“How Come the Samaritan Woman Knew that Jesus was a Jew?”

A Question I Was Asked You ask how the Samaritan woman already knew that Jesus was a Jew (John 4 9). Undoubtedly Jesus betrayed the fact that He was a Jew by his mannerisms, accent or behaviour. However, we should not assume that the sum total of the words which initially passed between them are in John 4 7-9.

What Does 'Holy, Catholic Church' Mean in the Creed?

The Question How would you handle the following part of the Apostle's Creed I believe in the holy catholic church the communion of saints. As it says in those university things, discuss. Reply It means what it says. All Christians must support the concept of one holy catholic church. Always remember that 'catholic' simply means universal.

3 John 2; What is the Meaning?

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).It is indeed lamentable that this typical farewell message from the apostle John to Gaius the Elder has been picked up and distorted by so many during the last few years.The truth is, this message is little different to one which we use all the time today, 'I trust that this letter finds you well.' 'Prosper' here in the Greek simply means something like 'to go well with you.

Why Did The Lord Allow Men To Have Concubines And/or More Than One Wife?

It is Obvious From the Old Testament that Some Men Had Several Wives and Sometimes Several Concubines as Well. Why Was a Man With Several Concubines Considered an Adulterer First of all let us consider concubinage. We may start off by considering some comments from the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible 'Concubinage was practised in many ancient cultures, especially in Mesopotamia where a private citizen might have one or two concubines in addition to his primary wife a concubine was often a slave...

What Is 'realized Millenialism'?

While the museltof christian ministries group of web sites maintain that any of the three main views on the millenium are permissible for the Christian, here is a superb biblical defense of the view which we hold. It is written by William Kilgore.In reading this fine piece of writing it is occasionally necessary to realise that William writes from an American perspective where pre-millenial dispensationalism has a huge following among baptists.

Evangelicalism - Fundamentalism; WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Actually the difference between these two terms is rather important, as we shall see Somebody said to me, As far as I can see, fundamentalism and evangelicalism are really the same thing You are Bible-believers, and you will only change on some point of teaching if you believe that your previous biblical understanding was in error (though you don't do that too often ), but you never change in order to be more 'in tune' with modern society (unlike liberals).

How 'First Day Sabbatarianism' Entered the Church...

The New Testament makes it plain that strict and legalistic sabbath-observance could never be part of the life of the New Covenant Church of God (Matthew 11 28-30 Matthew 12 1-8 Mark 2 27 Romans 14 5-17 Galatians 4 10 Colossians 2 16-17 Hebrews 1 1-2 Hebrews 8 13), nevertheless (and perhaps inevitably) Sabbatarianism has affected many Christians.

Who Was the Mother of Ham's Son Canaan?

Nobody knows since Genesis 8 and 9 never tell us but obviously not every single child born to Shem, Ham and Japheth after they came off the ark are mentioned, the daughters are certainly unmentioned. Therefore, Ham would have married a sister or half-sister. According to The Book of Jubilees, Noah's wife was called Emzara, Shem's wife was called Sedeqetelebab, Japheth's wife was Adataneses and Ham's wife was Na'eltama'uk. And that is as far as we can go with it.

Why Did the Lord Regret Making Saul King? Since He is God, Surely He Could Have Prevented It?

Okay, we need to look at 1 Samuel 15 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions. Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night. (1 Samuel 15 10-11). Saul sometimes showed a great reluctance to carry out divine orders from God, he tended to 'interpret' orders in his own way. Yes, this included his showing mercy where the Lord did not wish mercy to be shown.

The Origin Of The Worship Team

In many contemporary churches, whether charismatic or noncharis-matic, the choir has been replaced by the worship team. Such churches have sanctuaries that boast few religious symbols except possibly banners . At the front of the stage is a simple podium, some plants, amplifiers, speakers, and lots of wires. The dress is usually casual. Folding chairs or theater seats typically are used in place of pews. The standard worship team includes an amplified guitar, drums, keyboard, possibly a bass...

The Wise Men And The Star

(From 'Creation Today') The event is recorded in Matthew 2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem. When did the event take place The actual journey of these wise men could easily have taken a long time. It would appear from Matthew 2 7 that the star, which the wise men had seen, had appeared at the moment of Jesus' birth. But the wise men had arrived after the birth.

Do Roman Catholics Really Believe that Unbaptized Babies are Damned?

A Question I Was Asked Do Roman Catholics Really Believe that Unbaptized Babies are Damned Reply The short answer is No. The official answer of the Roman Catholic Church to this all-important question was actually recently revised in 2007, when the International Theological Commission released a ground-breaking report, and Pope Benedict XVI approved it's findings.

Is it a Sin to Smoke?

The Question I have now these two questions for you, please Is a sin to smoke cigarettes Is it a sin also to sell common cigarettes in the grocery store or distribute them in another way Thanks a lot for your answers. Reply Okay, let us get this plain. It is not a sin to choose to be a smoker 'smoking' does not equate with 'sin.

The Early Church Fathers And The Sabbath

Forward and Introduction As many of our visitors will know, I came out of a seventh day sabbath observance group many years ago.I have long wanted to get an article out about the errors of the seventh day sabbath approach, but time to put together the in-depth look at the subject has not been forthcoming. However, my good internet friend, Rolaant McKenzie (once a Seventh Day Adventist), has written a lot on this subject, as has our ex-Seventh Day Baptist friend, Tom Warner.

In Genesis 31, Why Did Rachel Steal Her Father's Idols?

