"From what has already been said it is manifest that St. Paul did not go about as a missionary preacher merely to convert individuals: he went to establish churches from which the light might radiate throughout the whole country round. The secret of success in this work lies in beginning at the very beginning. It … Continue reading Why missions fail
Jesus Christ
The sabbath restored in Christ
When the Lord God had made all things he rested on the seventh day, and since man was made in the image of God and was adorned with the image of God, man was right and good, and without any sin. If man had remained in this state, he would have rested with God. But … Continue reading The sabbath restored in Christ
Flavoured water
My wife picked up a bottle of water to drink on the way home. Once we got out on the highway, she picked up the bottle, unscrewed the cap and took a swig. I heard a disgusted noise from the seat beside me, followed by "What is this stuff?" She examined the label more closely … Continue reading Flavoured water
Two or three gathered together doth not a church make
Why do people stop going to church? Could it be because so may churches are not really churches? Matthew 18:20 does not speak about Christians gathering for worship. It is a continuation of the passage beginning at verse 15 and speaks of the testimony of two or three witnesses in discipling a wayward brother. A … Continue reading Two or three gathered together doth not a church make
Eternal security or insecurity?
Evangelicals of the present day are being taught a doctrine of eternal security, but most are not aware of the dubious foundation and history of this doctrine. Here is how it all began. In 312 AD Constantine was facing a battle with a rival whose army was twice the size of Constantine's. The story goes … Continue reading Eternal security or insecurity?
The soul that sinneth, it shall die
Both the Old and New Testaments teach clearly that God welcomes all sinners who repent, granting them forgiveness and salvation. Both Testaments also teach that one who has been forgiven and wilfully and deliberately forsakes God and returns to a life of sin is lost. There is much confusion in our time about this. Much … Continue reading The soul that sinneth, it shall die
The Son of God
The title of this post is blasphemy to Muslims and foolishness to those who do not even believe in God. Yet the Bible insists that God, who said “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” has a Son who is part of His singular Godhead, yet walked this earth in human form, God bearing … Continue reading The Son of God
Is it piety or sophistry?
One day in the early 1970’s I answered a newspaper ad and began to receive a periodical that promised to explain the teachings of the Bible for people seeking to understand the Christian faith. The articles were well written, used extensive Scripture quotations and their logic seemed intellectually satisfying. The foundational thesis of their teachings … Continue reading Is it piety or sophistry?
Pentecost
This is Pentecost Sunday. What is it all about? The conception among non-Christians is that this day commemorates the day when the original disciples began making incoherent noises and blamed it on the Holy Spirit. Before we get into what really happened on that day, let’s look at the historic background. It begins with that … Continue reading Pentecost
The second advent
In the hush of the silent midnight Shall the cry of His coming be? When the day of the Lord's appearing Shall flash over earth and sea? Shall it be at the mornings awaking, And the beams of the golden sun Grow pale and be quenched forever When his journey is just begun? We know … Continue reading The second advent
Flatlander Faith 