Category Archives: Index

To summarize, church discipline is appropriate in either of two general cases: 1. When a person threatens the safety of the flock — either physical safety or spiritual safety. 2. When a person is guilty of sin that could lead … Continue reading →

As I see it, there are essentially two kinds of excommunication or disfellowshipping in the NT. First, as mentioned in the last post, sometimes you remove someone to protect the flock from that person. The driving concern is protection of … Continue reading →

So where’s the line? What separates a “false teacher” from a teacher who makes mistakes? Well, I see basically two concerns reflected in the NT — First, there are teachers who teach things that, if believed, would destroy the faith … Continue reading →

The NT often condemns people called “false teachers.” Who are these people? I mean, does the condemnation of false teachers mean that every teacher who makes a mistake is damned? If not, then what errors damn and which do not? … Continue reading →

Commentators have long puzzled over these odd passages — (1Ti 1:18-20 ESV)  This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,  19 … Continue reading →

Little noted in our preaching is this passage— (Gal 2:11 ESV) But when Cephas [the apostle Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. The translation “stood condemned” is controversial, but it carries the … Continue reading →

We need to test our theory about falling away against other passages that deal with the question. Paul While Hebrews seems to very plainly teach that Christians might fall away, what about Paul? Those who teach perseverance of the saints … Continue reading →

So if that’s how we’re saved — by faith — then how might we fall away? Well, let’s not make this unnecessarily complicated. If faith is the path in, then losing one’s faith is the path out. We leave by going back … Continue reading →

So let’s go back to 1 John 1:7, a crucially important passage — but in context — (1Jo 1:5-6 ESV) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him … Continue reading →