Dr Paul Allen

The Exhortation to the Apostles (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) We may live in a culture that believes everyone will be saved, that we are "justified by death" and all you need to do to go to heaven is die, but God 's Word certainly doesn't give us the luxury of believing that. Any quick and honest reading of the New Testament shows that the Apostles were convinced that nobody can go to heaven unless they believe in Christ alone for their salvation ( John 14:6 ; Rom. 10:9–10). Historically, evangelical Christians have largely agreed on this point. Where they have differed has been on the matter of the security of salvation. People who would otherwise agree that only those who trust in Jesus will be saved have disagreed on whether anyone who truly believes in Christ can lose his salvation. Theologically speaking, what we are talking about here is the concept of apostasy. This term comes from a Greek word that means "to stand away from." When we talk abou...

Saint Timothy (ortodox icon) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus ." ( 2 Timothy 2:16-17 ) Paul's earlier warning about "word fights" ( 2 Timothy 2:14 ) is strengthened in the text above with a different emphasis. Word fights are "picky" debates started by quarrelsome people. They are useless and divisive. They create conflicts and schisms. Profane and vain babblings, however, are worldly and valueless "noise." Less obvious and more subtle than fighting, they have the effect of destroying godliness . "But refuse profane |ungodly| and old wives' fables |myths, baseless stories|, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness" ( 1 Timothy 4:7 ). Because "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" ( 1 Ti...

English: Apostle Paul - mosaic in Monreale Cathedral (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Author: Dan Dumas. Walking away from gospel orthodoxy or disconnecting from the stream of church history should strike terror in our hearts. But because of personal compromise, far too many believers are found “walking in the counsel of the wicked, standing in the path of sinners and seated with the scoffers” rather than defending the faith to the death. When was the last time you thought deeply about the consequences of “little” erroneous theological decisions that can subtly distort both your faith and practice? The Apostle Paul ’s grave concern in 2 Corinthians 11:3 was that we would be so easily led astray by the Devil from our “simplicity and devotion to Christ .” The pastor who lacks theological discretion is of all men most pitied. Oh the folly of a careless mind open to everything and falling for anything. G.K. Chesterton once said an open mind is like an open mouth. It is intended to s...

Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia "Their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus ; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." ( 2 Timothy 2:17-18 )   Many Christians decry the citing of actual names of those Christian leaders who teach heretical doctrines, saying that such an act is "unloving." Paul, however, considered it an important evidence of true love to warn against those who would "overthrow the faith of some," realizing that generalities would be useless.   Not only did Hymenaeus and Philetus make Paul's list, but so did Demas ( 2 Timothy 4:10 ), Alexander the coppersmith ( 2 Timothy 4:14 ), the Cretians ( Titus 1:12 ), another Alexander ( 1 Timothy 1:20 ), and even Peter ( Galatians 2:11-14 ) when he began to teach legalism. Likewise, the apostle John warned against Diotrephes ( 3 John 9 ) and the Nicolaitans ( Revelation 2:6 ).   On...