Christians and the Call of God

…ye also the called of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6)

Paul wrote this to the Roman believers and it emphasizes an important part of the Christian’s role.  Every believer in Jesus Christ is called by Him.  The Greek word translated “called” basically means “invited”, but within the context is better understood as “divinely appointed”. Continue reading

Do Only Christians Go To Heaven?

This is a loaded question.  The answer can start a firestorm of outrage over one’s intolerance and close-mindedness.  Let me say that I am not intolerant or close-minded, at least not in the traditional sense.  However, I do believe in absolute truth.  Also, I do believe in logic.  Finally, I believe that the Bible is true and, as a result, that Jesus Christ is the perfect incarnation of God.  That said, let’s answer the question, “Do only Christians go to heaven?”. Continue reading

Featured Resource – Week of 06/03/2012

The Minor Prophets by Charles L. Feinberg

Moody Publishers, 1990
360 pages
ISBN 10: 0802453058

They are those books of the Bible that you rarely hear anything about.  The last 12 books of the Old Testament, collectively known to us as the “Minor Prophets”, contain some of the most overlooked and yet vitally important passages in all the Bible.  Other than a few passing references, most Christians know little about these prophets.  Sure, most of us know the story of Jonah, but how many know much about Obadiah?  Or Amos?

They are called “minor” not because they are less important, but rather simply because they are comparatively shorter than the other, more lengthy books of the prophets, such as Isaiah or Ezekiel.  This book by Charles Feinberg guides you through the riches of these prophets.  He will reveal much about the writers themselves, their times, and the great themes of each of the 12 Minor Prophets. It is a very helpful book that will shed light about a too often neglected portion of Scripture.

The Kind of People You Want on Your Side

When I was a kid, we would often play games where we would have to pick teams.  We would elect two captains who would begin to take turns picking who they wanted on their team.  The picking was often strategic.  For example, the captain not only wanted good players, he also wanted team members who would be loyal to the team and would follow his leadership. Who would you want on your side?

When Saul was king of Israel and after he had rebelled, God told Samuel to anoint David to be king.  Saul, being who he was, continued in his rebellion and tried on a number of occasions to kill David.  David stays on the run during this time and gathers an army of followers.  These men help him evade capture and also fight the enemies of Israel.  The ultimate goal, however, was to turn the kingdom over to David as God desired.

1 Chronicles 12:23 And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD. Continue reading

How God Justifies Sinners

Justification is a key doctrine in Christianity.  The basic problem is: (1) all human beings are sinners and (2) God is holy and must judge sin.  Justification has to do with how God justifies sinners (declares them to be righteous) so that they can be accepted by Him.  The following is one of many verses that address this doctrine.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Continue reading