This is of course a trick question, though not tricky. Paul's instructions are plain that we are to pursue both unity and doctrine. Further, pursuing both at the same time will be one indication that growth is occurring. "...till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men..." (Ephesians 4:13-14).
I have asked the question in public, “When does God become 100% for us?” And I have given an answer that rightly troubles thoughtful, biblical people. So this article is an effort to answer their question.
Here it is again. More evidence from surveys what the Bible makes so plain: superficial, non-doctrinal, non-serious Christians sin pretty much like the world; but more serious, more doctrinally oriented Christians lead lives that are morally distinct. Two years ago Ron Sider flagged this in his book The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience: Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?
Archaeology is one of many disciplines that can be used to prove the historical accuracy of Scripture. Time and again, it has helped confirm the Bible’s references to people, places, and dates. In the last one hundred years, archaeologists repeatedly have confirmed and illuminated the historicity of the Bible. Although we cannot rely upon archaeology to establish and sustain our faith, having physical evidence that confirms the historical context of God’s saving acts causes the sincere person to accept the Bible as God’s Word.
First, a few testimonies: I have it third hand, that Dr. Howard Hendricks of Dallas Seminary once made the statement (and I paraphrase) that if it were his decision, every student graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary would be required to learn one thousand verses word perfect before they graduated.
In his gospel, Matthew emphasizes the royalty and authority of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was born a King. He is different from any other King but nonetheless a King. The difference is in His surpassing royalty, regal character, kingdom, and dominion, authority, and power. Matthew wants both Jew and Gentile to understand that Jesus is King and His birth is the birth of a King. Therefore, in the first chapter he focuses on the royal aspects of the birth of Jesus.
It has become increasingly popular to accept certain parts of the Bible and to reject other parts. Such amazing events as the miracle of Creation, Jonah’s being swallowed by a sea creature, and the Flood of Noah often are brushed aside as mere myth, while more "credible" things such as the teachings of Jesus are accepted as fact. Although this line of reasoning might have some initial appeal to our "enlightened" society that rejects biblical miracles off hand, it contains a major flaw.
The light shone brightly into the eyes of the suspect who was seated between two FBI special agents in black suits. "Where were you the night of October 31, 2000?" demanded one of the agents. The suspect nervously muttered, "I already told you, I was at a Halloween party with some friends." The interrogation continued: "And what exactly were you doing at the party?" asked the same demanding voice. "I bobbed for apples," retorted the suspect in his shaky voice.
