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Biblical inconsistency? Jesus does not negate himself but rather gives different teachings on following the commandments Msgr. Charles Pope 7/25/2018 Question: In Matthew 5:19, Jesus rails against relaxing or changing even the least of the commandments, and yet verse 19 also says that if one does, “[he] will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” It seems the consequences should be “losing” the kingdom of heaven if Jesus is consistent with what follows in verse 20. Can you explain the seeming inconsistency? — Jim Flynn, via email Answer: Two different teachings are being made here, hence it is not a...

Within Roman Catholicism (and within some other churches as well) there are prayers that are made for, through, and to the dead. We, as Reformed believers, reject all three of these categories but on different grounds. In discussing these issues with Roman Catholics it may be useful to be able to understand the different categories and to explain why it is that we reject each. We should pray for the living, to the living and true God, through the merits and intercession of Christ alone. 1. Prayers For the Dead In Roman Catholicism, there is a belief in Purgatory. Although...

There are no curses left you see, For they all belong to me , The adversary only has a lie , Do not believe it or you may die, It is Faith in Spirit that is your cause , I Said " IT IS FINISHED " with NO pause ! It was DONE in My blood for you , An eternal covenant unbreakable through and through , I AM your hedge to every lie, Let Me remove the speck from your eye, You are "FORGIVEN" I AM your Seal ! This is an ETERNAL DEAL ! I AM the same...

When the Rapture of the Church finally takes place - in which Almighty God the Son calls out His body (saints and ambassadors) - it (The Rapture) will be a wondrous sign unto the apostate western world more so than a sign unto the whole world. For all had better be prepared, for Almighty God's "Day of Wrath" is now at hand (2 Thess. 2:3-12)! All these are the beginning of sorrows (birth pangs) Matt. 24:8. The official commencement of this horrific seven year period will be the breaking of the 1st seal (i.e., the "Confirming of the Covenant" -...

Deadly wildfires continue to ravage Colorado Springs and have thus far destroyed 473 homes making this wild fire the most destructive fire in Colorado's history. The images of these wild fires are apocalyptic and grips the imagination. It is in such times like these... while these images are fresh in the minds of Americans that we want to EXPONENTIALLY magnify this event and focus our attention to the very soon coming Day of the Lord (Rev. 6-19)! The first of the seven Trumpet judgments (which follow the Seal Judgments - Rev. 6) in the Day of the Lord is described...

We are presently at a time when we are constantly seeing Israel’s border enemies ever more emboldened to stir up strife and lash out against Israel. As this present conflict in the Middle East intensifies and Israel sees it self ever alone in this big bad evil world DO NOT expect them to just idly sit by and watch their nation be wiped off the map of planet earth. With Iran and Syria ever breathing threats at Israel and Israel's border enemies doing like wise the tentisons are high in the Middle East and in the world. We as Bible...

Reprinted by permission of Faith Baptist Theological Seminary's Faith Pulpit, December, 1999. The virgin birth refers to Mary's miraculous conception of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, without any male participation, so that, though the birth process was not unlike that of other humans, Mary was still a virgin when Jesus was born. This Biblical doctrine should be distinguished from the Roman Catholic tenets of Mary's immaculate conception and her perpetual virginity (Erickson, 179). The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception According to the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Mary was "preserved free from all stain of original sin"...

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 [caption id="attachment_5052" align="alignright" width="215" caption=""The Water Torture.— Facsimile of a Woodcut in J. Damhoudère's Praxis Rerum Criminalium: in 4to, Antwerp, 1556.""][/caption] Pouring water over the covered face of an immobilized person is a brutal thing to do. The captive experiences severe pain and an overwhelming sensation of drowning. Some victims have even been known to break their bones as they struggle against the restraints. But waterboarding is nothing compared with what American theologian...

My friends the world abounds with liars in all classes of politics and life in general but particularly here in America for the last six years (2006 elections) the Progressive Democratic Left has faithfully lied about everything under the sun to promote, preserve and protect their lawless Marxist agenda and their chosen chief chosen one. From Health Care to Medicare, from Republicans to the Tea Party, from the economy to tax increases, from the Fast and the Furious to the Stimulus, from the war on terror to Guantanamo, from drilling to green energy, from Limbaugh to Bush to Palin, from...

