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All (210) Mike Winger (210)
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Temptation originates primarily from one's own sinful desires, not Satan — James 1:13-15

Question about whether all temptation comes from Satan/demons or from one's sinful self.

James 1:13-15 personal responsibility Satan sin
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

If aliens are sinful and redeemable by their own works, that contradicts the nature of the cross; God's holiness is the same across the universe.

Theological decision tree: sinful aliens who can self-redeem

atonement works righteousness holiness of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Western culture's refusal to have children is rooted in an unbiblical view that humans are parasites — a secular replacement of God's judgment with 'nature's judgment' for ecological sins.

Cultural diagnosis applied to the childbearing question.

Be Fruitful and Multiply Dominion Mandate Human Value / Imago Dei
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Angels could fall but redeemed humans in eternity will not — Scripture promises 'with him forever'; the mechanisms likely include: prior choice already made, maximum Holy Spirit indwelling, perfected environment, and crucially the removal of the sin nature.

Q: If angels were not 100% safe in heaven because they could be seduced by Satan, how can we be certain we will be safe in eternity with God?

1 Corinthians 15:53 — Incorruption Eschatology Eternal Security in Heaven Fallen Angels / Satan
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Q15: Does God love us unconditionally? Love requires some conditionality; relational nature of love

Response to multi-part question about God's unconditional love

election soteriology God's love
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Q20: Is hell a literal place of fire and gnashing of teeth, or metaphorical? Open question, research project planned

Response to question about the nature of hell

Matthew 25:41 Revelation 20:10 metaphor eschatology fire
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Hebrews 2:17 — "made like his brothers in every respect" does not imply Jesus had a sinful nature or that humans are born innocent

Question from Troy Mulberry about Hebrews 2:17 and human nature at birth

Hebrews 4:15 Hebrews 2:17 Jesus temptation incarnation
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Mike's view of sin nature: we are not guilty at birth, but our nature is bent toward temptation — distinct from Augustine's inherited guilt

Brief clarification on sin nature theology within the Hebrews 2:17 discussion

original sin infant salvation sin nature
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike argues it is philosophically irrational to charge God with immorality because God’s character is the very grounding of moral goodness, making the question of whether God could do something immoral logically incoherent, analogous to asking if a circle could be a square.

Response to non-believer asking whether there is anything God could do that would lead Mike to consider him immoral

apologetics atheism moral argument
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Application from Exodus 4:24: ministry success does not substitute for personal sanctification; leaders must take heed to themselves.

Personal application of the Exodus 4:24 passage for ministry leaders.

Exodus 4:24 Exodus 4:24 Sanctification Leadership accountability
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q2: Do we have free will? Mike asserts strong yes — biblically, intuitively, and philosophically supported

Viewer Lace Buck Corny asks about free will, sovereignty, and whether punishment is just if we lack free will.

James 1 Genesis 4 James 1 Calvinism free will
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: How can Jesus be fully God and fully man if he died? Can God die?

Viewer asks about the apparent contradiction between Jesus being fully divine and dying on the cross, since God by nature cannot die.

incarnation hypostatic union death of Christ
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

'Truly God, truly man' is more precise than 'fully God, fully man'

Mike prefers Chalcedonian-style precision: two natures in one person, rather than '100% God / 100% man' language which is logically incoherent.

Christology incarnation hypostatic union
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Christ's human nature died; his divine nature explains the resurrection

The two-natures framework resolves the death/deity tension: humanity accounts for his death, deity makes his resurrection inevitable.

Acts 2:24 resurrection hypostatic union death of Christ
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Oneness Pentecostalism and baptism: standing firm on Trinitarian faith with grace

Reagen Bechtold's family are Oneness Pentecostals who wanted him/her to be re-baptized in their formula after already being baptized in a Trinitarian church.

James White Trinity baptism church history
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Dust-to-dust theology supports cremation being theologically neutral

Mike grounds the cremation discussion in Genesis and the nature of death as returning to dust.

Genesis 3 Genesis 3 resurrection cremation
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Exposing works of darkness (Ephesians 5:8-14) — when to involve church vs. police

Michael Francisco has a family member claiming to be Christian who sells food with vulgar messages and is supplying alcohol to minors through her business.

Matthew 18 Ephesians 5:8-14 Matthew 18 church discipline restoration
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

How can God love the world and also hate sinners? Psalm 5:5 and Proverbs 6:16-19

Fly Serve Disciples asks how God can love the whole world (John 3:16) while Psalm 5:5 says God hates evildoers.

John 3:16 Psalm 5:5 Proverbs 6:16-19 God's love God's wrath John 3:16
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

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

Psalm memorization prayer meditation mindfulness
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil: gave experiential knowledge of rebellion, not the initial ability to distinguish right from wrong

Responding to how Adam and Eve could be held responsible for disobeying before eating the fruit that gave knowledge of good and evil

Genesis 2-3 Genesis 2-3 sin nature Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Matthew 19:28 — the promise of 12 thrones for those who followed Jesus does not necessarily include Judas; Matthias' replacement and the symbolic nature of the number 12 both resolve the tension.

