All posts by bobmccollough

The Biblical & the Early Christian Position on Divorce & Remarriage

By examining the Biblical & the early Christian historical evidence that is provided in the body of this article (and in the many endnotes), the reader will quickly discern that most professing churches in existence today are no longer teaching these precepts, if they ever did to begin with. If a person would seek to deny that the church has drifted away (Heb 2:1) from the truth on this issue, although they might choose to interpret the relevant Scripture passages a bit differently than how they are interpreted in this article, it is very difficult to ignore or deny what the historical evidence demonstrates.

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Serious Thoughts Upon the Perseverance of the Saints

By John Wesley[1]

1. Many large volumes have been already published on this important subject. But the very length of them makes them hard to be understood, or even purchased, by common readers. A short, plain treatise on this subject is what serious men have long desired, and what is here offered to those whom God has endowed with love and meekness of wisdom.

2. By the saints, I understand, those who are holy or righteous in the judgment of God himself; those who are endued with the faith that purifies the heart, that produces a good conscience; those who are grafted into the good olive-tree, the spiritual, invisible Church; those who are branches of the true vine, of whom Christ says, “I am the vine, you are the branches; [Jn 15:5a]” those who so effectually know Christ, as by that knowledge to have escaped the pollutions of the world; those who see the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and who have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, of the witness and the fruits of the Spirit; those who live by faith in the Son of God; those who are sanctified by the blood of the covenant; those to whom all or any of these descriptions belong, I mean by the term saints.

3. Can any of these fall away? By falling away, we mean, not merely falling into sin. This, it is granted, they may. But can they fall totally? Can any of these so fall from God as to perish everlastingly?

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Interview with Dr. Leslie McFall on Matthew 19:9

This is a discussion of Divorce & Remarriage, focusing on the so-called “exception clause” of Matthew 19:9. It was originally recorded on 20 March 2010 with TalkShoe and was entitled “Covenant Warriors—MARRIAGE IS FOR LIFE.” Made available by Timothy Sparks @ Dr. McFall: Audio of Matthew 19:9 | Learning from God’s Word (timothysparks.com)

Christ Did Not Send Me to Baptize

There is an unfortunate trend that is popular among professing Christians these days where so-called Christians aggressively deny & preach against the expressly stated purposes of Christian baptism as they are found in the pages of the New Testament. Professing Christians brazenly & openly dare to oppose, devalue and disparage the very ordinance ordained by Jesus to enroll people in the school of Christ (Matt 28:18-20)! But God gave this “sacramental-ordinance” to the Church for us to USE it–and we are to use it for the purposes for which God has clearly stated and meant it to be used for. Does the New Testament teach that baptism is merely for looks or for show? Is baptism of any real importance according to the New Testament? Are we safe to just dispense with it altogether? Did the apostles place a high value on it or did they devalue it?

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Gay Church?

Lest this article come across as “gay-bashing” or “hate-speech,” some introductory words are in order before getting to the main content that is to be put forward for the reader’s examination. Much to the credit of the lesbians & homosexuals in the LGBTQ ‘community’ (and to the everlasting shame of the so-called ‘Bible-believing’ churches), the gay community is not unaware of the hypocrisy and partiality that is being shown in so many ‘conservative, Bible-believing’ churches concerning the types of sexual sin that are allowed to be practiced by those with whom they maintain communion. The LGBTQ ‘community’ is fully aware that many heterosexual members of these churches (including their ‘pastors’ and ‘spiritual leaders’) are living in sexual sin. They know that the modern church has basically become a whorehouse and that most ‘Bible-believing’ churches are willing to tolerate heterosexual sin, and that the heterosexual ‘Bible-believing’ Christians conveniently excuse their brand of sexual sin by employing sayings such as, “we’re all sinners” or “nobody’s perfect,” etc. But the ‘gay’ community also knows that many of these churches suddenly become very willing to take a stand for holiness and to resort to the much neglected, age-old practice known as church discipline whenever one of their regular attenders enters a lesbian or homosexual relationship. In short, the gay community knows that these so-called Bible-believing churches purposely exercise partiality concerning dealing with sexual sin in the lives of those who attend their gatherings.

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How We Worship Vs. How We Live

Many Christian preachers & ministers make a habit of exhorting people to “go to church.” They will often appeal to Hebrews 10:25 to stress that it is the duty of every professing Christian to regularly attend “worship services,” and to warn the flock about the sin of “forsaking the assembly.” And I certainly agree that we should be intentional about seeking the fellowship of other Christians! But the problem that I see with these preachers who show so much concern for professing Christians “forsaking the assembly” is that when the flock has gathered together, many of these same preachers will confidently tell all their hearers that “we’re all sinners” (who supposedly can’t stop sinning), and that “God does not accept us on the basis of anything we do, but only on the basis of what Jesus has already done. And He has already done all that is necessary! After all, Jesus clearly said, ‘It is finished!’ (John 19:30).” But is this message Biblically accurate? And does such a message amount to “wholesome words” (1 Tim 6:3), or does it amount to paving the way to hell?

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Against Drunkenness

A Sermon Against Drunkenness, Preached to Catholics[1]

By the

Rev. W. B. Ullathorne, V.G., D.D.[2]

First published in 1834; reprinted in 1840[3]

He that is temperate shall prolong life.”— Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 37:34 [DRB]

Let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light: let us

walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness.”— Romans 13:12 (cf. Gal 5:19-21)

Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and

drunkenness, and that day come upon you suddenly.” — Luke 21:34

What is a drunkard? A Christian is one who follows and practices the virtues of Christ. An angel is a pure creature that contemplates and enjoys God. A man is a creature that thinks and reasons. A brute is a creature that follows its appetite indeed, but never goes to excesses beyond the bounds of order. What is a drunkard? I have gone through the whole of creation that lives, and I find nothing in it like the drunkard. He enjoys no happiness, like the angels; he is not preparing himself for happiness, like the Christian; he does not think or reason, like a man; he keeps not his appetite within the bounds of nature, like the brute. What then is the drunkard? The drunkard is nothing but the drunkard. There is no other thing in nature to which he can be likened.

This is not a subject on which we can be allowed to soften down the truth in our words until it becomes falsehood.

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The Evangelism of Walter Scott (1796-1861)

The Evangelism of Walter Scott (1796-1861)

The reason for posting this article is not to glorify a man, but to both encourage and show appreciation for efforts that have been made to bring clarity out of the confusion & chaos that exists in the Christian world. Various men & “movements” down through church history could be pointed to or highlighted that sought to do the same. At this present time in church history, there is still a need for workers to enter into this same field of labor, and such workers can learn from Walter Scott even if they themselves would do things a bit differently.

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A White Man’s Religion?

Was Christianity Invented by & for White Europeans?

In observance of Black History Month (February), I decided to make my small contribution to the study of the subject in relation to the history of Christianity.[1] Although I have been told that my white skin somehow disqualifies me from weighing in on this subject, I strongly disagree. However, for those who think otherwise, but who are still interested in looking further into this subject, you might check out some of the links provided in the footnotes below, some of which will take you to articles & videos that have been put together by Christian scholars who have more melanin in their skin than I have in mine, if that helps to add any credibility to the answer they would give to the main question that is under consideration in this article. Continue reading A White Man’s Religion?