Opening of Acts (Acts 1:1-14)
Prologue (1:1-3) 1:1. Theophilus (v 1) is unknown to us except from Luke’s two prologues. From the Gospel of Luke we gather he was a believer in Jesus Christ (cf. Luke 1:4). His name is found in papyri sources as early as 3 BC indicating this was his pagan name given him by unsaved parents. […]
Was the Gospel Lost Until the Reformation?
Conventional wisdom claims that clear presentations of Jesus’ message of life ceased soon after the last apostle died. The following assertion by David Anderson is typical of that claim: [W]e have no written record of anyone from AD 100 to AD 1500 teaching forgiveness of post-baptismal sins once and for all at the point of […]
God’s Faithfulness to His Promises (Hosea 2:14-23)
The Old Testament prophet Hosea wrote one of the most interesting books in the Bible. God tells this prophet to marry Gomer, a prostitute (Hos 1:2). She would prove to be an unfaithful wife. There are differing opinions as to whether his wife was a prostitute before they married, or became one afterwards. It is […]
The Warning Passages in Hebrews (Part 3)
George Santayana famously wrote, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” He forgot to mention that those who do learn from history still have to watch everyone else repeat it. It gets frustrating. No doubt the author of Hebrews felt that way. The Jewish believers to whom he was writing were […]
In Memory of Reagan Benedict
By Kara Bishop Reagan Benedict was born on Oct 21, 1935. He came to faith in Jesus Christ while in the military through the ministry of missionaries in Korea. After graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary (1966), he spent over 40 years pastoring churches in Iowa, Illinois, New Jersey and Alabama. His passions were meticulous study […]
Unbelievers Will Expect to Justify Themselves by Works (Matthew 25:41-46)
In the September-October 2013 issue of Grace in Focus, Bob Wilkin argued that in Matt 7:21-23 unbelievers at the Great White Throne Judgment will call Jesus “Lord” and will point to their works in an effort to justify themselves before Him. They will point to works they did in Jesus’ name (e.g., prophesying, casting out […]
The Warning Passages in Hebrews (Part 2)
When a 22-year old decides to change jobs it normally doesn’t make the news. But when you’re in the Army, and you’re in the middle of Afghanistan, you don’t get to quit without consequences. In June 2009, then PFC Bowe Bergdahl was captured by the Taliban under questionable circumstances. He was later released in 2014 […]
Ralph and Sam Go to Seminary: Lordship Salvation Is Often Inconsistent When Loved Ones Die
By Bob Thomas Ralph is a wolf. Sam is a sheepdog. Each episode of the old Looney Tunes cartoon featured Ralph trying to find ways to get past Sam so as to eat the sheep under Sam’s protection. Every encounter is laced with violence as Ralph and Sam try to maim or kill each other […]
He Offers a Yoke of Rest: An Excerpt from the Forthcoming Book, A Gospel of Doubt (Chapter 10)
Introduction In chapter 10, MacArthur discusses the Lord’s famous teaching on coming to Him and learning from Him to gain rest (Matt 11:28-30). In the introduction he says, “Jesus’ offer of rest for the weary is a call to conversion. It is a masterpiece of redemptive truth—a synopsis of the gospel according to Jesus” (p.118). […]
Can We Still Trust New Testament Professors?
In his book Can We Still Believe the Bible? (CWSBB) New Testament Professor Craig Blomberg (Denver Seminary) says that the Bible is still trustworthy. He says we can still believe the Bible, but only if we learn to distinguish between inspired fiction and inspired history. If that sounds a bit puzzling to you, good. It […]