Search — Theology Explorer

Galatians 2:20 Ephesians 1 in Christ Galatians 2:20 Ephesians 1

Unconfessed sin at death — positional vs. conditional righteousness; in Christ theology

Popham asks if a born-again Christian who dies suddenly with an unconfessed momentary sin (not a lifestyle) goes to hell.

Revelation 21 millennium eschatology second coming

Where are we judged — earth, heaven, or in between? Eschatological timeline

Damon Brook asks where humans are located during the final judgment.

Matthew 10:23 Matthew 10 Mark 6 eschatology Matthew 10:23 Son of Man

Matthew 10:23 — 'before the Son of Man comes' refers to Christ's first-coming arrival, not the Second Coming

Kelly Book asks about Matthew 10:23 and why Mark's parallel account does not include the phrase 'before the Son of Man comes.'

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Proverbs 16:5 repentance pride grace

Covert narcissism and Proverbs 16:5 — misunderstanding grace; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Giant Mushroom Tree is being diagnosed with covert narcissistic personality disorder and fears Proverbs 16:5 means they are unsavable.

1 Corinthians 10:13 Psalm 34:18 Psalm 51:17 repentance sanctification 1 Corinthians 10:13

Hardened heart and repentance — how to break callousness and return to closeness with God

Final question: someone says their heart has become hard through continued rebellion, they no longer feel sorry, and they miss living close to Christ.

Christian living discipleship biblical thinking

Introduction: learning to think biblically transforms every area of life

Opening of Friday live stream Q&A session

Galatians 2:10 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 early church care for the poor church responsibility

Western churches may not give adequate attention to caring for the poor

Discussing the almsgiving interpretation of Luke 16:9

Luke 16:10-13 stewardship Luke 16:10-13 money and wealth

Luke 16:10-13 reframes the parable: the master is money itself — be a faithful steward so God controls you, not money

Reading Luke 16:10-13 as commentary on the parable

eschatology rapture abomination of desolation

Anxiety about eschatology (pre/mid/post-trib) is unnecessary — Christians are called to live ready for a full lifetime of service

Responding to a question about hoping Jesus does not return until after the questioner has died, due to eschatological anxiety

hermeneutics covenant claiming biblical promises

Claiming all biblical promises because "God is no respecter of persons" is invalid reasoning

Responding to the claim that Christians can claim all biblical promises because God is no respecter of persons or because they are grafted into Israel

Romans 11 hermeneutics Abrahamic covenant Romans 11

Being grafted into Israel does not give Christians the right to claim every promise made to Israel, especially negative or law-based promises

The second half of the question about claiming Israel's promises via grafting-in

straw man argument apologetics atheism

Confirmation bias accusations are themselves prone to confirmation bias; fear of confirmation bias is not sufficient reason to disbelieve something

Responding to a young Christian worried that his theism might be confirmation bias given that most atheistic arguments seem like straw men and ad hominem

confirmation bias knowledge epistemology

Changing one's mind is not required for intellectual validity; core epistemic beliefs are foundational and need no further justification

Continuing the apologetics discussion about confirmation bias

apologetics biblical inspiration fulfilled prophecy

Christianity has a mountain of evidential support — fulfilled prophecy, unity of Scripture, historical verification

Closing the apologetics discussion by pointing to positive evidence for Christianity

obedience sexual purity Christian relationships

A new believer should lovingly but firmly set sexual boundaries with a girlfriend, even at the risk of losing the relationship

Responding to a 3-month-old believer whose girlfriend is hesitant to abstain from sex

Romans 9 Romans 9:22-23 Romans 9 predestination God's sovereignty

God does not create people destined for hell; the verb tense in Romans 9 distinguishes God's active preparation of the saved from passive endurance of the lost

Responding to the difficulty of reconciling God's glory with creating people He knows will end up in hell

1 John 3:20 Christian living forgiveness walking by faith

Forgiveness: will and emotions are separate; you can choose to forgive before your heart feels it

Responding to whether one can say words of forgiveness when the heart has not yet caught up

1 Corinthians 2:8 Mark 1:24 Matthew 16:23 omniscience Satan crucifixion

Satan is not omniscient; he did not know God's plan of salvation and that is why he crucified Christ