A Question I Was Asked In Genesis 31, why did Rachel steal her father's idols Was she an idol-worshipper Reply Okay, let us look at this When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household gods. (Genesis 31 19). The Bible text doesn't shed too much light on Rachel's motivation. It only states that she stole the idols. There are a few theories regarding why Rachel stole her father Laban's idols. 1. She was an idolator (idol-worshipper) herself. 2.

The Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause

The two religion clauses of the First Amendment appear at the beginning of the Amendment. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religionor prohibiting the free exercise thereof (the Free Exercise Clause). As constitutional scholar George Goldberg stated, It was equally agreed that, just as the federal government should be prohibited from telling people how to worship, it should be prohibited from telling them how not to worship.

How Could Zechariah and Elizabeth Be 'Blameless Before God' When 'All Have Sinned'?

My question is, how is it that in Luke 1 5-6, Zechariah and Elizabeth (the parents of John the Baptist) were both blameless before God, obeying Him in all the commandments, if there is none perfect before God, no human being that never sins Reply Firstly, don't we all use words or expressions in a slightly differing way at times Why should the Bible writers be any different Okay, let us consider this 5.

'Grace Communion International' MUST Be Clear About Themselves and Their Past...

Armstrongist Group Moves Forward But Needs More Clarity Still a Need to be Wary As some will know, 'Grace Communion International' is the new name for the former 'Worldwide Church of God.' It is understandable that this group wished to re-brand themselves, but we really have to remember that this group (which I will mostly refer to either as GCI or WCG from now on), was the originator-group of Armstrongism, a most subversive (though not the most subversive) sub-Christian cult.

Is The Earth Only 6,000 Years Old? How Long Since Adam Was Created?

A Question I Was Asked The Question Is the earth only about 6,000 years old with a millenial Sabbath soon to come From things you have written I guess you might reject this although I know you are a 'young earth' creationist. I would be interested to know your angle on this. How long, do you think, since the creation of Adam Reply The Bible nowhere gives an age of the earth. The idea that we are in a 'creation week' - somewhere towards the end of day six - has absolutely no biblical authority.

The Exile and Redemption of Sophia

In most Gnostic traditions, the purpose of the divine incarnation of the Logos is not salvation of the world. Rather, it is the redemption of Sophia, who is fallen and exiled in the world. Essentially, divine wisdom is the true nature of consciousness, which is the foundation of creatures and creation, and she is bound within creatures and creation to the dominion of the demiurgos and arckons hence in bondage to cosmic ignorance. Thus, through the incarnation, Logos enters into the world to...

Know that in God's eyes, sin is sin. But, are some sins worse than others? Are there different degrees of sin and

I know that in God's eyes, sin is sin. But, are some sins worse than others Are there different degrees of sin and punishments for those sins Someone asked me yesterday, 'You mean to tell me, that if you died this very minute, you wouldn't have some unconfessed sin in your life ' And will any unconfessed, unnoticed sin keep me from entering heaven When do our bodies become like Christ's - the moment we die And do you believe we go straight to heaven or hell, or when Christ comes back for us in...

Preaching In The Protestant Tradition

Christianity has always valued preaching as an important means of teaching congregations, offering them guidance on practical issues, and encouraging them to remain faithful. The sermon served an important devotional role during the Middle Ages, particularly in a monastic context.20 But sermons were not limited to the monastic world. A homily would be (or was meant to be) preached in each parish church at Sunday mass. These sermons were often based on biblical passages, but a tension can be...

Protestant Views On Music In Worship

Modern Protestant worship makes extensive use of music, especially hymns, choruses, and worship songs. Indeed, Protestants have become so used to singing hymns as part of their worship that many have no idea that this practice was late to develop and was accompanied by much controversy. In this section, we explore how the place of hymns in worship was significantly affected by characteristically Protestant debates about how to understand and apply the Bible. Luther saw no difficulty with using...

Protestantism And The American Revolution

The historical roots of the American Revolution are complex, and it is difficult to assign priority to any one factor as the ultimate cause of the rebellion against British rule. The burdens of taxation, the lack of due representation, and the desire for freedom were unquestionably integral ingredients in the accumulation of grievances that drove many colonials to take up arms against the king.22 Yet religious issues also played their part, not least in intensifying a sense of injustice over...

Protestant Mission And Native Americans

While the predominant model of Protestant mission in the late eighteenth century and the nineteenth century involved missionaries working abroad, it is important to appreciate that a quite different model emerged in North America as Protestant settlers encountered Native American cultures. Missionary work began in New England in the seventeenth century as Puritan settlers made contact with local tribes. The Puritan missionary John Eliot 1604-90 became interested in the culture and language of...

The Third Day in Prophecy

There is a special significance to the term 'third day' as it is used in scripture. This phrase is found 67 times in the Bible. I find that in most cases it has a spiritual or allegorical meaning related to end time prophecy. To see this you have to understand several basic ideas God's week, the last days and the first principles of the oracles of God. Hebrews chapter 5 makes reference to the first principles of the oracles of God, saying in effect that to be skillful in understanding the Word,...

What did Jesus mean by saying it is not meet to take the childrens bread and to cast it to dogs

The children referred to in these passages are the Jews - the lost sheep of the house of Israel bread symbolizes healing, deliverance and all the other salvation benefits God has provided in Christ dogs is a euphemism Jesus uses here for Gentiles - non-Jews. In this context it is not a harsh word, but refers to little dogs or puppies not meet (KJV) means not fair or not right. So in effect what Jesus is saying is that His first responsibility is to the Jews, and it is not...

Dacian Roman Christianity First to Sixth Centuries

In the territory between the Danube and the Black Sea the future Scythia Minor province , the new teaching of Jesus Christ was propagated by St Andrew. This was mentioned by Hippolytus of Rome d. 236 , by Origen of Alexandria d. 254 , by the church historian Eusebius of Caesarea, and by several later Byzantine writers. Some local place names and folklore traditions attest to the statements of these writers regarding St Andrew's preaching. According to recent findings, St Philip might have...

