There is a teaching circulating through the American church, particularly in the prophetic community, that prophets (and others) can exercise the “seven spirits of God.” What about this?
Many Renewalists believe apostles do exist. But should there be restrictions? An old-fashioned Bible study to answer the question. (I have updated this post,)
A teaching on Acts 2 has been circulating among certain (restrictive) Bible interpreters, which says that only the twelve apostles received the fullness or the baptism with the Spirit at Pentecost with the gift of speaking in Spirit-inspired languages (commonly called ‘tongues’). True?
Many Renewalists say yes for prophecy. The biblical evidence favors them. Now what about prophets? (I have recently updated this post.)
Matthew 5:28 has been misused over and over again. What does it mean in its textual and OT contexts? Update: radio host Dennis Prager says that in Judaism a man can watch a little porn because the Torah does not forbid it. Judaism is about behavior, not inner thoughts. (The debaters do not understand Greek.)
The moment you are saved, Christ becomes your sanctification. Now he works it out in you in slow, steady progress until the day you die and live again in heaven and then the new earth with your new body, when your sanctification will be completed.
Yes, healing is “in” the atonement, like every biblical benefit. So why not 100% healing right now? The goal here is not to put doubt in the reader, but to explain to people why their prayers were not answered and their beloved family member died. (I updated this post yet again, revealing that God has improved one of my conditions.)
You must be born again. But what does that mean? Does anything result from rebirth? Or do we just stay the same?
An old fashioned Bible study is offered here, countering a desperate misinterpretation from mega-church guys and TV ministries.
God’s New Covenant plan is much better than an obsolete, national, theocratic tax designed to support an obsolete, national, religious system. God has a better way for the New Covenant church.
Some Renewalists of the Word of Faith variety say your redeemed spirit is perfect, but not your redeemed soul. True?
This topic is really unpopular in the “wilder grace” and “freer grace” Renewal circles. But becoming like Christ is scriptural. Unavoidable. Necessary. And a blessing.
What are the Scriptures that reveal them? How are they relevant to my life today? Or have they ceased?
These are more commonly known as ‘tongues.’ Here some of the biblical basics.
Grace means God’s unmerited, unearned favor. But once you have experienced it, you must show it.
You did something you regret. You said something that you want to take back. Good news! You’re a prime candidate for God the Redeemer to deliver you out of your troubles and buy you out of your self-inflicted prison.
Sometimes the church can be self-righteous and condemn a sinner in the name of holiness, ignoring mercy. Or it can be permissive in the name of mercy, ignoring holiness.
Does the verse allow violence to be done to Christians, without self-defense?
This is important for our walk with God. Don’t get them confused!
Does the Old Testament demand literal retaliation for a wrong? Should an eye or a tooth be gouged or knocked out—physically? What about the teaching of Jesus? Does he raise our vision to a higher calling? How do we forgive a tort or a physical injury? How do we get compensated for damages?
What is it? Do they happen today? Can you experience one?
Renewalists have a robust and biblical pneumatology (doctrine of the Spirit). The church is a living organism, and the Spirit is guiding it. But the church is made up of individual believers. The Spirit works in them too.
Do you remember when you messed up? When you got drunk and went too far? What about the flirtation that went too far? What about saying stupid stuff at the job or Thanksgiving? When you lost your temper? What about your bad behavior generally? What about that abortion? Shoplifting?
All the verses are here. This post is good for your personal edification or for pastors and teachers who wish to build a Bible study or sermon series.
All the verses are here. They are great for your personal edification or for pastors and teachers who wish to build a Bible study or sermon series.
This is an easy-to-follow word study of key terms in the New Testament and a close look at Matthew 7:1-5. Let’s understand what it really means in context.
Whether you want your baby or not, God loves him or her, and he loves you. God can turn your Plan B into his Plan A, and make it better than your plans. Keep your baby, if you have an unplanned pregnancy.
The title could also be “Is God Bound to Obey Our Decrees and Declarations?” That’s what certain teachers seem to say. Let’s look into this subject.
What do five key passages in Acts say about prayer languages, commonly called ‘tongues,’ being the sign of the empowerment of the Spirit?
Jesus seemed to be “rude” to a Gentile (pagan, non-Jew, or foreign) woman, someone outside his outreach to Israel. Here’s an exegesis (close reading) that explains his reasons, in a little more detail, in his own cultural context.
It is a widely used (and abused) biblical word. What does it really mean?
Out of his great love for people, God in his mercy is forewarning everyone, whether the redeemed or unredeemed, that this judgment SHALL happen, based on their good or bad deeds and good or bad words. The Scriptures are unambiguous about it. How do we prepare for it? God offers solutions before we all face it.
You may not see it, but Progressive Christianity is not the right path for you. Here are signs that you are putting yourself at risk of going past what is written in Scripture. Solutions are also offered here.
Despite the abuse, confession is still a biblical practice, whether for sins or for salvation in Christ. Make it part of your prayer life.
