Tag: Bible

Don’t mistake winning an argument for winning a soul

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

DAVID INGRAM

If you’ve spent much time defending the Christian faith online or in person, you’ve probably noticed a familiar pattern. It has become so common that it’s almost predictable.

Someone confidently declares, “There is no God.”

When you ask them to support that claim, the response is often, “The burden of proof is on you because you’re the one who believes God exists.”

At first, that may sound reasonable. But think carefully about what has happened.

The statement, “God exists,” is a claim. The statement, “God does not exist,” is also a claim. Both are assertions about reality. The only position that avoids making a claim is, “I don’t know.”

A common mistake in reasoning is to assume that only one side has a burden of proof. This is known as shifting the burden of proof. It occurs when someone makes an assertion but insists that only the other person is responsible for providing evidence. If a person claims there is no God, they have made a claim just as surely as the person who says there is a God. Neither side should be exempt from defending what they affirm.

As Christians, we should never be embarrassed to acknowledge that we are saved by faith given as a gift from God so that no one may boast. To be clear: I believe the Bible tells us that our faith is not something we manufacture on our own or that stems from our own ability to understand.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8-9

We do not hide our faith because it is God’s gift, not our achievement.

What should concern us is when someone confidently declares there is no God while insisting they owe no explanation for that conclusion. That is not skepticism. It is simply another belief being asserted without defense.

Yet even this is not the heart of the matter.

Christians can become so absorbed in debating logical fallacies that we forget why the conversation matters in the first place. We begin treating apologetics as though our mission is to outthink the unbeliever.

It isn’t.

The deepest reason people reject Christ is rarely intellectual. Scripture says the problem is spiritual.

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” (Psalm 14:1)

Notice that Scripture does not say the fool has examined all the evidence and reached an unavoidable conclusion. The issue begins in the heart.

Paul explains that humanity already has sufficient knowledge of God through His creation, yet suppresses that truth.

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them… So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him.”
— Romans 1:19-21

The Bible teaches that unbelief is not caused by a lack of information. It is a suppression of truth. Sin affects not only what we desire but also how we think.

This does not mean every objection to Christianity is dishonest. People often have sincere questions that deserve thoughtful answers. We should always be prepared to give a reason for the hope within us, doing so “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

But we should never imagine that the right argument alone can produce saving faith.

Paul wrote,

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:18

And again,

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him… because they are spiritually discerned.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:14

No one is argued into the Kingdom apart from the work of the Holy Spirit.

That should change the way we engage unbelievers.

Yes, expose faulty reasoning when it appears. Correct logical fallacies when necessary. Defend the truth faithfully. But do not mistake exposing an error in logic for addressing the real issue. A person can lose every argument and still reject Christ. Another can ask difficult questions and, by God’s grace, come to faith.

Our confidence should never rest in our ability to corner someone intellectually. Scripture warns us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

Don’t work so hard to open the door of human reason that you neglect the door only the Holy Spirit can open.

Winning an argument is not the mission.

Leading people to the Savior is.

Fasting as a spiritual choice

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

JEFF TURNER

Fasting can mean different things to different people. Some see it as a way to lose weight, while others give it a spiritual focus, such as giving up movies or time on the internet. The New Testament mentions fasting only a few times, which sometimes leaves people unsure if it is required for believers.

In Matthew 6, Jesus speaks about fasting and says, “when you fast,” which raises the question of whether fasting is mandatory. In the Bible, only one fast in Judaism was required; all other fasts were voluntary. I believe the New Testament continues this idea, showing that fasting is a choice for those who follow Jesus rather than a command.

Fasting is often connected to prayer, especially in moments of deep need or intense spiritual concern. When a believer is focused on serious prayer, fasting naturally supports that effort by helping remove distractions. The rare practice of fasting can reflect a lack of deep, committed prayer in a believer’s life. Ultimately, I believe fasting is meant to be a voluntary act that complements heartfelt prayer and devotion.

While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 13:2

The elect remnant then and now

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

JOHN COPIC

First Peter chapter two teaches that Christ is the living Stone. He was rejected by men but chosen by God and precious. Those who believe in Him are also called living stones. They are being built into a spiritual house. This house is not made of brick or wood. It is made of people who trust in Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone.

The Bible says that believers are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s own special people. These words come from the Old Testament. In Book of Hosea, God told the prophet to marry a woman who had lived in sin. This marriage was a picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness. Some of Hosea’s children were given names that meant “no mercy” and “not my people.” These names showed that judgment was coming because of sin. Yet the same book promises that one day those who were called “not my people” would be called “sons of the living God.” Mercy would be shown again.

Peter uses this promise to describe the church. Those who once were not a people have now become the people of God. Those who had not received mercy have now received mercy through Christ. The church is the new Israel of God, but this does not mean Israel has been replaced. The true remnant of Israel, those who believe in Christ, are brought into the church. They lose nothing by trusting in Jesus. Instead, they gain the full blessing of the new covenant. Both Jewish and Gentile believers are united under one Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. As Romans chapters 9 to 11 explain, God has always preserved a remnant according to grace.

