Man's communication with Heaven - real and phony
Volume 4, Number 6Faith: Communicating with Heaven - Part 1: The ancients who had no faith in God built a Tower called Babel to reach the heavens to show their independence from God and make themselves a name. They were united in effort because everyone spoke the same language, so to end their folly God gave them different languages, thus they scattered throughout the earth, Genesis 11:1 - 19. It’s taken a long time to overcome the language-communication problem but finally, over the last 100 years or so, mankind has been able to communicate instantly around the globe. And in the last 50... Continue reading →
Stephen - the point of change from Kingdom to Grace Gospel
Volume 4, Number 5Faith in the Book of Acts - Stephen - Acts 6 & 7:Many only think of Stephen as one of seven deacons who distributed aid to poorer members in the “early church,” and who happened to be the first martyr. However, he was much more. His martyrdom actually changed the course of history in regards to God’s dealing with mankind. First, the “church” of which Stephen was a part needs to be identified for what it was, because it was not the same as The Church, The Body of Christ that exists today. The Greek word “ekklesia” (G1577) is found... Continue reading →
The Holy Spirit's work - Kingdom vs Grace
Volume 4, Number 4Faith in the Book of Acts - The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Faith & Power:The word “faith” is found 3 times in the sixth chapter of Acts. In two verses, Acts 6:5 & 8, we learn that Stephen was full of faith, power and the Holy Ghost. (Note: in the King James Version, the Greek word “pneuma,” is found 385 times in the New Testament [NT] and is usually translated “Spirit.” However, it is translated “Ghost” 89 times when used with the word “Holy,” as in “Holy Ghost.”) Acts 6:7 reports a great number of priests were obedient... Continue reading →
The Holy Spirit's Work in Stephen & others
Volume 4, Number 3Faith in the Book of Acts:Our last study compared the Jewish Pentecostal Church in Jerusalem that came into existence shortly after Jesus ascended into heaven (approx. 29 AD) to the church, the Body of Christ as revealed to the Apostle Paul in about 37 AD and thereafter. Today, we’ll consider the history of the Holy Spirit’s work and gifts leading up to and bestowed upon the Pentecostal church. Our study of faith brings us to this subject found in the sixth chapter of Acts where one of the Holy Spirit’s gifts is faith, the other two being wisdom and power.... Continue reading →
The Pentecostal Church vis a vis The Body of Christ
Volume 4, Number 2Faith in Acts: The Pentecostal Church vis a vis The Church, The Body of Christ:Before continuing our examination of “faith” in Acts, a review of the make up and characteristics of the Pentecostal Church described in the first chapters of the book of Acts compared to The Church, the Body of Christ that exists today is in order. The foundation for that Pentecostal church is actually found in the book of Leviticus, which contains God’s instructions to Israel for seven feasts/ festivals to be celebrated every year. Each was significant both in regards to the Lord’s provision for Israel and... Continue reading →
Faith & related words in Acts
Volume 4, Number 1Faith in the Book of Acts:Having completed our study in the Gospels we move on to the book of Acts, studying the words regarding faith and believe that appear therein:1. The Greek word Pistis, usually, but not always translated “faith,” found 16 times in Acts (244 total in NT, Smith’s Greek-English Concordance # 4002.)2. The Greek Pistos, usually, but not always translated “faithful,” found 4 times in Acts (66 total in NT, Smith’s # 4003.)3. The Greek Pisteuo, unusually, but not always translated “believe,” found 39 times in Acts (248 total in the NT, Smith’s # 4000.)4. Oligopistos is always... Continue reading →
The Son of God - of David - of Man - Titles
Volume 3, Number 96The Word “Believe” in the Gospel of John - Part 22 - Final:The Titles - the Son of David, the Son of Man and the Son of God:Dateline: New Iberia, Louisiana:When the Word of God (the Second Person of the Trinity) came to earth, John 1:1, 2 & 14, He had many names/titles, i.e., Emmanuel, Jesus, Christ, the King of Israel, the King of the Jews, etc., each describing different aspects of His person, attributes and or mission. This study examines the significance of three (3) of His New Testament titles: The Son of David, The Son of Man and... Continue reading →
Eigth's (8th) Sign in John
Volume 3, Number 95The Word “Believe” in the Gospel of John - Part 21:The 8th Sign in John’s Gospel, Chapter 21:John’s eighth sign: Jesus appeared to seven Disciples at the Sea of Tiberius one morning after they had fished all night without catching anything. Upon Jesus’ instructions they cast their net and pulled it back filled to capacity with 153 fish. This is the last of eight signs in John and is one of six that are not found in the other Gospels. (Only the 4th sign, feeding of the 5000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fishes, and the 5th... Continue reading →
Jewish Atheists, Hypocrites & Believers
Volume 3, Number 94The Word “Believe” in the Gospel of John - Part 20:While reading an article on the internet recently I saw a link that took me to the web publication “Celebrity Tune” dated May 16, 2015 listing 46 celebrities quoted as claiming they are atheists: http://www.celebritytune.com/article/46-celebrities-you-wont-believe-are-atheists-video/1/. Among the avowed atheists are Lance Armstrong, George Carlin, Morgan Freeman and Bill Gates. But noteworthy for the purpose of this study are two quotes: “The Jewish-American comedian Sarah Silverman often uses religion as a punch line, saying she’s glad that the Jews killed Jesus, and she’d do it again in some of her sketches.”... Continue reading →
The Woman Caught in Adultry
Volume 3, Number 93The Word “Believe” in the Gospel of John - Part 19:The Woman caught in Adultery:After the Jew’s confrontation with Jesus while He was teaching in the Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, as recorded in John 7, everyone went home, John 7:53, and Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early the next day both the people and Jesus returned to the temple where He again taught, John 8:1 & 2. The Jews had marveled at Jesus’ knowledge, even though He had never studied with them, John 7:15. Now, in an effort to find fault with Him, some Scribes and... Continue reading →