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All (129) Scripture Commentary (61) Theology (13) Mike Winger (55)
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Can raptured believers help loved ones left behind? No biblical basis; Paul implies post-death impact ends

Question from Lassie Clyman about acting for loved ones after the rapture

Ecclesiastes Philippians 1 intermediate state rapture Ecclesiastes
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Introduction to TULIP as a summary of Calvinist theology

Mike opens the Q&A by addressing a Facebook question from Paul Rem about the five points of Calvinism.

Calvinism R.C. Sproul TULIP
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Perseverance of the Saints — Mike is unresolved, not firmly opposed

Fifth and final point of TULIP addressed.

Hebrews 6 Hebrews 10 Hebrews 4 Calvinism Apostasy Hebrews 6
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

All five TULIP points are ultimately one point: denial of free will

Mike summarizes his overarching critique of Calvinism.

Calvinism TULIP Free Will
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Revelation: saints in heaven concerned for earthly events, asking "how long, Lord?"

Continuing discussion on dead's awareness of earth

Revelation 6:10 afterlife state of the dead Revelation 6:10
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Those who lived before Christ or never heard the gospel can still be saved — through faith in the true God, ultimately through Christ

Question from Telly Kaler about how people who lived before Jesus will be judged

Abraham salvation universalism
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Interpretive options for belief in John 8:30 — salvific vs. surface belief; audience complexity

The theological puzzle: was this salvific belief that was then lost, or was it never salvific to begin with?

John 8:30-38 John 1:11 perseverance of the saints John 8:30-38 belief in John
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Accepting Jesus is the only way to heaven, but those who never heard the gospel may be saved through faithful response to lesser revelation — analogous to Abraham.

Question from Jack Bradley about salvation for those who never heard or only heard harmful versions of the gospel.

Abraham Old Testament saints Salvation exclusivism
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Ghosts, the witch of Endor, and demonic impersonation of the dead

Lindsay Kelso asked whether the Bible supports ghosts, and whether those who claim to see them are actually encountering demons.

1 Samuel 28 Leviticus 19:31 Deuteronomy 18:11 Samuel Catholicism afterlife
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Saints rising from tombs after the crucifixion (Matthew 27) — who were they?

James and Lindsey ask about the people coming out of tombs after Jesus's resurrection in Matthew 27 — did they continue living or ascend?

Matthew 27:52-53 Lazarus crucifixion Matthew 27:52-53
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Idolatry ancient and modern: literal idol worship still exists; covetousness is idolatry; some Catholic practices parallel ancient idolatry; smartphone use threatens prayer life.

Al Naps asks about modern-day idolatry and whether excessive Christian YouTube consumption is problematic; also asks if Winger worries about being idolized.

Ephesians 5:5 Colossians 3:5 Roman Catholicism prayer idolatry
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Ephesians 4:7-16 overview: gifts given to the church equip saints toward unity.

Question 1 from Tanya about Ephesians 4:7-16.

Ephesians 4:7-16 church unity pastor-teacher spiritual gifts
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

The faith (with definite article) refers to the body of Christian doctrine, not personal belief.

Question 1 from Tanya; Mike explains the phrase the faith in Ephesians 4.

Jude 3 1 Timothy 6:21 word study Jude 3 the faith
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Joseph Smith was a demonstrably false prophet; modern Mormonism is a victim of his fraud.

Question 19 from Evelyn Ellsworth (a Latter-day Saint) about the priesthood of all believers and Mike's denial of fellowship to Mormons.

1 Peter Genesis 50 priesthood of all believers Mormonism 1 Peter
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-04

Q: Can you lose your salvation? Mike is genuinely unsettled on this. The question is about apostasy (rejecting Christ), not just sinning. He doesn't have a public teaching on it because he hasn't fully worked through the relevant Scriptures to his own satisfaction.

Q&A — losing salvation

eternal security eternal security apostasy
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-15

Can you lose salvation if Jesus paid for your sins? Depends on your view of the atonement. Calvinist (limited atonement): Jesus only paid for the elect's sins, so losing salvation would mean he 'unpaid' — impossible. Non-Calvinist (unlimited atonement): Jesus paid for all sins; the APPLICATION is upon those who receive Christ. If someone walks away, it's not that payment was reversed but that they left the relationship.

Losing salvation and the extent of the atonement

perseverance of the saints eternal security eternal security
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-29

Q&A: How to deal with worry about death as a young Christian. The gospel IS the solution to death: Jesus's empty tomb means resurrection is real. Mike shares attending an atheist's funeral — no comfort, only empty cliches. Christian "cliches" about being with the Lord and seeing loved ones again are actually TRUE. Re-read the resurrection accounts and biographies of faithful saints.