Responding to whether the hidden mystery of salvation implies Satan's omniscience since Jesus had to rebuke Peter

Psalm memorization prayer meditation mindfulness

Mindful meditation: biblical meditation means active thinking; eastern meditation's spiritual claims are concerning; neutral practices are fine

Responding to whether mindful meditation for mental health can be used by a Christian

Hebrews 11 Hebrews 12:1 Hebrews 11 inspiration Hebrews 12:1

Hebrews 12:1 — the cloud of witnesses is the inspiring example of their lives, not people watching from heaven; secular inspiring figures are fine but cannot be primary mentors

Responding to whether it is sinful to be inspired by historical people outside the Bible

Romans 14 Romans 14 Christian liberty Christian living

Secular music: evaluate by message, not genre; wickedness set to music is still wicked, but neutral or positive messages are fine

Responding to whether it is sinful to listen to secular music and where to draw the line

John 1:12 John 1:9-11 salvation free will universalism

Universal atonement does not guarantee universal salvation; receiving Christ requires a personal decision.

Response to anonymous question: since Jesus died for all, will all be saved like gravity works on all?

2 Corinthians 5:21 atonement imputed righteousness justification

2 Corinthians 5:21 — Jesus became sin through imputation, not by sinning; understood through a Protestant doctrine of justification.

Question from "Stranger in Moscow": how can Jesus become sin if he knew no sin?

Ephesians 5:32 Reformation Jerome Latin Vulgate

Jerome's Latin Vulgate mistranslated "mystery" (mysterion) as "sacrament" in Ephesians 5:32, contributing to the Roman Catholic doctrine of marriage as a sacrament.

Mark H asks about doctrinal changes Jerome introduced in the Vulgate around 400 AD.

Ephesians 5:25-32 John 19:34 Christ and the Church typology Adam and Eve

Ephesians 5:25-32 — the mystery of marriage as a typological picture of Christ and the church, rooted in the Adam-Eve narrative.

Discussing the "mystery" Paul refers to in Ephesians 5:32 while addressing the Vulgate question.

1 Corinthians Ephesians 5:5 BDAG lexicon 1 Corinthians assurance of salvation

Ephesians 5:5 — "impure" (akathartos) refers to moral impurity; the passage warns that a lifestyle of immorality, impurity, or covetousness calls salvation into question.

Nero Manser asks what Paul means by "impure" in Ephesians 5:5.

Matthew 6:33 Chuck Smith Matthew 6:33 pastoral counseling

Waiting on the Lord is an active, not passive, posture — characterized by seeking first the kingdom in whatever capacity is available now.

Derek Beeler asks for advice on a season of waiting to discern God's calling.

Romans 13:4 Romans 13:1 Romans 12:17 Romans 13:4 Romans 13:1 Romans 12:17

Christians can and should serve in government; Romans 13 and Romans 12:17 are not contradictory — private morality and governmental justice operate on different principles.

The Brunette Family asks whether a Christian can be a governing authority given Romans 13:1 alongside Romans 12:17 ("repay no one evil for evil").

Ephesians 5:5 Colossians 3:5 Roman Catholicism prayer idolatry

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.

Matthew 18:15 Galatians 6:1 Matthew 18:15 church discipline reconciliation

Matthew 18:15 and Galatians 6:1 both emphasize going to restore a brother — the onus for reconciliation rests on the one who was sinned against or who observes the sin.

David Dufty asks why Christian culture focuses on reasons not to confront sin rather than on the biblical imperative to do so.

Genesis 4 2 Samuel 13 (Amnon and Tamar) repentance pastoral counseling guilt

Self-hatred often functions as a mismanagement of guilt — projecting sin onto an "other self" to adopt victim mentality instead of genuine repentance.

Gabriel Martinez says he hates himself sometimes and asks how to love himself biblically.

Matthew 13:57 evangelism apologetics atheism

Evangelizing family and close friends is uniquely difficult because familiarity breeds dismissal; redirecting to outside sources may be more effective.

Jackson Star asks how to reach atheist friends and family who do not take Christian arguments seriously.

Psalm 139 Genesis 38 (Onan) hermeneutics abortifacient Psalm 139

Birth control and vasectomy: contraception that prevents conception is morally permissible for Christians; abortifacient contraception is morally equivalent to killing a human life.

