Apologetical Articles

  Let us talk about slavery! And when I say slavery I do not mean the cruel, inhumane, barbaric and very damaging one that we all are familiar with from the 18-19 century which is based around the false notion of "racism; and supremacy" but rather another more God glorifying kind which the scriptures speak too.     The Christian as a slave.  The plain reading of scriptures is abundantly over flowing with evidence of the unique position to which Christians find themselves in. As Christians, we are called many things which are truly significant, but none are more important than this one term slave (Hebrew: Ebed; Greek: doulos). It is used more than any other and yet seem to be downplayed in our modern time (and the reason for that is understandable) but nonetheless we must be truthful to our convictions.  We accept the word Christian based on its sole use of tree times-- and we should as it in scripture (Acts 11: 19-30; 26: 25-32 1 Peter 4:12-19); but let us not cast aside anot

The New Testament is clear on this truth about our position in Christ being that salve to master relationship. Take note of these verses: "Paul (James; Simon Peter; Jude; John) the bond-servant (lit: slave) of Christ Jesus." (Romans 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1; Revelation 1: 1); not only that but we see that all Christians likewise are called slaves (Matthew 25: 14-29; Revelation 1:1-3; Romans 6:15-19). So we see that this truth is something which the Christ must never shy away from and wear it as a badge of honour.      In his book "slave", John MacArthur, gives us a most balanced understanding of this reality from History and scriptures. And he does this by giving us 13 chapters which demonstrate this to be the truth. They are:   (1) One Hidden Word.  (2) Ancient History; timeless truth.  (3)  The Good and Faithful Slave.  (4-5) The Lord and Master (pt. 1 & 2)   (6)  Our Lord and God. (7) The Slave market of sin. (8) Bound, Blind and dead. (9) Saved

 Let us take up the remainder of these reasons for an earlier date for the New Testament. 4.  The Apostle Peter has two letters dealing with Christian life. In the last post we saw that this man of God was put to death in ad 64-67 as well as Paul. This makes it clear that these letters were written in the first half of the 7th decade of the 1st century (60-65ad); but what may not be well known is that this man of God was the human vessel that contributed to the formation of another book that can be found in the New Testament; that being the gospel of Mark, which when we consider what we are told in Acts 15: 36-41 we see that there was a split between Paul and Barnabas regarding Mark.  Why is this important?  for this simple reason: this took place around ad 49 and in later letters we have him mentioned in 2 Timothy 4: 11-12; in Colossian 4: 10b and Philemon 23 (written between 59-64); and the last reference we have to mark is found in 1 Peter 5:12-13 (ad 62-63).  All this gives us a wi

In this post I want to give 6 reasons for the pre-70 ad mark for writings of the New Testament . 1. In the letters of Paul we have 2 books; the first one to be considered was written in 64-65 ad and in the 5th chapter we are told this:    " Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.   For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and,  “The laborer deserves his wages." (1 Tim. 5:17-18)   And also we have this in 1 Corinthians 11:  " For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,   and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said,  “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying,  “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”    (1 Cor. 11: 23-25) 

The Trinity is purely an object of faith; the plumbline of reason is too short to fathom this mystery; but where reason cannot wade, there faith may swim. There are some truths in religion that may be demonstrated by reason; as that there is a God: but the Trinity of persons in the Unity of essence is wholly supernatural, and must be believed by faith. This sacred doctrine is not against reason, but above it.  Thomas Watson.

J. C. Ryle, in this most important work called Holiness, sets out a number of lectures informing the reader (or listener, if you are on line: sermon audio) about this most wonderful and equally important subject. Now why do I speak on this subject again?   you may recall that I put out a book review on this subject a some months ago which spoke of the book 'devoted to God' by Sinclair Ferguson which was the same subject; well, I feel this is is a subject that is seriously lacking in much of today's church and that can be seen in how it is often referred too as that doctrine which suggests that one must be perfect in this life. When it says no such thing. So, therefore, it is a great truth which needs much coverage on it. Now in the picture to the left; what we see are two books-- they are not two different books but two version of the same work. The one on the right is the original, if you will (or one of the many reprints), of the original. And the one on the left is an up