April 19, 2011 I believe I am among a sizeable subset of Christians in this country who believes that the United States is now on the fast track to judgment. Down through history the Bible shows that God periodically judges individual nations for their bad conduct. He chastens by lowering a nation's position, status, wealth and power among the other nations. He destroys by war, by famine, plague, or natural disasters. God judges individuals, both those who believe and those who do not. "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we...

Contemplating what God has graciously done for hell-deserving sinners ought to encourage and thrill the soul of every blood-bought child of God! As the hymn writer has said, "Oh to grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be!" (Robert Robinson). Paul, in referring to the redemption and forgiveness that believers have in Christ, spoke of "the RICHES of His GRACE" (Ephesians 1:7). Elsewhere he said, "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10). God has given to every believer everlasting consolation (eternal encouragement) and good hope through grace (2 Thess. 2:16-17). "For...

Well here we are my friends. After three and a half years of nonstop conservative radio and TV commentary and rallying cries, national Tea Parties, emailing, writing and calling our U.S. representatives, protesting vehemently against socialism, optimistic appraisals and evaluations, and taking our own personal stands for conservatism the relentless leftward movement of this nation has brought to pass our greatest fears for the 2012 elections, a weak moderate/liberal Republican nominee for President. The optimistic voices that put optimistic appraisal in front of the reality of the hour are speechless. Let me ask those of you who have fought valiantly...

After the world war will come the famine and then the plagues. Yet, prayer can mitigate the chastisement My dearly beloved daughter My followers need to know the sequence of events for, by understanding this, they will be empowered with the knowledge so that they can help to mitigate the Chastisement. The Warning is taking place as a last resort by My Eternal Father in order to plunge the light of God, the light of the Truth, into the hearts of mankind. Without it most of humanity would be cast into Hell for they would not be worthy of My...

The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.(Isaiah 17:2)Damascus is known as the oldest continuously occupied city in the world. The prophets Elijah and Elisha went there to minister to Assyrian Kings. The blinded Saul of Tarsus was led by the hand to a home on DamascusÂ’s Straight street, where he found his Christ, and recovered his sight. That very street still exists in Damascus. This Ancient...

Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation....

Not only will we be worshiping God in heaven, but we will be serving Him as well in whatever capacity He has in mind. It’s very possible some of these things be hobbies you enjoy here on earth and where your talents and interest lie in. You very well might be doing that in heaven as a service to the Lord. Funny how we don’t think on these things as it’s hard to imagine. We are so caught up in the here and now, that thinking on future things like this is hard to picture. How often do we contemplate...

Most of will say... YES - of course! If we're a Christian, we want to be very ready to share the good news. If you're not then this is the most important thing you can find out. Either way, I encourage you to read below... Most of us think that if we stay on the straight and narrow we just might make it though those pearly gates. Sadly most people don’t know exactly how to be saved. The majority of people overall believe they will be in heaven when they die someday because they strive to be a good person....

The 17 Most Misused Verses in the Bible By Trevin Wax Last weekend, I read a helpful book by Eric Bargerhuff titled The Most Misused Verses in the Bible: Surprising Ways God’s Word Is Misunderstood (Bethany House, 2012). Eric takes the reader through 17 often misquoted verses and helps us see their proper meaning and application.Since some of these misinterpretations are more damaging than others, Eric doesn’t recommend we run to correct people who innocently mis-apply the passages. He does recommend, however, that pastors and teachers take special care to avoid the common mistakes that lead to misuse.I should note that...

I would like to demonstrate that Jesus’ crucifixion and death occurred not on a Friday (the sixth day of the week), as has been traditionally accepted, but rather on the previous day, Thursday (the fifth day of the week). My Holy Week chart, near the bottom of this page, displays my depiction of the week during which the following occurred during the month of Aviv (also called Nisan) of that year:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.( 2 Timothy 3:1-5)There is a Chinese ‘blessing’, the kind you confer upon an adversary, in which you wish him or her ,”May you live in interesting times”. We certainly do, don’t...