Search — Theology Explorer

Galatians evangelism Galatians Ray Comfort

Ray Comfort's law-first gospel presentation is thoroughly biblical, though not required to be mechanical

Q&A: evaluation of Ray Comfort's evangelistic methodology

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

1 John 3 1 John 4 assurance of salvation soteriology 1 John 3

Assurance of salvation can fluctuate but does not determine a Christian's actual standing before God

Q&A: personal and pastoral reflections on assurance of salvation

1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians church discipline fellowship

Gospel-level error requires breaking fellowship; lesser errors require wisdom and church leadership

Q&A: pastoral guidance on when doctrinal disagreement becomes a fellowship-breaking issue

evangelism relational evangelism

When a family member refuses to discuss God, build relational bridges rather than forcing spiritual conversations

Q&A: pastoral advice on evangelism to hostile family members

Hebrews ecclesiology Hebrews church attendance

Christians without a local church should attend an imperfect one rather than stay home; Hebrews commands gathering

Q&A: pastoral guidance for Christians who cannot find a theologically sound local church

prophecy witness of the Holy Spirit divine communication

Everything genuinely from God is true; the problem is misidentifying non-divine impressions as God speaking

Q&A: pastoral guidance on how to handle perceived divine guidance that turns out to be wrong

Holy Spirit epistemology faith and reason

Proper logic and reason will never contradict genuine faith; apparent conflicts come from reasoning errors, not from reason itself

Q&A: whether logic can grieve the Holy Spirit

presuppositionalism apologetic methodology parable of the sower

The parable of the sower is about receptivity to the Word, not apologetic methodology

Q&A: whether the parable of the sower supports presuppositionalism over other methods

Michael Heiser Old Testament theology divine council

Michael Heiser's divine council work is valuable but Winger has reservations about core claims

Q&A: brief evaluation of Michael Heiser's scholarship

Romans 1-2 Joshua 7 divine judgment Romans 1-2 wrath of God

God's severe OT judgments are iconic examples of how extreme sin is, not normative patterns; wrath is mostly being delayed

Q&A: explaining the apparent harshness of divine judgment in the OT vs. NT

repentance sanctification lust

Repentance from lust should be immediate; do not delay until emotional relief arrives

Q&A: pastoral guidance to a viewer who struggled with lust

Deuteronomy Deuteronomy biblical inspiration Mosaic authorship

Moses is likely the primary author of the Pentateuch, though later editorial work under inspiration is possible

Q&A: Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch

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

New Covenant tithing Old Testament law

Tithing at 10% is not a biblical New Testament requirement, though generous giving absolutely is

Q&A: whether the tithe is biblically mandated for Christians

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

Romans 5 Romans 5 original sin anthropology

On original sin: some form of sin nature is required by orthodoxy but the exact mechanism may be debated

Q&A: whether denying the imputation of Adam's guilt is outside orthodoxy

evangelism apologetics knowing vs. showing

Closing exhortation: trust the Spirit's witness for your own confidence; use evidence to invite others to seek the Lord

Summary and call to application, including a direct appeal to non-believing viewers

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?

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.

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.

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.

Genesis 32 Genesis 48:15-16 Trinity Jacob Angel of the Lord

Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord, who is the pre-incarnate Christ (second person of the Trinity)

Question from Guppy Life about Jacob wrestling "God" when the text says "angel" — is God the Angel of the Lord?

salvation ethics pastoral care

Suicide does not automatically mean loss of salvation; Christians can and do commit terrible sins — but suicide harms others profoundly

Question from Miguel about whether a true believer who commits suicide in a moment of weakness can still be saved.

election soteriology free will

The elect are not a closed group from which some are necessarily excluded; election involves foreknowledge and preserves both God's and humanity's free choice

Question from Threads of Hope about whether the doctrine of election means some people simply cannot be saved.

Roman Catholicism church history marriage

Catholic claim that marriage outside the Church is invalid is wrong — it is not sacramental but is still a real marriage; the Catholic doctrine of 7 sacraments is historically late

Question from Lindsey whose husband's Catholic family claims they are not really married because they were not married by the Catholic Church.

Galatians hermeneutics Galatians Sabbath

Christians are not under the Mosaic Law including the Sabbath; they are under the law of Christ and walk by the Spirit

Question from Cetl P about why Christians do not keep the Sabbath even though it is in the moral law and written by God's finger on stone.

