Articles | Limestone Church of Christ

May 17, 2015October 5, 2025

Salvation By Grace Through Faith in Christ

IS THAT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS?

Every serious Bible student understands that grace and faith are essential components in any discussion about salvation. The Bible is emphatic, using the word grace 128 times in the New Testament and words like faith and believe (from the same Greek word) in excess of 300 times.

Hear what Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

…by grace you have been saved … by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:5, 8-9)

May 10, 2015October 5, 2025

Vengeance in the Bible: “Eye for Eye”

IS THAT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS?

The scneario plays out every day, potentially millions of times every day. Someone does something nasty to another – what it is doesn’t matter, the same reaction will result whether it is serious or frivolous. The one who was wronged may articulate it clear and concise or may simply reserve the thought in his heart. When verbalized, it often comes out like this” “He’ll get his,” or “He’s gonna get what’s coming to him,” or “Vengeance is sweet,” or a variety of other sayinggs, some wwhich are unfit to repeat. It matters not what we call it; getting even, or payback, or retribution, or tit for tat; the end result is always the same – someone did something nasty to me, so I’m going to do something nasty to them.

May 3, 2015October 5, 2025

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

IS THAT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS?

As we have stressed, it is important when we read the Bible to set things into their context. Here are a few guidelines to help to help us set a verse in context:

Read at least 7 verses before and after, to give a 15 verse span. That is usually sufficient to set a verse in it’s literary context.
Who was the original recipient of the text? Make sure our understanding or application of the verse 1. doesn’t ignore its significance to them. Are we in a similar situation to the original recipient?
What are the historical circumstances surrounding the text? Noting this will sometimes help us see the limitation or scope of a verse.

April 26, 2015October 5, 2025

The Bible is Not Open To Our Private Interpretation

IS THAT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS?

Many potentially enlightening Bible discussions have been avoided by fluffing off differences as merely a matter of opinion. “You believe it your way, I believe it my way” is a sad but all too common Bible conversation closer. I recall one discussion when I had simply read a passage of Scripture, and before I could say anything about it, a hostile accusation was levied, “That’s your interpretation!” The person was not really interested in what the Bible said, let alone what I might have to say about it.

April 19, 2015October 5, 2025

When Two Or Three Gather Together In Jesus’ Name

IS THAT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS?

You’re going on vacation, but there is no faithful congregation of God’s people meeting anywhere near your destination of choice. You believe it is important to meet with Christians each Sunday for worship. So, what do you do?

choose a different vacation spot?
go to the desired location, but leave a day late or come back a day early so you can assemble with Christians on the Lord’s day?
just skip out on worship for the Sunday in question, and trust that God will understand? (NOTE – if this is your choice, know for certain that God understands. He understands that serving Him is NOT the most important thing in your life. Read Matthew 16:24-26, and consider your need to repent before it is too late).

April 12, 2015October 4, 2025

Don’t You Know Jesus Said, “Do Not Judge” (Matthew 7:1)?

IS THAT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS?

Has this ever happened to you? You share a few words with a friend, neighbour, family member, co-worker, or fellow Christian out of concern for their soul, and in return, you are accused of being judgmental, and from those who are mildly familiar with the Bible, you’re told that Jesus condemns judging another.

Check it out! Open up to Matthew 7:1 and read the words of Jesus. See? Jesus told us not to judge! Now, close your Bible. … I’m serious – close your Bible. Ok, is it closed? Good. Do you know why I asked you to close your Bible? It’s simple; that is what I’ve seen people do after quoting this verse to me. You read the verse, and then you close your Bible. Apparently that’s how this verse works.

April 5, 2015October 4, 2025

Understand the Bible Better: The Power of Words and Context

IS THAT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS?

“Inconceivable!” If you have seen the movie The Princess Bride, you recognize this as the word used repeatedly by Vizzini, a witty Sicilian criminal mastermind. After hearing his boss use it several times, the hired swordsman, Inigo Montoya declared, “You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what you think it means.” There have been times I’ve had the same thought about how folks use the Bible— “…I don’t think that verse means what you think it means.”

March 22, 2015October 9, 2025

Did Jesus Celebrate Holidays? – Do You Really Know Jesus?

Did Jesus keep the holidays? Absolutely, but His holidays (better described as holy days) were not the same as what people today keep. Born under the Law, Jesus observed the seven holy days as described in Leviticus 23:

Sabbath
Feast of Trumpets
Passover
Feast of Atonement
Feast of Firstfruits
Feast of Tabernacles
Pentecost

March 15, 2015October 9, 2025

Jesus will not reign on earth – Do You Really Know Jesus?

The teaching that Jesus will reign upon the earth for 1000 years is part of the Premillennial doctrine common to many denominational churches in today’s religious world. The teaching relies in large part on Revelation 20:1-7, which speaks of the devil being bound for 1,000 years, and the faithful of God living and reigning with Christ for the same period of time.

March 8, 2015October 9, 2025

The Humanity of Jesus Christ – Do You Really Know Jesus?

For many people in Jesus’ day, it was a challenge to accept His divinity. In fact, it was His claims to divine nature that caused the Pharisees to oppose Him so vehemently, even to the point of seeking His life. After Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, some who believed in Christ went to the opposite extreme—affirming that Jesus did not come in the flesh. The apostle John wrote: