Search — Theology Explorer

marriage singleness biblical ethics

What does the Bible teach on masturbation? — No direct address; biblical principles of lust, self-gratification, and marital fidelity apply

Question from Arvin Marlow.

Romans 8:16 Romans 8:15 Holy Spirit Romans 8:16 assurance of salvation

The witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16) — an internal truth-awareness of being God's child, not an emotion

Question from John Butterfield about what the witness of the Spirit is and how to obtain it.

1 John Matthew 6:14-15 1 John salvation Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:14-15 — is forgiving others necessary for salvation, or evidence of it?

Question from David Ellington about whether failing to forgive others means losing salvation.

Matthew 5:44 Luke 6:28 prayer sanctification forgiveness

How to overcome long-held bitterness — pray for the person consistently; blessing them changes your own heart

Final question from Lillian McDonald about stopping bitterness held for years.

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

1 John 3:19-20 — God is greater than our condemning heart and knows everything

Additional passage addressing the fear and self-condemnation of the questioner

1 John 3:19-20 assurance of salvation fear of judgment 1 John 3:19-20

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Anxiety about the afterlife hinders prayer and joy; confidence before God enables effective prayer

Pastoral application of the 1 John 3 text

1 John 3:21-22 prayer assurance of salvation fear of judgment

tithing New Testament ethics Christian giving

Christians are not required to tithe (give 10%), but are absolutely required to give generously

Opening question from Facebook: are Christians supposed to tithe?

Acts 2:42 1 Timothy 5:18 Luke 8:3 Paul Acts 2:42 1 Timothy 5:18

Paying a discipler is wrong; a paywall on discipleship disqualifies the discipler

Question from Blake about someone offering to disciple him for payment

Sinning in dreams: only requires repentance if you yielded your will to it in the dream; involuntary dream content is not sin

Question from Christian Liang about whether to repent for sins committed in dreams

repentance sin dreams

Galatians 2 Romans 11:6 Genesis 15:6 Galatians 2 Abraham Romans 11:6

Mike's anti-Calvinist argument: faith is not a work regardless of its source; the Calvinist objection tries to smuggle faith into the "works" category

Mike's response to the Calvinist framing of faith as a "good work" that requires prior regeneration

2 Corinthians 12 Paul 2 Corinthians 12 false prophets

Near-death / heaven-visiting accounts: deep skepticism warranted; Paul's 2 Corinthians 12 model shows the right posture is silence, not book tours

Question from S.M. Hart about people selling books on visiting heaven or hell

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Thanksgiving as a biblical holiday in practice though not in name

Applying the holiday criteria to Thanksgiving

Christian liberty Thanksgiving gratitude

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Divine hardening in John's Gospel as a challenge to Calvinist Total Depravity

Mike argues divine hardening is inconsistent with Total Depravity.

Exodus Gospel of John Calvinism Exodus

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Favorite Bible verses for daily courage — Proverbs 3:5-6 and Psalm 62:8

Q from Eighth Day Adventist about Mike's favorite Bible verse for daily encouragement.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Psalm 62:8 Proverbs 3:5-6 Faith Guidance

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Spirit, soul, mind, body, heart: biblical anthropology terms overlap and resist precise systematic separation

Question from Juris de los Santos about the distinct biblical components of human nature.

soul trichotomy biblical anthropology

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Lordship salvation: repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin, not moral prerequisites for merit

Responding to Sally Richardson's question about what lordship salvation is

John MacArthur John MacArthur repentance salvation

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Handling a friend pursuing unbiblical mysticism — staged intervention using Galatians 6:1-2

Mike answers an emailed question from Nikki about a close Christian friend who keeps pursuing mystical and unbiblical things despite multiple conversations.

Matthew 18:15-17 Galatians 6:1-2 false teaching church discipline mysticism

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Evangelizing resistant family members: heart attitude must precede strategy

Question from someone whose parents think religion is stupid and who fears being judged for sharing their faith.

evangelism prayer witnessing

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Romans 10:1-4 refutes the idea that Jews can be saved apart from Jesus: Paul's heart's desire is that his Jewish kinsmen be saved — meaning they currently are not — despite their genuine zeal for God.

