Tag Archives: Last Judgment

RELIGION VS. JESUS?

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RELIGION VS. JESUS? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Monday, January 16, 2012 at 2:33pm QUESTION: There is a video going around called “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus: Spoken Word.” Do you have any comments on it? REPLY: A lot of this is very good. I discuss this distinction myself near the beginning of my seminary course on the doctrine of grace. One problem, though, is the ambiguity of the word “religion,” to the point that it becomes mostly a matter of semantics. If you define “religion” up front as false, hypocritical, works-oriented, external-only, self-centered activity in the name … Continue reading →

Acts 13:48 and Calvinism

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Acts 13:48 and Calvinism by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, December 23, 2011 at 3:56pm QUESTION: Can you explain the meaning of Acts 13:48? It sounds very much like Calvinism to me. ANSWER: This text summarizes the response of the Gentiles to the powerful preaching of the Apostle Paul at Antioch of Pisidia: “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (ESV). As usually translated, it is very true that this passage supports the key Calvinist doctrine of unconditional predestination (the “U” … Continue reading →

THE NATURE OF THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE

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THE NATURE OF THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, November 25, 2011 at 3:37pm QUESTION: What is the conscience, and how does it work? ANSWER: I have written on this in my commentary on Romans, as part of my comments on Romans 2:15, where Paul says that even pagans “show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them” (ESV). The following paragraphs are taken from this commentary (1996 ed., I:203-205). The latter part of Romans 2:15 focuses on an … Continue reading →

“CONSCIENTIOUS RESPONSE TO AVAILABLE LIGHT”

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“CONSCIENTIOUS RESPONSE TO AVAILABLE LIGHT” by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Friday, November 25, 2011 at 12:03pm QUESTION: You make a big deal of the principle of “conscientious response to available light,” especially in explaining how you think God will judge those who are not Biblically baptized. I don’t see this phrase used anywhere in the Bible, and I don’t see how it can be derived from Romans 4:15. Doesn’t the Bible say that we will be judged by the standard of the words of Jesus (John 12:48)? Wouldn’t this principle excuse every believer whose thinking is wrong on any issue … Continue reading →

WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL STATUS OF THOSE BAPTIZED UNBIBLICALLY?

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WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL STATUS OF THOSE BAPTIZED UNBIBLICALLY? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 1:15pm QUESTION: What is the spiritual status of the millions of people who have mistakenly followed the false views of baptism, whether in regard to meaning, subjects, or mode? E.g., here is a person who was sprinkled as a baby as a mark of membership in a local church, based solely on the fact that he was born to parents who were already members of that church. That person is now an adult and is actively involved in church activities and … Continue reading →

THE MEANING OF FOOTWASHING IN JOHN 13:1-17

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THE MEANING OF FOOTWASHING IN JOHN 13:1-17 by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 4:27pm QUESTION: When Jesus washes the apostles’ feet in John 13:1ff., is this just a lesson in humility, or does it have some spiritual significance beyond that? E.g., does the footwashing as Jesus performs it stand for personal cleansing from sin? Is it a figure for baptism? Does the act itself represent Jesus’ service of dying on the cross for the sins of the world? ANSWER: My initial reaction to this question is that this episode is just a lesson in humility, and … Continue reading →

WILL CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH THE JUDGMENT?

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WILL CHRISTIANS GO THROUGH THE JUDGMENT? by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 10:39am QUESTION: Some say that Christians will not have to go through the final judgment, based on John 5:24, where Jesus says this: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (NASB, &ff.). Others say, yes, we WILL go through the judgment, but our sins will not be brought up there. They base this on Hebrews 8:12, where … Continue reading →

Is Sound Doctrine a Moral Obligation? (Part Two)

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Is Sound Doctrine a Moral Obligation? (Part Two) by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 2:22pm I wrote an earlier note called “Does It Matter What Church We Attend?” What I said in that note stirred up quite an active discussion, with some responders consigning me to some version of theological (if not literal) Tartarus. That’s OK; I don’t expect everyone to agree with my (always) completely rational and Biblical answers! I do like to avoid being misunderstood or misinterpreted, however. Thus I have chosen to follow up on that note with a two-part essay that addresses … Continue reading →

Once Saved, Always Saved — AGAIN! and AGAIN! and AGAIN!

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Once Saved, Always Saved — AGAIN! and AGAIN! and AGAIN! by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 9:47am The fifth point of the “five points of Calvinism”— the P in TULIP— is the Perseverance (or Preservation) of the saints, more commonly known as “once saved, always saved” (“OSAS”). This doctrine originated with Augustine (died A.D. 430) and is currently believed by millions of both Calvinists and non-Calvinists. On the other hand, those who reject OSAS as a false doctrine call attention to many Biblical texts that seem to teach or imply that believers can lose their faith … Continue reading →

LOVE WINS, by Rob Bell: A Synopsis of Cottrell’s Review

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LOVE WINS, by Rob Bell: A Synopsis of Cottrell’s Review by Jack Cottrell (Notes) on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 11:04am QUESTION: What do you think about Rob Bell’s book, Love Wins? ANSWER: I have just completed writing an analysis of his book. The full analysis is too long to post here on FaceBook, but it can be accessed at http://www.ccuniversity.edu/seminary/academics/faculty-publications/ . What follows here is a brief synopsis of this more complete analysis and critique, without any page references. See the full version for quotes and references. Two general conclusions: (1) I found not one single redeeming quality in … Continue reading →