You can read the written outline of Dana’s answer Here.
Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?
June 23rd, 2011Is the Adultery Passage in John 7:53-8:11 Genuine?
May 31st, 2011I did this one a bit different. I gave an overview, summary and some conclusions of this post on the video and then referred to the small paper I wrote concerning the subject a bit further. There is a lot more study one can do on this subject and I am not the guy to ask or read. If you do ask me, all I will do is quote other guys who study this kind of stuff for a living. I hope this is helpful.
You can read the paper by clicking on this link right here.
Also, here is a short round-up on scholars thoughts about this passage in John and whether or not it is original to John’s gospel (Via John Piper):
- Don Carson, who teaches at Trinity, and is in my view one of the best New Testament scholars in the world, writes, “Despite the best efforts . . . to prove that this narrative was originally part of John’s Gospel, the evidence is against [them], and modern English versions are right to rule it off from the rest of the text (NIV) or to relegate it to a footnote (RSV).” (The Gospel According to John, 1991, p. 333)
Bruce Metzger, one of the world’s great authorities on the text of the New Testament until his death in 2002: “The evidence for the non-Johannine origin of the periscope of the adulteress is overwhelming.” (The Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, 1971, p. 219)
Leon Morris: “The textual evidence makes it impossible to hold that this section is an authentic part of the Gospel.” (The Gospel According to John, 1971, p. 882)
Andreas Köstenberger: “This represents overwhelming evidence that the section is non-Johannine.” (John, 2004, p. 246)
Herman Ridderbos: The evidences “point to an unstable tradition that was not originally part of an ecclesiastically accepted text.” (The Gospel of John, 1997, p. 286)
HT: New Leaven
How Were Old Testament Believers Saved?
May 10th, 2011QUESTION: How were the believers of the Old Testament (those who lived before Jesus came) saved?
You can read the written answer here.
Can You Explain Our Union With Jesus?
April 26th, 2011Here are two resources for further study on our union with Jesus:
- The Discipline of Grace – Jerry Bridges
In Christ Alone – Sinclair Ferguson
Click here to get the written outline for the answer.
What does the Bible say about suicide?
March 31st, 2011QUESTION: I had a dear family friend that committed suicide this week. This man was a firm believer in Christ, a father of four, loving husband, Chaplin and ex-youth minister. This man knew the bible well and I was fed the word listening to him on several occasions. I was shocked to find out he took his own life. Shaken to my core, I was wondering what the Bible says about Suicide? Will I see this man in heaven? Can a person who commits suicide go to heaven? If so, what is the incentive for Christians to NOT commit suicide? It seems that all Christians would want to commit suicide to take the fast track to heaven? ***I have no intentions or thoughts of committing suicide I just would like some clarification because this tragedy has got me thinking. Thanks!
ANSWER: First of all, I am sorry for your loss and the pain and sorrow you must have felt when you heard the news. Losing those you know is never easy, especially in this way.
I see three questions in your email:
1- WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT SUICIDE?
a. Saints sometimes feel so bad they want to die: Moses in Numbers 11:14-15, Elijah in 1 Kings 19:4, Jonah in Jonah 4:8.
b. Giving into the act of suicide is a sin because it is disobedience against God (murder), disbelief in God’s Sovereign right, independency from God’s grace to cope.
c. True Saints can waver in disbelief and discouragement and commit suicide: Romans 7:15, 1 John 1:8, Phil. 3:12.
2 – IS SUICIDE AN UNFORGIVABLE SIN?
a. No amount of good works can earn God’s salvation. And no amount of bad works disqualifies a person from God’s converting grace.
b. The only unforgivable sin is living a life that continuously rejects the call to repentance and faith in Jesus (Mark 3:28-29).
c. Isaiah 53:4-6
i. If this person was a redeemed saint, then His penalty has been paid and all the sin his life could muster had already been dealt with at the cross. God in love, foreloved Him before all his acts of sin, including his suicide and sent Jesus to pay his debt.
ii. His last human act did not evade God’s foresight. In love, God saw all that that man was – all the sin he would commit, all the unbelief he would believe, all the unrighteousness he would be – and sent His Son Jesus to take it on and completely vaporize it.
iii. Our salvation is never dependent on our performance. It all has to do with what Jesus has done for us and not what we have done for Him. Suicide of one’s physical life cannot touch the eternal life that Jesus has paid for in full.
iv. Suicide cannot un-finish what Jesus did.
