Will One Go to Hell Because He Is Not Baptized?
by Thomas Thornhill In studying with people about God’s plan of salvation, the title question has been asked more than once. How would you answer the question? My answer has always been “No!” Are you surprised? You may be thinking, “Doesn’t one have to be baptized to be saved?” “Yes, one has to be baptized…
Read MoreTruly Enlightened!
by David Gibson Since ancient times, down to our day, certain religions, philosophies, and secret societies have promised enlightenment to their initiates, granting them an inside knowledge unavailable to the uninitiated. Some of these groups have even threatened with death any initiate who would dare to reveal their secrets. In Christ, however, there are no…
Read MoreI Did Not Marry a Christian
Author Unknown Several months ago, an article appeared entitled “I Married A Christian.” I read the article with great interest, and it drove home some very sobering thoughts. As I read the article, I could not help but think of what a contrast my own life was, for you see, I didn’t marry a Christian.…
Read MoreWhy did Isaac want to bless Esau?
Question: Hey there. Regarding Genesis 27. Why does Isaac intend to bless Esau when the prophetic voice had already declared, “The older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23)? Also, why does Isaac twice indicate that he suspects that Jacob is pulling a trick on him, yet does nothing? It seems very peculiar. I understand that…
Read MoreWhat God Wants Us to Know
by Joe Works God wants us to know what He wants us to know! Obvious? Maybe. And yet we are tempted to focus on what He has not revealed and become disinterested in what He has revealed. Remember, Deuteronomy 29:29 has two parts, and it would greatly benefit us to accept both. “The secret things…
Read MoreMake Melody in Your Heart
by Terry Wane Benton Text: Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16 These two familiar scriptures on singing spiritual songs are set in a context of a “time of reformation,” in which the carnal and earthly temple and instruments are given their spiritual fulfillment in Christ. In contrast to the Old Testament or “first testament” (Hebrews 9:1) that…
Read MoreI wrongly accused you of focusing too much on sexual content
Question: Dear Minister, This is a little late, but some years ago, I wrongly accused you of focusing too much on sexual content. I am sorry, and I ask for your forgiveness. I have been reading your posts for years and have learned a lot. Please forgive me. Answer: I didn’t take any offense. I…
Read MoreDo Not Fear
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Do-Not-Fear.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio
Read MoreThe Kingdom Came
by Terry Wane Benton In Daniel 2:44f, the kingdom of heaven was coming. But four earthly kingdoms were on the docket to come before this very special kingdom. Daniel explained to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, that his kingdom would be left to the Medes and Persians (the second kingdom on earth before the heavenly…
Read MoreGreater Privileges Mean Greater Accountability
by David Gibson The following principle, stated by Jesus, I take with utmost seriousness because I know how directly it applies to me: “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (Luke 12:48). In the verses preceding this…
Read MoreHow can I restore my relationship with a brother?
Question: Dear Bro. Hamilton, I trust you are doing well. Thank you for the great work you continue to do in the Lord’s vineyard. I’m writing to seek your opinion on an issue that has been troubling me. A brother offended me, and I reached out to him directly to address the matter. However, he…
Read MoreShould a Christian study demonology?
Question: Good day Jeff, I have a question concerning demonology. Is it right for a Christian to study demonology (operations of demons), considering that fallible men teach this area of study? Shouldn’t we rely on the information the Bible provides us with? Thanks. Answer: The Bible is our only source of information regarding the spiritual…
Read MoreLittle Johnny Is Not Paying Attention
by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. I am going to say something firmly—then I am going to back it up with facts: Stop allowing your smartphones, iPads, or TV to babysit your young children! It’s affecting their spiritual (and secular) education. Yes, some of the content is pure evil or trash—but that lesson is for another day—consider…
Read MoreWhy Everything Is Personal Now—and Why Disagreement Is Treated Like Sin
by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. We are living in an age when disagreement is no longer viewed as a difference of thought—it is treated as a moral failure. If you don’t hold my position, you are not just wrong…you are evil, unloving, or sinful. Every discussion is personal. Every debate is emotional. And every challenge feels…
Read MoreShould children be bringing food donations to the front of the church?
