Faith and the Spirit’s Leading

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Steve Husting

What is faith?

A definition is in order. What is faith? If faith means to believe something without proof, as many claim, then how is it different from blind faith? What I find funny is that those who dislike faith because it believes without proof, believe in this definition of faith – without proof!

The word faith appears many times in the Bible in the New Testament, which was written in Greek. If we turn to a Greek scholar’s work, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words and look up faith, we find it is the word pistis, which means “primarily, firm persuasion (akin to peitho, to persuade), a conviction based upon hearing, is used in the N.T. always of faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual.”

To have faith means to have a firm conviction about something. How one comes to faith is not in the meaning of the word. One may have faith based on a wide variety of evidence, or not; the proof is not part of the semantic meaning of the word. The meaning of faith is centered on the persuasion you have, not on how you arrived by that persuasion, or even what you believe in.

Those who say that (true) faith is blind or that it means to believe something against all reason are wrong. Religious faith is based on a Greek word with a real definition found in a Greek dictionary which derives its meaning from the N.T. context in which it appears. Faith means to be persuaded of something. (The only biblically sound reason for faith to mean something different is when it’s said to be “the faith,” in which case it is talking about the Christian life and doctrine in general.)

If you strongly insist (have a firm conviction, have faith) that faith means to believe something in spite of the facts, then your personal faith is real, but based on false information.

A wrong meaning of faith will result in wrong practices and a wrong understanding of the Scriptures in which the word appears. Continue reading →

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Evolution vs. Creation: Collision of Two Worldviews

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Steve Husting

Neither creation nor macro-evolution have physical proof for their positions. Rather, each party looks at the scientific data from their own perspective and looks for evidence to support it. For instance, the people who are convinced that macroevolution has occurred look at all the fossils unearthed over the centuries and concludes, “Well, since we all evolved, then these invertebrates probably evolved one after the other and the vertebrates branched off and evolved their own way. All these bird-like creatures evolved in order and the mammals branched off and evolved, splitting up more and more, based on the similarities among them.” The evidence is plain.

Those who believe God created each kind of creature by itself, seeing the same data the evolutionist sees, concludes, “All fossilize skeletons are full and complete. All parts needed to be a living creature are all accounted for. There are no in-betweens. These skeletons illustrate the biblical account, that God formed each animal according to its kind. They did not evolve but were created as is.” The evidence is plain.

Same data; same science; different viewpoints Continue reading →

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Book Review: When the Storm Hits

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Steve Husting

When the Storm Hits
by Chuck Smith
Copyright 2013 The Word for Today
http://www.twft.com

What do we do when the storm hits; how are we to react when the troubles come?
This book reminded me of several perspectives regarding our trials that I had forgotten. God has a purpose for our trials that Christless people cannot share in. Our trials will not overwhelm us when we see them through God’s eyes. Here are just a few thoughts that were prompted by the pages of this worthwhile book by the late Chuck Smith, who pastored the Calvary Chapel church in Costa Mesa, CA.

Continue reading →

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Why macro-evolution doesn’t make sense

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Steve Husting

One major barrier against the gradual evolution of relatively simple organisms into complex ones rests on the organism’s inability to understand its environment and adapt to it.

For instance, how could a blind organism understand that color is produced by light waves reflected by or absorbed by objects, and correctly deduce that it must create an eye composed of rods and cones to capture these rays and correctly interpret them? How could a blind organism know that light could be too bright or too dark and create a pupil which dilates and contracts to monitor the correct amount of light?  It just doesn’t make sense that something blind and primitive could instinctively understand that color is seen according to an object reflecting certain invisible wavelengths of light. Continue reading →

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Paralyzed When Making New Year’s Resolutions?

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Steve Husting

A centurion came to Jesus and told Him, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” Have you felt paralyzed at home lately? You have decisions to make, but feel too frozen to move? You have things to do, but can’t get going? You are tormented by things nagging in your mind, but can’t find the energy or will to do them? It’s like a sickness in you that you can’t heal. Continue reading →

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Modern Family: Talking to the Camera

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Steve Husting

The TV sit-com Modern Family integrates a technique used in reality shows such as Survivor and Master Chef in which the contestants talk candidly about themselves on camera away from the others. The Office also used this means to comedic effect, and it was a staple of the series. Continue reading →

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Book Review: The Question That Never Goes Away, by Philip Yancey

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Steve Husting

“Why did God allow this to happen?” “Why didn’t God protect us?” “Why doesn’t a good God stop this evil?” These are all variations of the question that recurs — that never goes away —  in the aftermath of any great and not-so-great tragedy. “Where is God when it hurts?”

