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"Generally when we talk about context we’re referring to the immediate time and circumstances in which an event occurs or a teaching is given. Chapter 5 says virtually nothing about laying down one’s life for Christ either, but that’s generally not used by students as the context for a passage...

Well when you can begin to explain your exegesis and basis for your claims rather than simply saying, "I believe God's Word and you listen to men's traditions" then perhaps we can have a discussion. That really does nothing for the discussion except imply that you have no real answer for my...

"So the only context here really is the disciples taking up their cross and following Jesus, even to the death. This was the same thing Jesus told them in Matthew 24, that “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you.” So again, the context of this coming of Jesus, with...

This debate has been prominent in Christian circles for some time. Some who side with the holiness movement (based on John Wesley's teaching) claim that a person is saved in order to be sanctified. If a person has received the Holy Spirit, then they should be becoming more like Jesus. They...

Michael, Maybe this is how you read my interpretations, but this is certainly not what I have said. I have never claimed that God did not mean what he said. I am saying that "Israel" and the promises made to this people group is defined in the New Testament as Jews and grafted in Gentiles who...

Matthew, like every gospel, has a flow to the message of Jesus. As you are probably aware, Matthew has a very specific focus in his gospel for the Jewish people to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. He accomplishes this through his genealogy, fulfilled prophecies and most prominently, talk about...

Pilgrimer, I think you are too quick to try to harmonize and bounce from text to text. I know you like history and want to try to get to the first century historical facts of what actually happened, but we also need to approach Matthew as Matthew and let him speak in context with his own...

Pilgrimer, Thanks for the reply. Yes, my mistake...Matthew 24 was the text I was referencing. Yes, the disciples themselves were not asking about Jesus 2nd coming. I wasnt saying they did. My point was that Jesus does include dialogue referring to the 2nd coming. Surely you would agree...

Pilgrimer, Yes, I agree that Jesus mixes talk of destruction of Jerusalem with his discussion on the end of the world. However, I think part of that is due to the nature of the questions the disciples were asking him in Matthew 25. I am not wholly discounting your theory (I certainly think it...

Pilgrim, Thanks for the response. Interesting take on the passage that I have not heard before. However, this seems unlikely to me since the text seems to indicate that the revelation of this lawless one directly precedes the parousia. I think Paul has something more cosmic and more...

Hey day, Thanks for the response. Not exactly. The lawless one is Satan and he is at work even while the Holy Spirit is at work in the world. Paul is saying to the Thessalonians that they do not have to worry that they had missed the Second Coming, because as long as evil prevails in the...

I'm simply telling you what the debate is between "free will" (non Calvinists) and Calvinist teaching is. It isn't about whether or not we should surrender our lives and wills to Christ, but its about whether or not God determines all things by sovereign decree. When we surrender to the will...

How convenient it is that everything you believe is God's teaching while everyone who disagrees with you is consumed by men's doctrines. I agree with you that there is no secret rapture, but I would never say that those who believe in a secret rapture are consumed by men's doctrines and are not...

Veteran, You should not be so quick to hand out such judgments and labels. For one who claims the Scriptures are so simple to understand, you sure don't seem to speak as one who understands them. Matthew 24 speaks of false prophets and false messiahs...not a Satan-filled Antichrist who unites...

It could also mean... Revelation 12:1–17 (ESV) 1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (God's faithful people) 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving...

Well I can see the tone of this will likely not change. That is unfortunate. Anyways... Id be happy to respond to your verses when you begin to respond to mine. Ignoring everything I have written really kinds of makes this discussion pointless. Are we trying to understand each other here or...

Michael, First, let me just say that as we discuss these issues of Scripture, let us try to keep this a discussion where we honor one another and respect each other as brothers in Christ. I may strongly reject a doctrine you hold and defend my views strongly, but this is much different than...

The non-Calvinist view is that God is not a pan-determinist. It's really as simple as that.

Sure. If you'd like to examine Scripture in depth on the matter, I would be happy to look at a broad scope of texts. Here's just a start: “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your...

Michael, God's promise in Deuteronomy to return Israel to their land after they had been exiled was fulfilled by the Medes and Persians. This is what the entire books of Ezra and Nehemiah are about! Cyrus conquered the Babylonians and returned Israel to their homeland which they occupied...