When we look at the powerful governments of the world and at other business and educational organizations that have great influence, and then consider our local churches, or even our denominational headquarters, the church may seem to us to be weak and ineffective. When we recognize the rapid growth of evil that is seen daily …
Continue reading “The Power of the Church: What kind of authority does the church have?”
Last week we discussed that there are “true churches” and “false churches.” This week a further distinction must be made: there are more pure and less pure churches. This fact is evident from a brief comparison of Paul’s epistles. When we look at Philippians or 1 Thessalonians we find evidence of Paul’s great joy in …
The Nature of the Church Definition: The church is the community of all true believers for all time. This definition understands the church to be made of all those who are truly saved. Paul says, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Here the term “the church” is used …
Continue reading “THE CHURCH: ITS NATURE, ITS MARKS, AND ITS PURPOSES”
What Does “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” Mean in the New Testament? There are only seven passages in the New Testament where we read of someone being baptized in the Holy Spirit. The seven passages follow: In the first four verses, John the Baptist is speaking of Jesus and predicting that he will baptize people …
Continue reading “Baptism in and Filling with the Holy Spirit.”
