Search — Theology Explorer

Revelation Islam salvation by works comparative religion

Islam's fundamental claims: closer to Christianity but built as a rejection of it — different God, no grace, no cross

Comparative religion analysis of Islam vs. Christianity

Trinity Holy Spirit apologetics

Q&A: Are people who deny the Trinity but believe in salvation by grace through faith saved?

Viewer question from Devin Nicely

salvation Calvinism Arminianism

Q&A: If someone prayed to receive Christ but later turns away from Christianity, do they go to hell?

Viewer question from BC Our Life

salvation gospel Catholicism

Q&A: Is it wise to tell someone their deceased Catholic loved one is in heaven?

Viewer question from Hannah Elizabeth

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.

Galatians 2:21 Ephesians 2 salvation grace works

Q&A: Adding baptism as a requirement for salvation nullifies grace — Galatians 2:21 parallel

Winger responds to a question about whether requiring baptism for salvation amounts to nullifying grace.

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.

original sin grace free will

Q&A: Infants born guilty of Adam's sin — paedo-baptism response creates unsolvable problems

A viewer asks whether original sin justifies baptizing infants.

assurance of salvation baptism pastoral counsel

Q&A: False conversion followed by genuine salvation — should the person be re-baptized?

A viewer asks about someone who was baptized during a false conversion and then genuinely saved.

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.

Mike Winger idea 2020-01-29

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

Romans 8 Romans 8 assurance of salvation epistemology

Mike Winger idea 2020-01-29

Messianic believers who add Torah observance as a requirement for salvation are condemned by Galatians 1

Q&A: brief assessment of Messianic Judaism

Galatians 1 Galatians 1 soteriology Torah

Mike Winger idea 2020-01-29

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

1 John 3 1 John 4 assurance of salvation soteriology 1 John 3

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

A childhood "blood pact with Satan" has no power over someone who trusts in Christ — the cross cancels all such claims

Question about a friend who at age 12 signed his soul over to Satan in a blood pact and now feels he cannot be saved.

2 Corinthians 5:17 salvation Satan spiritual warfare

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Jesus did not teach salvation by works — Mark 10 (rich man) demonstrates the impossibility of works-righteousness and points to Christ's atoning sacrifice

Question from "A Pig with 100 Subscribers" about the apparent tension between Paul (saved by faith, not works) and Jesus (enter kingdom by following commandments).

Mark 10 atonement soteriology works-righteousness

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

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.

salvation ethics pastoral care

1 Corinthians 5 John 3:3 1 Corinthians 5 salvation sin

A Christian can struggle with addiction and still be born again; Christians struggle with sin

Q from Christian Liang about whether an addiction sufferer can be born again and saved.

John 3:3 salvation kingdom of God Nicodemus

Being saved, having eternal life, and entering the kingdom of God are all part of the same package (John 3:3)

Part of the same question from Christian Liang asking whether one can be saved and have eternal life but not enter the kingdom.

1 John 5:16-17 atonement repentance mortal sin

1 John 5:16-17: sin leading to death likely refers to physical death, not Catholic mortal/venial sin distinction

Q from Sarah Nordberg about the meaning of sin leading to death vs. sin not leading to death in 1 John 5:16-17.