Common Teleological Arguments

An argument from design, or a so-called teleological argument, is one which argues from manifestations of order or providence in the world to a God who produced them.16 The Qur'an constantly invites to this type of reasoning for instance 2 164 In the creation of the heavens and earth in the alternation of night and day in the ships that sail the seas with goods for people in the water which God sends down from the sky to give life to the earth when it has been barren, scattering all kinds of...

Penance from the Sixth Century

The sacrament of penance underwent a dramatic change from the end of the sixth century Irish and Anglo-Saxon monk-missionaries, who had not known the older system of public penance, began fanning out across Europe, founding or refounding Christian communities, and introducing the 'monastic' practice of penance. This involved private confession to a spiritual father or mother , reception of an appropriate penance which was aimed more at restoring the balance of the moral universe than at...

Centred On Jesus And Mary

Any good anthology of spiritual writing witnesses to the way that Catholicism at its best and truest focuses its heart on Jesus, who came to live, die, and rise for our salvation.239 In his Epistle to the Romans, written in the early second century when being brought in chains by soldiers to face death in Rome, St Ignatius of Antioch (d. .107) showed his intense love for Christ. Being 'ground by the teeth of wild beasts' would make him 'God's wheat' and the 'pure bread of Christ' (4. 1). This...

Constantine and Sol Invictus

In contrast to Diocletian, Constantine was a tolerant monotheist. He seems to have inherited from his father a membership in the sun-god cult of Helios and his first recorded religious act was to consult the oracle at the temple of Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, at Autun in 308 C.E. On his coins he was depicted as Pontifex Maximus with representations of the sun god. He consulted haruspices and pagan priests, yet, after conquering Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 C.E., he...

Tillich and the Frankfurt School

There is an interesting and enduring connection between Paul Tillich and the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research. From 1929 to 1933 Tillich taught at the University of Frankfurt. As a professor of philosophy at Frankfurt, Tillich oversaw Theodor Adorno's dissertation on Kierkegaard's aesthetics, and later helped him secure a teaching position at the university. It was with Tillich's support as dean that Max Horkheimer was appointed in 1929 to a new chair in social philosophy at Frankfurt,...

Is Unmarried Sex Okay for the Elderly?

I just recently received an e mail which asked a question about sexual fornication (unmarried sex) and elderly people. Here are the main points of this e mail, which I have partly edited 'I know an elderly pastor whose wonderful daughter has never married because she has devoted herself to caring for him (the man became a widower 25 years ago). This man's daughter is now about 63 but still quite pretty. About 2 years ago she fell in love with a widower of about 68 and they are now very close.

Logos Christology

The stage for both the later trinitarian controversy and the christological controversies, in which the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation were forged and given creedal form, was set by the early Greek Apologists of the second century, such as Justin Martyr, Tatian, Theophilus and Athenagoras. Connecting the divine Word Logos of the prologue of John's Gospel Jn 1 1 5 with the divine Logos Reason as it played a role in the system of the Hellenistic Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria c....

Joseph The Patriarch

After studying the Bible and Egyptian history for a quarter of a century in the hope of establishing a link between a major biblical and historical figure, I shared the general view, which held that Yuya, a non-Egyptian, was not of any special importance. It was only in what in retrospect seems a moment of inspiration that I changed my view. It happened one night when, unable to sleep, I made myself a pot of tea and sat down to read, as I often did, the Old Testament. The claim by Joseph the...

Ramson Mumba and El Shaddai:

Prosperity Teaching at its Most Brazen Has Established a British Presence The Biblical Gospel is Definable, but El Shaddai Uphold a Message about'the Whole Person Spiritually, Physically, Socially, EmotionallyAnd Financially' Pastor Ramson Mumba Avery large new prosperity gospel organisation has come to London The group refer to themselves as The El Shaddai International Christian Centre, and are led by Pastor Ramson Mumba.

Sameness Without Identity And The Problem Of Material Constitution

The point of departure for our solution is Aristotle's notion of accidental sameness''. Elsewhere, we have proposed (for the sake of argument, at any rate) that the phenomenon of material constitution be understood in terms of accidental sameness.8 What we here propose is that the unity of the divine Persons also be understood in terms of this relation (or more accurately, in terms of the genus of which it is a species namely, numerical sameness without identity9). In this section, therefore,...

Do any Vestigial Organs Exist in Humans?

The standard definition of vestigial' is an organ that once was useful in an animal's evolutionary past, but that now is useless or very close to useless. The list of vestigial organs in humans has shrunk from 180 in 1890 to 0 in 1999. Evidently to salvage this once-critical support for evolution, a new revisionistic definition of a vestigial structure is now sometimes used.

Can You Explain Revelation 16:13 Please?

A Question I Was Asked Can You Explain Revelation 16 13 Please Can you please explain this verse better for me And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. Rev 16 13. Reply This is in section five of Revelation and the theme there is Judgement and Final Judgement. Maybe you understand that Revelation is divided into seven parallel sections, each with an overall theme.

The church in evangelical theology and practice

When Christmas Day fell on a Sunday in 2005, a minor religious and cultural furor erupted, as reported by American news organizations, when several leading evangelical churches decided to cancel their Sunday morning worship services. This was because Christmas was a family day,'' said church spokespersons. One leader observed that it would not be convenient for parents to have to deal with excitable children, have Christmas breakfast, and then change clothes and come to church. After all,...

