Search — Theology Explorer

Romans 9 Psalm 11:5 election God's love Romans 9

Q&A: Does God hate the sinner? Psalm 11:5 and the complexity of divine attitude

Viewer question on whether God's attitude toward the wicked is hatred.

Acts 13:48 election Calvinism Molinism

Q&A: Acts 13:48 — 'appointed to eternal life' and the election/free will question

Viewer asks about the Calvinist proof text in Acts 13:48.

Ephesians 1-3 in Christ salvation Ephesians 1-3

Positional 'in Christ' removes believers from the domain of God's wrath

Mike clarifies how believers relate to divine wrath in light of the question about prosperity gospel preachers.

eschatology God's love divine judgment

Q&A: Does God's love have a time limit — does it turn to hatred at death for the damned?

Viewer asks whether God's love for the unrepentant ceases at death and becomes everlasting hatred.

crucifixion cross vs. stake stauros

Introduction: cross vs. stake controversy overview

Winger opens by framing the topic — whether Jesus died on a traditional cross (two beams) or a single upright pole/stake. He notes the question has limited direct theological implications but has become practically important in Christian-Jehovah's Witness and Christian-atheist exchanges.

apologetics cross apostasy

The Watchtower has more at stake in the cross debate than Christians do

Winger observes that Christians have little theological stake in the physical shape of the cross — if wrong, they can update imagery. But the Watchtower has built an entire theological argument on the shape question, making it a test of apostasy for other Christians.

GotQuestions.org Seventh-day Adventism cult studies

Q&A: Seventh-day Adventism — Winger defers, recommends GotQuestions.org

A viewer asks for Winger's take on Seventh-day Adventism. He declines to answer without fresh study, acknowledging he taught on it years ago but would need to revisit.

Galatians 6:14 1 Corinthians 1:18 atonement apologetics Watchtower

Q&A: Would you wear a gun necklace if Jesus had been shot? Yes — the cross symbolizes the instrument of our salvation

A viewer asks how to respond to the JW/Watchtower question: if Jesus had been shot, would you kiss a gun? Winger says he would possibly wear a gun necklace in that scenario — because the point is not the instrument but what was accomplished.

apologetics comparative religion Buddhism

Slogan 3: "All religions teach basically the same thing" — superficial similarities mask fundamental contradictions

Second major pluralist slogan addressed

Islam apologetics comparative religion

Q&A: Is the God of Islam the same as the God of Christianity?

Viewer question from Kaeleen van Konan

Trinity Holy Spirit apologetics

Q&A: Are people who deny the Trinity but believe in salvation by grace through faith saved?

Viewer question from Devin Nicely

exclusivity of Christ religious pluralism self-refuting argument

Q&A: Don't all religions claim exclusivity? — Yes, even pluralists are exclusivists

Viewer question from Devan Heather Switzer

2 Kings 2:23-24 apologetics Hebrew exegesis 2 Kings 2:23-24

Q&A: Why did God allow bears to kill 42 children for mocking Elisha? (2 Kings 2:23-24)

Viewer question from Pedro Jr.

Ezekiel 33:11 John 3:16 Psalm 5:5 God's love Ezekiel 33:11 John 3:16

Q&A: Does God have divine hatred? — Yes, Scripture affirms it, alongside God's love

Viewer question from Johnny

apologetics epistemology relativism

Q&A: Relativism — "there is no truth" is self-refuting; "no one can know truth" is also self-refuting

Viewer question from Isabell Chris

salvation Calvinism Arminianism

Q&A: If someone prayed to receive Christ but later turns away from Christianity, do they go to hell?

Viewer question from BC Our Life

salvation gospel Catholicism

Q&A: Is it wise to tell someone their deceased Catholic loved one is in heaven?

Viewer question from Hannah Elizabeth

Matthew 11:21-22 repentance Calvinism soteriology

Q&A: Does Matthew 11:21-22 (Tyre and Sidon) challenge Calvinism?

Viewer question from James Giorgio

John 14:6 hermeneutics John 14:6 universalism

Q&A: Marcus Borg as an example of a scholarly universalist with weak arguments

Viewer question from Bobby Miller about scholarly defenders of universalism

John 4:53 Acts 18:8 Philippians 4:22 faith infant baptism John 4:53

Three additional passages show "household" belief language does not imply infants: John 4:53, Acts 18:8, Philippians 4:22

Winger broadens the argument to show that household believing/greeting language consistently excludes passive infants.

baptism covenant circumcision

Part 3: The circumcision-baptism parallel argument for infant baptism introduced

Winger introduces the strongest paedo-baptist argument: baptism parallels circumcision as a covenant sign.

infant salvation divine judgment age of accountability

Q&A: Age of accountability is not a fixed age but individualized — God knows each person's capacity

Winger briefly addresses the age of accountability question from the live chat.

Galatians 2:21 Ephesians 2 salvation grace works

Q&A: Adding baptism as a requirement for salvation nullifies grace — Galatians 2:21 parallel

Winger responds to a question about whether requiring baptism for salvation amounts to nullifying grace.

Ezekiel 33 evangelism accountability hell

Q&A: Are those who never hear the gospel lost? Is it your fault if you fail to share?

Winger addresses two connected questions about evangelistic responsibility.

heaven infant salvation age of accountability

Q&A: Infants and young children who die go to heaven — brief affirmation

A viewer asks whether young children who die before accepting Christ go to heaven.

Romans James 2 Galatians Romans James 2 justification

Q&A: James 2 and the relationship between works and faith — a different question from Galatians/Romans

A viewer asks about the distinction between works in Paul versus James.

