Month: April 2016

Grace

Understanding Galatians – Part 1

The first step in correcting a problem is admitting you have one. In the first twenty years of my Christian walk, you never would’ve convinced me that I was in the same boat the Galatians were in when Paul chose to write to them. Yet, that’s exactly where I was. Now it’s as if a veil has been lifted and I understand that salvation – justification in the eyes of God comes from grace through faith and not my own efforts to get everything right and shun everything that is wrong. Looking back at the book of Galatians and Romans now, I think “How could I not have seen this? The scriptures are so clear on the point.” Continue Reading

Grace, Questions

Are We Saved by Grace Alone?

I have discovered over years of study, the problem with a Pharisaical mindset or system is multi-leveled. There’s no simple answer. There’s not one scripture to point to and say, “see that one proves the system is wrong”. When you try, basically the defender of the system will simply present a seemingly contradicting passage as proof that he is right. So learning the truth is sometimes a long and slow study. It requires an open heart and mind without the constant knee-jerk reactions that naturally occur when statements contradict your current theology. Continue Reading

Assurance, Blog

Blessed Assurance

I remember the day when I realized that I wasn’t going to Hell. I grew up in a fearful tradition. One that had no assurance of salvation… we would only know once we were standing at Judgment Day. Verses would always be resounding through my head, warning me to be wary because God was just looking for a reason to send me to Hell. Continue Reading

Blog, Worship

The Silence in Scripture

Lately, one of the things I’ve been studying has been silence in Scripture and how we’re to react to it. My whole life I’ve heard the phrase “Speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent.” This principle always made perfect sense in my life. Of course, we practiced like the 1st-century church! Sunday school? Not in Scripture. Bible classes? Not in scripture. Kitchens, musical instruments, paid preacher, the list of things we didn’t have goes on and on and on. Not only were we Church of Christ… but we were the REAL Church of Christ because we didn’t let in the additions that some of our weaker brethren did. People would ask me, do these additions matter? Of course, they do! What about Nadab and Abihu using a fire not commanded? What about poor Uzzah who got struck dead for trying to steady the Ark? Of course, we don’t know if anyone will go to Hell because they have Sunday School, but… better safe than sorry. Continue Reading

Blog, Fellowship

Turn the World Upside-down

Act 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

I’ve always loved this description of Paul’s preaching. Christians were so well known that they were considered to turn the world upside down. To have changed everything. And thank God for that. But why did the message of Christ turn the world upside down? What was there that was not around before? Continue Reading