Minerals in the Garden

The Pishon River, originating in Eden, flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good the bdellium and the onyx stone are there (Gen. The intent of these verses is clearly to connect in our minds the Garden of Eden with precious stones and minerals and this point is made in other Biblical references that speak of Eden. The most obvious reference is in God's statement to fallen Adam (part of which was quoted above) You were in Eden, the Garden of...

The Wall Separating Jews And Gentiles

Wall Separting Jews And Gentiles

During excavations of Jerusalem in 1871, two archaeologists, Clermont and Ganneau, discovered what is known as the Soreg Inscription. Written in Greek, the sign warns non-Jews to keep out of the temple area. It states No foreigner is to enter the barriers surrounding the sanctuary. He who is caught will have himself to blame for his death which will follow. PEYELOAlEhTfOZTOm .4 PlTOIEPoNTPY4 AKTOYKAli I nEPlBOAOYOXA AN AH , j f lt j gt OHE AYT LIAITIOH E L ,v' 1 I f-TAIAf A TO EXAKOAOY , lt OB...

The position of the United Lutheran Church in America regarding the Lodge Question is most fully expressed in the

In view of the prevalence throughout our land of doctrines which are subversive of the Christian faith and in view of the indifference manifested by many Christian people to the doctrines and principles of the teachers, sects, and organizations which seek their adherence and support and in view of the fact that through the acceptance of religious and other teachings which contradict the Gospel of Christ, the faith of Christians is endangered we declare I. That we solemnly warn all our pastors...

On Jews and Masonry

Masonry is a Jewish institution, whose history, degrees, charges, passwords and explanation are Jewish from beginning to end. Quoted from Gregor Shwarz Bostunitch die Freimaurerei, 1928 The Secret Powers Behind Revolution, by Vicomte Leon De Poncins, P. 101) Freemasonry was a good and sound institution in principle, but revolutionary agitators, principally Jews, taking advantage of its organization as a secret society, penetrated it little by little. They have corrupted it and turned it from...

Talmudic Quotes

The decisions of the Talmud are words of the living God. Jehovah himself asks the opinions of earthly rabbis when there are difficult affairs in heaven. Rabbi Menachen, Comments for the Fifth Book Jehovah himself in heaven studies the Talmud, standing he has such respect for that book. R. Johanan said A heathen who studies the Torah deserves death, for it is written, Moses commanded us a law for an inheritance it is our inheritance, not theirs. Then why is this not included in the Noachian laws...

Exploring The First Church Buildings

Because the church building was regarded as sacred, congregants had to undergo a purification ritual before entering. So in the fourth century, fountains were erected in the courtyard so the Christians could wash before they entered the building. Constantine's church buildings were spacious and magnificent edifices that were said to be worthy of an Emperor. They were so splendid that his pagan contemporaries observed that these huge buildings imitated the structure of pagan temples. Constantine...

The Origins Of The Choir

This all began to change with the rise of the clergy and the advent of the Christian choir, which dates back to the fourth century. Shortly after the Edict of Milan AD 313 , the persecution of Christians ceased. During Constantine's reign, choirs were developed and trained to help celebrate the Eucharist. The practice was borrowed from Roman custom, which began its imperial ceremonies with processional music. Special schools were established, and choir singers were given the status of a...

Ushers And The Collection Plate

Despite these problems, collecting tithes and offerings is now a part of almost every church service. How did the practice of ushers passing collection plates take shape This is another postapostolic invention. It began in 1662, although alms dishes and alms chests were present before then.' The usher originated from Queen Elizabeth I's 1533-1603 reorganization of the liturgy of the Church of England. Ushers were responsible for walking people to their seats in part to ensure that reserved...

The Earthly Mother

Another common invocation heard in the Sophian tradition is, Heavenly Father and Earthly Mother, Spiritual Sun and Holy Spirit. and this points to specific teachings that appear in the oral tradition. According to these teachings nature is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, wh h continuously labors to bring about higher and more refined forms of life hence the revelation of the Spiritual Sun or Christos in life. Likewise, nature and this organism called earth, are viewed as the manifestation...

Mother Mary

Gnostic Christianity

Among orthodox churches, Mother Mary is revered as the Mother of God the Mother of Christ, but not as God the Mother. Put bluntly, viewed as a mere intercessor between human beings anc God, she represents a rather tokenistic inclusion of the divine feminine in some forms ot Christianity. In those forms ol Christianity that revere her. there is no trui coequality among men and women, especially among the clergy. Womanhood, for the most part, remains sorely oppressed. Among Gnostics, the views of...

Natsarim and Nazirite

ARE THESE RELATED WORDS Natsar & Nazir -- A Crash Study THE WORD NATSAR There is usually some initial confusion with the words Natsar and Nazir. The original Hebrew for Nazarene is based on the root natsar, and means to watch -- this is because the area around the burg Natsareth was named for it, hence the word Gennetsaret (vale of Netsar) -- referring to the whole district. Natsarith as it is sometimes transliterated, was a community with a view. It was built on a hilltop. Natsarith's root...

The Northeast Corner and the Corner Stone

Ancient Pounding Stones Northeast

Why is, or ought to be, the first stone of any building laid in the northeast corner A. The ancients believed that the movements, conjunctions, and position of the heavenly bodies influenced not only the destiny of nations, but of individuals, and regulated all the affairs of life. Their temples were dedicated to the worship of the sun, and the whole process of their erection, from the laying of the first stone up to their completion, as well as all the details of the architecture, had...

The Word Seven

The meaning of the word seven is also indicative not only of the lunar origin of the division of time into periods determined by the phases of the moon, but also of the universality and identity of the ideas attached to the number itself. The Hebrew word schiba, seven, signifies fullness, or completion. In the Saxon, Persian, Syrian, Arabic, Phoenician, and Chaldean, the word seven has the same signification, and without doubt refers to the moon, which fills, or becomes complete, seven days. It...

