Author Archives: Maryann Spikes

Lord Calls the Lowly

“The Lord usually calls the lowly rather than the mighty to act for Him.” – footnote for Judges 6:15, from Zondervan’s New American Standard Study Bible. Three examples: Gideon, Jacob, and Saul. Gideon: “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? … Continue reading

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Faith vs. Works / blind faith discussed

Our good works are the dancing which follows in response to the Music we hear by faith. First the Music… then the dancing… not the other way ‘round. Our good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation (the … Continue reading

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Fear — from a biblical perspective.

There are three relevant listings on page 73 in The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible’s Universal Subject Guide to the Bible (1990): Fear, Fear, godly, and Fearlessness. I inserted some Zondervan NASB notes. Fear – anxiety caused by … Continue reading

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Jesus’ Claims to Divinity

I: When Jesus said “I AM” (John 6:35; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7,9; 10:11,14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1,5; Matt 27:43; Mark 14:62; John 8:24,28,58; 13:19; Rev 1:8, 17-18) – that was a direct claim of divinity. God told Abraham (edit, lol: Moses!…thanks, Glen) … Continue reading

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The Abrahamic Covenant — Backbone of the Gospel

In “Eternity in their Hearts,” Don Richardson talks about the backbone of Christianity, the Abrahamic Covenant, made by God to Abraham 4,000 years ago and recorded in Genesis 12:1-3. Dr. Ralph Winter, director of the United States Center for World … Continue reading

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Illumination vs. Gnosis

From Lewis Sperry Chafer’s “Major Bible Themes” (revised by John F. Walvoord) (Zondervan, 1974): C. Special Revelation (p. 32-33) Throughout the history of man, God has given special revelation. Many instances are recorded in the Word of God of His … Continue reading

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Differing, changing concepts of gods/God — unchanging God.

I. Some have argued that the God of today is not jealous like the God of Old Testament times (see “The Jealousy of God”). Such folks have argued that the God of today is a different God from the God … Continue reading

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The Jealousy of God

The question this study sought to answer was whether or not God’s jealousy (Ex 20:5) contradicts His being love (1 John 4:8) if love is not jealous (1 Cor 13:4). I discover that it is really a question of semantics. … Continue reading

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God loves us.

1a. Argument: Those of us who believe God would love or does love us believe so because we need to believe God would love or does love us, or we just think of ourselves as loveable – or evangelists told … Continue reading

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Why Worship?

Since worshipping humans, not to mention things existing in nature or carved by humans, or beings of the imagination which don’t even exist, would be a sign of – “off”ness – why worship God? Why isn’t the desire to worship … Continue reading

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