Doctrines Archives - Page 15 of 19

Healings – For Christians, Non-Christians, or Who?

July 20, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Many Christians firmly believe that they or someone they know, or know of, have been miraculously healed. Are healings for Christians today, or for non-Christians, or both?

“This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will”—Hebrews 2:3-4 NIV

In the first century, God gave the Apostles and some of their Christian associates the power to heal. But who did they heal? Were these healings performed on other Christians, or on non-Christians? Or were both healed? Let’s examine the Bible to find out. read more

Healing Miracles – What Does the Bible Say?

July 17, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

“Lord, Lord, did we not . . . in your name perform many miracles”—Matthew 7:22 NIV. Healing miracles were given by God on occasion in the Bible as a demonstration of his Almighty power (Job 37:23).

Healing Miracles

Healing miracles definitely occurred during Bible times, but how about today?

MIRACLES ARE SEEMINGLY DONE BY CHARLATANS, WHO ALSO HAVE MANY FAILURES

Can miracles come from a bad source? In the book of Exodus, the priests of Egypt were able to perform miracles similar to those performed through Moses and Aaron (Exodus 7:8-12). In Deuteronomy, God’s people were warned about those who practice divination and sorcery (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). After Moses performed three miracles, read more

Are People Divinely Healed Today?

July 5, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 2 comments

God can do all things that are good! But are people divinely healed today?

Are people still healed today? — Does divine healing still happen today?

“With God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Just because God CAN do all things does not mean he actually DOES all things, at all times.

BIBLICAL HEALINGS

“Large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet, and He healed them. So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and the glorified the God of Israel” (Matthew 15:30,31 NASB). There is no doubt that many were miraculously healed by Jesus and his apostles. Does this mean that people are miraculously healed today? Well, do we see ‘the mute being made to speak, the crippled healed, the lame enabled to walk, blind people’s sight restored, etc.’? — No, we don’t! read more

Salvation Through Faith – What About Christian Works?

June 23, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

“Faith without works is dead”—James 2:26

In our previous article on salvation, we established that the Bible does not support the eternal salvation (or “once saved, always saved”) doctrine. So how is a Christian saved? Is it by doing good deeds and refraining from doing bad things? Is salvation attained by Christian works? Or is it by faith alone? If by faith alone, then where do Christian works fit in? Let’s see what the Bible has to say on this matter.

Do Christian works produce salvation, or does salvation produce Christian works?

“Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done.” (Ephesians 2:8 NLT) The same verse in the NIV says that salvation is “not by works.” So obviously, the Bible says our own works cannot save us. It is not saying that as Christians, we should not be doing good works. Rather, it is saying that salvation is not attained simply by doing good works. read more

Eternal Security: Once Saved, Always Saved?

June 22, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 3 comments

Some modern-day Christians have been taught to believe in the doctrine known as “eternal security” (commonly known as “once saved, always saved”). But is this belief scriptural? Let’s allow the scriptures to speak for themselves.

“I mention it that you may be saved” (John 5:34 NIV). Notice Jesus says, “you may be saved”, not ‘you are saved, case closed, period’, as some would have us believe”. Salvation is not guaranteed to everyone, or anyone. See Matthew 7:21-23. read more

Are People Predestined, or Do They Have Free Will?

May 25, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Are humans predestined, or do they have free will?

‘Predestination’ is a word often used to signify God’s foreordaining of all events of world history — past, present, and future. This usage is quite appropriate. In Scripture and historic Protestant theology, ‘predestination’ refers specifically to God’s decision, made in eternity before the world existed, regarding the final destinies of individual persons . . . it is usual in Protestant theology to define predestination as including both God’s decision to save some from sin (election) and the corresponding decision not to save others (reprobation)”—The Reformation Study Bible, page 1345 read more

Who is the Antichrist According to the Bible?

May 24, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Who is the antichrist? In the past, much effort has been made to identify “The Antichrist” as being one prominent individual, such as Pompey, Nero, Mohammed, or the Papacy. Today, many preachers and denominations say there is going to appear on the world scene in the future, just before the end, a very charismatic world leader and deceiver that the Bible calls ‘THE ANTICHRIST.” Such Biblical prognosticators even use scriptures from Daniel about the “little horn,” and Revelation about “a beast coming up out of the sea,” to “prove” their point. They have developed quite an elaborate story about what “The Antichrist” is “predicted” to do in the future. read more

What Name Should Christians Be Called, and Why?

May 10, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Early Christians — When were Christians first called “Christians?”

The Name “Christians”

Today, Christians are called by such names as, Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and many other names. But, according to the Bible, what name should Christians really be called, and why? How long has the term “Christian” been in use, and who invented it? The answer to these questions can be found in the Bible.

“It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26 NAB). God was behind the development of the use of the term “Christians” within a few years of the start of Christianity. Notice how this verse can also be rendered: “the disciples also were divinely called first in Antioch Christians” (Young’s Literal Translation). read more

The Spiritual Use of “Israel” in the Bible

May 4, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Spiritual descendants — Spiritual, not fleshly, descendants of Abraham are the real Israel that counts with God

Who was God talking about when he made the promise to Abraham about his seed? Was the promise only referring to his physical offspring? Or, is there such a thing as “Spiritual Israel?”

“Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, ‘Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,’ though Abraham had other children, too. This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.” (Romans 9:6-8 NLT) read more

What Is The Israel of God?

May 3, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Restoration is through Jesus Christ, not modern fleshly Israel, but to the “Israel of God,” and would come first to Jews, then all others would be blessed.

“Certainly, it doesn’t matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation. Peace and mercy will come to rest on all those who conform to this principle. They are the Israel of God”—Galatians 5:15-16 GWT

What is, “the Israel of God”?

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile”—Romans 1:16 NIV

“A person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God”—Romans 2:28,29 NIV read more

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