Reasons to Believe

  One of the most pressing questions in our day is this: Is the gospel we are preaching the same gospel that was preached by the early church? Not a modern version shaped by culture, convenience, or crowd appeal—but the original message handed down from the apostles and preserved by the men who followed them. Because if the message has changed, then something has gone wrong. When we go back and read the early church fathers—those who lived closest to the apostles—we don’t find a watered-down gospel. We don’t find a message that tolerates sin or excuses it. Instead, we find a consistent call to repentance, holiness, and a transformed life. What Does Repentance Really Mean? Before we go further, we need to define repentance properly—because this is where much confusion exists today. Repentance is not merely feeling bad about sin. It is not just acknowledging wrongdoing. Repentance means to turn—to change direction—to forsake sin and turn to God. George Lamsa, a leading authority on t...

  There are many voices on the internet claiming to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some speak truth boldly. Others mix truth with dangerous error. The Apostle Paul warned that in the last days men would arise “speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:30 KJV). Jesus Himself warned repeatedly about false prophets who would come “in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV). One modern internet preacher whose teachings deserve serious biblical examination is . While he presents himself as a defender of grace, his theology often resembles a mixture of antinomianism, easy-believism, and what could rightly be called a modern form of Gnostic Christianity — a system that separates salvation from holiness, obedience, repentance, and transformation. This article is not a personal attack. It is a doctrinal examination. Scripture commands believers to “prove all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV) and to “earnestly contend fo...

  “Jesus saves us from our sins — not in them — and those who turn grace into a cover for unrighteousness face a just condemnation.” Grace Was Never Meant to Excuse Sin One of the most dangerous deceptions in our time is the belief that a person can claim Jesus Christ while continuing to live in deliberate, unrepentant sin. Many speak often about grace, but few understand its true purpose. Scripture makes it clear that Christ did not come to allow people to remain in sin — He came to deliver them from it. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people FROM their sins.” — Matthew 1:21 Notice carefully: the Bible does not say Jesus saves us in our sins. It says He saves us from them. Grace is not a covering for rebellion — it is a power that transforms the heart. The Warning: Those Who Abuse Grace Face Just Condemnation The apostle Paul warned about people who twist the message of grace into an excuse for sin: “And ...

  (From the First 100–250 Years After the Cross) One of the clearest ways to understand authentic Christianity is to examine the believers who lived closest to the time of the apostles. These early Christians were only one or two generations removed from eyewitnesses of Jesus, and several of them were personally taught by the apostles themselves. Their writings provide a valuable historical window into what the earliest church believed and taught.[1] When we examine Christian writings from roughly AD 100–250, we see a remarkably consistent message. The earliest believers strongly emphasized sin, repentance, moral transformation, holiness, and salvation through Jesus Christ alone.[2] 1. Their View of Sin: A Serious Moral Reality The early church viewed sin as a grave spiritual problem — not merely human weakness, but a moral rebellion against God that required repentance and change.[3] Polycarp (AD 69–155) Polycarp was a direct disciple of the apostle John and one of the earliest Ch...

  You hear that phrase constantly today. It’s used to suggest that Jesus simply hung out, blended in, and affirmed people exactly as they were. In some circles, it has been turned into a slogan that implies Jesus was comfortable in sin-filled environments without confronting sin itself. But here’s the truth: that phrase was originally an accusation — not a compliment. 1. It Was the Pharisees Who Said It In Matthew 11:19, Jesus says:  “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” The religious leaders were mocking Him. They also accused Him of being demon-possessed (John 8:48) and of breaking the Sabbath (John 5:18). The label “friend of sinners” was part of a smear campaign. They were offended because Jesus associated with tax collectors and sinners — not to affirm their rebellion — but to call them out of it. 2. Jesus Called Sinners to Repentance —...

  Are we truly mighty Christians in these last days… or have we become comfortable, distracted, and lukewarm? We live in a generation flooded with biblical resources, yet starving for spiritual power. We have access to countless sermons, yet little personal prayer. We attend services, conferences, and church functions, yet rarely spend time alone with God. The question must be asked: are we mighty end-time Christians — or merely lukewarm believers? We spend hours in front of televisions and entertainment, but only minutes in prayer. We love to feast, but we hate to fast. We enjoy church functions, but we seldom attend prayer meetings. We would rather have others study, research, and feed us the Scriptures than search the Word of God for ourselves. We listen to what someone else says the Bible means, yet we rarely open it and seek God personally. This is not the mark of a mighty Christian. This is the mark of a lukewarm church. Too often today, lukewarm Laodicean Christianity smiles...

The Real Cause Most People Don’t Want to Admit One of the most common objections to Christianity today is this: “There are too many hypocrites in the church.” And sadly — this criticism is not entirely wrong. Church scandals, moral compromise, lukewarm believers, and shallow faith have caused many people to stumble. But the real question is not simply why hypocrisy exists. The deeper question is: What is producing it? The answer is not complicated. At its root, the modern church has largely lost two things: 1. The fear of God 2. The true gospel of repentance and transformation Where these disappear, hypocrisy always multiplies. The Church Has Lost the Fear of God Scripture teaches that the fear of God is foundational to righteous living. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” — Proverbs 9:10 “By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” — Proverbs 16:6 But much modern preaching presents God only as tolerant, permissive, and non-judging. He is portrayed as a God who: Never...