Not everyone believes. Some stumble over Christ. Isaiah 6 speaks of people who hear but do not understand and see but do not perceive. This passage is quoted many times in the New Testament. Even Jesus referred to it in Matthew 13 when He explained why many did not grasp His message. Their hearts were hard. They refused to turn and be healed.

This leads to the serious subject of reprobation. The Bible teaches both election and reprobation. Before the foundation of the world, God chose a people for Himself. Others were left in their sin. All humanity fell in Adam. Because of this fall, no one seeks God on their own. Salvation is by grace alone. Abraham himself was justified by faith, not by works, as shown in Romans 4.

Reprobation does not mean that God forces innocent people to sin. All are already sinners in Adam. God may leave people in their sin, and at times He may harden them as an act of judgment. Pharaoh is an example. In Exodus 4:21, God said He would harden Pharaoh’s heart. Pharaoh also hardened his own heart. In the end, God was glorified through both mercy and justice.

There are several truths to remember. First, election and reprobation are secret decrees. We do not know who the elect are until they believe. As long as a person lives, there is hope. The gospel must be preached to all. God uses the message of Christ to bring His people to faith. Dead sinners cannot give themselves life, but the Holy Spirit can make them alive.

Second, no one who truly desires Christ will be turned away. The call of the gospel is real. People are told to repent and believe. Those who come do so because God has worked in their hearts. Those who remain in unbelief choose their sin and will answer for it.

Believers today are part of one holy nation. They are priests who offer spiritual sacrifices. They proclaim the praises of the One who called them out of darkness into light. Once they were rebels without mercy. Now they belong to God.

Salvation is not earned. It is a gift of grace. God will be glorified in showing mercy to His people and in judging sin with justice.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Ephesians 2:8

A thought about AI

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

DON HEBERT

As I write this, artificial intelligence is changing the world. It has been compared to the printing press, electricity, and the smartphone in terms of its impact. Whether you notice it or not, AI is already part of daily life through search engines, social media, smart devices, and digital assistants. If these systems suddenly stopped working, a lot of modern society would slow down or even stop.

Although we may think of AI as machines doing the thinking for us, AI doesn’t understand. It can process data, predict patterns, and generate responses based on information created by people. Think of it this way. If I said, “Good morning ladies and…” and stopped right there, you would know I was most likely going to say, “… ladies and gentlemen.” AI does something similar. It can look at thousands of sentences that began the same way as the sentence in my example and determine the next word was gentlemen. Today’s most advanced tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, and Copilot, are often called large language models. They are powerful prediction systems, not living minds, meaning, they can be used to streamline research or see the sum of what others have said about a topic. Some pastors even use it in writing their sermons. AI brings both promise and concern.

For Christians, a question of concern is not about what AI can do, but what it may do to our understanding of ourselves. The Bible begins by teaching that human beings are made in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26–28, people are described as bearing God’s likeness and given responsibility over creation. In Genesis 2:7, God breathes life into humanity. This means human life is not mechanical. It is personal and spiritual. No machine shares this breath of life. Because of this, I’m skeptical of any Christian writing that is written solely by AI. A computer may reflect the inspiration in a human’s writings, but it has no inspiration.

In this changing age, technology can be useful. Yet it must remain a tool, not a master. Our calling remains steady: to worship God, love others, and live as people made in His image.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10

Understanding the unforgivable sin

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

JEFF TURNER

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks about forgiveness and warns about a sin that will not be forgiven. This has raised concern and questions for many readers. The warning focuses on what is called blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and what it meant in its original setting. What is it? I can only tell you what I understand the Bible to say. Let’s start with some background.

This sin took place during the time when Jesus lived and taught in Israel. The people involved were not hearing stories passed down over time. They were seeing events with their own eyes. They listened to Jesus speak, watched how he lived, and saw the power shown through him. During his ministry, sickness was driven away across the land. This happened in an age without medical cures or clear diagnoses. The events pointed to a power that could not be explained by human means.

Jesus explained that everything he did was carried out by the power of the Holy Spirit. He chose to obey the will of the Father and relied on the Spirit while living among people. This was part of his mission and how God’s work was shown through him.

Some people who witnessed these acts refused to accept what they saw. Instead of recognizing God’s work, they claimed that Jesus was acting by the power of the devil. By doing this, they did not simply doubt or misunderstand. They took the work of the Holy Spirit and said it came from Satan. Jesus said this was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and that it could not be forgiven.

The heart of this sin was a full rejection of the truth about who Jesus is. The people involved decided that he was not sent by God but was working for evil. This was not said in ignorance. It was a settled judgment made while clear evidence stood in front of them.

Consider, forgiveness is found through accepting Jesus Christ. To reject him is to turn away from the only path God has provided for forgiveness. Salvation does not come through other means. If someone refuses Christ, forgiveness is not possible, because the offer of grace has been rejected.

This teaching is not meant to trap people in fear. It explains the seriousness of rejecting what God has made known.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” — John 3:36