When a person professes faith in Jesus Christ, God does more than save us from sin and death. He saves us to dynamic service within His arm of ministry—the worldwide church. At the direction of the Father, the Holy Spirit dispenses spiritual gifts to empower every believer so that we might effectively contribute toward the growth and vitality of the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Since Pentecost, one of the most controversial gifts of the Spirit has been “speaking in tongues.”
What exactly are these tongues? As with most biblical topics, the first mention of it should dictate our interpretation of …
A Brief Sketch of William Whiting Borden by Beulah Bishop
An unusual man, William Whiting Borden was born to material wealth; was naturally endowed with exceptional gifts—great mental powers, rare qualities of character, and vigorous physical strength. His future in any field of endeavor would have been promising. But it was as a very young boy (seven years of age) that he stood during a life-consecration service in The Moody Church. He was very young—and he stood a long time—this little boy in a blue sailor suit; but from the decision made then, Borden was never to waver. That decision …
Before beginning a discussion on election, we want our intentions to be clear: since this doctrine has created so much controversy and has been frequently misunderstood, we do not want our understanding of it to be a means of division, but rather a means of unifying believers as we grapple with God’s sovereign purposes and plan. Since we are called to unashamedly preach the Word of God, we want to speak frankly about a doctrine that should elicit both humility and worship among believers. May those who differ with us not judge our intentions or our passion for reaching the …
The oft repeated phrase “once saved, always saved” is often criticized as condoning, or encouraging Christians to be lax and even carnal. After all, the argument goes, if people have the assurance that they will be saved regardless of how they live, there is no incentive to live a godly life; Christians can revel in iniquity with impunity. For this reason, the doctrine of eternal security, “once saved, always saved,” has often been better described as “the perseverance of the saints,” that is, true saints will persevere in holiness. They might have lapses in their spiritual journey to be sure, …
Historically speaking, “Trinity” is a term Christians use to describe the unique nature of the God of the Bible. While the Bible attests that there is only one God in essence (Deuteronomy 6:4), each particular person of the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) is referred to as being fully God (John 1:1, 14; 8:58; Acts 5:3-4).
As advocates for historical Trinitarian theology, we recognize that no definition of God is satisfactory. He cannot be comprehensively categorized or detailed. The orthodox idea of the Trinity protects that mystery, defending the coexisting biblical realities concerning God (one in …
The Old Testament institutes tithing as an obligatory act of worship by God’s people. Israelite tithes supported the landless tribe of Levi and the priesthood of God (Numbers 18:25-32, Nehemiah 10:38). They also served the giver’s family and the nation’s disadvantaged (Deuteronomy 14:22-29). This command of God was often abused or ignored (Malachi 3:8-10). As in the case with all visible acts of worship, self-righteousness cropped up among the Israelites who actually did tithe (Luke 18:12).
Through the fulfilling work of the Messiah, New Testament believers are no longer obligated to perform the particulars of the Law. Tithing is never …
God’s holiness is unmatched. He responds to sin not only with grace, but also with holy judgment. When we observe the nature of sin and punishment in the Old Testament, the prophets record that God treats sin harshly. Sin affects more than merely the perpetrator, it spills over into the community, especially the family. Thus, God speaks of visiting and punishing sins to the third and fourth generation (Exodus 20:5, Numbers 14:18, Lamentations 5:7). Achan and his family’s punishment is one extraordinary example of God’s tenacity for purity, but it should not be considered as a normal response (Joshua 7). …
Christians occasionally claim that we can be as perfect as God commanded (Matthew 5:48). Some preachers (we immediately think of the famous revivalist Charles Finney) have taught that Christians can attain a second level of God’s blessing, wherein they receive the ability to live free of sin in perfect obedience. Even though this doctrine is brimming with good intentions, is it a biblical teaching?
The first problem that arises is the nature of sin. With a comprehensive understanding of sin, the plausibility of earthly sinlessness is doubtful, or more accurately, impossible. Sin permeates the depths of man’s being, affecting every …
Biblically, the church is described in numerous ways. On one hand, we observe that the local church is a living organism—an expression of the body of Christ. On the other, we know that the church is an organization set up by Christ and regulated by the guidelines commanded throughout the Scriptures. As a divinely commissioned organization, God has ordained leadership to spur on growth, purity, outreach, and holiness. Throughout history, three primary systems of church government have dominated the ideological spectrum of Christian leadership.
Episcopal Government
As early as the Apostolic Father Ignatius (the bishop of Antioch until the beginning …
The Bible not only presents divine ideals but also sin-caused realities. In the Old Testament, divorce and remarriage were permitted under specific regulations. The question is whether or not any of these guidelines are applicable today within the context of the New Testament. Two instances demonstrate that divorce can, under certain conditions, be considered scriptural today.
1. When One Partner Develops a Pattern of Sexual Immorality
Christ said, “And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, (fornication) and marries another, commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9). Several observations should be noted:
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