Lucas Eileen asks for a biblical perspective on birth control and vasectomy, mentioning Genesis 38 and Psalm 139.

Isaiah 40-48 John 1:3 Colossians 1:16 Trinity monotheism deity of Christ

Isaiah's monotheistic declarations that God alone is Savior and Rock are not contradicted by Jesus being called Rock and Savior — Jesus is God.

Taylor Paris asks why Isaiah declares God knows of no other rock/savior while Jesus is called a rock.

Matthew 7:13-14 discipleship salvation Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:13-14 — the narrow gate refers to the demanding and counter-cultural teachings of Christ, not to a works-salvation effort; few receive it because most reject it.

Jilly Bean from Finland asks what the narrow gate means in practice.

Exodus historical evidence discernment Inspiring Philosophy progressive Christianity

Progressive Christianity misrepresents Jesus by reshaping him into the image of current culture; Winger previews a critique of Brandon Robertson's "Jesus was a racist" video.

Closing remarks previewing upcoming content.

John 15 grace sanctification Christian living

Closing exhortation: the Christian calling is impossibly high but entirely sustained by the oceans of grace in Christ; fruit comes through abiding, not striving.

Final blessing to the live stream audience.

Romans 14 1 Samuel 21 Galatians David Romans 14 Christian liberty

Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath: Matthew 12:1-8 and the principle of hierarchical moral reasoning

Question from Dakota France about what Jesus means in Matt 12:1-8, whether the Sabbath carries rewards or penalties for Christians.

Ecclesiology Church planting Local church

What is a local church and is planting under an existing church a biblical mandate?

Question from Droopy's Dad about church definition and whether church plants must be authorized by an existing church.

2 Corinthians 4:8 Rest in God Christian peace Suffering / trials

Resting in God does not mean absence of anguish — the "bedrock" model of Christian peace

Question from Faith Marie about resting in God's presence and staying connected throughout the day.

Romans 11 Hebrews 6:4-6 Romans 11 Judas Iscariot Repentance

Hebrews 6:4-6 — apostasy, hardness of heart, and the possible national Israel interpretation

Question from A.D. Chan about whether Hebrews 6:4-6 applies to Judas and what "falling away" means for someone who has experienced the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:22 Matthew 25:46 Romans 5:18 1 Corinthians 15:22 Matthew 25:46 Romans 5:18

Universal salvation vs. conditional salvation: Romans 5:18, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Matthew 25:46

Question from New Testament Theologist about squaring universalist-sounding texts with texts affirming eternal punishment.

Hebrews 10:25 Hebrews 10:25 Christian conscience Corporate worship / assembly

Hebrews 10:25 and the obligation to gather: absolute or contextual?

Question from The Invisible Hand about online-only churches during COVID and whether they violate the command not to forsake assembling.

Deuteronomy / Joshua conquest texts Theodicy Children and salvation Canaanite conquest

The Canaanite genocide: why God commanded Israel to kill rather than drive out or convert

Question from Lindsey Kelso about the moral difficulty of God commanding Israel to kill thousands of Canaanites.

Gospel of John Apologetics Agnosticism / seeking faith

Practical advice for an agnostic seeking to believe

Question from "It's Flawless," an agnostic trying to believe.

Galatians 5 John 8:36 2 Corinthians 13:5 Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5 Sanctification

Can someone be justified without being sanctified? Can habitual sin coexist with salvation?

Question from Kate Channel about justification, sanctification, and habitual sin.

1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15 Apologetics Burden of proof

The Mandela Effect cannot explain the disciples' confidence in the resurrection

Hypothetical question from Ethan Hawking about whether the Mandela Effect could account for disciples' resurrection belief.

1 Corinthians 15 Revelation 20 1 Corinthians 15 Revelation 20 Bodily resurrection

Do unbelievers receive resurrected physical bodies at the final judgment?

Question about whether those who reject Christ also receive physical bodies at the resurrection.

Children and salvation Having children / parenthood Fear and faith

Should a Christian woman avoid having children because her future children might reject Christ and go to hell?

Question from Susan about a friend afraid to have children for fear they will go to hell.