Robo King asks whether Judas still has a throne since Jesus promised 12 thrones to the Twelve in Matthew 19:28.

Acts 1 Matthew 19:28 Luke 22:28-30 eschatology Judas Iscariot Acts 1
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Classical nudity in art is not morally distinct from pornography; artistic quality does not transform the moral character of nude imagery.

Q11 from Wolfpack: how should Christians approach classical art with nudity (e.g., Michelangelo's David)? Is it okay to like it or make similar art?

sexual ethics pornography nudity in art
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Does God have a sense of humor? Yes — Scripture confirms it, and pleasure/humor are good gifts not inherently sinful

Q4 from Silas Abrahamson: Does God have a sense of humor?

Psalm Matthew 7 God's character asceticism humor
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

1 John 3:4-10 does not teach sinless perfectionism — the Greek present tense indicates habitual lifestyle of sin, not single acts

Q14 from Shauna Whitting: Does 1 John 3:4-10 mean you are not a real Christian if you still struggle with sin?

1 John 2:1 1 John 3:4-10 habitual sin limited atonement propitiation
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Guest Braxton Hunter (president of Trinity Seminary, PhD) introduces the Kalam cosmological argument and explains its ultimate payoff: reasoning toward what the cause of the universe must be like.

Introduction to the Kalam — what it gets you

Kalam cosmological argument Braxton Hunter Kalam cosmological argument
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

The Kalam conclusion (the universe has a cause) doesn't mention God explicitly, but the conceptual analysis that always follows leads to theistic conclusions about the nature of that cause.

Relationship between the formal argument and conceptual analysis

Kalam cosmological argument Kalam cosmological argument conceptual analysis
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: what if science one day explains the universe without God? Response: Christians welcome continued scientific inquiry; this objection is "naturalism of the gaps" — hoping naturalism will eventually explain it with no current evidence.

Objection — future science

William Lane Craig methodological naturalism William Lane Craig
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

John McCrae adds: our sin nature explains interpretive divergence — we read preferences into Scripture. The Bible calls us to strive for truth (narrow gate), which makes the relationship with Christ richer. Drew's question is really just the problem of evil focused on one aspect.

Additional response to Q1 — sin nature and striving

John McCrae hermeneutics hermeneutics sin nature
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Drew's arbitrary cruel God is defeated by evidence: Christianity has historical verification, prophecy, testimony, and wasn't made up on the spot. A maximally cruel God would send everyone to hell with no heaven, giving no reason to worship. This is the "Pascal's mugger" objection, already addressed in literature.

Response to Q2 — arbitrary claims vs evidenced claims

evidence for God evidence for God Pascals wager
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Jesus would not support abortion: (1) He affirmed the Old Testament which teaches humans are made in God's image, (2) "You shall not murder" protects innocent human life based on innate human nature, not capability or intelligence.

What would Jesus say about abortion — OT affirmation

imago Dei abortion
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-18

Q: Why circumcision as the sign of the covenant? Not unique to Israel (others practiced it), but the meaning was unique. The NT reveals the deeper symbolism: putting off the flesh/sin nature. Circumcision of the heart (Deuteronomy 30:6) is the spiritual reality — the physical sign pointed to putting off carnality and becoming distinct from the world.

Q&A — why circumcision

Deuteronomy 30:6 circumcision circumcision Deuteronomy 30:6
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-15

Matthew 27:46 ("My God, why have you forsaken me?") — Jesus is quoting Psalm 22, which his Jewish audience would mentally load in full. Psalm 22 describes crucifixion in detail (pierced hands/feet, bones out of joint, garments divided, dehydration), then shifts to RESCUE and resurrection, followed by Gentiles from all nations worshipping God. "Forsaken" = given over to suffering and death, NOT Trinitarian separation. The Father/Son cannot ontologically separate without violating God's nature.

My God why have you forsaken me — Psalm 22

Psalm 22 Psalm 22 Matthew 27:46 Psalm 22 Psalm 22 Matthew 27:46
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-15

Jesus's omniscience during incarnation: Mike disagrees that Jesus had NO supernatural knowledge while on earth. He knew Nathanael under the fig tree (John 1:48) and "what was in the heart of man" (John 2:25). Philippians 2:5-9: Jesus "emptied himself" — voluntarily limited ACCESS to omniscience while retaining it. Like knowing something but not being able to recall it at will.

Jesus's knowledge during incarnation — kenosis

Philippians 2:5-9 John 1:48 kenosis Philippians 2:5-9 Jesus supernatural knowledge
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-14

Richard Carrier's mythicist theory (Jesus in outer space, apostles were schizotypal): Carrier is credentialed but widely disrespected in his field, on the fringe of scholarship. His strength is recall of sources; his weakness is unjustified connections between data points. His scholarly language ("perhaps," "what if") masks the extreme nature of his claims. Put the burden of proof on him to defend his theory.

