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Controversies and Biblical Clarity on Baptism

2021-06-29 BibleThinker 0

Time Stamp Map0:00 – Introduction1. 1:11 About BibleThinker2. 2:46 What is baptism, what does it do, and what does it declare?3. 5:23 Is baptism purely a symbol, or is there something spiritual that happens when a person is baptized? Does baptism affect salvation?4. 6:35 When a person makes a profession of faith, should they be baptized right away, or should there be a waiting period for their leaders to observe their conduct before allowing them to be baptized?5. 8:02 Is pedo-baptism (infant baptism) biblical? And is it biblical to draw a parallel between circumcision and baptism?6. 13:51 When studying Scripture, what is the difference between a descriptive text and a prescriptive text?7. 14:55 Time stamp #5 continued (circumcision vs. baptism)8. 16:09 What does the New Testament say is the parallel we should draw from the Old Testament practice of circumcision?9. 18:14 What passages of Scripture do pedo-baptists refer to in support of their belief?10. 24:22 What is the difference between infant baptism and infant dedication?11. 26:00 Even though baptism isn’t salvific, is there any harm in baptizing infants just as a blessing? And do some people believe infants can, in fact, have saving faith already? How can we respond to that claim?12. 30:53 What happens to infants when they die? Are baptized infants more likely to go to Heaven?13. 32:11 Refuting the most powerful argument commonly used to defend infant baptism14. 44:59 Should believers now who were baptized as an infant be re-baptized after truly coming to saving faith in Christ?15. 49:10 Is it correct to baptize “in the name of Jesus,” or “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”? And should a person be re-baptized if a different formula was used during their baptism?16. 53:56 Who can baptize people?17. 59:00 Closing thoughts
I did this interview 3 years ago on The Remnant Radio program. Here’s a link to their channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC31RZ-b3D1w452JLuzLVl4Q

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20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 38)

2021-06-26 BibleThinker 0

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 – Introduction1. 0:43 {Why does John and Other Passages Not Mention Repentance?} If repentance is required to be saved, why is it not mentioned in the Gospel of John and other evangelical texts like Acts 16: 31 and Romans 10? Can repentance be somewhat synonymous with belief?2. 10:41 {About Orthodox Beliefs} What do Orthodox Christians believe vs. Protestants? Is their doctrine as problematic as Catholic doctrine? (I heard Hank Hanegraaf converted to it.)3. 15:43 {About the Greek in Bible Translations} Pastors often say, “what the Greek REALLY says is…” Why don’t translators use the Greek that pastors cite in sermons then? (Like how Peter is akin to pebble but is translated as rock.)4. 19:41 {Explanation of Ezekiel 14 – Prophets} In Ezekiel 14:9 it says if a prophet is deceived, it’s the Lord who deceived him. Could you offer some explanation to this verse, as it seems out of character for God?5. 25:38 {About Saving Faith in the OT} Romans 4 tells us that Abraham was saved because of his faith. He believed in God. How can we say that just because he was saved that way, everyone else in the OT was saved that way? Also, if they were saved that way, why did they have to sacrifice lambs? And if people were always saved by just believing in God, why was it necessary for Christ to come?6. 31:15 {Fruit of the Spirit – Longsuffering} Could you please explain what longsuffering means, in regard to the fruit of the Spirit?7. 32:40 {Is All of Scripture Inspired?} When Paul says, “I say, not the Lord but I…” in 1 Corinthians 7: 12, does that mean that portion of Scripture was not inspired? 8. 36:12 {Assurance of God’s Love & Salvation} Does God really love me, and am I really saved? I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but I am still sinful and I struggle with sin. However, it seems that God answers my prayers. Am I really saved?9. 39:47 {Has Mankind always only had One Spirit?} What are your views that God only created one spirit and gave it to Adam which was then passed through generations? This explains how God doesn’t create an impure spirit at birth, or generational curse.10. 42:44 {About Witnessing and Exemplifying Christ} My husband isn’t open to hearing me speak truth, so I have stopped correcting him. Is this a sin?? If he dies, he will go to hell.11. 45:00 {Promises vs. Prophecies} Is there a difference between a promise and a prophecy? Are all God’s promises prophecies? Am I responsible if a prophecy told about me doesn’t come to pass? A church leader told me these things.12. 47:54 {How to Be Kind when it’s Difficult} What specific actions can one who has no empathy do to be kind? (Thinking 1 Corinthians 13 “kind.”)13. 50:27 {Help with Marital Conflict} I feel led by God to homeschool my teens. My husband disagrees. He doesn’t want them to be sheltered. I want to submit, but I’m conflicted. Thoughts?14. 53:13 {“Free Grace” Theology, Faith, & Works} Free grace theology says that “save” in James 2: 14 means from physical death or harm. All uses of the word “save” in James 2: 14 are in the context of physical harm, so why is this different for you in 2: 14?15. 57:31 {When is Kissing Sinful?} Is all kinds of romantic kissing outside of marriage a sin? Could a Christian actor/actress do a kissing scene?16. 1:00:28 {Do Jew. & Gent. Christians Worship Together?} I’m an ethnically Jewish Christian and have seen that some believe that Jewish & Gentile Christians worship together, but with different lifestyle callings. This has been stressful. Input?17. 1:03:25 {Did God Promote Adultery in Genesis?} In Genesis 38:7-10, Someone was commanded to lay with his brother’s wife and impregnate her. He didn’t impregnate her, and the Lord struck him down. Is G