Question: Hello, I am hoping you can help us with some insight into a situation happening in our local body. During the worship service, during the time of offering, the children of the congregation are invited to come up and donate food items to the church’s pantry. Many members of our body have had issues…
Read MoreIs it grace that someone survives an accident?
Question: Good day, sir, When the Bible talks about grace or mercy, does it only refer to salvation? Many people mention grace when someone survives an accident, but grace is used for everything. Thanks. Answer: Grace is a gift given to you because the giver wanted to give it, not because you earned it or…
Read MoreMy son is communicating with his unrepentant mother
Question: Dear Brother Hamilton, Good evening, Brother. I’m writing to you because I am dealing with complex family matters and need prayer, wisdom, and book-chapter-and-verse guidance. Recently, I learned that my eldest son has been in communication with his mother, who remains unrepentant. He says he is trying to convince her to repent and turn…
Read MoreIs my husband committing fornication?
Question: I have a very serious yet difficult question to ask. Because this situation is very complicated, I really feel the need for sound biblical guidance. My husband is a cross-dresser, and he is very weird. I didn’t realize the depth of his sexual desires when we married. In fact, it wasn’t until we bought…
Read MoreWhen Did Baptism of the Holy Spirit Change?
by Terry Wane Benton At the beginning, when Jesus performed the baptism that no man could perform, baptism with the Holy Spirit, people knew it because of the powerful miracles from heaven that attended it and demonstrated it. They knew Jesus did this from heaven because there was a display of miraculous power from on…
Read MoreHow Great a Love!
by David Gibson One of life’s greatest blessings is knowing someone loves us, despite our faults and failures. I never doubted that my parents loved me, or that my wife loved me. And doesn’t their love have a way of bringing out the best in us? We don’t want to disappoint them–especially if they have…
Read MoreWhy Should It Be Convenient?
by Jimmy Clark “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25). Paul spoke to Felix about “the faith in Christ” (Acts 24:24). That faith struck at the heart of…
Read MoreFinished Work of Jesus
by Terry Wane Benton Argument: “Baptism is an act of obedience, not a means of salvation. To tie baptism to salvation is to add our own works to the perfect, finished work of Jesus.” Answers: Mark: But Jesus did tie baptism to salvation (Mark 16:16), and so did Peter (Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21). The…
Read MoreWhy I Believe the Bible
by Keith Greer Today, God’s book is under attack from many enemies. Even some in the church question the Bible’s validity. Why should we believe the Bible? Allow me to present, for your consideration, a few of my reasons for believing. It Is Completely Honest Consider the honesty of the things revealed in the scriptures.…
Read MoreChurches Preparing for Elders
by Don Bunting via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 If a prophet is not without honor, except in his own country (Matthew 13:57), then it should not surprise us that it is difficult for churches to appoint and submit to elders. While we may dream about qualified men moving in from elsewhere, reality…
Read MoreThe Nature of the Kingdom of God
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of…
Read MoreI Will Remove Its Hedge
by Joe Hickman via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 I recently had the opportunity to travel to Mozambique. While there, I noticed an abundance of bushes covered with enormous thorns. Sometimes these thorn bushes were just sitting in no particular place, as though waiting to give a big surprise to anyone passing by.…
Read MoreSin within the church
Question: Dear Sir, What does the Bible teach when a wife sins against her husband first? She committed impurity (not immorality) with a younger man in the church. Afterward, the husband committed immorality with a younger woman who was a member of the church. The wife repented of her sin, broke the relationship, apologized to…
Read MoreSatan Loses
by Hugh DeLong Chapter 12 of Revelation is like one of the old ‘Up Close and Personal’ segments on the sports show. We are given a historical overview of Satan as the adversary of God’s people. Again, remember that this is written in symbolic language, so it is hard to tell whether these events have…
Read MoreSomewhat Scientific Thoughts on the Origin and the Age of the Earth and on Evolution
by Hans Waetjen via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 19 No. 1, March 1993 There is an immense difference between the biblical record of creation and man’s current understanding of evolution. In today’s society, few people accept the biblical explanation for creation. Furthermore, current public school teaching on the origin of life and on the age and origin…
Read MoreChristians, Taxes, Honesty, and Managing Money
(or, Why Do You Think They Call It “Mastercard”?) by Mark Chatfield via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 19 No. 1, March 1993 “The credit card bill came in the mail today.” “Oh, no! It has all last month’s gifts on it.” “Yes, and the trip to Mom’s place.” “What are we going to do? $2,100.” “I don’t…
Read MoreDragons: Myth or Reality?
