You may recall my blog on DNA (about 5 months ago), which explained how in Genesis 6:1-4, during the time of Noah, I proved, Scripturally, that those verses speak of fallen angels who took on the form of men–and they married women, and had sex with them.  This was a violation of God’s law, since an angel’s seed and DNA was celestial (and immortal), but her ovum and DNA were earthly. So their babies were not truly human; they were not in the image of God—they were a perverted hybrid of angel and human.  Genesis 6:4, using the New International Version, calls their children “Nephilim,” a Hebrew word.  This was translated “giants” in some Bibles, but the word means “fallen.”  Their children were, as Scripture

You may recall my blog two weeks ago; Ken Ham, whom many of you know is the president of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum and the Noah Encounter, wrote another blockbuster book, along with polling- and statistics-minded Britt Beemer, called Already Gone. I’m a little late on this scene as well, since the book and the poll were written 10 years ago—but it’s even more relevant now, since church attendance is going down at every age level.  This survey in particular focuses on the youth scene. Let’s discuss the controversial results and conclusions he arrived at on some troubling aspects of teens and those who teach them. He first points to a Barna 2006 survey (another great pollster) of 22,000 young adults who

Scripture contains seemingly contradictory claims about receiving eternal life. Some of its verses– those we’re usually more familiar with–say eternal life is possessed right now to those born again. Such as John 5:24: Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. I John 5:13 agrees: These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. As these Scriptures suggest, all you need is simple belief in Jesus as God, and believe what

You may recall that last week I reviewed a Ken Ham book, Already Gone. It showed some surprising poll results and discussions.  Now I am reviewing another book by the same author, published two years later, called Already Compromised, with some more eye-opening poll results.  In this book, Mr. Ham’s intent was to survey 200 different Christian colleges, interviewing the president, the vice president, the head of the science department, and the head of the religion department—800 people.  But many ducked out or were impossible to reach, so his results were for 312 people. Over 2/3 of the people were from schools associated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, colleges that require all of their professors to sign a personal statement of faith. 

A great sermon by Dr. John MacArthur summarized: There was recently a survey of ‘evangelicals.’ People were defined as evangelicals if they believed the Bible, if they believed Jesus and the resurrection, the gospel, and if they felt they were responsible to communicate the gospel to other people. Those who believed this were considered evangelicals. Check this, though: the survey revealed that the majority of ‘evangelicals’ really have no idea what they believe. One survey question posed to evangelicals was, “The Holy Spirit is a Force, not a personal being”; 53% of evangelicals agreed. That would mean there is no Trinity. Another question: “the Bible is literally true,” agree or disagree? Only 45% of evangelicals agreed. Evidently, they must feel that much of Scripture is

First clue to finding the correct day: In Jesus’ time, the seventh day, Sabbath, or Saturday to us, was a day in which no real work is to be done. It followed the example of God at Creation. In Jeremiah 17:22, God says…nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. That means they had to double-gather crops for food on Friday. So Friday was called the day of Preparation. As it so happens, all four Gospels record Jesus’ death and crucifixion on a Preparation day, so He was presumably crucified on a Friday (Matthew 27:62, Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54, and John 19:14). Friday was also accepted by

Jesus gave His life, but He was not a martyr.  He was God in the flesh, and the only One who was capable to pay the price for our sin—which was/is a problem, since God is holy. He was our Sin-bearer.  Isaiah 53:4-6 gave this prophecy: Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way (NKJV); And the Lord gave Him up for our sins (LXX). Jesus has rescued us from hell, the place we deserved for our sin.  So

  We began our study of Calvin predestination last week by looking at T=Total Depravity and U=Unconditional Election.  We found both doctrines false and unscriptural.  This week we will finish the study by looking at L I and P, rounding out the famous “TULIP” doctrine.  Here we go with the letter “L.” Limited Atonement      This is the teaching by Calvin that our Lord died on the Cross only for the elect, those who were predestined to be saved.  Many knowledgeable Calvinists do not hold to this doctrine these days. How could any Calvinist defend this idea, when there are too many Scriptures that indicate that Christ died for all people, giving all a means of salvation, if they choose it.  The verses I

More churches are preaching Calvinism.  This system of beliefs is from John Calvin, a “theologian” of the 1550s. It was adopted by the Presbyterian, the Reformed, and the United Church of Christ doctrines a long time ago, and is an important tenet in about half the Baptist churches.  Most megachurches preach it, and most evangelical authors believe it.  It is a growing phenomenon among evangelical churches, according to a New York Times article (January 3, 2014).  But what is Calvinism? It is represented by the acronym TULIP: T=Man’s Total Depravity U=God’s Unconditional Election L=Christ’s Limited Atonement I=The Holy Spirit’s Irresistible Grace P=Preservation of the saints I would like to summarize each in turn, as Calvinists see them. Total Depravity, according to Calvinists, means mankind has

Getting saved is not the end of God’s design for our lives; it is a means to an end.  The end is to be a functioning member of the Kingdom of God.  We must move away from a “Save Me” religion, which is wanting something for me—rather, it should be something that God wants–a kingdom, ruled by His children. The best definition of the Kingdom is in the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven…”  We want God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.  How is God’s will done in heaven?  We have a very beautiful picture in Isaiah 6, where he is telling us that King Uzziah died.  He was a