Orthodox Christianity in the middle ages

Orthodox Christianity maintained and developed its own distinctive approach to Christian life. An important development of Orthodox Christianity in the Middle Ages was the movement of quietness. This practice began with Orthodox monks who engaged in continual efforts at placing themselves in the presence of Jesus. Often they would do this by praying the Jesus prayer Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Many of these monks claimed that they had attained a certain...

Sex Talk And Ancient Rhetorical Theory

Success as an orator, Aristotle observed, demands three capabilities the capacity to reach logical conclusions, the ability to observe closely characters and virtues, and, thirdly, an understanding of the emotions (Rh. 1356a). Logical argument is only one element of an effective speech sensitivity to the attitudes of the audience and familiarity with the virtues are equally important. This is the case for each of the three types of rhetoric that Aristotle identifies deliberative (au mPoul WiKO...

Does God Really Know Everything We Will Do Before We Do It?

A Question I Was Asked Does God Really Know Everything We Will Do Before We Do It Hello, I'm just wondering what your thoughts are about coincidences in the life of a Christian. The website 'Got Questions' states that when Jesus said, 'by chance a Samaritan passed by' that comes from two Greek Words referring to 'supreme authority operating in the situation.' In other words, coincidences are God ordained.

Who Were the Saints Who Came Out of Their Tombs in Matthew 27?

Who were the saints who were raised to life and came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people (Matthew 27 52-53).What happened to them after they appeared Reply We don't know because Scripture never tells us, that is, they are unnamed. Let us look at this At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.

Does John 20:23 Give Roman Catholic Priests Permission to Forgive sin?

A Question I Was Asked I have been told that John 20 23 gives Roman Catholic priests permission to forgive sin. How about that Reply Thanks for the question. Let us look at this If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. (John 20 23). So does John 20 23 mean that Catholic priests throughout the ages have been granted the authority to forgive sins No, not exactly. In the first place Jesus was talking to His disciples.

What is 'Propitiation'?

The penalty for our sins has been paid in full, and the righteousness of God has been satisfied. The just wrath of God against sin has been propitiated. The believer has placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ and God awards a verdict of 'innocent' in the court of heaven The propitiatory seat, or mercy seat, pointed forwards to Jesus whom Paul described as our means of propitiation (Roms. 3 25). Propitiation is really a very fine English biblical word.

Scientific Evidence Grows that Mind and Brain Are Separate!

Powerful Evidence that Consciousness Survives Death How Does This Impact Christianity ARTICLE QUOTE We should recall - that the apostle Paul himself did not reject the possibility of 'out of body' experiences, and in the particular example which he cites, he has no doubt that the experiencer was 'In Christ.

Is Your Trinity Article Contradictory?

A Question I Was Asked Is Your Trinity Article Contradictory The Question Regarding your article, Coping with the Holy Trinity, you state, Towards a Better Understanding of the Holy Trinity You then state, it really should not surprise us that the Trinity can never be fully comprehended by men and women while 'in the flesh.' But I presume that you write as a man who is, in the flesh, so - by your own words - you can never fully understand the trinity.

Theological Inclusivism, Exclusivism, Universalism etc, etc., What Do All These Terms Mean?

Very many are becoming confused by the increasing use of various theological terms which explain qualify quantify approaches to Eternal Life.Most writers well-seasoned in Christian evangelical theology use the terms (more or less) accurately, but an increasing number of writers appear to be misusing the terms.

Are the Fields Still White For Harvesting?

What Did Jesus Mean by His Comments in John 4 35 Are the Fields Still Ripe for Harvesting It is Time for a Biblical Answer to this Question The distinctive 'whitishness' of a crop ripe for harvesting. I have a Christian Newsletter called 'Action' regularly sent to me. This is a published by a well-meaning group who are commited to taking the gospel back out into the small villages of the UK.

Brief Biography of Herbert W. Armstrong 1892-1986

A Concise Look at the Founder of the Worldwide Church of God , Herbert W. Armstrong. Where Did He Come From What Did He Believe Herbert W. Armstrong (1892 1986) was the founder of the 1933 Radio Church of God which he later renamed Worldwide Church of God . He was chancellor of Ambassador College publisher of The Plain Truth magazine in several languages presenter of The World Tomorrow radio and television programmes father of radio-television evangelist Garner Ted Armstrong president of the...

Models Of The Trinity

As I noted above, the basic intuition underlying all traditional accounts of the Trinity is that the divine essence is somehow shareable. On the face of it, this would seem to favour those theories that allow that the divine essence is a universal. I shall argue that this is the right response, and that the reasons generally offered by those Western theologians who want to deny that the divine essence is a universal have more to do with their eccentric or at least distinctive theories of...

The Talmud Five Deaths to Jesus

Jesus, as stated in both the Talmud and Jewish Encyclopedia, gets four legal methods of execution and is Crucified as well, as a blasphemer of Pharisee Judaism. Jesus stoned, then hanged or crucified, Sanhedrin 43a-45b (Exhibit 46 and Exhibit 48) Sanhedrin 67a (Exhibit 75), where under another phony name (Ben Stada) Jesus is identified as Jesus of Nazareth. See Jewish Encyclopedia, Exhibit 277 and Exhibit 8. As to Judas, we are told (Exhibit 279) that when Judas found he could not touch Jesus...

