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22
Nov
2021

How Long Were The Israelites Really In Egypt?

Israelites In Egypt

How long were the Israelites in Egypt? Conventional wisdom says they were there for 400 years. The problem with conventional wisdom is that it’s not always correct. Does the Bible say the Israelites were in Egypt that long? No it doesn’t, except in that one place where it does. 

When God “cut a covenant” with Abraham in Genesis 15, God gave Abraham a glimpse into his offspring’s future. 

13 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 16 And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” (Gen. 15:13–16 ESV)

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Genesis, Misconceptions
15
Nov
2021

The Bizarre Story Of Abraham Cutting Animals In Half

In Genesis 15 we find Abram (later renamed Abraham) performing a really strange ritual involving cutting animals in half. This incident was in response to God reiterating His promise that Abram would become the father of offspring as numerous as the stars (Gen 15:5). God had made this promise years earlier, but so far had not made good on it. Abram is beginning to despair and is resigning himself to the possibility that his heir might end up being his servant Eliezer (Gen 15:2).

After being reassured, Abram took God at His word and believed the promise (Gen 15:6). This promise was not only about offspring, but also about a place where Abram’s descendants could call  home. God said that place would be the land where he now dwelt; the land of Canaan. Abram wanted to formalize this promise. He wanted it to be “official.” Therefore, God told Abram:

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Ancient Customs, Covenants, Genesis
08
Nov
2021

Who Was Melchizedek?

Melchizedek

Melchizedek is a very mysterious person in the Bible with a name that is equally mysterious to pronounce (mel-KIZ-uh-dek). He appears in Gen 14:18 with no introduction and he is mentioned only one other time in the Old Testament (Psa 110:4). The mystery surrounding him has led to a good deal of speculation. Some say he was the pre-incarnate Jesus due to passages in the book of Hebrews. Among the Jews there is a tradition that Melchizedek was Noah’s son, Shem.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Genesis
01
Nov
2021

Is Baptism A Part Of The Gospel?

part of the gospel

Strictly speaking, baptism is not part of the gospel. The good news, as the Bible defines it, is about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism isn’t included in the gospel itself. However, it is inextricably linked to the gospel. In every case of conversion in the book of Acts, once a person came to faith they were immediately baptized.  

Since baptism isn’t part of the gospel, if we teach that immersion is necessary to become a Christian, aren’t we guilty of the Galatian heresy? In Galatia, false teachers said the gospel wasn’t enough to save people. They taught that in addition to the gospel, those who wanted to be Christians had to also undergo circumcision and keep the law of Moses (Gal 5:2, Act 15:1, 5). Paul said this teaching perverts the gospel and is in fact no gospel at all (Gal 1:7 NIV).

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Baptism
25
Oct
2021

Is Baptism A Work?

baptism a work

Is baptism a work which results in salvation? The answer is an emphatic “YES!” Some of you are no doubt about to die of apoplexy after reading the last sentence. Please read on to see why I’d say this. 

Most Protestants denounce the idea of a works based salvation and they are right to take this position. In fact, there are no works or tasks that we can perform that will put God in debt to us. Simply put, there is nothing we can do on our own (including baptism) which will fix our sin problem. God had to fix this problem for us and it is the reason Jesus had to die (1 Tim 1:15, Heb 9:28). 

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Baptism