Search — Theology Explorer

biblical inspiration infant baptism believers baptism

Conclusion on household baptisms: infant baptism has no examples or instructions in the NT; household passages fall short

Winger summarizes his findings from Part 2 before moving to the circumcision argument.

typology baptism covenant

Even granting that baptism parallels circumcision as a covenant sign, differences undermine the infant baptism inference

Winger grants the circumcision-as-covenant-sign parallel arguendo and then examines whether it actually supports infant baptism.

Circumcision-baptism parallel breaks down on multiple fronts: faith requirement, compulsion, and gender exclusivity

Winger extends the critique of the circumcision-baptism parallel by pressing its internal inconsistencies.

Lydia faith baptism

1 Corinthians 7:13-16 sanctification infant baptism 1 Corinthians 7:13-16

1 Corinthians 7:13-16 — children are "holy" through a believing parent but this has nothing to do with baptism

Winger examines another verse used by some to support infant baptism.

baptism infant baptism believers baptism

Practical pastoral counsel: baptized as infant → get believers' baptism; already baptized your child → let them choose later

Winger offers pastoral guidance for common situations arising from the infant baptism debate.

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.

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.

faith baptism believers baptism

Q&A: Minimum age for baptism is not fixed — the NT criterion is belief, which varies by individual

A viewer asks what minimum age Winger would set for baptism.

1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians discipleship Communion

Q&A: Women receiving Communion — implied by context of 1 Corinthians and the general gathered assembly

A viewer attempts a parallel argument: women are not explicitly shown receiving Communion in Scripture yet no one denies it.

baptism pastoral counsel local church

Q&A: Counsel for an adult believer who does not fully understand baptism — connect with a pastor and do it

A viewer aged 44 says they do not fully understand baptism and asks whether to wait.

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.

Holy Spirit epistemology faith and reason

Christians have confident, warranted belief in Christianity apart from evidence through the Holy Spirit

Core thesis introduced: knowledge of Christianity's truth comes primarily through the Holy Spirit, not evidence

Romans 8 Romans 8 assurance of salvation epistemology

The witness of the Holy Spirit is the primary means by which Christians know Christianity is true

Application of the knowing/showing framework to Christian epistemology

epistemology faith and reason warrant

The inner witness of the Holy Spirit gives Christians warrant regardless of external evidence

Explaining how the witness of the Spirit functions as epistemic justification independent of external arguments

evangelism prophecy knowing vs. showing

When showing Christianity to others, only external evidence and arguments are available, not the Spirit's witness

Explaining the asymmetry between knowing and showing in evangelism/apologetics

1 John 5:9-10 testimony epistemology witness of the Holy Spirit

1 John 5:9-10: the witness of God is greater than the witness of men; believers have it in themselves

Biblical grounding for the epistemological framework; key proof text for the witness of the Spirit

1 John 5:9-10 epistemology witness of the Holy Spirit 1 John 5:9-10

God's witness is categorically greater than human testimony because God has all knowledge and cannot lie

Logical grounding for why the Spirit's witness has epistemic priority

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

Mormonism Book of Mormon epistemology

The Mormon burning-in-the-bosom claim does not undermine the Christian's witness of the Spirit

Responding to the classic objection that the Spirit's witness is unreliable because others claim the same for false religions

1 Kings 18 Elijah 1 Kings 18 Mount Carmel

Elijah on Mount Carmel: biblical example of knowing vs. showing — he knew God was real, he showed others through evidence

Old Testament narrative case study illustrating the knowing/showing distinction

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

John the Baptist John the Baptist faith miracles as evidence

John the Baptist's doubt from prison: Jesus responded with fresh evidence rather than rebuke

NT case study: how Jesus handled the doubt of a believer who already had abundant witness

epistemology conversion fideism

This view is not fideism; the Spirit's internal witness is genuine evidence, and the Spirit converts — not arguments

Responding to the charge that elevating the Spirit's witness over external evidence is mere fideism

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

1 Timothy 2:12-15 women in ministry hermeneutics complementarianism

1 Timothy 2:12-15 restricts women from the pastoral/authority role in the church, but does not prohibit co-ed Bible study or women's ministry generally

Question from Seanya about whether 1 Timothy 2:12-15 makes co-ed Bible studies unbiblical and how it affects women's ministry.

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.