The Separatists and the Puritans

By the early seventeenth century, England, under James I, had developed into a land of acute religious intolerance. The church governing body became increasingly concerned over two fanatical movements, the Separatists and the Puritans. The Puritans were the much larger group, but were perceived as a lesser threat to church authority because they merely wanted to purify the church from within. The Separatists were a smaller group that began as a congregation under Pastor James Robinson in...

7 Habits Of A Woman After God's Own Heart

There is only one type of woman I long to be. Maybe this comes with age or spiritual maturity. I'm not sure. There was a time when I wanted to be a different woman. The perfect woman. Being a successful woman was incredibly appealing. Dressed to the nines and her whole life is candy-coated. I no longer want to be her. That candy-coating may be sweet at first, but the bitter center was a turn-off. But this other woman, now she is incredible She is full of joy and completely at peace.

The God Delusion | A detailed summary and review of the Richard Dawkins bestseller

In recent years, the tension between competing religious beliefs has climbed to a dangerous new level. Adding fuel to the fire is The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, which reads like a declaration of war upon mainstream religion. Dawkins is one of today's most vocal advocates for atheism and his new book is a potent expression of a growing atheist viewpoint. While this book will almost certainly offend some believers, it will also bring relief to many skeptics.

Post Reformation Developments

After the initial period of Reformation activity in the first half of the sixteenth century, the Lutheran and Reformed set about consolidating the political and theological gains made by the earlier Reformers. What is interesting about this period is not simply the continued conflict between the three major confessional traditions in the West, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed, but also the fact that within each of these groups themselves similar controversial issues arose. This is perhaps...

Satan and the Prince of Hell in the Gospel of Nicodemus

This god was Herakles, the Only-Begotten One, and the Saviour. And it is he who was chosen as a model by the ingenious Fathers. Hercules called Alexicacos for he brought round the wicked and converted them to virtue Soter, or Saviour, also called Neulos Eumelos the Good On the Creed, fol. 1676, p. 225. ff Lib. 1, c. 2 Lib. de Princ, in Procoem. Advers. Praxeam, c. ii. JJ De Fide et Symbol. Shepherd Astrochiton, the star-clothed, and the Lord of Fire. He sought not to subject nations by force...

Biblical Exegesis And Trinitarian Theology

The previous chapter brought to our attention some fundamental features of Thomas' reading of Scripture Written in the faith of the Church, Scripture 1 Thus, for instance, the question of our knowledge of God 'How can we know God ' and that of our language for God the 'divine names' are not placed at the beginning of the treatise on God, but in the middle of it ST I, qq. 12-13 , after the discussions of the existence of God and of the attributes of God's being. directs us to the divinity of the...

“Openness of God” Theology

Introduction While the recent hit movie Shakespeare in Love was no treatise on theological issues, one of the main characters offered a helpful response for those of us today who find ourselves grappling with such issues. When asked a question for which he had no answer, he would simply reply, I don't know. It's a mystery. What a great answer It would certainly be an appropriate response to many a theological question today.

The Bright and Dark Mother

Above we made mention of the divine presence and power within and behind all spiritual lorces, whether divine, admixed, or demonic forces. This presence and power is God the Mothi. , for in Sophian teachings, she is the immanent aspect of divine being. Thus the Mother has both bright and dark manifestations,- she is the matrix of creation. In effect, her body is the supernal abode, the heavens, the earth, the entire domain of the demuirgos and archons, and even the infernal regions. Every...

Bonaventure

Both the Augustinian Anselmian and the Dionysian Boethian logics have crucial places in the Itinerarium of Bonaventure. But the Dionysian or Boethian contains the Augustinian. Within a threefold ascent up the wings of a Dionysian Seraph, who finally draws us to a union described in terms taken from The Mystical Theology (Bonaventure 1956, 7.5), the first step is, in large measure, derived from the De Anima of Aristotle modified by Augustinian Illuminationism. The middle step depends upon a...

Two Models of the Trinity

A commonplace of the history of doctrine has it that the East (following the Cappadocian Fathers) and the West (following Augustine) adopt radically divergent accounts of the Trinity, though it is less commonly agreed just what the differences between the accounts are. For example, it is often held in the textbooks that the Eastern view somehow 'starts from' the persons, whereas the Western view somehow 'starts from' the essence.1 As Lewis Ayres has powerfully argued, it is decidedly unclear...

The Abomination of Desolation in Biblical Prophecy

While we at the Museltof Christian Ministries group of websites are famously cautious about the use of Bible prophecy, here is a deeply thought-provoking article written by David Haggith which we put here for your reaction. David reverses the way the Abomination of Desolation Prophecy is usually viewed in a most intriguing manner If David is correct, the Second Coming could be closer that we have dared to believe Read the article with due care.

Why Higher Education Does Not Truly Serve the Nation

Why Universities Must Reject Their 'Enlightenment' Foundations in Order to Move Forward Again Think how many text books in so many subjects will need to be rewritten when we are finally forced to admit the fallacy of following the enlightenment thinkers, and most notably Darwin, down their intellectually empty blind alley.

Was the God of the Old Testament Actually a Volcano?

The Question Hi, I have enjoyed this website a lot. However, I have been looking for articles that debunk the theory that has been going around that the God of the bible was actually a Volcano due to the references to fire and a pillar of smoke in the old testament. I was wondering if you have heard these theories and what you think about them. I know that they are not true, but I would like facts to back these claims up.

Robert Jones Interviews Robin Brace

Robert Jones, pastor of Living Waters, UK. Robert Jones (1) Robin, I want to thank you for agreeing to be interviewed for Abundant Life TV. For those who have not come across your ministry before, could you tell us a little about yourself, where you grew up, and how you came to a saving faith in and through Jesus Robin I was born in Cardiff, Wales, UK in 1944 and this is where much of my childhood was spent, but not all of it, we also lived in London and Redhill, Surrey, at various times...