Cornelius salvation baptism

Q&A: Baptism represents the remission of sins; it does not save — people are saved before being baptized in Scripture

A final Q&A question asks why we get baptized and whether it is for remission of sins.

presuppositionalism apologetic methodology evidentialism

Overview of major schools of apologetic thought: presuppositionalism, evidentialism, fideism, classical

Winger names the main competing frameworks within Christian apologetics

atheism epistemology faith and reason

It is epistemically wrong to require Christians to answer every argument or question before their faith is valid

Critique of the epistemic standard often imposed by internet atheism

atheism epistemology witness of the Holy Spirit

Internet atheism often operates by demanding unanswerable questions rather than engaging arguments honestly

Sociological and spiritual observation about common atheist engagement tactics

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 eyewitness testimony knowing vs. showing

1 Corinthians 15:3-8: the apostles argued historically for the resurrection by listing eyewitnesses

NT case study showing apostles using evidential showing to establish what they already knew

Galatians 1 Galatians 1 soteriology Torah

Messianic believers who add Torah observance as a requirement for salvation are condemned by Galatians 1

Q&A: brief assessment of Messianic Judaism

presuppositionalism apologetic methodology classical apologetics

Presuppositionalism is not simply the transcendental argument; it assumes God without argument from the outset

Q&A: clarifying a common misunderstanding of presuppositionalism

evangelism apologetics atheism

When an atheist asks context-free gotcha questions and refuses to engage answers, move on

Q&A: strategy for handling an atheist who uses OT verses as traps without wanting real dialogue

Matthew 22:30 resurrection eschatology Matthew 22:30

No marriage in heaven does not mean demotion — relationships will be closer and better in the resurrection

Question: Since there is no marriage in heaven, will married couples be strangers? Mike addresses Matthew 22:30.

Revelation Isaiah biblical hermeneutics Revelation Isaiah

Scriptural language about things not being "remembered" in heaven means no bitter grief, not literal loss of memory

Side note during the heaven/marriage question, addressing a teaching that people will have no memories in heaven based on Isaiah.

soteriology free will Calvinism

Mike does not hold to full Calvinist total depravity; the key disagreement is whether fallen humans can respond to the Holy Spirit's call

Question from Jason Staub about conditional election, prevenient grace, and total depravity — if Christ dies for all, why must a sinner overcome unbelief on their own?

Romans 1 Holy Spirit conscience soteriology

No one overcomes unbelief "on their own" — God uses general revelation, conscience, and the Holy Spirit to call everyone

Continuing the conditional election question — answering the specific sub-question of why a sinner must overcome unbelief "on their own."

2 Corinthians 5:17 salvation Satan spiritual warfare

A childhood "blood pact with Satan" has no power over someone who trusts in Christ — the cross cancels all such claims

Question about a friend who at age 12 signed his soul over to Satan in a blood pact and now feels he cannot be saved.

Proverbs 16:4 hermeneutics Molinism middle knowledge

Proverbs 16:4 is a text that theological grids are read INTO, not a proof text for either Calvinist determinism or open theism

Question from Tobias about whether Proverbs 16:4 suggests God predestined the wicked for condemnation.

Recommended Bible study resources for non-original-language readers: multiple translations, NET Bible, STEP Bible, Blue Letter Bible

Question from Naomi about where to start studying the Bible verse-by-verse without knowledge of original languages.

NET Bible ESV NASB

healing false prophecy pastoral care

When a Christian falsely promises healing and the person dies, address the false prophet privately in love; be present for the sick person without making promises

Question from Alex M about how to speak to someone dying of cancer whose hope was falsely raised by another Christian claiming God said the cancer would not return.

discernment charismatic gifts prophecy

Strong feeling is not the same as God speaking — this applies to believers and non-believers alike

Closing comment on the false prophecy / healing question.

In the New Testament, "kurios" (Lord) replaces "Yahweh" — this is standard Greek translation convention, reflected in English by small-cap LORD

Question from Zanet about the Mark series — why is "Yahweh" rendered as "kurios" (Lord) in the Greek NT, and whether that changes the meaning.

Mark Mark kurios Yahweh

Jeremiah 29:11 hermeneutics prosperity gospel Israel

Jeremiah 29:11 is often misapplied as a personal prosperity promise; properly applied, it points to eternal hope in the New Covenant

Question from Brandi about whether verses like Jeremiah 29:11, written to Israel, apply to Christians today.

discernment wisdom Christian education

When at a liberal university with false Bible teaching, prepare to refute — don't fight every battle prematurely

Question from Nathaniel at a liberal Christian university where Scripture and the gospel are consistently undermined.

Mark 10 atonement soteriology works-righteousness

Jesus did not teach salvation by works — Mark 10 (rich man) demonstrates the impossibility of works-righteousness and points to Christ's atoning sacrifice

Question from "A Pig with 100 Subscribers" about the apparent tension between Paul (saved by faith, not works) and Jesus (enter kingdom by following commandments).

Acts Matthew 28:18-20 Great Commission discipleship baptism

The Great Commission applies to all Christians at some level; discipleship includes both evangelism (initiation) and ongoing teaching

Question from Cass Magnuson about how Matthew 28:18-20 applies to individual Christians and what making a disciple involves.

discipleship personal testimony pastoral ethics

Mike declines to share his full personal testimony out of love for family members whose failures would be exposed publicly

Question from ZZ asking Mike to share his testimony and struggles as a new believer.