While exploring the question, Philip takes us on trips to some of the saddest places on earth, including Japan following the tsunami, Sarajevo and the ‘ethnic cleansing,’ the child killings at Newtown and Sandy Hook. The question has only slight variations in these places; in asking, the questioner instinctively assumes that God is a good God.

Philip’s hardest task comes when trying to find words to answer the question in a way that would comfort the hearers who have suffered loss. Going from place to place to give talks on this subject, he advances several perspectives. One I remember most is when he asked the parents who lost a child in Newtown (my paraphrase), “Now experiencing the worst pain a parent could feel, where everything seems so empty and lost, and your spirit crushed, how many of you would rather never have experienced the joy of having your child at all?” None of the people raised their hands; though their pain is most unbearable, the joy beforehand was still worth it. Continue reading →

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Dying With Honor

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Steve Husting

The Bible is hard to understand in places. It’s also a thick book – who can remember it all? Therefore, many of us have ultra-simplified our theology, condensing it down to, “When I die, I go to heaven.” That’s simple and easy to remember. But its very simplicity is deceptive.

Consider Hebrews 12:2, for example: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Here, Jesus was not cowering under the shame of being on the cross, nor was He screaming for the pain and agony to end. Jesus on the cross is our example of how to accept the will of God and endure pain for Him (1 Peter 2:21). As a reward for His faithfulness to death, God set Him up on a throne to rule in the kingdom (Philippians 2:5-11). Continue reading →

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A Tale of Two Resurrections

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Steve Husting

When Paul made an argument for his faith in Acts 24:10-21, he affirmed his belief  that both the just and the unjust will be resurrected (24:15). What is the resurrection of the just and the unjust? When we encounter a doctrine in the Bible that isn’t well-developed in our minds, we may change the words a bit to make the verse fit our theology better. In the case of the resurrection of the just and the unjust, we may adapt it to our way of thinking by making it say, “the resurrection of the saved and the unsaved,” or “the resurrection of the believers and unbelievers.” (This makes us feel good about ourselves, too.)

We tell ourselves that Jesus saved us and imputed His righteousness to us, so we are among the “just,” which means righteous ones. Because we are saved, we Christians will surely be resurrected or raptured, and all the unbelievers left behind. I will touch more on this later.

If this thinking were true, then Paul’s next words would not make any sense: “I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (24:16). I used to take it for granted that because I am saved, I would make the first resurrection. But Paul saw two resurrections, not of the saved and unsaved, but of the just and unjust. They are not the same thing. “Just” does not mean “believer” or “saved.” Continue reading →

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“Once upon a time there was an Atheist”

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Steve Husting

Some atheists claim that the Bible is full of fairy tales that Christians have contrived in order to find order, purpose, and comfort in this life. But what about the fairy tales the atheists believe? And why do they think Christian beliefs are mere fables? Continue reading →

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“I Am A Catholic!”

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Steve Husting

“I am a Baptist.” “I am a Presbyterian.” Perhaps when spiritual conversation ebbs and flows around you, at one point the tide may bring you in, and all you can say is that you are a member of a denomination, or that your family has been of that denomination for years.