Q: How do I respond to family who believe Jews will go to heaven even if not saved by Jesus?

Romans 10:1-4 Galatians — Law as Condemner Paul Romans 10:1-4 Jewish Salvation / Two-Covenant Theology

divorce and remarriage biblical research methodology

Divorce and remarriage study as model for deep-topic research projects

Ministry methodology

Hebrews 11:4 faith worship sacrifice

Hebrews 11:4: Abel's sacrifice was better because it was offered by faith

Resolving the Cain/Abel question using Hebrews 11

epistemology theological error intellectual humility

Calibrated theological humility: hold beliefs with appropriate confidence, expect some error, keep learning

Continuing Q14 on following heart vs. conscience vs. Scripture

Romans 9 Exodus 4-14 Calvinism free will Romans 9

God's hardening of hearts: temporary, judgment-related, not arbitrary — non-Calvinist reading

Continuing Q15 — part about those God hardens, blasphemers, and people in hell

Psalm 37:4 hermeneutics prosperity gospel covetousness

Psalm 37:4 is misused in Word of Faith teaching as a blank-check promise to receive material desires

Question from Lungil Zandi about how to read Psalm 37:4 without falling into a Word of Faith trap

Psalm 37 contextual interpretation eschatology prosperity gospel

Psalm 37 in context is an encouragement to the righteous who are NOT experiencing abundance, not a promise of material wealth

Contextual reading of Psalm 37 to correct the Word of Faith misuse

Psalm 37 Matthew 5:5 anxiety divine justice Psalm 37

Psalm 37 presents future divine justice as the basis for present contentment amid the prosperity of the wicked

Continuing contextual walk through Psalm 37

1 Peter 3:1 1 Peter 3:1 marriage conversion

Real-life example: a wife's Christ-like conduct broke through her angry husband's defenses and led to his conversion

Illustrative story supporting 1 Peter 3:1 and the "may" interpretation

Ephesians 4:31 Matthew 7:3-5 Holy Spirit self-examination bitterness

Bitterness, clamor, and slander toward political opponents grieve the Spirit — Christians must deal with their own carnality first

Application of Ephesians 4:30-31 to the current political/cultural climate

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

There is no biblical confirmation that Satan can read human thoughts, but he can place thoughts in the heart

Question from Juliet Isil about whether there is biblical basis for Satan not hearing silent prayers.

John 13:2 Ephesians 6:16 John 13:2 Prayer Satan / demonic activity

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

In a divorce caused by sexual immorality, the offended spouse may remarry immediately; the offending spouse should pursue reconciliation and may only remarry after clear rejection of all reconciliation attempts

Question from Giant Mushroom Tree about whether the offending (sexually immoral) spouse may remarry.

Matthew 5:32 Matthew 19:9 Marriage Divorce and remarriage Matthew 5:32

Revelation 2-3 evangelism Revelation 2-3 Crusades

Evangelism strategy for someone hurt by Christian abuse: separate Jesus from his misrepresenters

Question from Kenneth Kelly about reaching a Native American friend whose aunt was beaten to death by a Catholic nun.

Romans 8:34 1 John 2:1-2 salvation eternal security propitiation

Romans 8:34 and 1 John 2:1-2 -- Christ's intercession is not ongoing pleading but his perpetual existence as our propitiation

Question from Sephora Ba about why Jesus still intercedes for the elect if they are already saved (Romans 8:34).

Ecclesiastes 1 Kings 11 repentance salvation apostasy

Was Solomon saved? Ecclesiastes may imply a late-life repentance and return to God despite idolatrous period

Question from Darcy 777 about whether Solomon died worshiping false gods and whether he was saved.

salvation forgiveness soteriology

Forgiveness vs. salvation: forgiveness is one component; salvation is the full package including adoption, the Spirit, and eternal life

Question from Olivia Heartland asking for clarification on the difference between forgiveness and salvation.