Monthly Archives: October 2012

ARE WE BORN SINNERS?

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ARE WE BORN SINNERS? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 7:08pm QUESTION: Are we human beings born sinners? What effect, if any, did the sin of Adam and Eve have on all their offspring? Did it affect our ability to choose whether or not to sin? ANSWER: This question is about the doctrine of original sin, which in one form or another is held by a large portion of Christendom. This doctrine says that Adam’s sin did indeed affect all of his descendants in serious ways. As early as the third century Christian writers began to … Continue reading →

WHAT HAPPENED TO OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS WHEN THEY DIED?

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WHAT HAPPENED TO OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS WHEN THEY DIED? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 2:02pm QUESTION: I know that we Christians go to Paradise to be with Jesus when die. But what about OT saints? What happened to them when they died? Did they go to Paradise? How could they, since Christ had not yet died for their sins? What does the Bible say? ANSWER: I answered a similar question a couple of years ago, but I will do it here again and include a couple of extra thoughts. A common idea has existed in … Continue reading →

WHAT HAPPENED TO OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS WHEN THEY DIED?

Jack Cottrell Posted on by

WHAT HAPPENED TO OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS WHEN THEY DIED? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 1:55pm QUESTION: I know that we Christians go to Paradise to be with Jesus when die. But what about OT saints? What happened to them when they died? Did they go to Paradise? How could they, since Christ had not yet died for their sins? What does the Bible say? ANSWER: I answered a similar question a couple of years ago, but I will do it here again and include a couple of extra thoughts. A common idea has existed in … Continue reading →

WHAT HAPPENED TO OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS WHEN THEY DIED?

Jack Cottrell Posted on by

WHAT HAPPENED TO OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS WHEN THEY DIED? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 1:52pm QUESTION: I know that we Christians go to Paradise to be with Jesus when die. But what about OT saints? What happened to them when they died? Did they go to Paradise? How could they, since Christ had not yet died for their sins? What does the Bible say? ANSWER: I answered a similar question a couple of years ago, but I will do it here again and include a couple of extra thoughts. A common idea has existed in … Continue reading →

HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK?

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HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 3:14pm QUESTION: I am confused about the various references to the working of the Holy Spirit [HS] in the Book of Acts. E.g., do Acts 1:5 and 1:8 refer to the same work of the Spirit? Is the promise in 1:5 fulfilled in 2:4? Does 11:15-16 tie 1:5 and 2:4 together? ANSWER: Once source of such confusion is the assumption that all works of the HS are basically the same. Some add to this the assumption that all works of the Spirit involve salvation. … Continue reading →

WHAT ABOUT BAPTISM AS TRINE (TRIPLE) IMMERSION?

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WHAT ABOUT BAPTISM AS TRINE (TRIPLE) IMMERSION? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, October 26, 2012 at 4:36pm QUESTION: I have heard that some churches baptize their new converts by immersing them three times. They call this “trine” (or “triune”) immersion. Where does this idea come from? ANSWER: Today practically all Orthodox Churches (e.g., Greek Orthodox) immerse both infants and adult converts three times as their form of baptism. They are simply continuing a practice that began in the early church around the beginning of the third century. Also, the Church of the Brethren practices believers’ baptism by immersing three … Continue reading →

DID MOSES ACTUALLY SEE GOD?

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DID MOSES ACTUALLY SEE GOD? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 4:56pm QUESTION: Did Moses actually see God, as Exodus 33:18 – 34:8 seems to suggest? How is this consistent with John 1:18, which says, “No one has seen God at any time”? ANSWER: One attribute of God is that he is invisible. One way to understand this is the fact that “God is spirit” (John 4:24), and spiritual essence of all kinds (human, angelic, divine) is naturally invisible to mortal, material eyes. We cannot see even our own spirits, much less God’s divine essence. It … Continue reading →