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The Jewishness of Passover Refutes Transubstantiation

2021-06-21 BibleThinker 0

After this interview I was thinking about the possibility of other examples where Jesus uses a present physical object in a purely symbolic sense and I think we do have some. When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well He told her that she should ask Him for water, and while there was physical water present the real point Jesus is making is that she needs non-physical water which is representative of new life in the Holy Spirit. Jesus also manifested bread for the crowd but told them that this was food that perishes and they need food that gives everlasting life. He goes on to show that this food is belief in Jesus. Even in the favorite passage for those who promote transubstantiation (John 6) Jesus adds the clarity/commentary that the flesh profits nothing and the Spirit gives life. This is not merely saying the word “spirit” means “symbolism”; rather it is saying that “spirit” is not “flesh” and cannot be interpreted to mean “my physical body being eaten by you”. A whole lot more can and should be said about all this but I hope that the above answer will be seen as offering strong support simply for the fact that the Jewish context of the Last Supper is such that we should conclude symbolic meaning in the act and not transubstantiation.
This is just one question from a long interview I did for the moderators of the r/Bible subreddit. They asked their subreddit to send me a bunch of questions and I spent a lot of time preparing so that I would be able to offer the best answers I could. I’ll be posting these answers as individual videos so keep an eye out for the rest in the set.
I’m Mike Winger and my goal is to help you learn to think biblically about everything!
 

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20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 37)

