Introduction A. Of all the gifts that God has bestowed upon His creation, the greatest are those that belong exclusive...
Why did God Create Satan?
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world (1 Peter 5:8-9). This is a question that raises concern for a lot of people, especially for those who do not understand the role Satan has played in God’s plan. As hard as it is to imagine, even Satan...
Predestination
Introduction A. The biblical doctrine of predestination is one that has been often misinterpreted. B. Do the Scriptures teach that our eternal fate is sealed before we are born regardless of what we do in this life? I. The Bible does teach predestination. A. There are some predestined to be part of the family of God (Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:5-6, 11-12). B. Those who are predestined by God are those who have been justified by faith...
Almost Persuaded
King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:27-28).
While it is impossible to nail down the precise date of Saul’s conversion, it is generally believed—based on a few scarce hints in his epistles—to have taken place only a few years after the establishment of the church in Jerusalem. Following his...
Two Opinions
So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word (1 Kings 18:20–21).
There are many valuable lessons to be learned from Elijah’s encounter with Ahab and the prophets of Baal. We learn...
Jesus Barabbas or Jesus Christ?
Introduction
A. The Scriptures are filled with examples of choices men have had to make (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; 2 Samuel 24:13; 1 Kings 3:5).
B. When Pilate offered the Jews a choice between Barabbas and Jesus, this might seem like an easy call from our perspective, but to a first-century Jew, the right decision was not as easy to make.
I. One lived; the other died.
A. Jesus Barabbas was unjustly...