preaching the Bloody Bible
Read MoreHoly War
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Holy-War.mp3 Download Audio by Ralph Walker How could a just God order His people to slaughter whole nations, including women and children? Preaching the Bloody Bible
Read MoreUzzah and the Ark
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Uzzah-and-the-Ark.mp3 Download Audio by Ralph Walker Was Uzzah really executed for an involuntary reflexive action? Preaching the Bloody Bible
Read MoreSacrifice and Drink Offering
by Doy Moyer After Paul encouraged the brethren to do all things without grumbling or disputing so that they could be lights in a dark world, he also wanted to have confidence that, in his own influence, he did not run or toil in vain (Philippians 2:16). He then made this statement using a metaphor…
Read MoreSegregation Disguised as Diversity
by Joe R. Price The Bible says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The gospel overcomes societal sins of inequality and injustice between races and cultures (Colossians 3:11). Our unity in Christ does…
Read MoreWhat I Would Say To My Children
by Jefferson David Tant Raising children is, I believe, one of the greatest responsibilities God has given us. By God’s design, a man and a woman have created something which will never cease to exist — a spirit that has been made in the image of God. Can you imagine the awesome feeling of responsibility…
Read MoreKing and High Priest Now
by Terry Wane Benton Premillennial thinking is that Jesus was not able to set up His kingdom in the first century like He planned, postponed that plan, and will come back again later to set up His kingdom on earth and reign for 1000 years. That is a mistaken view. Another view is that of…
Read MoreThe Corinthians’ Error on Baptism
by Perry Hall “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (I Corinthians 1:17 CSB). When people today use this passage to discredit the place and importance of baptism, ironically they make the same mistake as the Corinthians but for a different reason. Paul’s actual defense of baptism shows that…
Read MoreHow do we save our relationship without having sex until marriage?
Question: Hello there! I recently came across your article about couples that have committed sexual sins before marriage and how they still worked out and still have room for hope. My loved one and I are wanting to get married. We plan on getting married but with going to college, getting out of our debts,…
Read MoreEvidence of the Divine Authority of the Bible
by Benjamin Franklin The Gospel Preacher, Vol. 1, Sermon 1, 1870 Text: “To whom he showed himself alive, after his sufferings, by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:4). The Evangelist Luke, author of the book styled Acts of Apostles, made the statement just read, and now selected as a text for a discourse on the Divine…
Read MoreWhat Is Your Purpose?
by Jefferson David Tant Do you ever wonder: What is my purpose? Something remarkable happened in Fremont, California. Karen Cheng, age 17, received a perfect 1,000 on both sections of the S.A.T., and a perfect 8,000 on the tough University of California acceptance index. This had never happened before. She was a straight-A student, and…
Read MoreWho is Romans 12:13 talking about?
Question: Good morning, I came across a comment that was made on a particular verse: Romans 12:13, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” Could you please comment on who it is that is distributing the needs of the saints? And that of given to hospitality. In Greek, this “given to hospitality,” is…
Read MoreGrowing Deeper
by Ken Green “Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me” (Psalm 42:7). The 17-18th century Scottish novelist, playwright, and poet, Sir Walter Scott wrote of the Bible: “The most learned, acute and diligent student cannot, in the longest life, obtain an entire knowledge…
Read MoreEvangelism Motivators
by Jefferson David Tant Adapted from Clarence Fell Evangelism is essential for growth. If we don’t do the work then no work gets done. Unfortunately, our attitude is not always good toward evangelism. We get tired and discouraged because we see little success in our efforts. Then the devil steps in and starts whispering, “What’s…
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