What authority is there for re-baptism?
Question: Where does the Bible authenticate re-baptizing anyone who believed in Jesus and was baptized in His name? Answer: I know of none. Baptism is an act that is done once. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put…
Read MoreWhat lessons can we learn from Boaz?
Question: The relationship between Boaz and his workers was enviable. Is it possible today? Why or why not? Answer: The story of Boaz is found in the book of Ruth. While you appear to think highly of Boaz’s relationship with his servants, there is actually little material to draw upon. In Ruth 2:4 we see Boaz giving…
Read MoreIsn’t vegetarianism the ideal for man?
Question: Hello. I recently read your article and was very intrigued at your points of view. I would like for you to address two points for me: First of all, the Lord’s prayer says, “on earth as it is in heaven.” The Garden of Eden was the perfect creation. There was no sin at all.…
Read MoreThat Piece of Clay
by Forrest D. Moyer A little child has often been likened to a piece of clay that can be molded into whatever type of pottery that the potter (parent) has in mind. A little child is so pliable, so willing to be molded and so trusting. This can either be a fantastic opportunity or a…
Read MoreThe Ten Cannots
by William J. H. Boetcker (1916) You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative…
Read MoreThe Temptation
by Bob Waldron via Truth Magazine XXIII (Part 1: 31, pp. 504-505, August 9, 1979; Part 2: 32, pp. 520-521, August 16, 1979; Part 3: 33, p. 533, August 23, 1979) After Jesus was baptized, He was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The account of the temptation of…
Read MoreTell Them of My Way
by Darrell Hymel I had a dream the other night, The judgment day was here. It came in the twinkling of an eye, I had no time for fear. I found myself in one great line, With men from every land. Men from every race and age Stood like grains of sand. Christ held the…
Read MoreTake Heed Unto Thyself and Unto the Doctrine
by Homer Hailey via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 11, Sept. 1952. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine, continue in them: for in doing this though shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee” (I Timothy 4:16). These words are from the pen of Paul to the young preacher Timothy. While addressed…
Read MoreSuperficial Faith
by Dan Chambers Last Sunday, as most of you probably know, I was in Marietta, Georgia doing a seminar on “Worship” at the Piedmont Road congregation. That morning, before we left the hotel and headed to the building, I went to the hotel lobby to eat breakfast. I was stunned and heartbroken by what I…
Read MoreSpiritually Blind
by Thomas Thornhill Many years ago, a preacher who faithfully proclaimed the gospel was challenged by an unbeliever who stepped from the crowd and said, “I don’t believe in heaven or hell. I don’t believe in God or Christ. I haven’t seen them.” Then a man wearing dark glasses came forward and said, “You say…
Read MoreDoes Matthew 3:11 show that eis can be translated “because of”?
Question: If the Greek word “eis” (“for” in English) is always forward-looking, then what about Matthew 3:11? Here it says that John baptized for repentance, but the repentance would have had to have come before the baptism. After all, Mark 1:4 and Luke 3:3 states John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. Therefore, “eis” can be “because of” in Acts 2:38.…
Read MoreDo you believe that baptism could be linked to grace?
Question: Do you believe that baptism could be linked to grace? Answer: In the Bible, grace is the concept of a freely given gift; a gift that the recipient has not earned nor has necessarily deserved to receive. God’s gift to mankind was the life of His own Son. “For God so loved the world…
Read MoreIs Satan female?
Question: Please clarify for me and back up with scripture proof that Satan is not a woman. My fiancé and I are having a dispute regarding this matter. He joined The House of Yahweh and now I’m afraid that he is being led astray. I am praying for him and would like other strong believers…
Read MoreCould Jesus have said, “My God, my God, for this I was kept?”
Question: I found an article stating that Jesus’ words in Matthew 27:46 should have been translated, “My God, my God, for this I was kept!” Is there any basis for this claim? Answer: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why…
Read MoreIsn’t repentance and faith the same thing?
Question: Isn’t repentance just another word for faith? If someone were fighting and defending themselves in a brawl, aren’t the words ‘fighting’ and ‘defending themselves’ describing different aspects of the same action? Likewise, I think Acts 20:21 shows repentance and belief to be intrinsically related to the same attitudinal/belief event/process. Answer: While defensive and offensive moves may…
Read MoreWas Jesus a Vegetarian? Did Jesus Eat Meat?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton On March 17, 1999, the Omaha World-Herald reprinted a hilarious article by Bill Broadway of the Washington Post. It seems the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have launched a campaign to claim that Jesus was a vegetarian. Billboards stating “Jesus was a vegetarian. Show respect for God’s creatures…
Read MoreAnimal Rights and the Bible
by Darryl G. Treat (With special thanks to Jeff Hamilton and Dana Treat) Is it morally wrong to hunt, kill and eat animals? Do you or someone you know believe that it is? Some animal rights activists have even made the claim that Jesus was a vegetarian, and in order to show respect for God’s…
Read MoreCan a person be born gay?
Question: I was just wondering if you had any biblical defense for someone saying they are born gay. I think it’s a choice and I was wondering if any scriptures helped support this. I recently heard of a friend who had only been a Christian for a year and has now pretty much renounced her…
Read MoreWhy We Don’t Follow the Old Testament (Article)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Our Bibles are composed of two major parts, an Old Testament and a New Testament. Why were these names selected? A testament is a will or a covenant. We still use the word today when we speak of a person’s “last will and testament.” These names indicate that the Bible is…
Read MoreA Look at Pornography
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Pornography: Material that deals with sex in a rude or offensive manner. Material designed to shock the viewer in how sex is depicted. Material that is sexually explicit and intended to arouse sexual passion. The depiction of sex has become increasingly common in our society. It is rare to find a…
Read More“The Passion of the Christ:” A Review
by Ethan R. Longhenry The Passion of the Christ, a movie recently released on the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus Christ as portrayed by director Mel Gibson, has been the discussion of many in the world and also in the Lord’s Body itself. Many claims have been made about it, ranging from…
Read MoreHow do I have sex on my wedding night?