  One of the most piercing observations ever made about spiritual decline came from Leonard Ravenhill, who said: “The reason we do not have revival is because we are willing to live without it.” That statement cuts straight to the heart of the issue. The absence of revival is not primarily a mystery — it is a mirror. It reflects the spiritual condition of God’s people. Scripture consistently shows that when believers drift into complacency, carnality, and distraction, the power of God is rarely manifested. Revival has never been accidental; it has always been the result of hearts returning fully to the Lord. Let’s examine why revival is absent — and how it can return. 1. Spiritual Contentment Without God’s Power Many Christians today are satisfied with a form of godliness that lacks spiritual power. They attend services, listen to sermons, and participate in church life, yet rarely hunger for deeper fellowship with God. The Bible warns directly about this condition:  “Having a...

  There are few statements in all of Scripture more direct, more urgent, and more life-defining than the words spoken by Jesus: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” — John 3:3 This is not a suggestion. It is not a religious preference. It is not about joining a church, improving your behavior, or becoming more spiritual. It is an absolute requirement. Not may be born again. Not should consider being born again. You must be born again. The Law: A Mirror to the Soul Before anyone understands why they need salvation, they must first understand their condition. God’s Law acts like a mirror—it doesn’t cleanse you, but it shows you the truth about yourself. Let’s walk through just a few of the Ten Commandments honestly: Have you ever told a lie? What does that make you? A liar. Have you ever stolen anything—no matter how small? That makes you a thief. Have you ever looked at someone with lust? Jesus said whoever looks with lust has already committed adultery in...

  Seriously, look around. Even in many churches today, sin isn’t trembled at anymore. It’s normalized, joked about, explained away. People talk as if God is only love but never holy, only merciful but never just. You hear it all the time: “Jesus loves me, so why should I change?”—not realizing the same Bible says the wrath of God abides on those who do not believe (John 3:36), and that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Romans 1:18). Not just the openly wicked out there—but ANY place God finds ungodliness, He judges it. Scripture says plainly: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17). That should shake us. That should wake us up. We have lost what the Bible calls the beginning of wisdom—the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). Without that fear, there is no real conviction. Without conviction, there is no repentance. The law was meant to expose us, to shut our mouths before a holy...

  There is a question that haunts every serious Christian who has read history and Scripture honestly: Why don’t we see revival today? Why do we read of entire cities shaken, nations stirred, and multitudes weeping under conviction—yet in our day, so much religion feels powerless, formal, and unmoved? The answer is not complicated—but it is deeply uncomfortable. Revival has never been withheld because God is unwilling. It is withheld because man is unwilling. God’s Condition Has Never Changed The Word of God lays the foundation plainly: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” — 2 Chronicles 7:14 Notice the order: Humility. Prayer. Seeking. Turning. We often want the healing—but without the humbling. We want revival—but without repentance. The prophet Hosea cries: “Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to...

  “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil.” — Psalm 97:10 (KJV) There are many who profess to love God, yet make peace with the very things that nailed Christ to the cross. Scripture never allows such a contradiction. The same heart that truly loves Christ must also learn to hate sin. This hatred is not a shallow dislike or occasional regret—it is a settled opposition of the soul against all that offends God. The Psalmist declares plainly, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10). Where love for God is genuine, hatred for sin must follow. The Puritan writers often spoke of this holy hatred. Joseph Alleine warned that many men are content to be troubled by sin but not resolved to destroy it. Yet Scripture calls us not merely to confess sin but to wage war against it. The Apostle Paul writes, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth” (Colossians 3:5). To mortify sin means to put it to death—to treat it not as a guest to entertain, but as an enemy to destroy. The Chr...

  Today, a very different message has gained popularity in many Christian circles: “once saved, always saved.” In its most extreme form, this teaching suggests that a past moment of faith guarantees eternal security—regardless of how one lives afterward. Some even go so far as to speak of “carnal Christians” who persist indefinitely in sin, yet remain assured of salvation. This version of the doctrine does not merely emphasize grace—it redefines it, turning it into a covering for ongoing, unrepentant rebellion. What is striking is that this idea is not new. It echoes one of the earliest and most dangerous heresies the church ever faced: Gnosticism. What the Gnostics Taught The Gnostics believed in a radical separation between spirit and body. They taught that the spirit was inherently pure and belonged to God, while the body was corrupt, inferior, and ultimately irrelevant to salvation. Because of this, many concluded that what a person did in the body could not affect the...

  There are few subjects in Scripture more serious—and more misunderstood—than blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn’t speak lightly when He addressed it. He gave a warning so severe that it should cause every believer to stop, examine, and tread carefully. Yet today, many are walking dangerously close to the very line Christ warned us about… and some may already be crossing it without even realizing it. What Did Jesus Actually Say? Let’s start with the words of Jesus Himself: “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.” — Matthew 12:31 That alone should sober us. Every sin—every failure—can be forgiven… except one. So what is it? The Context Matters Jesus didn’t say this in a vacuum. He said it in response to something very specific. “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of...