Tag: theology
Judas Shows Us Why the Doctrine of Election is So Important to Understand
Posted on April 25, 2017 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
Some would say that if we only make our churches cool enough, make them “inclusive,” or “approachable,” that people will come and will find Jesus. But this understanding of the Gospel and the purpose of the church is wrong. The Bible makes it clear that “no one seeks God.” (Rom. 3:11) Even more blunt than that is the truth that Jesus spoke when He told us “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44) In these verses we have clear teaching that no one is seeking God, no one is looking for salvation in Jesus. In fact, no one has the ability to “find Jesus” unless the Father first draws that person. And Judas is a perfect example of this truth.
Judas was a devil.
Biblical Election Works Much Like a Political Election
Posted on April 4, 2017 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
The fact that God chose Abraham out of the many He could have chosen makes the concept of biblical election clear. This example also shows us that election is an act of God’s sovereign will, having nothing to do with the person being chosen (elected). Abraham didn’t petition God to be elected, God chose Abraham before Abraham chose God. But, and this is important, once God chose Abraham, Abraham then chose God. When God called Abraham to leave his country, Abraham obeyed. This is the perfect picture of election because God chose Abraham, then Abraham chose God, just as the American people choose their president and then the “president-elect” chooses the American people by accepting the position.
Do You Understand God’s Part and Man’s Part in Salvation?
Posted on March 28, 2017 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
Many misconceptions about salvation exist today. Misconceptions such as “everyone can be saved” pave the way for massive evangelistic efforts that leave churches wondering, “what went wrong?” Other misconceptions, such as “man has no part in salvation” make it seem as though anyone that is saved is saved against their will. These misconceptions and others are creating confusion as to the nature of salvation and the part that God and man play in the process.
An article by John Reisinger at Monergism does an excellent job of explaining the process of salvation, including God’s part and man’s part in the process. I want to share it with you in the hopes of clearing up misconceptions and laying out the biblical process for salvation. The article starts by stating:
“God and man must both do something before a man can be saved. Hyper-Calvinism denies the necessity of human action, and Arminianism denies the true nature of the Divine action. The Bible clearly sets forth both the divine and human as essential in God’s plan of salvation. This is not to say, as Arminianism does, God’s part is to freely provide salvation for all men, and man’s part is to become willing to accept it. This is not what we said above, nor is it what the Bible teaches.”
VIDEO: The Holiness of God Explained
Posted on December 6, 2016 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
What do you know about the holiness of God? I’m sure you’ve heard about holiness. Anyone that has attended church for even a short period of time has heard of holiness. Despite hearing about it, sometimes for years, many people are not quite sure what holiness is or how to explain it.
The video below is an animated illustration of God’s holiness. It is a visual depiction of holiness in a way that clearly communicates the truth of Scripture.
This theological theme, God’s holiness, is central to our life as Christians. Understanding God’s holiness and why He commanded us to “be holy for I am holy” is important for our spiritual growth. Being able to understand and explain God’s holiness is essential for understanding the world around us and why we view events differently than people that don’t know Jesus.
Take a few minutes and watch this video, and share it. You will gain a better understanding of one of the most essential, yet misunderstood aspects of God in all of scripture.
New Survey Proves People (Christians) Have No Clue What They’re Talking About
Posted on October 26, 2016 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
Recently, LifeWay Research and Ligonier Ministries surveyed 3000 adults concerning the state of theology in America. The results are a glaring red flag that proves how uninformed and uneducated Americans are concerning theological issues. The researchers only identified about 20% of those they surveyed as evangelicals; many other respondents identified themselves as evangelical. That in itself is a problem.
(See the chart below to view the top 12 questions and answers from the survey.)
VIDEO: The Bible Project is Helping People Read and Learn the Bible Through Media
Posted on October 18, 2016 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
The Bible Project video series is teaching people the essential truths of biblical doctrine in a simple format that is easy to learn and understand.
I’m always looking for resources that can be used to better teach the truth of Scripture. I like things that can be used to help kids or adults better internalize the doctrines that are foundational to our faith.
To that end, I came across a video series being produced that is helping to accomplish the goal of teaching the essential doctrines of Scripture in a visual format.
The Bible Project is a non-profit ministry dedicated to helping people read and understand the Bible. Their website describes the ministry this way:
Are You Familiar with these 99 Essential Doctrines of Christianity?
Posted on August 30, 2016 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
If you’ve never seen The Gospel Project curriculum, it would be in your best interest to take a moment and review it. The prominent difference between The Gospel Project and other church curriculums is that it focuses on the essential doctrines of Scripture over a three-year period. The student will be taken on a theological trip through the Bible, highlighting critical doctrines such as the Bible, God, Creation, Sin, and Redemption.
Below is a list of some of the essential doctrines discussed in The Gospel Project. Take a minute and review the list. How many of these doctrines could you clearly communicate to someone if asked? This is just 20 of the 99 essential doctrines The Gospel Project studies. Consider looking deeper into this study if you are unfamiliar with these critical doctrines.
The Evangelical Theology of Donald Trump…or…Lack Thereof.
Posted on April 20, 2016 in Public Policy, Theology by Nathan Cherry
I’ve written several times about the concerning reality that any self-identified “evangelicals” are supporting Donald Trump for president. This curious truth says less about Trump and more about the people supporting him; especially the theology of those people.
Michael Horton is a brilliant scholar of biblical theology. He is a professor and author whose books are often used as text books in many college classes. Horton has penned an article analyzing the connection between Trump and his Christian following. In particular Horton highlights the theological implications behind the strong support for Trump from America’s believers.
After sharing a brief history of the shallow extent of Trumps religious upbringing in a controversial church setting, Horton recounts the support from well-known evangelical sources:
VIDEO: This Animated Explanation of Heaven and Earth is Great for Kids – and Adults!
Posted on March 22, 2016 in Family, Home School, Theology by Nathan Cherry
I ran across this video explaining heaven and earth at a blog site I frequent. It’s simple in its composition but the depth of theological insight and teaching is definitely there.
Many people are confused by the difference between heaven and earth. Are they one and the same? Are they totally separate? How will God bring them together? Is God bringing them together now or will that happen in the future? There is a lot of questions and the average church attending Christian does not have many answers.
This fun video illustrates the difference and explains in simple terms what God did, is doing, and will do with respect to heaven and earth. Take a look and see if you don’t learn a few things. Watch it with your kids and start a conversation about how they can come directly into God’s presence each and every day.
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