Category: Theology
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Malignancy of Sin
Sin is a spiritual and moral malignancy. Left unchecked it can spread throughout our entire being and contaminate every area of our lives. Even worse, it will often metasticize from us into the lives of others around us. ~ Jerry Bridges, Respectable Sins
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Mission @ the Heart of God
There are the five parts of the Bible: The God of the Old Testament is a missionary God, calling one family in order to bless all the families of the earth. The Christ of the Gospels is a missionary Christ; he sent the church out to witness. The Spirit of the Acts is a missionary…
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Listen And I Will Tell You What God is Like
Listen and I will tell you what God is like: He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5.45) Christ spent his last strength and his last moments in prayer for his enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they know not…
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Erasing Hell
Recent discussion about Judgement and Hell, spurred largely by a recent book by Rob Bell, have prompted many to rethink what they believe – what Scripture teaches – about this subject. Among them, Francis Chan in this video titled Erasing Hell. I had thought I was done with this thread, but Chan’s reflections warrant hearing.
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Practical Importance of Doctrine
If there was one thing I could impart to the members of our church, or to other pastors, it would be an appreciation for the practical importance of doctrine. I think it was R.C. Sproul who pointed out: “We are all theologians… the question is whether we are good theologians.” Sprouls’ point is valid. Everything…
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Love Wins… Does Anyone Lose – Part 2
Now that the advanced copies of the book have been sent out, people have had opportunity to read it and reflect. Kevin DeYoung has thoughtfully analyzed Rob Bell’s Love Wins and published his observations and concerns in a compelling review. DeYoung’s opening paragraph offers a summary of Bell’s premise: Love Wins, by mega-church pastor Rob…
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A Question of Universalism
For those following discussions of the recent posts, but who want a clearer understanding of what Universalism actually means, below you will find a good explanation from theologian J.I. Packer: A universalist is someone who believes that every human being whom God has created or will create will finally come to enjoy the everlasting salvation…
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Love Wins… Does Anyone Lose?
Apparently the dance goes on and on! That is in reference to the opening statement I made in a post yesterday. A debate about the Doctrine of Hell has been spreading like a wild fire for a couple weeks now. I only made mention of it because it is a subject that has subsequently been…
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Hellacious Discussions
I am coming to the dance late, but it appears the party is not yet over. So late may not be too late. What party? Well, the “Hell-acious” party that has been going on in the blogosphere. Apparently the debate was kicked off by Rob Bell and his new book titled: Love Wins. Apparently the video…
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Saved From What?
Several years ago I was asked by a neighbor couple to meet with them for marriage counseling. They were a pleasant couple, so I willingly agreed to assist them in any way I could. Early during our first meeting I asked each to tell me about their spiritual journeys. Hers was simple but heart-felt. His… well…
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Does Doctrine Merely Divide Us?
In this video, Lane Chaplin convincingly explains the God-given mandate to dig into theology. He also illustrates the practical importance. Does doctrine divide us? Sadly, sometimes it does – or rather, sometime Christians do divide over doctrine. But doctrine also unites. It unites us with other believers, both of our own day and of ages…
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Does Doctrine REALLY Matter?
In the first chapter of his excellent book, Dug Down Deep, Joshua Harris writes: I know the idea of “studying” God often rubs people the wrong way. It sounds cold and theoretical, as if God were a frog carcass to dissect in a lab or a set of ideas that we memorize like math proofs.…
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5 Views on Sanctification
Several years ago a book was released attempting to outline and compare the major divergent views about the doctrine of sanctification, Five Views on Sanctification. In this book five respected theologians, each a proponent of one of the respective positions gave an outline explanation of the positions: Wesleyan/Holiness, Reformed/Puritan, Keswick, Dispensational, and Pentecostal. Following the…
