Article
Creation: Necessary Biblical Inferences
by C.G. “Colly” Caldwell via Truth Magazine, Vol. 52, No. 5, May 2008. The points we bring to your attention in this article are clearly taught in Scripture. They are, however, also necessarily inferred or implied by the very fact of Divine Creation. When one by faith accepts that Almighty God created all things other than…
Read MoreThe Consequences of “Imputed Righteousness” per Calvinism
by Dudley Ross Spears “Imputed righteousness” is an integral part of classic Calvinism. It is the doctrine affirming that the personal righteousness of Jesus Christ is instantly transferred to a sinner at the point of “saving faith.” Accordingly, the believer ceases to be the old vile sinner he was and forthwith becomes a new and…
Read MoreThe Conclave
by Dudley Ross Spears The death of the man called “John Paul II” has put the Roman Catholic Church in the position of electing a new “visible head” of their church. The late Karol Wojyhla was elected to be the 264th “visible head” of all Catholics around the world. He was elected by the “College…
Read MoreClothing Doesn’t Matter?
Joe R. Price The outcry over Britain’s Prince Harry wearing a Nazi uniform to a costume party has been loud and boisterous. No doubt the young prince has been reminded of the life and death struggle for freedom his countrymen and the world fought and prevailed 60 years ago. The stench of millions of innocent…
Read MoreChurch Kitchens and Fellowship Halls
by David Riggs Church buildings with kitchens and fellowship halls are quite common today because the social gospel has gained acceptance in the minds of many. In fact, more and more churches of Christ are running headlong in that direction with complete apostasy being the only outcome. Unauthorized There is absolutely no Scriptural authority for…
Read MoreThe Chief of Sinners
by Ethan R. Longhenry “Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should…
Read MoreCharacter: The Essential Quality of Leadership
by Jim Deason via The Jackson Drive Reporter, Nov. 15, 2009 He saw it happen but somehow it didn’t register in his mind. The peanut butter was in the cart, but somehow it never made it to the conveyor belt that carried it by the cashier. The bag boy just picked it up, unpaid for,…
Read MoreCan We Have Too Much “Positive” Preaching?
by Greg Gwin We readily acknowledge the importance of positive preaching. Brethren need the “comfort of the Scriptures” (Romans 15:4). Paul sent Tychicus to the Ephesians so that he could “comfort your hearts.” Timothy was dispatched to Philippi (Philippians 2:9) and Thessalonica (I Thessalonians 3:2) in order to comfort the brethren. Clearly, this kind of…
Read MoreBut You Don’t Have Elders
by Karl Diestelkamp via Think on These Things, January-February-March, 2011, Volume 42, Number 1 No telling how many times brethren, who are working hard to worship God in truth and purity and to preach the gospel and to work in every scriptural way, have heard these words from brethren who move into their area. Wouldn’t every…
Read MoreHas the Second Coming of Jesus Already Occurred?
