Resources by Topic: Doctrine and Theology

Humans value their ability to choose. There is a powerful illusion that we are capable of clearly discerning all things; that we are the final authority in our life. 

What if we could reduce Christ’s attributes to just two qualities that we could wrap our minds around? John 1:14 does exactly that. It describes him as “full of grace and truth.”

You will hear McLaren's book mentioned with increasing frequency. It's having a wide impact.

Jesus said in John 10: "I and the Father are One." Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God; the Son is God and the Father is God.

It is my happiness that I have served Him who never fails to reward His servants to the full extent of His promise. – John Calvin

The Bible teaches that our eternal home will be a place we’ve already been—earth. It will be a New Earth, a transformed earth.

The New Testament reflects much more specific revelation from God of the afterlife. Yet there are some strong Old Testament indicators, though not nearly as many.

 There is no more support for reincarnation here than if Yogi Berra were to say “He’s Babe Ruth” on seeing yet another home run from St. Louis slugger Mark McGwire.

I’m not familiar with that as a Mormon belief. However, I have had upset people tell me “But Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in the New Earth.” 

We’re not saved by good works, but God has prepared for us a lifetime of good works (Eph. 2:8-10), which are our gifts to Him.

I think it has some valid aspects to it, but I also think it breaks down. (Which doesn't mean it's a bad analogy, just a limited one. An analogy that is limited can still illustrate a valid point.)  

When I used to teach hermeneutics and Bible study methods at Multnomah Bible College in Portland, OR, I always emphasized Bible history and culture a lot.

The widely believed notion “all sin is alike” is not grounded in Scripture. All sin is bad, of course—all sin crucified Jesus. But it’s a myth that all sin is the same to God. 

I still can’t get around Christ’s words in Matthew 22, which seem to clearly refute the Sadducee’s assumptions that if there were a resurrection, it would mean marital partnerships from earth would carry over to the resurrected life, and therefore people would have multiple spouses.