by Floyd Chapallear via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 18 No. 4, December 1992 “…4. any imaginary…thing spoken of as though existing” [Webster’s New Twentieth Century Unabridged Dictionary]. “Dragon, 1. A mythical monster, usually represented as a sort of winged reptile, with fiery eyes, crested head, and enormous claws, breathing out fire and smoke” [Ibid]. There you have…
Read MoreThe Positive About the Negative
by Lee Moses Many a faithful Gospel preacher has been chided for being “too negative” in his preaching. True, a preacher can certainly be overly negative, robbing Christians of the joy that is rightfully theirs by blasting the congregation from the pulpit every Lord’s Day, condemning them for sins they are not guilty of, and…
Read MoreEnthusiasm
by Tom Wacaster Ralph Waldo Emerson has been credited with saying, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Our English word is more of a transliteration from the Greek than it is a translation of the word. The Greek, “enthousiasmos” (hear the similarity?), means “possessed or inspired of God.” While the word “enthusiasm” does not…
Read MoreProgramming Children
by Michael R. Baggett “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Whether we like it or not, our children are being programmed to believe and behave in some fashion. Programming comes from the idea of programming a computer. A…
Read MoreAccording to the Rules
by Terry Wane Benton Paul said that in athletics no one is crowned unless they “compete according to the rules” (II Timothy 2:5). Being “strong in the grace” that is in Christ (II Timothy 2:1) means we are diligent to operate our lives of faith “according to the rules” unless we don’t care if we…
Read MoreThe Two Evils
by David Gibson Isn’t it sad? The way people seek after what proves counterproductive, totally illogical, and ultimately defeating. “Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate,…
Read MoreConduct That Is Worthy of the Gospel
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Conduct-That-Is-Worthy-of-the-Gospel.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Philippians 1:25-30 I. The church at Philippi had long had a close relationship with Paul. A. This is where Lydia and the Philippian jailor had been converted (Acts 16) B. Philippi had frequently supported Paul, even when others did not – Philippians 4:15-17 C. Paul wrote to them about his…
Read MoreI Attend Bible Classes Because…
by Eldred Stevens It is a delightful way to obey a scriptural command (II Timothy 2:15; II Peter 1:5; 3:18; I Timothy 4:13; John 5:39). I have a great desire to emulate first-century Christianity (Acts 2:41-47; 4:23,24; 12:12; 17:11). I have three children (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 4:9; 6:7; Ephesians 6:4). I like to be with…
Read MoreThe Proper Explanation of John 3:16
by Carl O. Cooper The fact is, John 3:16, when taken in its proper context, teaches that salvation is by works of obedience when accompanied by proper faith. It’s true! This verse, read in its proper context, does not teach “saved by faith alone.“ In reality, the context of this verse teaches just the opposite.…
Read MoreFor Want of a Nail
by Stephen Harper There is an old nursery rhyme that we may remember: For want of a nail, the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe, the horse was lost. For want of a horse, the rider was lost. For want of a rider, the message was lost. For want of a message, the…
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