RAISING CAIN
(By Dan Richardson)
Jude, a servant of Christ, wrote by inspiration to admonish Christians to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). The need for this is apparent by the warning in the next verse: "For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (vs. 4). In further description, Jude said, "Woe…
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FIVE VERSES FOR THE FIVE POINTS OF CALVINISM
(Nicolas Edwards)
Calvinism has been, and continues to be, a big problem. John Calvin's doctrine has, to some degree, left its mark upon nearly every protestant denomination. Calvin's system of theology contains five points: (T)otal Hereditary Depravity, (U)nconditional Election, (L)imited Atonement, (I)rresistible Grace, and (P)erseverance of the Saints. These are often remembered by the acronym, "TULIP". Let's define each one:
TOTAL HEREDITARY DEPRAVITY. This doctrine teaches that infants are born completely depraved (morally corrupt; wicked), having no… -
So asserted an advertisement for a direct mail service used by more than 1,000 churches. One would think that even with a passing familiarity with the Bible, people would be reluctant to determine the validity of something based on the number of people who believe in it.
When the twelve spies returned to the camp of Israel to report what they had seen in Canaan, ten of them said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for…
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SHARPENED SENSES
(Caleb Wray)
In the Bible many times Christians are admonished to be on the watch, looking around, etc. There is a sense of urgency in which one must be prepared for what might happen or what temptations might come. This requires our senses to be on the alert. The word “discernment” means the power of faculty of the mind, by which it distinguishes one thing from another, as truth of falsehood.
The Hebrew writer wrote of the danger of leaving the Lord to return to the old life.…