'In the light of Inclusivism, why preach the Gospel?'

A Question I Was Asked 'In the light of Inclusivism, why preach the Gospel ' Some missionaries have died in guilt because they felt that they might have got the gospel a bit further than they did, and their failure means eternal death for many souls that they might have reached with just one more 'evangelistic thrust' - but this paints a picture of a God who is incapable of doing anything without human help and it is unbiblical. The truth is, God does not even need human help.

Can We Limit God 's Work of Salvation to This Earth Alone?

Are There Other Planets Out There Where God Has Placed Life and Where He is Working Out His Plan of Redemption Amost intriguing question came onto my desk recently. The question concerned God, the universe and the cosmos. It raised the question of whether an omnipotent God would restrict Himself to only carrying out a great work of salvation upon this earth, rather than upon many planets.

Did Pangea Really Exist?

If You Claim to Know Nothing of the Continent of 'Pangea' You Can Get a 'Fail' The Only Slight Problem Pangea Does Not Exist Although It Might Conceivably Have Existed - in the Distant Past Did Pangea Really Exist (Click on the map above if you want a bigger view of it). There is certainly evidence that the great continents were once joined together and Genesis even contains possible hints that this was so, but can we know exactly how, or where the borders were If this is correct, did...

Mircea Eliade the Sacred and Islam

Mircea Eliade was certainly aware of the religious and political significance of the founder-Prophet of Islam, Muhammad c. 570-632 . Indeed, the subtitle of the third volume of his A History of Religious Ideas is From Muhammad to the Age of Reforms. It is in this work that he provides one of the closest and most extensive insights into his thinking about Islam and the sacred.506 His sources are varied but, by the date of publication in i9 5, already somewhat dated. They range from A. J....

Dialectical Problems Relating to Faith

To further show what a prodigious paradox faith is, Johannes poses three dialectical problems or questions implicit in the story of Abraham (1) 'Is there a teleological suspension of the ethical ' (2) 'Is there an absolute duty to God ' (3) 'Was it ethically defensible of Abraham to conceal his undertaking' from his family (FT 46, 59, 71) The main backdrop for the discussion of these problems is Hegel's view of the ethical in The Philosophy of Right.8 According to Hegel, the ethical life...

Jerusalem, AD70: The Worst Desolation Ever?

Has 'The Great Tribulation' Now Past Matthew 24 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. There has been some debate about how severe the period of AD70 really was, but there should not be 'The Siege of Jerusalem' by David Roberts.

Elishama servant of the king

Jehoiakim Destroys Scroll

He is recorded in Jeremiah 36 10-12 Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court at the entry of the New Gate of the Lord's house, in the hearing of all the people. When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the LORD from the book, he then went down to the king's house, into the scribe's chamber and there all the princes were...

Nazareans Ophites and Modern Druzes

What the actual Baptists, el-Mogtasila, or Nazareans, do the two figures standing beside the cross as Buddha's virgin mother, and Kama his favorite disciple. The whole picture bears a close likeness to the Crucifixion, in the cemetery of Pope Julius, except the animals, which are conclusive proof that it cannot be Christian. It came ultimately from the far East to Ireland, with the Phrenician colonists, who erected the Round Towers as symbols of the life-giving and preserving power of man and...

Are Only 144,000 People to Be Saved From All the Ages?

A Question I Was Asked Are Only 144,000 People to Be Saved From All the Ages WHO Are the '144,000' Anyway It bothers me that out of the many millions of human lives which occur on our planet only 144,000 will ever be saved. I see no hope for myself Only 144,000 A careful study of Scripture reveals two clear groups to be redeemed from the Earth Those sealed by God, called and chosen to serve in the work of the kingdom (the 144,000), these comprise 'Israel' but with spiritual Israel (the Church)...

Its Just Beyond the Horizon!

Let us allow ourselves just a glimpse of heaven in the form of an eye witness report which we might receive The scene is indescribably beautiful There are colors in abundance, none of which even exist on the earth What can one even call them There are trees, rivers and flowers here, back on earth the flowers and their incredible colors would be called breathtaking but those of us here have no breath at the present time, we are spirits without bodies yet we are all able to see each other and to...

Did Jesus Really Perform Miracles?

What Do Modern Historians Think I can believe Jesus was a great person, a great teacher. But I can't believe He performed miracles. Ever hear comments like this Maybe you've wondered this yourself. Did Jesus really perform miracles Marcus Borg, a prominent member of the Jesus Seminar 1 , has stated, Despite the difficulty which miracles pose for the modern mind, on historical grounds it is virtually indisputable that Jesus was a healer and exorcist.

Beware Of The Massive Distortions Of Morris Cerullo's Money-centred Christian Ministry

Morris Cerullo is one of the most high-profile and notable of American Tele-evangelists. Cerullo has claimed many things including that, at the age of only 14, he was led out of an orphanage by two angelic beings who transported him to heaven for a personal meeting with God. According to this vision, God informed Cerrulo that, in the future, he would be capable of giving prophecy (Cerullo, The Miracle Book, ix and 7 Point Outreach, World Evangelism and You (pamphlet), God's Faithful, Anointed...

Should Dr Billy Graham Now Be Considered a Heretic?

Some Fundamentalist Ministers - Mainly in the United States - Now Considerthe World-Famous Evangelist to Be a Heretic - Is That Accurate or Fair Some American fundamentalists are now saying that Billy Graham should be considered a heretic because of televised remarks which he made to Dr Robert Schuller a few years ago. Dr Graham - allegedly - stated that Jesus is not the only way to salvation.

