Free Republic

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow wrote “John 3:16” under his eyes during the 2009 BCS National Championship Game. That night, 94 million people searched the verse. Three years later to the exact day, Tebow played his first NFL playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He threw for 316 yards. His yards per completion were 31.6. The TV rating peaked at 31.6. The opponent’s time of possession was 31:06. The only interception in the game...

Richard Dawkins casts the Old Testament God as: "arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction - a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully." (The God Delusion) Dawkins’ description is extreme and one sided, but even Christians struggle...We know that he is the God of life not death, creation not violence, mercy not destruction... Christians take several approaches to the violence of the Old Testament. 1. We can reject the depictions of God here as inconsistent with God as revealed in Jesus...However, this approach is to be rejected because...

The Orthodox Church begins with the human condition. Humanity turns from God, who is Life. The result is not a legal sentence imposed from without, but corruption arising from within. Death enters human existence as the intrinsic consequence of separation from God. Scripture names the problem plainly. “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23 (LSB) Death is not something the Father needs to be paid. It is what follows when creatures cut themselves off from the source of life. The question salvation answers, therefore, is not how God can be persuaded to forgive, but how humanity can be rescued...

Henry Gerecke was in his early 50’s when he went, cell by cell, to introduce himself to his infamous “congregation.” He invited them to chapel services. Some refused, others wavered, and still others promised to be there. Of the fifteen chairs set up for the first service, thirteen of them were filled. Scriptures were read, sermons preached, hymns sung, prayers prayed... Soon some of the very lips that had once barked, “Heil Hitler!” spoke an Amen as they knelt to receive the body and blood of their forgiving Lord. They expressed a desire for their children to be baptized. One...

President Trump has been assured about the fate of his immortal soul, according to a letter he posted on Sunday on Truth Social on Palm Sunday. Franklin Graham, the son of a late legendary televangelist, assured the commander in chief in a private letter that his “soul is secure,” and he is “bound for heaven” if he accepts Jesus Christ as God, in the note sent last year. Graham, a key evangelical ally of Trump, wrote to him last year after the president jokingly questioned whether or not he would make it to heaven. “It is an important issue to...

During a recent press conference in Jerusalem, Benjamin Netanyahu made a statement that stirred strong reactions. Citing historian Will Durant, he said: "History proves that, unfortunately and unhappily, Jesus Christ has no advantage over Genghis Khan. Because if you are strong enough, ruthless enough, powerful enough, evil will overcome good." Though later clarified as a reflection on the harsh realities of history rather than an attack on Christianity, the statement invites a deeper theological response… The cross does not look like victory. It does not resemble the triumphs of emperors or conquerors. Christ does not defeat his enemies; he allows...

Decisional regeneration, sometimes referred to as decision theology, is the belief that a person must make a decision for Christ, consciously accepting Him as Savior, in order to be saved. According to decision theology, the new birth occurs when someone 1) hears the gospel, 2) is convicted of the truth of the gospel, 3) understands the need for salvation, and 4) chooses to accept Christ rather than reject Him. Often, the decision to accept Christ is marked by an action such as walking an aisle, praying a "sinner’s prayer," signing a decision card, or similar activity. Detractors of decision theology...

Criminals never cease to amaze. A Florida man who was a bell ringer for the Salvation Army for the Christmas season was arrested this past week for allegedly trying to impale the store manager of a grocery store with the tripod to the donation kettle, according to law enforcement. Steven Pavlik, 63, was found at his home and arrested. He was charged with resisting arrest and aggravated assault. The alleged victim was the store manager at Publix in Stuart, Florida. Fox News reported: A Florida man working as a Salvation Army bell ringer for the holidays was arrested Christmas week...

Join with fellow FREEPERS across the world to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Agri-Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, Technology, Religious Freedom and the Media. "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (1 Timothy 2:1-2) Religion Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind. "Finally, brothers, rejoice. Set things in order. Be encouraged. Agree with one another. Be at peace. And the God...

Not going to hell is easier than you think. ... The Bible is clear on how a person can avoid going to hell after death.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—In an effort to root out racism, the Salvation Army announced they will no longer be accepting any donations in the form of bills or coins that have white people on them.“Ever since we learned that racism is everywhere, all the time, ingrained in every aspect of life, we realized most U.S. currency depict the faces of white men who only did evil, racist things in their lives,” said the Commander-in-Chief of the Salvation Army, Clurvis Bellman. “We then decided the best way to feed, clothe, and comfort the poor and needy is to stop accepting money tarnished with...

Our lives are made up of decades, years, minutes, and seconds. The numbers vary by individual, but we are all given a limited amount of time on earth to live. The average American lifespan is about 78 years, roughly 2.5 billion seconds. In each person’s life, there comes a time when they truly comprehend good and evil, as the conscience bears witness to the law being written on our human hearts. In God’s grace and mercy, He knows when that time is for each person. As the awareness of sin marches on, the seconds of our lives tick away. Every...

President Donald Trump is comfortable telling you what is on his mind. For good or bad, that means there is a long history of recorded statements from Trump, giving his frank and unfiltered thoughts on a variety of topics. For the last ten years, I have been particularly interested in noting whenever he has spoken about his personal views on spirituality, salvation, and his own eternal destiny. It reveals a decade-long spiritual journey in relationship to the gospel of grace that is both fascinating and, at times, tragic. …In his earlier celebrity years, 1990 profile for Playboy magazine, he said:...

Recently, President Donald Trump left many people concerned about the state of his eternal destination after stating that he was unsure if there was anything he could do to make it to heaven. In an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, Trump clarified what he meant by his statements. “When I made that statement, I was being funny, sarcastic, you know it’s bad for a politician to be sarcastic,” Trump said. “I was kidding, I was having fun. I don’t know if I will or not, I don’t know.” He also discussed the New York Times’ piece on his statements,...

Fox News’ Peter Doocy checked in on Trump’s push to secure a seat in heaven after the president rushed to lock down an Israel-Hamas peace deal ahead of the highly anticipated Nobel Prize announcement last week. “I mean, you know, I’m being a little cute,” Trump said. “I don’t think there’s anything [that’s] going to get me in heaven. Okay? I think I’m not maybe heaven-bound.” “I may be in heaven right now as we fly in Air Force One. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make heaven, but I’ve made life a lot better for a...

Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk who was assassinated earlier this month, told a crowd of thousands during a packed memorial in Glendale, Arizona, for her late husband that she has forgiven his shooter. I forgive him," Kirk said through tears, adding after cheers rang out from the crowd, "I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do." While talking about her late husband, she said part of his mission was to "save young men just like the one who took his life."

(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.) At this point in time, I think it’s fair to say that there are a lot of people wondering why “things” seem to be so out of control. It doesn’t make sense – or maybe it does. I could list a few of the more discouraging ones, but I really don’t think it’s necessary. Someone would have...

In Philippians 4:7 we have a wonderful promise: “The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” It is important to note the context of this promise, because that’s where we find the condition: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (verse 6). God’s peace is promised to guard those who pray—with thanksgiving—about everything. This peace will transcend our ability to understand it.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he believes that helping negotiate an end to the Ukraine-Russia war might help him get to Heaven. Trump called into the Fox News program "Fox & Friends" for a phone interview on Tuesday morning, one day after he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders at the White House as part of the ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia's invasion in 2022. The president provided updates on efforts to end the war. He lamented the toll it was taking on the lives of Russian and Ukrainian...

Luke 23:39-43; “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” (ESV – all emphasis is mine.) Here...