Monthly Archives: September 2012

DOES THE BIBLE TELL US HOW TO VOTE?

Jack Cottrell Posted on by

DOES THE BIBLE TELL US HOW TO VOTE? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, September 28, 2012 at 4:31pm QUESTION: Does the Bible tell us how to vote? ANSWER: The following is a sermon I plan to preach at my local church on October 7, 2012: The answer to this question is: yes and no. No, the Bible obviously does not give us the names of any candidates, nor any political parties. Yes, the Bible does tell us what God wants presidents, senators, judges, commissioners, and other governmental leaders to do. In other words, the Bible does not tell us … Continue reading →

IS BAPTISM A PART OF THE GOSPEL?

Jack Cottrell Posted on by

IS BAPTISM A PART OF THE GOSPEL? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, September 28, 2012 at 2:13pm QUESTION: I know someone who argues that baptism cannot be related to salvation because (a) salvation comes via the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16), and (b) baptism is not part of the gospel (1 Cor. 1:17). Therefore (c) baptism has nothing to do with salvation. What do you think about this argument? ANSWER: This is a bit of a twist on the usual Zwinglian (faith-only) argument against baptism for salvation based on this Corinthians text. I have briefly discussed and refuted … Continue reading →

WHAT IS CENTRAL TO OUR LIVES?

Jack Cottrell Posted on by

WHAT IS CENTRAL TO OUR LIVES? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 10:56am QUESTION: In my understanding and in my experience as a Christian, Jesus is the center of everything we do. Yet in your note about Jesus and the Biblical world view, you say Jesus is not the center. How can this be? ANSWER: Several of my readers were confused and/or upset by my Facebook note on how Jesus relates to the Biblical world view. They were disturbed that I said that God’s work of creation is the fundamental, foundational, central element of our world … Continue reading →

JESUS AND THE BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW

Jack Cottrell Posted on by

JESUS AND THE BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 2:34pm QUESTION: Why are so many pious-sounding yet false doctrines held by so many people, and thought to be based on the Bible? ANSWER: OK, I admit it. I made up this question myself, just to give me an excuse for writing what follows. It does relate, however, to some recent comments related to the upcoming (Nov. 2012) election. I am coming more and more to realize that one of the most prolific sources of doctrinal error, or one of the biggest hindrances to … Continue reading →