2021-06-18 BibleThinker 0

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:0:00 – Introduction1. 0:11 {About the “5-Fold Ministry”} Have you heard of the “5-Fold Ministry” way of thinking about apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers exercising those gifts today? And if so, what are your thoughts about it?2. 12:40 {When does Competition become Unbiblical?} The Bible stresses the importance of unity within the body of Christ. When does competition among believers (even seemingly friendly competition – games, sports, etc.) become unhealthy?3. 16:21 {What is “Fundamental Christianity”?} Can you define “Fundamental Christianity” for me? Recently I’ve been seeing it referred to as a negative thing. Is it?4. 20:48 {Why do Animals Die or Become Extinct?} If “the wages of sin is death,” why do animals die? (My question also involves the extinction of the dinosaurs – why would God create them to be exterminated?)5. 26:51 {Using the Morality Argument} If using the morality argument, how would you respond to an unbeliever that uses the objection that morality is subjective and there is no real objective right or wrong?6. 32:30 {About Feeling Angry toward God} When someone is angry at God, are they able to bring that to God, or do they wait until they are not angry and then go to God? Do we have to be 100% before talking with God, as to not disrespect Him?7. 38:55 {About John 15 – Bearing Fruit} What do you think of the view that states that in John 15, Jesus actually said in Greek that those who don’t bear fruit are lifted up instead of cut off? Is this us practicing bad Greek?8. 42:45 {About Gratitude in the Midst of Hardship} When I was an atheist, I got depressed and actually planned to end my life to escape all its struggles. I now know God exists, but I can’t be grateful for being created. How do I repent from that?9. 47:23 {Should Prayer be a Dialogue or Monologue?} About prayer, I’ve heard many people say that praying to God should be more of a dialogue than a monologue. Isn’t the Lord’s Prayer spoken by Jesus a monologue? How should we pray then?10. 50:19 {About Leaving a Church} Is it necessary to ask your church to remove your name from its records if you are leaving due to false teaching/beliefs? I wonder if that’s what God means when He says “come out of her.”11. 53:24 {About 1 Kings 13} In 1 Kings 13, what are we supposed to learn from this passage? It seems as though the prophet lied to the man of God, tricking him so that he wouldn’t stay the course. Why lead him into this trap?12. 1:02:44 {About the 1st Resurrection – Revelation} Will all believers partake of the first resurrection, or only those who have been beheaded in the name of Christ? Revelation 20:413. 1:04:59 {About Matthew 27 – Holy People Raised} Can you please explain Matthew 27: 51-53? Hoping to get some clarity about the holy people raised to life. Where did they go? Did they die again?14. 1:09:19 {About “Divine Simplicity”} Do you believe in divine simplicity? If so, how do you reconcile it with the Trinity?15. 1:11:40 {Did the Covid Mandates Involve a Spiritual Battle?} A lot of believers seemed to believe the Church was being persecuted by being required to wear masks, meet in smaller groups, etc. Was a spiritual battle being waged in the Covid mandates?16. 1:13:51 {About being Used by God in our Lives} I see others being used by God, and I want to be used too. Because of this, I often struggle with envy, jealousy, & comparison. How would you encourage & help me grow past this sin?17. 1:18:27 {About the Death of our Pets} My cat died this week. Where did he go?18. 1:22:03 {How Should we Study Other Religions?} Do you have any recommendations for studying other religions and how to approach others with the intention to evangelize?

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I Had to Vote on a Medical Ethics Committee on Whether to Pull the Plug

2021-06-17 BibleThinker 0

For anyone who finds this video too short… here’s my much longer video on the topic of suicide. https://youtu.be/T6nlUhWJe00
Please share your thoughts (hopefully in a gracious manner) in the comments below. These are tough topics. Do you think I’m right about seeing suicide and euthanasia as fundamentally different situations from having a DNR or pulling the plug on life support under certain dire conditions?

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Should you be baptized in a church you don’t agree with?

2021-06-16 BibleThinker 0

This is just one question from a long interview I did for the moderators of the r/Bible subreddit. They asked their subreddit to send me a bunch of questions and I spent a lot of time preparing so that I would be able to offer the best answers I could. I’ll be posting these answers as individual videos so keep an eye out for the rest in the set.
 

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Jesus’ Cross Defended Historically and Theologically: The Mark Series pt 64 (15:15-39)

2021-06-14 BibleThinker 0

On one side we have skeptics who want to easily dismiss much of the biblical account of Jesus’ crucifixion. On the other side we have “progressive Christian” teachers who want to take away essential theological truths about the meaning of the cross of Christ. I’m tackling all of that today. I find it genuinely intimidating to be speaking on the topic of the death of our Lord, since I don’t know how any man could do true justice to the glory and horror of the cross, but I pray that God uses this to bless you and draw you closer to Him.
This is part 64 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 14:53-72.