These verses are very sobering. What do they mean in your life and mine?
Renewalists (Pentecostals, Charismatics, and Neo-Charismatics) use the term all the time, but do we know what it means? What does the Bible say?
This gift is given in order to proclaim the wisdom about Christ and for any particular or special need through the empowerment of the Spirit.
This manifestation of the Spirit can reveal who Christ is more fully and give you information that you could not have without the Spirit revealing it. It does not come by study and research. It is a gift of the Spirit, not of your own mental faculties.
This is a surge of trust that God will give anyone who needs it and in accordance with his will.
Healings come in all shapes and sizes, so expect God to work in a variety of ways.
This gift is available to all, today, not just a special few. God will give it to you when you need it most.
This gift can be very edifying for you and the church. It is not a preacher’s inspired sermon. And don’t despise it, either, says the Scripture.
It is a broad enough to help you distinguish between the false and the true, the Holy Spirit and evil spirits, deceived and true humans.
It is important to study this gift.
This gift depends on Spirit-inspired languages (‘tongues’). Without them, interpretation would not be needed. This post gives a basic teaching of this gift.
When we experience salvation, we respond to it in our daily lives. How do we and should we respond?
Does it merely mean “changed mind,” or does it go deeper?
If you have an overactive conscience, this post is for you. God hurls your sins into the sea and remembers them no more. An old fashioned word study and basic Bible study, with lots of biblical data put in an easy-to-read format.
The parable may not cover the titled theological dispute in detail, but many interpreters believe it does. So let’s explore.
In the old days, this used to be called the “perseverance of the saints” (believers). All that means is the persistence of Christians to keep their relationship with the Lord. So the related question often comes up: Can a truly born-again believer walk away from this relationship?
Can truly born-again believers drift permanently away from or renounce their relationship with the Lord, or are they eternally secure?
Paul prays for the Philippians that they would be filled with the fruit of righteousness (Phil. 1:11). Therefore righteousness is a fruit, every bit as much as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are. What does this aspect of the term mean?
Paul begins and ends each letter with grace. Great for your personal edification or a series in a Bible study or sermons.
What are those alternatives? Only one man, inspired by the Spirit, turned the problem and solution on its head.
Do we ignore the Old Law so we can be free to live as we wish in the New Covenant? What about Christian Sabbath keeping? What does the Bible really say?
Renewalists (Pentecostals, Charismatics and Neo-Charismatics) believe that all the gifts of God mentioned in the New Testament are for today. They flow from God and are exercised through the Spirit and grace and a yielded, eager heart when the need arises. Let’s study the ones in Rom. 12:6-8.
Renewalists (Pentecostals, Charismatics and New-Charismatics) believe these gifts are for today. This is an old-fashioned Bible study, word by word. line up line.
This word begins the list in Gal. 5:22-23. From it flows all the other virtues. Here is a basic word study of the noun, with application to your life.
Gal. 5:22-23 lists nine fruit of the Spirit. The second one is joy. What is it? Giddiness, or does it go deeper? Also discussed here is the differences between happiness and joy.
It is clear from the news headlines that we need peace in the world. But that can happen only when we have the peace that flows from the Spirit. Everyone on the planet needs to be born again, be filled with the Spirit, and let the peace flow outwardly.
It is also translated as “patience.” Do we have enough of it? Do you dare pray for it?
This attribute should grow in us by the Spirit of God. Will we let him produce it in us?
Have you heard this meme circulating around the American church? “The gospel does not make bad people good, but dead people alive”? Yes, it makes dead people alive, but it also makes now-living persons better.
“Faith” and “faithfulness” come from the same Greek word. They need to be sorted out by context.
It’s the opposite of being harsh and overbearing.
Without this fruit, our lives would be chaotic.
All the key words are here, spelled out in simple English.
Have you ever received a dream, possibly from God, while you were sleeping or a vision before your eyes or mind’s eyes? How would you know it came from God? How do we evaluate them?
An odd teaching has been circulating around the church for a long time.
The Greek texts actually call it ‘languages.’ What should we call it today?
The Bible is clear that this wonderful gift has divine purposes. What are they?
Some major denominations have taught this. What do the Scriptures say?
God has his part, but we have our part too. What’s the balance?
These are the basics of this neglected biblical doctrine—this doctrine that becomes a reality in your life.
Deliverance and maintaining lasting freedom from satanic oppression includes these essential ingredients.
You have to avoid those things. Here’s why.
This post covers Satan and his attack on people—even you at times. And so can Christians ‘have’ a demon or be demon-possessed or demonized? Can we rebuke demonic rulers over a city or region?
He shares it with us. It means everything to your life in Christ. Let is shine on you.
God shares this attribute with us, in manifesting his presence, even visibly sometimes. God’s glory can even include material prosperity. Don’t believe it?
Here is a list of the principal works referenced or used at this site. More will be added as time goes on, so please check back.
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 