May 13, 2008
Stephen Macasil
How many discussions have you had about space aliens, UFO's, and theology? I've certainly had my share. The best discussion came one day after listening to Dr. Walter Martin's "UFO's: Friend or Foe." Dr. Martin argues for the validity of UFO sightings and alien abduction reports attributing them to extra-dimensional demonic life-forms. If you haven't heard it yet, you should. If anything, you'll get some good laughs out ...
May 12, 2008
Mario Herrera
Dr. Francis Schaeffer describes how unbelief and apathy destroy a society. As we see the unfolding of the video, compare what the Roman Empire went through leading to its downfall, and compare it to America today. Christians today are apathetic and indifferent. The mega churches don't care to defend biblical doctrine. The country is slipping further into depravity and apostasy, while the Christians sit back and ...
May 4, 2008
Stephen Macasil
Here's the scenario: the Pharisees and some of the scribes from Jerusalem had noticed something, and so they approached Jesus to discuss it with him. They noticed that some of his disciples ate without washing their hands. To the Pharisees, the disciples were eating with hands that were defiled! Mark the Evangelist provides some insight from his commentary saying, "For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not ...
Apr 30, 2008
Stephen Macasil
Part 1 of a 2 part series on Paul's Prayer for the Philippians.
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until ...
Apr 28, 2008
Stephen Macasil
This is Part 2 of a 5 Part Series by Pastor Glenn Leatherman of Grace Covenant Community Church in Brea, CA. Part 1 can be read here.
Part 2: A Flat Bible Perspective Erroneously Tries To Arrive At Interpretations And Definitions Independently From The Context Of The Verse
In what sense does Jesus mean that he and the Father are "one"?: One in Person?
Now how does our avoidance of the ...
Apr 24, 2008
Stephen Macasil
In the past I have discussed infant baptism ad nausium. Since I used to be a Reformed Baptist (1689'er), the topic of baptism was in the forefront often. We (the 1689'ers) have debated and exhausted just about every angle of the topic (so we thought) of baptism, and we waved the banner of victory over our opponents. Of course these debates were "intramural," meaning, in an "in-house" sort ...
Apr 20, 2008
Dr. Robert Morey
Note from Moderator: Participants in this discussion must not stray from the topic. IOW, no rabbit trails! Failure to adhere to this rule will result in your comment being deleted, and possibly, your permission to comment permanently revoked.
Introduction
First task is to define the meaning of the word "baptism."
a. O.T. Jewish background.
b. Between the testaments.
c. 1st century Judaism.
d. Greco-Roman meaning of the word in secular and religious contexts.
e. The ...
Apr 10, 2008
Stephen Macasil
Rather than writing a fresh post for this Theothursday, I decided to post my notes from a study I did a while back on Jude. The article is old, but seems fitting to be released now. At the risk of being too technical, I've included some of the minor exegetical notes while eliminating the tedious. The following was written prior to any personal controversy, thus I cannot be ...
Apr 6, 2008
Stephen Macasil
Emergents love false antithesis. They love to pit two non-contradictory concepts against one another in the form of a question. They'll ask, "Experience or Truth?" Or they'll ask, "Orthodoxy or Orthopraxis?" To the Christian, these are stupid questions. They're stupid because the question reveals a severe lack of biblical understanding. Take, for instance:
Experience or Truth? I was so impressed with how D.A. Carson dealt with this, I blogged ...
Apr 3, 2008
Stephen Macasil
Theothursdays will officially begin next Thursday. We will, if God wills, devote each Thursday to Bible study and discussion in order that we may grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! I will provide the text, commentary, and occasionally fly in guest commentators. Tonight's guest is Matthew Henry. Our text is 1 Peter 1:1-2. Please begin with prayer. Ask our Father, in Jesus' name, to bless our time as we read ...
Mar 31, 2008
Mario Herrera
This is the second portion of Amazing Grace. Today's modern evangelical church puts forth a negative view of the Doctrines of Grace. There is absolutely no doctrine taught in today's church. When Christians do not study biblical doctrine for themselves, as a result of the weak teaching, they will usually believe in freewill, be against what is called Calvinism, or have absolutely no knowledge of the subject. Today's ...