Dispensations of the Bible

A dispensation in the Bible is a period of time in which God dealt/deals with man a certain way. There are 8 dispensations that are commonly agreed between many Christian scholars. Some scholars who do not believe in a rapture of the Christian church or in a literal millennial reign, may only adhere to 7 dispensations. The 7th and 8th dispensation might be combined as the “Dispensation of Christ’s Reign.” Under each dispensation there seems to be a means of salvation for that time: 1. Dispensation of Innocence: Began from creation and ended with the fall of man (the first … Continue reading →

Is Baptism Required for Salvation? An Alternate Look (2)

In part one of “Is Baptism Required for Salvation? An Alternate Look” I wrote about the argument used with the thief on the cross. Now I want to directly deal with what the Bible says about baptism, and I want to make one assertion very clear before I begin. I do not believe that baptism alone is required for salvation. I think that there is a large misconception that those who believe that baptism is required for salvation believe that only baptism is required for salvation. I do not believe that baptism alone is required for salvation, but that other … Continue reading →

Is Baptism Required for Salvation? An Alternate Look

A few weeks ago my fellow blogger, MJ, wrote an article entitled “Is Baptism Required for Salvation?” Her article prompted me to write this article, which is what I call an “alternate look” at the subject matter. I certainly do not want to attack anything MJ wrote, but rather present a different view on a hotly discussed issue. I know that for me personally, it is when discussions such as this one come up that I have some of my deepest Bible study. I initially wrote this article as one installment; however, it became very lengthy, therefore I have separated … Continue reading →

What is a Saint?

There have been several times I have mentioned words that when used in the world mean one thing, and when used in a Biblical sense mean something completely different. I think it is important to study how words are used in the Bible, instead of simply considering the worldly meaning because often times the two are very different. For instance, consider the word “faith” in a Biblical and non-Biblical sense. One of these words which is used differently in the world from the Bible is the word “saint”. What comes to mind when you think about the word saint? Perhaps … Continue reading →

Do Our Pets Go to Heaven?

Many of us who have lost a pet when we were younger were told they went to heaven to be with God—and some still believe this. Later, some of us were told that heaven was made for people and not for animals so we won’t be seeing them. I have not found any clear answers in the Bible to say which theory is true. Some people take literal references from the Bible such as “The lion will lay by the lamb” which is not actually what the Bible even says in Isaiah 11:6, rather it says, “The wolf shall also … Continue reading →

A Theory on the Universe

I have a theory on the universe I thought I’d share here. I may be so far off that many will think I’m nuts, but like I said, it is just a theory so thanks for hearing me out. Many people have opinions of outer-space; how big it is, whether other life forms exist, how big God is… I really think God’s ways, specifically referring to creation here, are so beyond our puny minds that we will never have it figured out. A friend of mine told me an interesting theory she had about aliens. She believes there could be … Continue reading →

Is Gambling a Sin?

Depending on who you talk with, you will probably get a different answer as to gambling being a sin or not. Many Christians argue that gambling is not condemned in the Bible and therefore find justification in their actions. I ask you to come to your own conclusion on this matter based on what the Bible has to say. So what is gambling anyway? Is it a hopeful investment strategy? Is it means of entertainment? Is it an addiction? Depending on which reply you’ve given, it may lead to your answer. 1. Gambling as a hopeful investment strategy: The Bible … Continue reading →

Once Saved Always Saved?

The question of whether or not it’s possible to lose one’s salvation has been around a long time. I’ve leaned toward the side that agrees it is possible. I really don’t know for sure though. Perhaps some of you can help me out here. So here’s a question for you: Do we still have our own free will after we turn our lives over to Christ? In other words, if we are saved, do we then have the choice to commit sin of any kind and still get to spend eternity with Jesus Christ when we die? I really believe … Continue reading →