Richard Carrier mythicism — fringe scholarship

Richard Carrier mythicism historical Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-14

Romans 5:12-21 and sin nature: Mike disagrees with the Augustinian doctrine that we inherit guilt from Adam's sin. Augustine was influenced by a mistranslation in the Latin Vulgate ("in whom all sinned" vs "because all sinned"). Romans 5:14 says some "had not sinned according to the likeness of Adam's transgression" — challenging the idea that we literally sinned in Adam. Mike's view: we inherit sinful inclination (sin nature) but not personal guilt until we individually sin. Babies have no actual guilt.

Sin nature — inclination vs inherited guilt (Romans 5)

Romans 5:12-21 Romans 5:14 original sin Latin Vulgate infant salvation
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-21

Can bad people go to heaven and ruin it? Reconciled by regeneration: everyone who believes in Christ receives a new nature. Even hypothetically, if Hitler truly repented on his deathbed, he'd be a new creation in heaven — hating his old ways, transformed by the Holy Spirit. Heaven is populated by transformed people, not merely forgiven ones.

Bad people in heaven — regeneration transforms

2 Corinthians 5:17 born again 2 Corinthians 5:17 born again
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

Four theodicies provide a cumulative answer to the problem of evil: soul-building, free will, natural law, and skeptical theism.

Detailed treatment of theodicies responding to the problem of evil

theodicy theodicy problem of evil
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-21

The Free Thinking Argument: if naturalism is true, humans cannot freely think; but humans can freely think; therefore naturalism is false — and the best explanation is the biblical God.

Introduction to interview with Dr. Tim Stratton on the argument from free will for God's existence

naturalism naturalism arguments for God
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-21

Libertarian free will defined: the ability to choose among alternative options compatible with one's nature. Two versions — principle of alternative possibilities (PAP) and sourcehood freedom.

Philosophical definitions before presenting the formal argument

compatibilism compatibilism libertarian free will
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-21

The expanded Free Thinking Argument Against Naturalism adds steps from naturalism → no soul → no libertarian freedom → no rational inference (all deductive), plus abductive conclusion that God is best explanation.

Full 8-step argument against naturalism

naturalism naturalism arguments for God
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-21

Biblical confirmation: Genesis 1:26-27 (made in God's image as immaterial minds), 2 Corinthians 5:8 (we exist apart from body), Galatians 5:13 (called to live in libertarian freedom to choose love over sin).

Scriptural support for the philosophical conclusions

Genesis 1:26-27 2 Corinthians 5:8 Galatians 5:13 image of God Genesis 1:26-27 2 Corinthians 5:8
Mike Winger idea 2019-11-06

Conclusion: Isaiah 53 clearly teaches that Christ suffered in our place as a sacrifice bearing our sin, bringing atonement so we receive his righteousness. Those who call PSA wicked are confused by caricatures — if the doctrine is so bad, why must they misstate it to argue against it?

Summary and Q&A on penal substitutionary atonement

Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 penal substitutionary atonement
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

Would Jesus have died of old age if not crucified? Probably yes — physical death entered through the Fall affecting all humanity, not just individual sinners. But Winger acknowledges he hasn't fully worked this out.

Q18: Would sinless Jesus have died of old age?

Romans 5 Romans 5:12 Romans 5 Jesus Romans 5:12
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-07

About Adam’s Sin Nature/Original Sin: Does Psalm 51:5 teach that we inherit the guilt of Adam's sin, not just his sin nature?

Q&A question: About Adam’s Sin Nature/Original Sin

Psalm 51 Psalm 51
Mike Winger idea 2021-08-27

Where Does Sin Nature Come From?: If God knits us in our mothers’ wombs, where do we get our sin nature?

Q&A question: Where Does Sin Nature Come From?
Mike Winger idea 2021-09-10

Why did God Allow our Sin Nature?: Frank Turek said (paraphrasing) that in Heaven we will have free will, but we won't sin because we won't have a sin nature. If that's the case, why didn't God just make us like that on Earth?

Q&A question: Why did God Allow our Sin Nature?

Frank Turek free will
Mike Winger idea 2021-11-05

About Adam & Eve / Sin Nature: Were Adam and Eve created WITH a sin nature at their creation? If not, why then did they choose to sin in the first place, all the while God having called His creation good?

Q&A question: About Adam & Eve / Sin Nature

creation Adam and Eve
Mike Winger idea 2022-09-30

Do Our Spiritual Gifts Ever Change?: As believers, are we given a static set of spiritual gifts, or are our gifts more dynamic in nature so that God adds to and/or subtracts from them according to our season of life or our maturity in Him?

Q&A question: Do Our Spiritual Gifts Ever Change?

spiritual gifts
Mike Winger idea 2023-05-26

Do We Still Have a Sin Nature?: Does flesh = sin nature? Adam & Eve sinned, even without a sin nature. After salvation, we still have the flesh (Romans 7: 18), but we’re dead to sin/not slaves to sin (Rom 6:2-7). Does this mean we no longer have a sin nature?

Q&A question: Do We Still Have a Sin Nature?

Romans 7 salvation Romans 7
Mike Winger idea 2023-07-07

Jesus Indwelt by the Spirit?: Was Jesus indwelt by the Holy Spirit, or was it His own divine nature that sustained Him while on Earth in His human form?

Q&A question: Jesus Indwelt by the Spirit?

Jesus
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