3- IF SUICIDE IS FORGIVABLE, WHY DON’T MORE CHRISTIANS COMMIT SUICIDE IN ORDER TO GET TO HEAVEN FAST?
a. The Bible has many passages that record saints wishing to be killed and ushered into Jesus’ presence. Saints don’t want this world, they long for the one Jesus will bring.
i. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far…Philippians 1:23
ii. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord…2 Corinthians 5:8
b. In my experience, Christians who commit suicide do so when they have been taken outside of their right mind. Sober Christians don’t, in my experience commit suicide. So what then stops sober Christians from taking their own highway to heaven via suicide?
c. Our body isn’t ours, it is His (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) – He created it, He sustains it, He redeemed it, He sanctifies it, He will resurrect it and He will glorify it so we don’t kill what is His. He calls the shots.
d. We are called to live on mission for our King whom we love (John 17:17-15-19). We stay away from trying to shoot ourselves in the foot in order to stay out of the battle. We are not called to be heavenly draft dodgers.
e. We live to glorify Jesus in this world by demonstrating His unsurpassable worth (2 Corinthians 4:15); suicide does not accomplish this.
f. We are called to put others before ourselves (Phil. 2:1-4); suicide puts self before others.
g. We live to please Him until He takes us home (2 Corinthians 5:8). When in his right mind, a Christian does not commit suicide for the same reason he does not steal, lie, murder or covet; it is against the will of the God He loves.
i. There is nothing worshipful or honoring about a Christian committing suicide. Suicide puts self before God; it loves self and not Him. Killing oneself in defiance of God’s will in order to gain a more pleasurable existence is not honoring to God, but dishonoring.
ii. Sober Christians do not commit suicide because worshiping, loving, honoring, obeying and pleasing God is their greatest desires and suicide goes against that goal. The love of God demonstrated in Jesus Christ is what ultimately stops Christians from taking their life.
What is the Difference Between Mormons and Christians?
March 17th, 2011Review Notes
1- Divisions are often thought of being only negative. This happens because a lot of things people choose to divide over are superficial, shallow and trivial. Don’t divide over dumb stuff.
2- However, not all division is bad. In fact, division can be a good and necessary thing. Think of fences or walls built around a school yard. They do divide the children from the outside world where they can be harmed. They enclose the children in a particular space and give them limits. These walls are a good thing because they help keep the children safe as the have fun and play within the walls. They do bring division, but for good. Sometimes our divisions are like those walls. They are put up as clear markers and safe boundaries so we may understand what to keep and what to reject.
3- This is how we come to differ greatly from Mormons. There are walls in between Mormons and Christian and these walls clearly divide them into two different things. What are some of the things that divides us and create these walls? To name a few: our belief about the Bible, Jesus, God’s Nature, Salvation and Eternity’s Bliss. This is not a comprehensive list at all and there are many more important divisions that should be noted, but these do show very clearly that Mormonism and Christianity are two different beasts.
ABOUT THE BIBLE:
- The book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible, (History of the Church, 4:461).ABOUT JESUS:
- Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers and we were all born as siblings in heaven to them both, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163).- Jesus is not the eternal God
ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHh:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church (Doctrine and Covenants); all other churches are “wrong,” all their creeds an “abomination,” and all who profess them are “corrupt” (Joseph Smith, History 1:19, Pearl of Great Price). Those of creedal or traditional Christianity have adopted “pagan beliefs” and are part of “false Christianity” (Gospel Principles, 100 [1979 edition]).ABOUT GOD:
- “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!!! . . . We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea and take away the veil, so that you may see,” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 345).
