The Call to Steadfast Boldness (2 Cor 2:12-17)

Posted on September 6, 2023September 6, 2023 by markwchristy

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p-Wts1cXYI2cCqfm2VqizJZ6-BVm9bGi/view?usp=sharing

To Judge Rightly, Christians Must Never Forget Their Own Wretchedness (1 Cor 1:15-2:4)

Posted on August 21, 2023August 21, 2023 by markwchristy

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i38vxqzMOr5jEr0WiDqYZPBoDcJAj3zc/view?usp=drive_link

Jesus and Compassion

Posted on February 16, 2023February 16, 2023 by markwchristy

In today’s hypersensitive, me-centered, feelings-driven culture, the biblical understanding of compassion has been all but lost such that anyone who dares to declare the truth, call sinners to repentance, and demand obedience from those who do repent is almost sure to be judged as one who lacks compassion. After this judgment is rendered, the one who dared to minister the gospel in this manner can be sure to face what is often felt to be a just sentence for their perceived error, that is a comp...

Pretribulational vs. Posttribulational Rapture: A Weighing of the Biblical Evidence

Posted on May 1, 2022April 11, 2023 by markwchristy

By Mark W. Christy The two eschatological camps that support a more literal interpretation of end-time prophetic material both support premillennialism. Historic premillennialists believe the Church will endure the final seven years of tribulation before being raptured, while dispensational premillennialists argue that the rapture occurs before the seven-year tribulation begins. To help readers determine which view is best supported by Scripture, this article will weigh the most significant ...

Is Gambling Wrong?

Posted on April 16, 2022April 16, 2022 by markwchristy

Mark W. Christy, PhD Those who have read the entirety of God’s Word know that it never says, ‘Thou shall not gamble.’ This being the case, it might be tempting to conclude that gambling is not a divinely prohibited activity. This approach to seeking counsel from God’s Word, however, is inherently flawed because the same reasoning could easily allow one to support all manner of substance abuse (other than alcohol). In this article, various teachings and principles will be extracted from Scrip...

Christ’s Propitiation and Its Connection to the Love and Holiness of God

Posted on March 23, 2022March 23, 2022 by markwchristy

By Mark W. Christy, PhD According to 1 John 2:2, Jesus is the “propitiation” for the sins of all believers.[1] By making His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus enabled God to become propitious, or favorable toward His chosen saints. Despite the biblical usage of this term, many find it to be unhelpful because it causes God to appear wrathful. This makes them feel as if pagan sacrificial rites are being invoked and worshippers are somehow being led to propitiate the gods so as to satiate t...

Identifying Those Preaching Christ from Envy and Strife in Philippians 1:15

Posted on March 21, 2022March 21, 2022 by markwchristy

By Mark W. Christy In the first chapter of Philippians, Paul addresses two different ways that preachers reacted to his present imprisonment. One group responded most graciously, but the other group found offense with Paul. This second group seems to have been legitimate preachers despite their faulty reception of Paul. To better understand the divergence in response to Paul and his current imprisonment, this article will carefully study both groups and focus more deeply on why one gro...

A Comparison of the Progressive Dispensationalism of John MacArthur to the Covenant Theology of Reformed Baptists

Posted on March 19, 2022March 19, 2022 by markwchristy

By Mark W. Christy, PhD (Note: The author of the article affirms John MacArthur’s progressive dispensationalism as well as his position on the doctrines of grace. Since many in the Reformed community also uphold the doctrines of grace, this article is meant to help both covenantalists and dispensationalists better understand the key differences between their positions.) Given the increased liberalization of many Baptist churches, more and more of their parishioners are turning to Reformed...

Identifying the Canaanites before Joshua’s Invasion: An Examination of Non-Biblical Sources

Posted on March 6, 2022March 6, 2022 by markwchristy

By Mark W. Christy, PhD The Canaanites practiced polytheistic religion that gave much attention to its fertility cult. Due to this, “numerous debasing practices, including sacred prostitution, homosexuality, and various orgiastic rites” were commonplace.[1] Moses, in Leviticus 18:6-25, lists multiple heinous sins committed by the Canaanites including sexual relations with close family members (including in-laws), adultery, the sacrifice of children to Molech, the profaning of God’s name, hom...

The Stages of Christian Maturation according to John Newton: An Interaction with the Composer of the Famous Hymn Amazing Grace

Posted on March 1, 2022March 2, 2022 by markwchristy

By Mark W. Christy, PhD Over the course of three letters, John Newton set forth to establish three “stages” in the “progressive work of grace” within those who become true converts to the Christian faith.[1] For each stage, he offers what he believes to be the most common elements as he realizes that the Lord may work in unique and special ways as He seeks to mature those who are His. As a man of the Word, his stated goal was to draw his comments from what can be found in Scripture. In this ...