  A life of resolve comes with a price tag. You will be tested by the lure of the world. But you must turn a deaf ear to the crowd and live instead for the approbation of Christ. There will always be a cross before a crown, sacrifice before success, and reproach before a reward. The call of discipleship will cost you popularity, possessions, and position. But God will use your commitment. The grace of God will be multiplied in you if you cultivate a fixed resolution to live for the glory of God.  (Steven Lawson on Jonathan Edwards)

  In any tactical situation it is always good to know two things to ensure that we are the victors. first, understand who we are are a people; and second, know your enemy. This has always served us well when dealing with a criminal. Let us be sure that we see this in the manner in which we do criminal profiling. How do we not allow this simple principle transcend the immediate environment and help us in a lager scale operations? It is a dangerous place for one to find themselves in. And so this is the place we are in now. There is a rather fitting maxim regarding history:  "those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." In other words, one can be blind-sighted by deceit and manipulation.  Two agree for a peaceful resolution; one is honourable and other is dishonourable. One expects their to be honesty on both end; the other does not share that conclusion for he has a different end to achieve. And the result is clear.  History is ignored in favour of false idea

As Christians, I challenge you. Have a great aim. Have a high standard. Make Jesus your ideal…make Him an ideal not merely to be admired but also to be followed.  -- Eric Liddell

The question: how is one to be brought back into a relationship with God? What is the method in which God declares a sinner right in His eyes?  In the atonement, one of the elements that works to answer these matters, is what is known by the word Justification. God, in His most holy wisdom, brings forth the guilty sinner before His heavenly bar and in His holy court for sentencing. And due to what His Son had done on behalf of this sinner declares him to be not guilty of any crime for His Son has taken His place for the punishment. Let me just make a point on how important this truth is in the whole scheme of things: for about 1000 years the church laity were forbidden to know what the scriptures taught and only allowed to know what Rome wanted them to know which was Justification by faith and works. In the 16th century a monk called Martin Luther rediscovered through reading and studying the scripture came to see this as an error. And he sought to show the truth of Justification by fa

Do you mean by that, asks someone, that the saints in the Old Testament were not forgiven? Of course I do not. They were obviously forgiven and they thanked God for the forgiveness. You cannot say for a moment that people like David and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob were not forgiven. Of course they were forgiven. But they were not forgiven because of those sacrifices that were then offered. They were forgiven because they looked to Christ. They did not see this clearly, but they believed the teaching, and they made these offerings by faith. They believed God’s Word that He was one day going to provide a sacrifice, and in faith they held to that. It was their faith in Christ that saved them, exactly as it is faith in Christ that saves now. That is the argument. (Martyn. Lloyd. Jones)

It seems that no matter where one turns these days some kind of depravity is being held up as a  morally accepted virtue. There is no escaping it: it is being put forward in every avenue; and if one disagrees with it, they will find themselves on the wrong side of history and on the wrong side of the law. It is a clear testimony to this reversed pattern: 'calling good evil; and evil good' and we face a world that is bent on 'bad company corrupting good morals' .  The world is all the more willing to be led by the hand into this anarchy; but I tell you the church must take a stand; and stand firmly against this ever growing disease and parasite that is destroying society.  In assessing the question of whether there is an advantage in having transgender "women" competing with real women. Albert Mohler states:  Again, Christians look at this, operating out of a biblical worldview, and understand there is no right answer to this question because what has been reje

The idea that the service to God should have only to do with a church altar, singing, reading, sacrifice, and the like is without doubt but the worst trick of the devil. How could the devil have led us more effectively astray than by the narrow conception that service to God takes place only in church and by works done therein… The whole world could abound with services to the Lord…not only in churches but also in the home, kitchen, workshop, field.  (Martin Luther)

  The Atonement, without a shadow of doubt, happens to be one the most important themes of both scriptures and history. But what does it actually mean? who is it made on behalf of? Well, the answer to that is that it is the sole means to which man is made right before God; or perhaps more correctly, is declared to be right by God.  And when a man comes to that cross rods in life of recognising that He is sinner truly; and that nothing he can do will remedy this. He will ask: how can I find peace? The answer is readily available to him in these words: " Seventy weeks  are decreed about your people and  your holy city, to finish  the transgression, to put an end to sin,  and to atone for iniquity,  to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and  to anoint a most holy place." (Dan. 9:24) That is the only way through the work of the prince. In this work, Dr Bob Morey sets out to show the greatness of the atonement, and he does so, by providing what is