Optimism

Prove Jesus

Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind! So what does it mean to prove Jesus? Psalm 34:8-16 (WEB) says, 8) Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 9) Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him. 10) The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall... read more.

Proverbs 26:4-5

Consider Proverbs 26:4-5 (WEB), which I mentioned in the beginning of this book, 4) Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. 5) Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. If God does have special strategies for dealing with unbelief in mankind, does he give us any explanation or instruction to do likewise ourselves? I introduced this book with a story... read more.

Purgatory?

So is Hades properly understood to be Catholic Purgatory? There are many views in Christendom about the afterlife. Catholic Christians believe in the existence of Purgatory, while Protestants would consider the Catholics to be in error on this point. Catholic doctrine holds to a temporary place of punishment and purification in the after-life for the redeemed. According to Catholic doctrine, all people spend more or less time in Purgatory depending upon the good and bad... read more.

Read Jesus

Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind! So why do we read about him and his commands? Joshua 1:7-9 (WEB), 7) Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8) This book of... read more.

Real or Apparent Paradox?

One thoughtful reader suggested that... READER>> [Perhaps the different vantage points of those emphasizing God's sovereignty and man's free will only cause Calvinism and Arminianism to appear to be contradictory. Or perhaps in lofty matters, such as this, real paradox is allowable. For example, Skolem's Paradox in the area of mathematics or the wave-particle duality of light in physics could likewise illustrate real or apparent paradox. Or perhaps when the subject matter becomes increasingly complex... read more.

Revelation 20:10

Revelation is difficult to understand, but we must consider Revelation 20:10 (WEB), The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Only three people are explicitly named in Scripture as destined to the Lake of Fire. They are Satan, The Beast, and The False Prophet. So how do we determine the... read more.

Revelation 20:11-15

Consider also Revelation 20:11-15 (WEB), 11) I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. 12) I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in... read more.

Revelation 22:7-21

I end my proofs with the conclusion of Scripture, Revelation 22:7-21 (WEB), 7) "Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." 8) Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9) He said to me, "See you don’t do it!... read more.

Revere Jesus

Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind! So what does it mean to revere Jesus? 17) When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, "Don't be afraid. I am the first and the last, 18) and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. I have the keys of Death... read more.

Roman Hell Fire?

I ask myself... SELF>> By the way where is Hell and the Lake of Fire in the Book of Romans? ME>> Self, that is an excellent question. The Book of Romans is Paul's premier thesis on the subject of Christian salvation. One would expect a thorough explanation of eternal destinies outlined in this work. What does Romans have to say about Hades / Hell? What does Romans have to say about the Lake of Fire?... read more.

Romans 11:1-32

Read Romans 11:1-32 (WEB), again, 1) I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2) God didn’t reject his people, which he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel: 3) "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars. I am left... read more.

Romans 11:32-36

Consider a thorough exegesis of Romans 11:32-36 (WEB). 32) For God has bound all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all. 33) Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! 34) 'For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?' 35) 'Or who has first given to him, and... read more.

RSVP Review

Yes, God is our perfect Heavenly Father, but are we his good children? While putting my thesis into words I conducted an informal interview for feedback. Talking out ideas with others can be very useful to develop one's own understanding. Good questions can also be very useful to get to the heart of the matter with others. Jesus asked his disciples questions frequently. So I asked numerous people this question: What would be your reaction... read more.

Salvation Inception

Again, my simple thesis is that Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind. A related thesis is that salvation is without condition and a free act of God’s grace, given by him to chosen mankind . This salvation is not conditioned on any work, action, thought, or choice of man. God has given grace to all mankind without our invitation or pre-condition. This salvation cannot be missed, ruined, or... read more.

Salvation: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How?

FRIENDS>> You've made a big deal about the fact that Hell and the Lake of Fire are not the same place. You have also raised a lot of other questions that I never thought about before. Why? ME>> That is an excellent question. We Christians make many mistakes. One mistake we make is failing to ask questions and working hard to seek answers. Perhaps we are afraid of the unknown and so hold even more... read more.

Share Jesus

Jesus Christ is your savior, my savior, and the savior of all mankind! So what does it mean to share him with others? Matthew 28:16-20 (WEB) says, 16) But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. 17) When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted. 18) Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven... read more.

So Simply Sin Since the Savior is Sovereign?

OBJECTION>> You have made a big deal about God's sovereignty, man's free will (or lack of free will), and grace given to all mankind. So shall we simply sin since the Savior is sovereign? ME>> That is one possible reaction to the gospel. In fact, Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, First of all let me make a comment, to me a very important and vital comment. The true preaching of the gospel of salvation by grace alone... read more.

Soteriologies

Soteriology is the study of salvation and the destinies of mankind. It is from the Greek root soteria, meaning salvation. Wikipedia defines soteriology as "the study of religious doctrines of salvation." One can see why this is a particularly important subject. For example, it is said, "All is well that ends well." Religious doctrine may touch on various subjects, but the subject of how to confirm our positive end ought to hold a special place... read more.

Special Strategies and Interpretations?

Another careful reader asked... READER>> [You propose that a proper understanding of the gospel includes special strategy and interpretation. For example, you say that "eternal" is not always eternal. You say that Jesus calls unbelievers "not His sheep," but they really are elect, lost sheep. You say that even though the Bible says God hated Esau, that he really loved him. You say that wisdom gives one answer to the fool and another answer to... read more.

Start at the End

Anyone making a point needs to consider how to begin, continue, and conclude. We could just dive in and figure it out as we go, but planning can be useful; so my plan is to tell you how I was introduced to grace theology, reveal the fiery question that burned my house down, and share with you my discovery of the Bible's grand conclusion about salvation. While leading the Allied forces in World War II,... read more.

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