But when we appear before the Lord in Heaven, Jesus will not be asking us what denomination we belonged to. He will tell us to give an account of our lives to evaluate how we have responded to His Word. Obedience to His Word is high on His list of priorities for His people, so then how does our denomination come into play? Continue reading →

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“When I Die, I’ll Go to Heaven”

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Steve Husting

A lot of assumptions are found in this statement: “When I die, I’ll go to Heaven.” What’s missing? No mention is made of how you live from now until death, and no mention is made of the eternity-defining event between death and Heaven, Judgment Day. Our eternity will depend more on living than dying. The time between death and Heaven will focus on rendering a judgment on this life, which will determine our riches and honor for in Heaven. More problems with the phrase: where is Jesus and God in this?  Continue reading →

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Helpful Apologetics Resources

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

Skeptics are attacking the Bible on a wide variety of fronts. Thus, Christian apologetics (the defense of the faith) span many subjects, such as defending the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the accuracy of the Bible, and the truthfulness of biblical accounts. Christian apologetics defends the right use of science and philosophy. It exposes the destructive harmful consequences of a culture without God. If this book has whetted your appetite for more resources on defending or strengthening your faith, these Internet sites will expose you to a whole culture of people standing boldly for the Word of God.

BRANCHES OF SCIENCE

Access Research Network – information on science, technology, and society from an intelligent design perspective
arn.org

Answers in Genesis
answersingenesis.org

All About Archaeology
allaboutarchaeology.org

Biblical Archaeology Society
biblicalarchaeology.org

Biblical Archaeology
biblicalarcheology.net

Center for Science and Culture
discovery.org

Center for Science and Culture (CSC)
dissentfromdarwin.org

Discover Creation
http://www.discovercreation.org/

Evidence for God from Science
godandscience.org

NEW! Expelled – No Intelligence Allowed – video clips from the film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEvq4xIHmH4&feature=related

In the Beginning – Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood
creationscience.com/onlinebook/index.html

Origins – scholarly and popular resources concerning intelligent design and philosophical theism
origins.org

Institute for Creation Research – equips believers with evidences of the Bible’s accuracy
icr.org

New Geology
http://www.newgeology.us/

Wintery Knight
http://winteryknight.wordpress.com/

GENERAL

Apologetics – A reasoned defense of Christianity
4truth.net

Apologetics 315
http://apologetics315.blogspot.com/

Ankerberg Theological Research Institute
johnankerberg.com/index.html

Answers In Action (AIA)
answers.org

Apologetics Bible Study Guides
bcbsr.com/topics/apol.html

Apologetics Information Ministry (AIM)
apologeticsinfo.org

Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry (CARM) – examining religious systems from a biblical perspective
carm.org

Christian Answers Network – over 45,000 files
christiananswers.net

Christian Apologetics-types of Christian apologetics
wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_apologetics

Institute for Biblical Defense – training Christians to defend the Faith
biblicaldefense.org

Contender Ministries
contenderministries.org

Dr. Gary Habermas – Specializing in Resurrection-of-Jesus Research
garyhabermas.com

NEW! Dr. Gary Habermas on video
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Gary+Habermas

Faith Facts – using evidence and reason to promote Biblical Christianity
faithfacts.org

Alpha International Institute – free apologetics courses, Bible correspondence courses
apologeticscourses.com

All About God – a community of seekers, skeptics and believers
allaboutgod.com

Christian Research Institute – providing well-researched answers to equip believers to intelligently represent their faith
equip.org

Cross Examined
http://crossexamined.org/

Impact Apologetics – making the works of Dr. Norman L Geisler easily available
impactapologetics.com

Institute for Religious Research – resources for investigating today’s competing religious claims
irr.org

Phillip E. Johnson – links to online articles and columns
arn.org/authors/johnson.html

The official web site of the Josh McDowell Ministry
josh.org

NEW! Josh McDowell on video
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Josh+McDowell

King Messiah Project – Christian Apologetics
kingmessiahproject.com

Leadership University
leaderu.com

Lee Strobel – resource for apologetics
leestrobel.com

NEW! Lee Stobel on video
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Lee+Strobel

Manawatu Christian Apologetics Society (MCAS) – understanding and defending the Christian faith intellectually, through reasoned and informed discussion
manawatu.christian-apologetics.org

Probe Ministries
probe.org

Rational Christianity – answers to hard questions about Christianity and Bible difficulties
rationalchristianity.net

Reasonable Faith with William Lane Craig
reasonablefaith.org

NEW! Dr. William  Lane Craig on video
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=William+Lane+Craig

Renew Your Mind – information that will help you learn and teach the evidences for the Christian Faith
renewyourmind.org