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20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 36)

2021-06-11 BibleThinker 0

0:00 – Introduction1. 0:10 {Regrets about Not Sharing the Gospel} My father recently died, and I don’t think he was a true Christian. I’ve been a Christian for 7 months and I didn’t share the Gospel with him. Would things have gone differently if I did?2. 7:03 {Witnessing to Mormon Family Members} I’m a Christian who is married to a non-practicing Mormon who still bases his beliefs on LDS doctrine. I think I want to go into apologetics (largely inspired by you), but I don’t think my husband will approve. I also feel called to evangelize my Mormon in-laws, but I struggle to get past their feelings-based testimony and their beliefs about who Jesus is and salvation. Any advice on my apologetic aspirations in my specific circumstances, and on the best way to surmount these LDS hurdles?3. 12:45 {How do we Meditate on Scripture?} I was wondering: how do you remember Scripture? I will read in the morning, and by the time night/the next day comes, I forget what I read. I know we’re to meditate on it, but how do we do this?4. 15:26 {How to Pray for our Leaders} I find it very difficult to pray for the current administration. I know they need it desperately. How do I overcome this struggle?5. 19:06 {Is “Deliverance” for Today?} Is deliverance for today? Should we be praying for each other to be set free from demonic bondage in our lives, along with seeking medical assistance and counseling where needed?6. 25:51 {About Pastor/Elder Qualifications} How literally should we follow the “qualifications” for pastors/elders in 1 Timothy and Titus?7. 31:10 {Can a Christian Marry a Non-Christian?} Is it OK for a Christian to marry a non-Christian like a Buddhist, atheist, or Muslim? And what if they already have children? How would you counsel the Christian?8. 35:07 {About Married Couples in Heaven} Does Luke 20: 27-36 teach that people who are married on Earth won’t be married anymore in Heaven? I feel sad that my husband and I might not be together still in Heaven.9. 39:20 {About the Lord’s Supper during Covid} In my church, holy communion is postponed because of the measures surrounding Covid. Drinking from one cup is not possible. To justify this, they use Joshua 5:1-8. Is this biblical reasoning?10. 45:06 {Will God Understand if I Hide my Faith?} I’m an ex-Muslim who became a Christian in 2020 and I have secretly been Christian but I still have to do Muslim practices. Will God understand that I have to keep it a secret?11. 50:49 {Can we Truly Feel God’s Presence?} Todd Friel (Wretched Radio) said “The Bible doesn’t teach that we can feel God’s presence” and the “warm fuzzies” are only an emotional response when our minds receive biblical truth. Is this true?12. 57:28 {Can we Compare Jesus & the Tree of Life?} What’s your view on the comparison between Jesus and the Tree of Life? It came to me in a dream, and I googled it and found that it was exclusively an Orthodox belief.13. 59:50 {What did Paul Do before his Missionary Work?} 11 years went by from the time Paul was saved ‘til his first missionary journey – I always thought it was only a few months. What did Paul do during those 11 years other than fasting and praying?14. 1:00:34 {Are a Person’s Days Determined?} Job 14:5 says a person’s days are determined, yet in Isaiah 38, God extends Hezekiah’s life. It almost seems that with enough prayer & faith, we can persuade God to change His mind. Thoughts?15. 1:04:32 {Will we receive Glorified Bodies AND Minds?} We know that we will eventually gain glorified bodies, but what about glorified minds? Will someone who suffers from a mental disorder (like Down’s Syndrome) be “healed”?16. 1:07:00 {Encouragement when we feel Empty} I struggle with emotional emptiness, abandonment issues, & having low self-

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Is it too late for me?

2021-06-10 BibleThinker 0

This clip is taken from my weekly Q&A video, which happens live at 1pm pacific time on Fridays.
Several people reached out to tell me this particular answer was helpful to them so I decided to cut it out and make it into it’s own video in the hopes that it would bless you.

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How I Respond to King James Only Christians

2021-06-09 BibleThinker 0

You may be interested in my 3 part video series on what the original manuscripts of the Bible really say and how reliable our modern translations are. You can watch it here for only $29.99! Just kidding, all my stuff is free. Here it is! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WclIZwBFhq0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuzJhPtmrgqpVoXhjvqiIjWThis is just one question from a long interview I did for the moderators of the r/Bible subreddit. They asked their subreddit to send me a bunch of questions and I spent a lot of time preparing so that I would be able to offer the best answers I could. I’ll be posting these answers as individual videos so keep an eye out for the rest in the set.