Q&A — fear of death

gospel presentation fear of death resurrection hope
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-14

Hyperdispensationalism claims OT saints were saved by faith plus works. Refuted by Romans 4: Abraham was justified by faith alone, not works. Romans 11:6: grace and works are philosophically unmixable — if by grace, then not works; if by works, then not grace. These categories can't be blended. This applies to every era, not just the NT.

OT salvation by faith alone — Romans 4 and 11:6

Romans 11:6 Romans 4 Romans 11:6 Romans 4 faith alone
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-22

Key examples of alleged literary devices: (1) John moved the temple cleansing from Passion Week to early ministry; (2) John invented "I thirst" on the cross as a theological symbol; (3) Matthew's raised saints as "special effects." McGrew argues all are unnecessary — simpler historical explanations exist.

Examples of literary devices McGrew disputes

Matthew 27 Matthew 27 literary devices in Gospels fictionalizing literary devices
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-02

God's justice is BOTH restorative AND retributive — using restoration to eliminate punishment is itself unjust. The solution to wrongful convictions is to reform the death penalty, not abolish it.

Restorative vs. retributive justice, and the wrongful conviction problem

Revelation 6:10 Roman Catholicism death penalty Revelation 6:10
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are in the kingdom (Luke 13:28) despite not having the indwelling Holy Spirit — being "born again" isn't identical to Spirit-indwelling but includes it. OT saints had real relationship with God through different means.

Q5: If born again requires the Spirit, how are OT saints in the kingdom?

Luke 13 Abraham Isaac Jacob
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-28

Refuting JW Theology: A Jehovah’s Witness said that all the letters in the NT addressed to saints are for the 144,000 (example: Romans 1:7). How do I show that a saint is a believer, and that the NT should be applied to everyone?

Q&A question: Refuting JW Theology

Romans 1 Romans 1 Jehovah's Witnesses
Mike Winger idea 2022-01-14

Were OT Sacrifices Purely Symbolic?: Did Levitical sacrifices really do anything beyond point people to Jesus? Hebrews 10:4 and Romans 3: 25 tell us that Jesus' atonement was applied retroactively to Old Testament saints, so were their sacrifices only symbolic?

Q&A question: Were OT Sacrifices Purely Symbolic?

Hebrews 10 Romans 3 Jesus atonement Hebrews 10
Mike Winger idea 2022-09-02

Traditional Preferences over Biblical Theology?: I’m an ex-Catholic, but I’m getting pulled back in. I don’t know why, but I just like praying in Latin, the Rosary, praying to saints, and using scripted prayers because I don’t know how to pray on my own.

Q&A question: Traditional Preferences over Biblical Theology?

Roman Catholicism prayer
Mike Winger idea 2023-07-07

How to Explain Perceived Miracles: How can I respond with Scripture to my Catholic friend who says, “I’ve seen Mary & saints do miracles when my dad was in the ICU. That’s why it’s hard to leave the catholic religion: I’ve seen It”?

Q&A question: How to Explain Perceived Miracles

Roman Catholicism miracles
Mike Winger idea 2024-02-09

Should we Infer Doctrine from Scripture?: Is it wrong to base doctrine on inference? Is it ever legitimate? E.g., the context of Hebrews 12:1 says nothing about saints watching us from Heaven, but some say it’s implied by the word “witnesses.”

Q&A question: Should we Infer Doctrine from Scripture?

Hebrews 12:1 Hebrews 12:1
Mike Winger idea 2024-02-16

Jews vs. Christians – Same God?: Do current Jews and Christians worship the same God? They claim to worship the God of Moses and the saints, but reject part of God.

Q&A question: Jews vs. Christians – Same God?

Moses worship
Mike Winger idea 2025-01-31

Tribulation Saints: Position in Heaven?: In the pre-tribulation view of the rapture, if the raptured Church is the Bride of Christ, then what position/purpose in Heaven do the tribulation saints hold?

Q&A question: Tribulation Saints: Position in Heaven?

rapture tribulation
Mike Winger idea 2025-03-21

So Many Saw – So Little Believed?: Since many saw the saints who were raised to life (Matthew 27: 52-53) then more than 500 saw Jesus after His resurrection, how is it that so many didn’t believe He rose (e.g. Saul pre-Damascus)?

Q&A question: So Many Saw – So Little Believed?

Matthew Matthew 27 Jesus resurrection Matthew
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