Colossians Romans 14 Colossians Romans 14 Christian liberty

Romans 14 shows that observing the Sabbath is a matter of conscience, not universal Christian obligation; liberty must be exercised in love

Continuing the Sabbath question with a detailed reading of Romans 14.

1 Timothy 2:9 cultural critique women's ministry 1 Timothy 2:9

Culture's gospel of external beauty is antithetical to the Christian emphasis on inner godly character

Application of the 1 Tim 2:9 principle to contemporary women's ministry and culture.

1 Peter 3:3-4 1 Timothy 2:9 Sarah Abraham gentle and quiet spirit

1 Peter 3:3-4 reinforces 1 Tim 2:9: true adornment is the gentle and quiet spirit, not external appearance

Reading and brief exposition of 1 Peter 3:3-4 as a parallel to 1 Timothy 2:9.

1 Corinthians 5 John 3:3 1 Corinthians 5 salvation sin

A Christian can struggle with addiction and still be born again; Christians struggle with sin

Q from Christian Liang about whether an addiction sufferer can be born again and saved.

John 3:3 salvation kingdom of God Nicodemus

Being saved, having eternal life, and entering the kingdom of God are all part of the same package (John 3:3)

Part of the same question from Christian Liang asking whether one can be saved and have eternal life but not enter the kingdom.

repentance sanctification pastoral care

Pastoral counsel for Christians with habitual sin: radical repentance, not patchwork solutions

Q from Ariane Nisha about how to pray for a believer not walking with God due to habitual sin and lack of intimacy with God.

Proverbs 1 Corinthians 12 word of wisdom wisdom prayer

God gives wisdom primarily through Scripture, secondarily through the word of wisdom gift and through other believers

Q from Will Kozab about how God replies when you ask him for wisdom—does he send thoughts?

Polygamy is a real but sin-laden marriage; the moral complexity for a polygamist who converts precludes a simple answer

Q from Susan Morales following up on Mike's earlier video on whether a polygamist who becomes a Christian should divorce one or more wives.

marriage sin divorce

1 John 5:16-17 atonement repentance mortal sin

1 John 5:16-17: sin leading to death likely refers to physical death, not Catholic mortal/venial sin distinction

Q from Sarah Nordberg about the meaning of sin leading to death vs. sin not leading to death in 1 John 5:16-17.

John 6 Council of Trent doctrinal development communion

Communion/eucharist: real and important but not transubstantiation; early church writings are secondary to Scripture; John 6 is not about communion

Q from Chris Middleton about Mike's views on communion/eucharist and how much weight early church writings should carry.

Romans 5:1-2 justification by faith grace Sean McDowell

Closing: upcoming videos announced; call to rest in grace through faith (Romans 5:1-2)

Closing announcements and benediction.

Matthew 5:38-48 Romans 12:14-21 Christian ethics nonviolence retaliation

Christians are called to non-retaliation; violent protest contradicts following Jesus

Continuing the discussion on whether Jesus clearing the temple justifies violent protest.

Christian witness political allegiance Christ above politics

Christians must align with Christ first, not a political party

Broader point about Christian political engagement during social unrest.

2 Corinthians 12:10 spiritual disciplines spiritual warfare doubt

Counsel for Christians experiencing unexplained spiritual doubt and attack

Response to a viewer (Christian Regal) who is experiencing doubt that does not seem to stem from any intellectual problem — it feels like an attack.

Exodus 23:2-3 Leviticus 19:15 abortion social justice biblical justice

Biblical justice requires impartiality; modern social justice errs by elevating group rights over equal standards

Response to viewer Kara Gordon asking whether caring for the marginalized should look different for a Christian than secular socialism or communism.

sin nature government political theology

Christians can serve God faithfully under any form of government; government structure is a secondary issue

Part of the discussion on socialism vs. biblical justice.

church culture sexual sin shame

Women and pornography: the church's silence stems from greater shame; solutions come from women who have found victory speaking out

Response to viewer asking for Christian resources for women struggling with pornography and why the church focuses more on men.

discernment Enneagram mysticism

The Enneagram lacks true ancient origins and was developed by a modern mystic with dangerous theology

Response to Katrina asking about the Enneagram and its origins (desert fathers vs. Catholic origins).