Passion 4 Him

 ❓Question: The resurrection of Jesus is the very foundation of Christianity, yet those who wrote the gospels seem to be in conflict even on this most important subject! Matthew says an angel came down from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached and were frightened. The angel told them not to be afraid, and invited them into the tomb to see where Jesus had lain (Matthew 28:1–6). • In contrast, Mark says that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome did not see the angel until they entered the tomb. The angel then pointed to where Jesus had lain (16:1–6). • In further contradiction, Luke says the women entered the tomb, and, as they looked for the body of Jesus, suddenly two angels appeared to them (Luke 24:1–4). Note also that Mark says his angel was sitting when he addressed the women, whereas Luke states that his two angels were standing (Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4). • One account says the women saw Jesus and then went t...

 ❓ Question: Is the certainty of the Christian faith confined to the fulfillment of prophecy as demonstrated in verifiable facts of history, archaeology, and science, or is there a spiritual confirmation as well? What about spiritual experiences? Isn’t there an inward assurance of the Holy Spirit? ✅Answer: “Faith cometh by hearing . . . the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). On the one hand, the Word of God stands on its own and needs no outside confirmation, for it is “quick [living] and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword . . . a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). On the other hand, God has given us outside confirmation so that the Word of God proves itself to us in two ways: by the convicting and convincing power of the Holy Spirit, who inspires and speaks to our hearts through His Word, and by the confirmation available to us from outside verification through archaeology, history, and science. When all are in full agreement, we have an unsh...

  During the time of the end, a subset of the Jews in Judea flee to the wilderness, whereas others do not (the 144,000 of   Revelation 7:4 +   and Jews of the diaspora). At the point of her flight, she no longer represents all of national Israel for there will be numerous groups of Jews at the time of the end: Jews protected in the wilderness, where God continues the work of purging  idolatry from their midst ( Hos. 2:14-17 ;  Eze. 20:33-38 ). The 144,000 Jews protected by God’s  seal, probably engaged in the work of worldwide evangelism ( Rev. 7 + , 14 + ). Jews in the diaspora who come to faith during this time who are unable to reach the wilderness with the woman. Jews in the diaspora who receive the  Antichrist  and  his mark ( John 5:43 ). The  rest of her offspring  speaks of all Jews who did not flee to the wilderness—both believing and unbelieving. The phrase is further restricted to the offspring  who keep the commandm...

 ❓Question (composite of several): You say that the need for self-esteem and self-love are not taught in the Bible but that we naturally esteem and love ourselves too much. Yet Jesus Christ said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” How can we obey that command if we hate ourselves? Yes, I’ve heard people sincerely say, “I hate myself!” Dr. Dobson and other Christian psychologists aren’t the only ones who emphasize the need to acquire a positive self-worth, self-esteem, self-love, and self-image. Many preachers teach the same, such as Josh McDowell, Chuck Swindoll, Charles Stanley, and others. Who are you to disagree with them? ✅ Answer: Any Berean comparing such teaching with God’s Word will find that it doesn’t pass the test. For example, Philippians 2:3 says, “…in lowliness of mind let each esteem other[s] better than themselves.” Romans 12:3 warns us not to think of ourselves “more highly than [we] ought to think.” Nowhere does the Bible warn us against thinking too poorly of ours...

 In keeping with the Freudian foundation of all “inner healing,” Fred and Florence Littauer’s book, Freeing Your Mind from Memories that Bind, presents the thesis that uncovering hidden memories is the key to emotional and spiritual well-being . They suggest that any “memory gaps” from child hood indicate one has probably been abused (and very likely, sexually). By that definition we’ve all been abused. Most of us can’t remember each house we’ve lived in, each school attended, every teacher and class mate, every family vacation when we were children. To teach, as the Littauers do, that these “memory gaps” indicate periods of abuse that have been covered up by the mind is contrary to common sense and is without scientific verification or biblical support. The Littauers, like so many others in this field, base their approach upon the so-called four temperaments. This long-discredited personality theory evolved from the ancient Greek belief that the physical realm was composed of four...

  ❓QUESTION: Since our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all His disciples kept the Jewish festivals ("With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer" - Luke 22:15); Paul commands "keep the feast" (1 Corinthians 5:7-8); he hurried to Jerusalem to celebrate another Jewish holiday (Acts 20:16); he told the Colossians that the Jewish festivals were a shadow of the Messiah, good reason to celebrate them (Colossians 2:16-17); the Jewish festivals are "statutes forever" (Leviticus 23:14); and at the last supper Christ declared that He would someday drink the Passover Cup anew with His followers in His Father's Kingdom (Matthew 26:29; Mark 14:25); and since neither God nor Jesus makes any distinction between Christian Jews or Gentiles regarding these festivals, could you please explain your statement: "...for a Gentile to keep those [Jewish] feasts today would be a fraud." You state that Jewish feasts "are speci...

John Wesley was one of Britain’s greatest evangelists. He founded the concept of outdoor preaching, led thousands upon thousands to Christ, and even started a movement that eventually became the United Methodist Church. And to think, he almost never made it out of childhood. On the fateful night of February 9, 1709, fire swept through the Epworth rectory that housed the Wesley family. Around midnight, Rev. Samuel Wesley was awakened by a shout from the street, “Fire!” He flung open his bedroom door and found his home filling with smoke. He woke Susanna, his wife, and his two eldest daughters. The pastor then raced for the nursery where the family maid was sleeping with five younger children. The abrupt entrance of Mr. Wesley and the smoke greatly startled the maid. She quickly gained presence of mind, grabbed the youngest child, Charles, and hastily urged the others to follow her lead out of the house. Three older children did. But John remained sound asleep. The family gathered...

 ❓Question: Mark 16:16 says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” In his Pentecost sermon, Peter urged his listeners to be baptized to wash away their sins. I am confused. Is baptism essential for salvation or is it not? ✅Answer: There is not one verse in all the Bible that says that failure to be baptized damns the soul, but there are scores of verses declaring that those who do not believe the gospel are lost. Nor is baptism even any part of the gospel. As Paul said, “Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17; cf. 15:1-4). In Paul’s clear declaration of “the gospel . . . by which . . . we are saved” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), there is no mention of baptism. It is upon believing the gospel that one is to be baptized (“What doth hinder me to be baptized?. . . . If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest”—Acts 8:36-37). Christ, after His resurrection, sent His disciples forth to preach the gospel worldwide. Of their converts He ...

  “Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” (Revelation 12:6) (Bozrah, the ancient capital of Edom) Interestingly, several Second Coming passages also indicate that God is seen  coming from these regions: Who  is  this who comes from  Edom , with dyed garments from  Bozrah , this  One who is  glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength? -“I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why  is  Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one  was  with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance  is  in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come.” ( Isa. 63:1-4 )...