by Tony Mauck via Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 7, July 2008 2008 is already half over and “all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation” (II Peter 3:4). From the mere standpoint of human observation, “A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:4). Day after day,…
Read MoreA Bit of History
by Jefferson David Tant While looking through an old paperback songbook, I found a page written by Austin Taylor, a song leader who often traveled with my grandfather (J. D. Tant) and other gospel preachers to lead singing during gospel meetings. He mentioned the favorite songs of several preachers. I do not know when the…
Read MoreA Biblical View of Marriage and Homosexuality
by Doy Moyer Christians should be able to define clearly what the Bible teaches are marriage and sexuality, particularly in a cultural climate that increasingly defends homosexuality. This is really about what the Bible teaches, so let’s walk through this a little. Before looking at the biblical case, we need to consider a foundational disjunction.…
Read MoreBeware of Satan’s Tactics
by Rickey Shive via Lost River Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 2, June 8, 2008. The book of Job is a marvelous piece of ancient, Scripture Although scholars are uncertain who the author of the text actually is or the exact time period when it was written, they have speculated that it may be the oldest book…
Read MoreBecause It Is Right
by Jim R. Everett Reward incentive motivation permeates our society. People respond to rewards just like little puppies do. Some parents think only in terms of rewarding their children, and, they even reward them for being bad. When a parent says to a little child, “If you will quit throwing a temper tantrum, we will…
Read MoreBaptism for the Dead
by Joe R. Price Mormons contend that the New Testament church practiced baptism for (on behalf of, in the place of) the dead. Their attempted justification of this hinges, in part, on an understanding of I Corinthians 15:29. However, their defense of baptism for dead people goes beyond that. They affirm that after death one…
Read MoreBaptism and the Blood
by T. Doy Moyer The blood of Jesus saves us from our sins: the blood was “shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). What does baptism have to do with the blood? Peter preached, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of…
Read MoreApostolic Succession (Dockens)
by Bryan Matthew Dockens A number of religions practice so-called apostolic succession. Roman Catholics believe the man they call “Pope” is the successor of the apostle Peter. Mormons claim twelve to fifteen apostles at all times. Many Pentecostal congregations identify their preachers as apostles. Such claims are totally inconsistent with the scriptures. The Apostles of…
Read MoreWhat Saves Us from Sin?
by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 28, July 11, 2008 We are not saved by one thing to the exclusion of all others, for there are many factors that work out our salvation. Rather than focus on just one passage that speaks of our being saved, we must learn the truth of…
Read MoreWickedness Before Our Eyes
by Wayne S. Walker “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me” (Psalm 101:3). There is an old warning, “What you see is what you get.” We might also say that in a sense, “What you see is what you…
Read MoreWhat Bible Passage Teaches Monogamy?
by George Hutto via Tidings, Vol. 23, No. 7, July 2008. Monogamy is the marital rule of having only one spouse. Polygamists say that a person can have more than one spouse at the time, such as the Muslim practice. The teaching of the Bible on this subject will be considered in a moment, but…
Read MoreYou Didn’t Say Not To
by Carey Scott Remember when you were young and you were sent to the store for a particular item? When you got home with that item and some other goodies, you were challenged as to why you bought more than that one item. You answered; “You didn’t say not to”. This was met with a…
Read MoreWould This Marriage Work?
by Bobby Duncan For some time the late brother G. C. Brewer wrote a series of articles in the Gospel Advocate in answer to questions received from readers of that journal. A number of these articles were published in 1941 in a book entitled Contending for the Faith. As would be expected, some of those…
Read MoreWorks in the Book of Romans
by Irvin Himmel via Truth Magazine XXIII: 2, pp. 43-45, January 11, 1979 Frequently Paul mentions works or deeds in his epistle to the saints at Rome. Whatever he means by “works,” the term expresses something opposed to grace and faith. He insists that justification does not find its source in works. Let us take a look…
Read MoreWhen and where can women teach today?
by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 21, May 23, 2008. Question: When and where can women teach today? Answer: “Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law” (I Corinthians 14:34). Earlier in…
Read MoreWhy Was God About To Kill Moses?
by Terry W. Benton The text of Exodus 4:24-26 seems oddly placed, but it is a separate paragraph from the rest of the text. Moses has been commissioned to go back to Egypt where the Israelites are and tell Pharaoh to free them. Moses thought of excuse after excuse, which angered God, and then made…
Read MoreWhich Baptism Is Referred to as the One Baptism of Ephesians 4:5?
Adapted from an article by Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 20, May 16, 2008. Question: Which baptism is referred to as the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5? Answer: Some people want to refer to this baptism as a spiritual baptism. I have never been able to understand what one means by the…
Read MoreWhy I Left the Baptist Church (Rouse)
by Larry Rouse In the fall of 1973, I had no intention of leaving the church in which I was raised. On the contrary, I had recently publicly professed my faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized on the same day. I could well be described as “on fire” for the Lord. I was quickly…
Read MoreWhoso Findeth a Wife Findeth a Good Thing, and Obtaineth Favour of the LORD
by Sally Anne Perz Text: Proverbs 18:22 Next to God, the most important person in a wife’s life is her husband. Often wives are guilty of holding their husbands to their own expectations and standards or comparing them to other men. Learn what kind of a man you are married to—and remember that you were…
Read MoreWholesome Adultery?