- “Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body . . . of flesh and bones.” (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 38).
- There are many gods, (Mormon Doctrine, p. 163).
ABOUT SALVATION:
- “One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan and propounded by man is that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation,” (Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball, p. 206).- “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do,” (2 Nephi 25:23).
- “But all of these blessings are ours on one condition, and this is spoken of by Nephi, when he said: For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, [but mark you this condition,] after all we can do” (Harold B. Lee, Conference Reports, April 1956, p.111. Brackets and italics in original)
The ultimate end goal of a Mormon is to become a god, not enjoy forever the Only True, Almighty and Eternal God. It is Man-Centered through and through…
For More Information check out CARM.org
Where Should I Start Reading the Bible?
February 16th, 2011Question: I don’t have much knowledge about the Bible, but I want to know Jesus more. Where is the best place to start reading my Bible?
If you want to learn about Jesus, the Bible is the place to go
Old Testament – Jesus Anticipated
Gospels – Jesus Revealed
Acts – Jesus Preached
Epistles (Letters) – Jesus Explained
Revelation – Jesus Expected
It’s all about Jesus (John 5:39; Luke 24:27)
Where Should You Start?
I would recommend to begin with Mark. Mark’s gospel is short, concise and draws a really good picture of Jesus’ power to save. Then read Matthew, Luke and John. Three questions you want to ask when you come to the gospels are:
1- Who is Jesus?
2- What has He come to do?
3- What does He call me to believe and do?
After that, make your way through the rest of the New Testament.
Some Helpful Tips
1- Grab a study Bible: I recommend the ESV Study Bible.
2- Get your questions answered by your pastor or Christian friends.
3- Saturate yourself in it. (Deuteronomy 6:5-8)
4- Download sermons from good Bible teachers:
Some Recommended Pastors: John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, Kevin DeYoung, C.J. Mahaney, John MacArthur, Timothy Keller, Alistair Begg, Mark Dever, Joshua Harris.
5- Read books about what the Bible teaches: See Resources Page
How Do I Use the Q&A Section?
February 11th, 2011Alright Core,
Here it is! Our website is finally here and we are excited! We want to quickly help you understand how this section of the website is supposed to work. So here goes nothing!
The point of this section is to get your questions answered and maybe help you lean more about your God from the answers of other people’s questions. Paul often prayed for people to grow in their knowledge of the Lord so they could be more confident in Him, grow more like Him, have more love for Him and delight in Him (see Philippians 1:9-10, Colossians 1:9-12)). Our hope for this section is the same.
How do you ask a question? Simple! Simply look to the right of this screen and you’ll see some space given for you to put your name, your email and your question. When you type in all the appropriate information and click ‘submit’ an email will be sent to Dana and, if your question is a good one, it will be responded to via video from this section. If your question does not end up being responded to by video, you will receive an email where your question will be answered for you personally.
One last thing to note is this: your identity will remain secret. We will not disclose your identity to anyone else; your identity will be safe with us.
So we hope and pray that God uses this aspect of our website to increase your knowledge about Him and His Son and His Spirit for His glory and your good. So let the questions loose!
What is a Christian?
January 27th, 2011
What Is a Christian? from SSC Youth on Vimeo.
What a Christian is Not:
1- A moral/good person (Matthew 19:16-30).
2- Someone who was raised as a Christian or has Christian friends.
3- A religious person (Matthew 7:21-23).
What is a Christian? A Christian is somebody who treasures Jesus Christ far more than anything else in the world (Philippians 3:8). That’s the simple answer.
Or, A Christian is someone who has been transformed by Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17) and has:
1) Repented of sin (Matthew 5:27).
2) Believed the Gospel (good news of Jesus; John 3:16)
3) Follows Jesus till death (Revelation 2:26).
