Well, here we are in 2003! Can you believe it? Actually, yes, because time has an inexorable way of confronting us with reality, no matter how hard we sometimes try to deny it. Think about it: “Y2K” is a distant memory (unless one is still eating up leftover survival cheese), there is now blue Pepsi®, Calvin & Hobbes are gone, …
Care-less and Care-full
God bless your heart, and welcome to the first “On The Edge” column, which will be a regular feature. It is a joy and privilege for me to have this forum to share my heart with you. It’s also good discipline for me to have to produce something remotely coherent every 60 days. And I may even learn more about this …
Why Be Born Again?
The reason each person since the Day of Pentecost must be born again in order to have life in the age to come is because the first time we were born (physically), we each inherited the sin nature of our “father” Adam, and thus were born dead in sin (Eph. 2:1, etc.). Because of this “death” nature in us, our physical …
What Is the New Birth?
Throughout Scripture, there are many analogies between things in the natural realm and corresponding things in the spiritual realm. God uses these to help us human beings, who do understand the natural realm, understand spiritual truth also. One such example is the idea of being “born again.” Think about a normal human birth—you know, “Wa-a-a-h!” There you were, a screaming …
Adopted by God
FAQ: I know that as Christians we are born again of incorruptible seed (1 Pet. 1:23 – KJV). Why then do several places in the Church Epistles speak of our being “adopted” by God? The Greek word translated “adoption” is huiothesia, and it occurs only five times in the New Testament, all in the Church Epistles in the KJV (Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; …
Will Christians really live in heaven forever?
So, you’re a Christian. Cool. Did you know that puts you “in sales”? Well, actually you’re trying to give away the product, but it is still a matter of persuading people to make a decision. Smart consumers today want to be informed about the product so they can make a sound decision. What is it you are trying to get …
Where Are the dead?
[An excerpt from Chapter Four of our book: Is There Death After Life?] A Grave Question Orthodox Christian teaching is that at death the soul departs to one of two literal places, “heaven” or “hell.” But this doctrine does not account for those believers who died prior to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe Charles F. Baker’s work titled …
What State of Being Are the Dead?
The “Sleep” Metaphor 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. As we have seen, the dead are truly dead and in “gravedom.” When their bodies have rotted, they have ceased to exist. But because they “exist” in …
What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
FAQ: I live in the USA, and it seems that our language is riddled with references to “hell.” I constantly hear that extremely versatile word used in conversations of all kinds. People say: “What the hell?” or “The hell with it,” or “Hell, yes / no,” etc. On occasion, some people, though not travel agents, have encouraged me to “go …
The Joy of Hope
“He’s dead.” “She’s dead.” How many millions of human hearts have been torn asunder by those words, spoken by a doctor, a state trooper, or a relative in regard to one’s wife, husband, baby, child, mother, father, brother, sister, or best friend? The thudding finality of the word dead is hard to describe. So is the absolute contrast between life …