The Unforgiving Servant was a parable Jesus told that might be easily misunderstood if one does not realize that it has a spiritual application. Note that this page is also a supporting page for the glossary definitions of the words “hell,” “mercy,” “punishment” and “torment.” The parable of the unforgiving servant, Matthew 18:23-35, ends with […]
Hell, as described in the Bible, is a place only for people worse than myself, right? Or is it a place at all? We should know what the Bible says about hell. This is critical in relation to the character of God because the common concept of hell is a place where God sends people […]
What is sanctification? Is it even required of me? Why would I want it? Sanctification has been described as both being set apart for a holy use and as becoming holy, more God-like. A major difference between the two gospel models is how the sanctification process works and how God regards us through the process. […]
Is the chastening of the Lord the same as the chastening man would do? Traditional Legal Model – God personally chastens, in whatever way He deems necessary, to prevent man from sinning. The chastening of the Lord is distinct from punishment in that it is remedial rather than simply retributive. Biblical Healing Model – chastening involves God […]
The definition of repentance. Repentance is something that happens in a person’s mind. It can be shallow or deep; surface or heartfelt. What is Biblical repentance and where does it fit within those ranges? Traditional Legal Model – Sorrow for sinful deeds done with the expectation or hope of then being free from punishment. Biblical […]
What is the Gospel? The gospel needs to be correctly understood in spite of the almost universal confusion over it. Here is a definition consistent with the character of God. Traditional Legal Model: The good news of the kingdom of God including that God would send His Son to pay the penalty for sin so […]
Propitiation is very misunderstood in Christianity. God does not need to be appeased by requiring payment of penalties for sin. Traditional Legal Model: – the satisfaction of God’s wrath and justice by the death of His Son Who died in our place to pay the penalty we deserved. Biblical Healing Model: – the symbolic place […]
Righteousness can be challenging to define as there are a wide variety of thoughts on righteousness as reflected by one of this site’s contributors: “This is one of the most misunderstood and vague terms in all of religion. It is usually thought of as related to “good” behavior or treating people right. That idea is […]
The Second Death is equated with the experience of the lost in the figurative Lake of Fire. That Second Death is experienced by all who have rejected salvation and is a death from which there will be no resurrection. It is commonly understood and stated that Jesus died so that we don’t have to. Of […]
What is the Second Death? The Bible speaks of the second death (it is mentioned 4 times in the book of Revelation. While the first death is common in the Bible the phrase “first death” never actually appears (in the KJV). So what is the second death? The Second Death is just that – a […]
