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Hi. I grew up in a small Southern Baptist church that my something-great-great-grandparents helped found. It's not really a great place for dynamic preaching or worship -- it's just my family and a few other families, sharing the love and Gospel of Christ. I love it for that, and in some way, it will always be home...

But as I've gotten older and learned things (maybe too much for my own good), I've started to have doubts and questions about a lot of things. I studied a lot of Christian history in school and Bible and theology and classical languages, and through all of that I've grown to feel a lot closer to the Early Church...... and honestly I've started to feel like it doesn't look all that much like my church today.

I...

Baptism is a sign and seal of regeneration.

Regeneration is a saving act of God wherein man is totally passive. God removes the heart of stone and gives him a heart of flesh. Man cannot regenerate himself nor participate in his own regeneration. Baptism is an outward sign of regeneration. That is its meaning.

But baptists say that only adults may be baptized because only adults have the ability to understand the gospel, repent, and believe. This emphasizes not God's monergistic action in regenerating a person, but man's response to God and his participation in his salvation.

The Reformed view of baptism captures the meaning of baptism much better. Seeing an infant who has no ability to repent and believe be baptized testifies to us...

I know this is a tired subject but Roman Catholic and first beast in Revelation:

I recently started studying Eschatology. I've been told for years the Catholic church has serious problems but due to various reasons I just dismissed the Catholic church as seriously flawed. I've recently watched youtube videos point Nebuchanezzar's statue's feat (clay and iron) to the Roman Papacy (1260 years from 538 ad to 1798 ad). The book of Revelation refers to the first beast (and then a second beast) and some say the Roman Papacy is the first beast ending in 1798 when Napolean drastically reduced the power of the Papacy. (Napolean Not Apollyon he he).

I'm always skeptical how seriously how much I should take a notion in Eschatology seriously...

I just was curious about those posts online about people who have died that were Christian and experienced going to Hell. Do people really think that it’s all made up and you shouldn’t listen to those testimonies? Do people really think it’s impossible to lose your salvation? Cause there are many testimonies of people who have seen the names of some believers removed from the book of life due to backsliding and unrepentant sin.

Tell me what you think about all this, is it something that you just ignore and hope they’re wrong? Please explain what you do to convince yourself of the Once Saved Always Saved doctrine.

Everyone in my family is Christian, except for my sister. She is the most good-hearted, loving, forgiving, calm and sweet person I know and she really cares about everyone (whether it is me, our family, friends, patients (she is a medical student) or complete strangers) but she has never really believed in God. She is not like those passionate Atheists that will debate you and stuff, she actually never talks about it. I really care for her and I truly want her to be saved, what can I do to convert her to Christianity?

Last Wednesday or so I got the sudden hankering to sacrifice a few children to Moloch. It was a passing thought that's gone now so I'm sure I'll be okay.

But it got me thinking. If I don't sacrifice a few kids to Moloch every now and then, am I being legalistic? Am I relying on myself for my salvation?

The good news is, Legalism is not a life threatening condition, but it is a spiritual and mental health issue.

So, lets get right to it, so that if you have been infected with this heresy, you can begin to find your way out of its theological darkness.

What is Legalism?
Lots of Christians have random ideas about what it could mean, but here is what it is.......This is NT legalism as found within the belief system of any believer, who is a legalist.
Its simply that they believe, that, the Cross and the Blood Atonement, began their salvation, but didn't complete it. So, they take it upon themselves, to finish their salvation by :

Works.
Keeping Commandments.
Presenting an attempt to live a holy lifestyle.
Holding unto their faith, in...

We hear frequently these days that the reason for the submission of women was cultural, in the church of Corinth only, about a specific woman only etc.

I would like to present 3 biblical reasons for the submission. Notice, that none of them is temporal, cultural or local:

1) The creation order:
A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
1Tm 2:11

2) Because Eve was deceived, not Adam:
And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.
1Tm 2:14

3) Woman was created for man, not man for woman, its her purpose:
"Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but...

I found this interesting and also disturbing: When you die ‘you know you’re dead because your brain keeps working’, scientist claims

Does the spirit leave the body at the moment of death, or after the brain stops working?

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. Philippians 3:19

A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. Proverbs 28:7

For drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. Proverbs 23:21

And put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Proverbs 23:2
Those are very, very strong words and yet I've never heard any preacher do a dedicated teaching on it. I've never heard Christians on here or anywhere else have long discussions about it as they do with other sins. When it is brought up it's usually mentioned in passing along with other sins. Out of all the sins it seems to be...