Is The Bible Only Prohibiting Homosexual Behavior That Involves Forced Rape?

Matthew Vines is a popular speaker and author who has advocated the position that is not sinful for a Christian to be a practicing homosexual. He claims in his book, God, and the Gay Christian, as a tenet of his main thesis that the Bible teaches that the passages that seemingly teach that homosexuality is sinful are passages that are actually referring to those people who are rapists who have forced themselves upon others sexually. That is the illicit type of behavior that is condemned according to Vines. It is not forbidden, according to Vines, for two homosexuals to participate in a consensual, “loving” relationship as he would term it. Is Vines correct?

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Does A Homosexual Who Wants To Repent Who Was Involved In A Homosexual Marriage Need To Divorce?

Even though the SCOTUS ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States now considers homosexual "marriages" as legal as of June 2015, they are not recognized as true marriages in the eyes of God. God defined marriage as between one male and one female for life (Genesis 2:22-24) from the beginning of creation.

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Why Are Other Gospels Not Included In The New Testament Canon?

Through the years there have been claims that other "gospels" were reportedly found (such as the Gospel of Thomas, Phillip, Mary, etc.). You can find a list of these books on www.earlychristianwritings.com. Why are these not included in our New Testaments along with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?

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Can A Person Be Taught Wrong, Yet Immersed Scripturally?

John the Immerser taught the people that they must repent of their sins - one of the conditions of receiving the remission of sins (Matthew 3:1,2; Luke 3:7-14). In Matthew 3:7-9, John the Immerser refused to immerse some people. Why?

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Is Sprinkling or Pouring Baptism?
SalvationJoey FerrellBaptism
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What Does The Church of The Firstborn Mean?

Hebrews 12:22-24 states: "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel."

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ChurchJoey FerrellHebrews
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Why Is There A Distinction Made In John 1:17?

John 1:17 states: "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

It is important to understand what this verse does not teach. Some have taught erroneously from this verse that the Old Testament never had an ounce of grace in it and that the New Testament does not have an ounce of law in it. This is not true at all!

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Does Matthew 18:20 Exempt Christians From Attending The Regular Worship Assembly?

Some Christians quote Matthew 18:20 to try to justify their practice of going out on Sunday to fish, golf, attend travel ball or perform some other recreational activity, missing the first-day-of-the-week assembly and simply holding their "own services" since two or three are gathered. Many verses like this are abused in like manner (such as, Matthew 7:1 where people claim that you cannot judge (see our Question in the Q & A- Is It A Sin To Judge?).

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What Is The Baptism of Fire?

John the Immerser, who served as the forerunner of the Messiah, said in Matthew 3:11, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." What is the baptism of fire?

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Joey FerrellHell, Luke, Matthew
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Is Giving An Authorized And Mandatory Activity of Worship?

For something to be authorized means that it must be Divinely sanctioned (Colossians 3:17). For something to be mandatory means that it is something that must be done. Does giving financial means to the Lord's work fall under both categories? Is it authorized and mandatory?
It is certainly authorized to give of one's financial resources to the Lord's work as we see throughout the Scriptures some examples of the church of Christ giving on various occasions (Acts 4:34-36; 6:1-7; 20:35) to help those who were in need. But is it also mandatory to give of one's financial resources?

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Can A Person Live In Adultery/Fornication?

Some false teachers have proposed that a person cannot live in the state of adultery/fornication. The Bible teaches otherwise

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Where Is The Sinner's Prayer Found In The Bible?

It is found nowhere in the Bible.

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Prayer, SalvationJoey Ferrell
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What Must Christians Do In Relationship To Islam? Print Friendly and PDF
What Is Speaking In Tongues?

There are a number of differences between what the Bible teaches and what denominations claim constitutes "speaking in tongues". In studying Acts 2:1-4, 6-11, 43; 10:44-47; 11:15-17; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 29-30; 13:8; 14:5, 22, 26-28, 33, 40 - a person concludes that the New Testament indicates that speaking in tongues...

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Should The Lord's Supper Be Transported To The Sick?

This question cannot be answered with a "yes" or "no" as will be explained. Transporting the Lord's Supper to sick Christians who are unable to attend worship is an issue that will have to be reserved for every congregation of the Lord's church to decide.

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How Are People Baptized By One Spirit Into One Body?

1 Corinthians 12:13 states: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit."

The immersion mentioned here is an immersion that results in people being placed into the body of Christ. The body of Christ is the church of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). Which immersion results in people being placed into the body of Christ - the immersion in the Holy Spirit or water immersion?

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What Does Jesus Mean By I Came Not To Destroy The Law, But To Fulfill It? Print Friendly and PDF
Should Snake Handling Be Practiced In Worship Today?
Miracles, WorshipJoey FerrellActs, Mark
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Is A Non-Christian Saved When He/She Is Married To A Christian?

"But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?"

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Is The Predestination of Calvinism True? Print Friendly and PDF