Posts

HEAL or NOT TO HEAL, that is the question!

         This post is a different kind of bible study.  It is a communication through email with someone.  But I am sharing it with you simply as words of encouragement to those who might need it and hopefully will be blessed by it.                  Some years ago, a particular person and I began communicating through email, because of biblical questions he had.   Although I had never met him in person, even still, every now and then he would reach out to me, and we would discuss things of the bible.              I might add, based on our past discussions, I’m sure he’s a brother in the Lord—that is, he is saved.   He made that clear.   I will call him Bill, for anonymity’s sake.                  The following email response is to a recent question Bill had to which he wasn’t sure if there was an answer.   But hopefully, the response provided was encouraging in some way.               For full disclosure, the email dialogue was slightly modified for readability and context, and

WHY DID GOD CREATE SATAN, KNOWING SATAN WOULD SIN?

Here is another question one of my young Sunday School students asked: “why did God create Satan, knowing Satan would sin?”  Of course, it is an interesting question to ponder. Let’s begin by asking this: Is it true that God knew Satan would sin?   YES, of course!   God, undoubtably knew Satan would sin and even created him anyway. (If you look back at my February 18, 2023, post, “Did GOD Know it Before it Happened?”   You will see how the Bible demonstrates that God is omniscient—that is, He is ALL knowing.   There is nothing new to God.   His wisdom and intellect are beyond measure, beyond comprehension.   He exists outside of time and can see from the beginning to the end.   All things are finite, but God is infinite and everlasting (Psalm 90:2).) Let me make something clear first: as I stated in the last post, it was technically Lucifer who was created before he became Satan.   His transformation to Satan was a resultant of Lucifer’s transgression or rebellion, by, what I’

SATAN—How Did He Get His Name?

Recently, a young student in my Sunday School class asked, “How did Satan get his name?” This is a good question; a question that had never crossed my mind before.   I told him I’d give him the answer the following week because I really didn’t have it clearly formulated in my mind at that moment. Here’s my journey to the answer… The very first thing to realize (which we won't get into the specifics) is that God created Lucifer (son of the morning), not Satan.   Lucifer, who was created sinless and had free will, at some point before the creation of man, transgressed and fell by allowing his pride to be perverted due to his great beauty, brightness, and wisdom.   He thought that he could be like the Most High God, as the thoughts in his heart echoed.  At that very instant, with his will easily discovered by God, he became Satan. SATAN—DEFINE IT When I got home after class, I pulled out my Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance to look up the name “Satan”.   (This concordance is s

GOSPEL--It Doesn't Mean What You Think!

GOSPEL—LET’S DEFINE IT! I’d say most people in the United States of reasonable age have heard the term “gospel”—even non-churchgoers.  Also, I’d argue that if one has attended a “Christian” church for some length of time, they have heard the word “gospel” mentioned or preached at least once—whether they remember it or not. This word “gospel” seems to be a point of contention or even divisive at times within Christian or denominational circles. Some say there’s more than one “gospel” in the Bible, but others argue there is but only one “gospel”.  Regardless, before we go down that rabbit trail, let’s first look at what the word gospel means; so, we can have some initial point of agreement of its definition. The word “gospel” shows up 104 times in 98 verses in the King James Version Bible, all of which are in the New Testament.  The word gospel is an English translation of a few Greek words that have much the same meaning (without reviewing the subtle nuances).  Gospel simply means glad

WARNING! Sometimes 'Salvation' is as Clear as Mud on FACEBOOK

THE WILL OF GOD: I'd first like to say, I'm not 'calling out' anyone.  You likely don't know the person and I don't even reference his or her name.  So let's get going! The question might be asked, "Why would you pick apart the following post or any other for that matter?"   The answer is that I want the will of God to be clear , and not for my glory, but for His. The clarity of the 'gospel of salvation' is the issue and it seems that most people water it down, muddy it up, and dilute it. It is of paramount importance that the gospel of your salvation be clear without mixture; because man’s eternal life with Christ depends on it.  And if one doesn’t rightly divide the Word of truth ( 2 Timothy 2:15 ), their message is generally confused or possibly corrupted. So what's the 'will' of God? 1 Timothy 2:4 “Who (God) WILL have ALL men to be SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the TRUTH. ” This is the ‘will’ of God. FA