The greatest heresy raging within the church is one of which most are unaware. This ignorance should not be a surprise; destructive heresies are prophesied to enter the church secretly:  “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, … More The Great Heresy of the Last Days

The 11-part series that was posted over the last few weeks is from a short book called “The Gospel According to Jesus: Unwrapping Centuries of Confusion,” by Marc Carrier. The book can be purchased online at amazon.com as a kindle ebook for 99 cents: http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Jesus-ebook/dp/B006J87NRK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383000247&sr=1-1 It can also be purchased as part of a book published … More The Gospel According to Jesus

So what is the final analysis? The reformers would have us believe that Jesus died to satisfy God’s wrath in a legal transaction, Jesus taking our place for our justly deserved punishment. In contrast, the early church taught that Jesus was sent to release us from the bondage of Sin and Death and turn our … More 11. Final Analysis

So what did Jesus teach concerning following Him? In the fourteenth chapter of Luke’s gospel account, Jesus told a large crowd of prospective followers what it would take to become His disciples. He certainly was not emulating the attractional, ear-tickling models of the modern church: “Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He … More 10. Count the Cost

Remember earlier I said that our eternal security is only as certain as our turning to God. Following Christ is a sure way to get to heaven, for that is where He is! But if we for a second think we can follow after our flesh, sin, and the world and end up at the … More 9. Secure In Christ

The concept of a two-part salvation was unanimous among the early church. In fact, the only ones in early church history to believe in much of what is now considered orthodox—that is: total depravity, arbitrary predestination, and unconditional eternal security—were the Gnostics. That’s right, the heretics John warned us about in his letters—the very ones … More 8. Don’t Forget Part Two

But doesn’t the Bible teach that our righteous acts are filthy rags? No, this is simply another example of a revisionist Christian history. Nothing could be more pleasing to God than our continued righteousness; it is for this reason God sent His Son, that we would be righteous and holy. So where does the myth … More 7. Filthy Rags?

The parables of the wheat and tares and the dragnet are not the only ones that discuss the second aspect of citizenship—that is, keeping it or remaining on the Vine. Here is the parable of the wedding feast. “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his … More 6. Dress Code

There are two aspects to citizenry in the Kingdom: gaining citizenship, and keeping citizenship. This may be foreign to some, but we will look at the Scriptures to clarify this concept. Jesus’ teaching on the Vine and the branches in the fifteenth chapter of John’s gospel reveals that the branches were on the Vine. They … More 5. Citizens of the Kingdom

Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of God. In fact, He mentions the Kingdom over 100 times in the four Gospels. The Kingdom of God is the theme of a great many of His parables. In fact, the Gospel is called “the Gospel of the Kingdom” several times. Yet today, the gospel that is preached concerns … More 4. The Kingdom of God