by Sherman Wilson In the Saturday, June 24, 1995 issue of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, our local daily newspaper, the entertainment section contained a capsule review of the movies currently showing in our city. I quote from the review of The Bridges of Madison County: “From Clint Eastwood comes a wholesome romance about adultery.” Now I ask,…
Read MoreWhen the Mormons Call
by Johnie Edwards via Truth Magazine XXIII: Part One (31, pp. 503-504, Aug. 9, 1979); Part Two (32, p. 514, Aug. 16, 1979); Part Three (33, p. 537, Aug. 23, 1979); Part Four (34, pp. 552-553, Aug. 31, 1979) Most communities have had a visit from young men calling themselves Mormon Elders. They teach that the Mormon…
Read MoreWhen Looking for a Preacher
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (II Corinthians 10:12). Paul had many frustrations with false teachers in his day. The focus was taken off the accuracy of what Paul…
Read MoreWhat Kind of Flood?
by Edwin L. Crozier via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 1, Jan. 6, 2008. I have heard Bible believers debate the flood. I use the term “Bible believers” loosely here because some of these so-called believers can’t seem to accept the Bible for what it says. Genesis 6:17 says, “I will bring a flood of…
Read MoreWhat Goes Around …
David Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 56, No. 8, Feb. 23, 2007 While preparing for a cookout on July 3, 2006, a Delaware man decided to use gunpowder rather than charcoal lighter fluid to get the coals glowing in his grill. This “unorthodox” fire preparation method blew up on him, and he suffered burns on…
Read MoreWas Judas Really a Traitor?
by Bob Prichard via House to House, Vol. 17, No. 5 In conjunction with “Easter season:’ the National Geographic Society released an ancient document dubbed the “Gospel of Judas.” In their news releases, National Geographic indicated the information in this third-century papyrus codex threatened the “official” doctrine of the church by offering an alternative view of…
Read MoreWarnings
by Gilbert Alexander A dozen sirens wailing a warning of a coming tornado cannot save the lives of those who do not heed. Warning that a dam is beginning to break under the pressure of floodwaters cannot save a city of ten thousand living directly below the dam if they do not heed and seek…
Read MoreUnforgiven
by Bryan Matthew Dockens I sincerely desire the forgiveness of those who’ve done me wrong. Like Stephen (Acts 7:60), and Christ before him (Luke 23:34), I pray that God will forgive those who have harmed me. I do not forgive them, though, unless and until they repent. This does not make me sinfully “unforgiving” (Romans…
Read MoreThe Ultimate Deception
by Tom Wacaster On a hot August day in 1950, a con man visited a small Oklahoma town, telling the people that he was an advance man for a circus that would soon arrive in three days. He put up handbills and sold tickets to a circus that did not exist. It was a “scam,”…
Read MoreTrue Reverence for God
by Gilbert Alexander Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images A man dressed in splendid robes, with chains of gold about his neck and a great ring of gold on his finger, stands before a multitude of people, an ornate miter upon his head. In one hand, he holds a golden censer with burning incense in it,…
Read MoreThoughts on Recycling Sermons
by Steve Mathewson How much life should you get out of a sermon? When is it appropriate to preach it again to the same congregation? How much change should you make when you preach it to another congregation? I’ve thought about these questions during my sermon preparation this week. I’m currently preaching through Ephesians, and…
Read MoreThings You Will Never See at a Pentecostal “Healing” Service
Author Unknown One raised from the dead, like Jesus did (John 11:38:44). The blind made to see, like Jesus did (John 9:1-12). The deaf made to hear, like Jesus did (Mark 7:31-37). An ear restored, as Jesus did (Luke 22:49-51). A leper cleansed, like Jesus did (Matthew 8:1-4). Restoration of a withered hand, as Jesus…
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