Spiritual Counterfeits Project – confronting the occult, the cults, and the New Age movement and explaining why they are making an impact on our society
scp-inc.org

Stand to Reason – trains Christians to think more clearly about their faith and to make an even-handed defense for Christian values in the public square
str.org/site/PageServer

Tekton Apologetics Ministries – providing scholarly answers to serious questions
tektonics.org

The Academy of Christian Apologetics – to learn how to articulate and defend their faith in a way that stands up to intellectual criticism
hisdefense.org

The Center For Christian Apologetics – to declare and demonstrate the reasonableness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Bible upon which it is based
answers101.org

NEW! TruthBomb – book library includes apologetics resources
http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2009/07/free-apologetics-e-book-library.html

Walter Martin’s Religious InfoNet – to encourage and educate Christians to stand up for their faith.
waltermartin.org/index.html

The Contender – The Institute for Christian Apologetics
contender.org

Apologetics Press
apologeticspress.org

Christian Apologetics Blog Directory
apologetics315.blogspot.com

[short link to this page: http://wp.me/pgG8S-7w ]

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Doubt Busters: Answering the Questions that Challenge our Faith

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Steve Husting

“How can you prove that God exists?”
“Why did an angry God kill everyone at the Flood?”
“If God is all-powerful, why doesn’t he stop all suffering?”
“Why would the law put a child to death for hitting or cursing his parents?”

These age-old Bible difficulties have caused many people to question the Christian faith. They are tough questions, but they have solid, satisfying answers that can banish your doubts. In this section, Doubt Busters will answer these questions with a friendly, readable style using Bible passages, personal anecdotes, and analogies from nature. The author drew from his years of preaching and writing devotionals to write plainly and root his answers in the word of God.

Who should read this? Doubt Busters is perfect for those whose faith is being crippled by nagging doubts, for it gives plain yet full answers to perplexing Bible questions. It’s a terrific resource for those who want to share their faith, and want to answer the questions that come their way. It’s a great read for young people who are just starting to think about what their faith means to them.

This Doubt Busters online resource is also available in print, as an iPhone app, and on the Kindle as an ebook.

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Ready for a Reward

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Steve Husting

This immensely practical book answers many important questions related to the Judgment Seat of Christ, such as:

***What are the prerequisites for receiving the greatest rewards?

***Will Jesus judge us according to our works?

***Will God remember my sins after I die?

***Since I’m already saved, do I really need to worry about a time of judgment?

Continue reading →

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Living with the End in View, Book 2 (Paul on Faith)

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Steve Husting

How can you face the coming judgment with confidence, prepared to meet Christ?

If you are trusting in your works, that they are good enough, then you need this book. You’ll learn to cease depending on the flesh to find true power in the Spirit. You’ll turn from the Law to live by faith to gain the righteousness needed for a reward. You’ll stop trusting in your works and lean on God’s grace for a fuller salvation. Continue reading →

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Doubt Busters

Posted on June 15, 2008 by Steve Husting

“Why would the law put a child to death for hitting or cursing his parents?”

“Why did an angry God kill everyone at the Flood?”

“If God is all-powerful, why doesn’t he stop all suffering?”

These age-old difficulties have caused many people to question the Christian faith. They are tough questions, but they have solid, satisfying answers that can banish your doubts. Continue reading →

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Forgiving All

Posted on June 14, 2008 by Steve Husting

Continue reading →

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Following Christ

Posted on June 14, 2008 by Steve Husting

Continue reading →

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Taking the Opportunity

Posted on June 14, 2008 by Steve Husting

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Obeying the Lord

Posted on June 14, 2008 by Steve Husting

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Setting Heavenly Priorities

Posted on June 14, 2008 by Steve Husting

Living with the end in view involves
Setting Heavenly Priorities

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:19–21)

My wife stores her wedding dress in a custom box out of reach of our son’s prying hands. I keep my tools in several sturdy wooden drawers, and my artwork in a wooden storage area where they can stay flat.

In the verses above, Jesus gives us a choice of where we want to store our treasures. We may store them on earth, where they are subject to decay and theft. However, we may enjoy them only as long as we spend our lives here. Or we may store them in heaven, where they are not subject to destruction and can be enjoyed forever. Continue reading →

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