Question: How do I have sex on my first wedding night? Explain with pictures or photos. Answer: What you have requested falls into the realm of pornography. I would recommend the article “A Look at Pornography” for an explanation of why this would be inappropriate. If in the remote chance that you are somewhat serious about your…
Read MoreSlip-Sliding Away
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton When changes occur, it is common for those who bring in new ideas to reinterpret past events to prove that their ideas are really what people thought and wanted all along. Even when the changes are recent and people still remember what life was like before the changes, they just…
Read MoreHow do we know the Bible is inspired?
Question: How do we know absolutely that the Bible is the infallible and inspired Word of God? How did the Bible as we know it today come into existence? Answer: Entire books have been written on the subject of the inspiration of the Bible. It is unlikely that I will be able to address the…
Read MoreIs the Bible the only source of authority?
Question: Where in the Bible does it tell us that the Bible is the only or ultimate source of authority? I cannot find it anywhere! II Timothy 3:16 is the closest, but it does not say only! Where in history, the Bible, or the writings of the early Church was this concept ever taught? Since the church did…
Read MoreWhere is the garden of Eden?
Question: Where is the garden of Eden located? Answer: The garden of Eden is described in Genesis 2 as being located on the eastern edge of a region known as Eden (Genesis 2:8). Eden was the source of a mighty river that watered the garden and as it exited the garden, it divided into four…
Read MoreIs the Bible our highest standard for living?
Question: Do you believe the word of God is the highest standard for living? Answer: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called…
Read MoreShould I Beat My Child?
Donald P. Ames Guardian of Truth XXXI: 3, pp. 75, 87 February 5, 1987 Before you answer the above question, may I, first of all, ask if you really understood it? Webster defines “beat” all the way from “spank” to “flogging.” The Bible also uses it in a similar fashion. And, unfortunately, many people apply it…
Read MoreThe Scheme of Redemption in Type
by Bryan Vinson via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 7, May 1952. In recent articles, consideration has been given with respect to the purpose and province of prophecy in the plan of salvation. In this, we wish to proceed to the study of the character and design of type in this great and glorious system of…
Read MoreIs racism a sin?
Question: How do you embrace people of all races and remain different? Is racism a sin? Is Jesus white or is Adam black? Answer: Webster’s dictionary defines racism as “the belief in the superiority or dominance of one race over another.” The Bible teaches that there are many nationalities, but there is one genetic race…
Read MoreThe Scheme of Redemption in Preparation
by Bryan Vinson via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 10, August 1952. The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No.11, September 1952 From the moment of the conception of a remedial system in the mind of Jehovah, every phase of its evolvement and development of it was doubtless in the mind of the Almighty. With the statements of a…
Read MoreThe Scheme of Redemption in Perfection and Presentation
by Bryan Vinson via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 12, October 1952. In the survey thus far of the development of God’s purposed and planned redemption of man from sin, we have reached the point wherein the promised Messiah has come in fulfillment of Divine prophecy. While here on earth, prior to His death, He very…
Read MoreA refusal to accept that salvation came to Cornelius at baptism
Question: Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Cornelius was saved before he was baptized. There are two reasons why we know Cornelius was saved before being baptized. 1. Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before being baptized; that he had the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:13 states that he abided in God and that God abided in…
Read MoreThe Problem with Emotions
by Stan Cox Do you feel good about yourself? Your relationship with God? Do you feel good about those with whom you have spiritual fellowship? Do you have joy without measure? A peace which passes understanding? Does a smile invariably crease your face when you contemplate your eternal welfare? It does? Good! Now for the…
Read MoreA Presbyterian Preacher and a Divine Principle
by James W. Adams via Gospel Guardian, August 31, 1950 The Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest sects of protestant Christendom and occupies a most honorable position among her sister denominations. In our day, she is noted for being one of the most austere, the coldest, and the most tenacious of all parties in clinging…
Read MorePreparing to Die Well
by Gary C. Kerr via Expository Files 1.6; June 1994 One of the advantages of taking a vacation is that you can do some things you don’t normally have time to do. Since I love to read, I did a lot of “recreational” reading on a recent vacation. I especially enjoyed getting to finish a book…
Read MorePreaching the Gospel … Without Mentioning Baptism
by Foy E. Wallace, Jr. Number One Gospel Sermons, page 180 (A series of gospel sermons preached at Nashville Road Church of Christ in the NUMBER ONE Community between Nashville and Gallatin, Tennessee, February 5 to 26, 1967. By Foy E. Wallace, Jr. In the sermon on February, 26: The Story That Never Grows Old,…
Read MorePreach and Teach
by T. Pierce Brown The following statements are made in a bulletin by one who claims to be a part of the body of Christ: “There is no biblical evidence that anyone ever preached the Gospel to those who had already received it. Preaching is always associated with evangelism in that it inducts one into…
Read MoreWas Paul ever in Colosse?
Question: Is there any information or evidence that Paul was ever in Colossae? Answer: Paul did work in the region where Colosse was located, which was called Asia at that time in an area called Phrygia (Acts 16:6; 18:23). Paul also taught in Ephesus and the Bible tells us “that all who dwelt in Asia…
Read MorePlan of Salvation
by Foy E. Wallace, Jr Number One Gospel Sermons, pages 46-47. When the time came to reveal that great Plan of Salvation, God assigned that function of revelation to the Holy Spirit. God is the primitive cause of man’s salvation, he willed it. Jesus Christ is the sacrificial cause of man’s salvation, he purchased it…
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