The David Brandt Berg Story

He Story of the Founder of 'The Family' Religious Cult Can Free Sexual Expression Ever Be a Vital Part of the Activity of any Christian Group It is Time for a Biblical Answer to this Question David Brandt Berg (1919-1994). David Brandt Berg (1919-1994) often known by the pseudonym 'Moses David,' and by his friends as 'Mo,' was the founder and first leader of the religious movement originally known as The Children of God (now officially known as The Family International ).

Masons Have Played Prominent Roles In The Presbyterian Church

This section must be prefaced by saying that the United Presbyterian church is very close to Freemasonry. There are more United Presbyterians than all the other 7 major Presbyterian denominations put together. There is in excess of 2 million American United Presbyterians in 9,000 churches. In contrast, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church had only 16,590 members in the 1982 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches and the Presbyterian Church of North America was listed having but 4,878.5 The...

Herod and the Herodians

Herod, though a practising Jew, was of Arab descent from both his parents. Being as concerned about his dynastic legitimacy as any of his Jewish subjects, he married a Maccabean princess in order to strengthen his position as their ruler. But once he felt secure enough, he murdered his wife along with her brother and others of their line, effectively extinguishing the Maccabean line. He then proceeded to remove the priesthood from the hold of the old families and replaced them with his own...

The Law and the Gospel

Let me begin with a story told me some years ago by a Lutheran minister (who did not, however, reveal his own sources). Paul speaks repeatedly of believers as those who have died to the law, have been set free from the law, are no longer under the law, and have been redeemed from its sway (Rom 7 6 Gal 2 19 Rom 6 14-15 Gal 4 5).

The Pleasure of God in Justifying the Wicked

Matt Perman 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Dead Sea Scrolls and the Gospels History and Propaganda

The new light shed by the Dead Sea Scrolls on the New Testament give us ground for believing that Christianity - or more accurately, Pauline Christianity - was the result of a successful power struggle waged by Paul against the sect known among other names as 'Keepers of the Covenant', 'Congregation of the Poor', and 'Ebionites'. Its leader, as we already saw, was James, known as the 'Righteous'. Jesus was, at best, peripheral to this movement and the struggle, while James was its real leader....

Masonic Fronts Set Up

In the light of all their sucesses, they were not content to allow the real Pope Paul VI to continue. He was too slow with change. In the 1970's, an imposter Pope, a look alike, replaced him. Voice analysis proves the two men were not the same. The nose and the ears were not the same. The imposter was far sighted, the real Pope Paul VI was short sighted. It is claimed that the real Pope Paul VI could speak English and Latin. Others say he couldn't speak English. When the imposter spoke on...

Where Did The Pastor Come From

If contemporary pastors were absent from the early church, where did they come from And how did they rise to such a prominent position in the Christian faith The roots of this tale are tangled and complex, and they reach as far back as the fall of man. With the Fall came an implicit desire in people to have a physical leader to bring them to God. For this reason, human societies throughout history have consistently created a special caste of revered religious leaders. The medicine man, the...

Is The Trinity Pagan? Is the Holy Trinity Pagan?

Some groups (including Jehovah's Witnesses) claim that the Holy Trinity comes from paganism Is there really any truth, or hard evidence in this claim My purpose in this article and in the graph which follows it, is to show that this claim is a nonsense because, as a matter of fact, the Trinity is a very distinctively Christian belief. Following this brief article you will find a graph showing how The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit are all biblically revealed to be God.

What is a Seer Prophet?

A seer is simply a person who 'sees.' In the Bible (Old Testament), a 'seer' is another name for a prophet, although a 'seer' may or may not be one of the major prophets (like Isaiah and Jeremiah). 8. The servant answered him again. Look, he said, I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take. 9.

Materials On The Theology Of Qebat Or Unction

Fasiladas inherited the throne of an exhausted, dispirited country with no option other than a return to the Orthodoxy of Zar'a Ya'qob. He benefited from his reaffirmation of the value of tradition in church and polity and his rule ushered in three generations of comparative peace and cultural revival. At Gondar he established the first fixed capital since Aksum and built churches and palaces. His son Yohannes I r.1667-82 , and grandson Iyasu I, the Great r.1682-1706 , followed his example,...

What is Raelism?

The Question Who are the Raelists and what is Raelism Is this a new cult Reply Yes, this is a relatively new cult-type group. Raelism, also known as the Raelian Movement, is believed by some (but not all) to be the world's largest UFO-type religious movement. It was founded in 1974 by Claude Vorilhon, now known as Rael (supposedly meaning messenger of the elohim ). An adherent of Raelism is a Raelian.

Should We Buy Anything with '666' Marked Upon it? Should I Avoid Any Possible Association with This Number?

Now, is this really a serious question Superstition has no association with true Christianity. Okay, let's look at this. First, the Scripture This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666. (Revelation 13 18). John the Apostle was warning about trouble and persecution which would come upon Christians.

What is the 'Order of the Solar Temple'?

The Question What is the 'Order of the Solar Temple' I am told this is a forbidden organization in several countries. Can you explain Reply This is a cult and a very extreme and dangerous one. 'The Order of the Solar Temple' (so-called) is a cultish secret society based upon the modern myth of the continuing existence of the Knights Templar.

Writing Secrets in a Summa of Theology

In the prologue to his Summa, Thomas promises to teach simply and clearly, as a teacher should when addressing novice readers. The promise has been applied to his whole corpus. Traditions of reception sometimes imagine him the most accessible of authors. They presume that his authorship is motivated entirely by a desire to make things clear.1 So Thomas has been praised over the centuries for the simplicity of his style, the clarity of his organization, and the moderation of his views on...