Articles in Category: Doctrine

Seeing the old year out and the new year in

Seeing the old year out and the new year in by Reg Wright

Seeing the old year out and the new year in

This time of the year is a festive season, with Christmas just passed and preparations for New Years’ eve celebrations next on the minds of many.

1st January 2018 starts a brand new year. The calendar is the time keeper for what we do in life. The calendar determines for us – those who use the Gregorian calendar - when we see the old year out, and the new year in.

But do we ever stop to give consideration as to how time began? For the Christian, whose foundation of belief is the Bible, we believe God created time.

It is Unmistakably the Season of Christmas.

It is Unmistakably the Season of  Christmas. by Reg Wright

It is Unmistakably the Season of  Christmas.

Have you been looking forward to the Christmas Season with all the Christmas cheer this time of the year brings – Christmas light displays, Christmas songs in all the stores and shops or maybe the carols by candlelight? Would you be interested to learn more about the true meaning of Christmas? My wife and I some fifty years ago made the decision not to observe Christmas. Does this surprise you? We were raised in Christian families and Christmas had been a part of our religious celebration but we had taken for granted that Jesus Christ – our Lord and Saviour – was actually in Christmas.

The Miracles of Jesus – A Foretaste of God’s Coming Kingdom

The Miracles of Jesus – A Foretaste of God’s Coming Kingdom by Roger Waite

The Miracles of Jesus – A Foretaste of God’s Coming Kingdom

Even those who are not Christians know of the many wonderful miracles performed by Jesus Christ throughout His human ministry which are recorded in the Bible. However, how many understand that these remarkable good deeds – which were too numerous for all to be recorded – demonstrate the kind of world He will lead as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in the coming Kingdom of God?

The first harvest

The first harvest by Bill Bradford

The first harvest

The children of Israel were unaware of the greater meaning of these feasts of the Lord. To them the meaning was the representation of the harvests, and it would remind them of the blessings God would bestow on them in the harvest. Are you aware of the First Harvest in God’s plan of salvation for all humanity?

Scripture cannot be broken

Scripture cannot be broken by Bill Bradford

Scripture cannot be broken

The word of God is the same from Gen 1:1 to Rev 22:21. This is God’s story from beginning to end and it’s kind of hard to imagine that God, being God, changed things around and departed from his original plan. However people will read into it what they want, to give them the answers they want to hear.

There is a danger of not knowing the Word of God. How well do you know the God’s truth?

The only message by which we can be saved

The only message by which we can be saved by Bill Bradford

The only message by which we can be saved

When God sent Jesus Christ with the gospel message offering salvation, it was such a message that few could bring themselves to believe it. It was a message that could only be brought by Jesus Christ, the Son of God. No one else could bring such a message. Are you as excited about the gospel message as the first day you heard it?

The Trinity Theory or baptism?

The Trinity Theory or baptism? by Matt Sieff

The Trinity Theory or baptism?

Matthew 28:19 says "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". This verse can be a source of confusion as there are some who teach that the verse advocates the Theory of the Trinity. Does Matthew 28:19 support the Trinity Theory or baptism?

In search for extra terrestrial life

In search for extra terrestrial life by Bill Bradford

It is not a new endeavour for humanity to be curious about the possibility of finding and making contact with intelligent life in the universe. Stephen Hawking, teaming up with Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, has renewed interest in this search. However, you may not be aware that there is a group that has already made contact with intelligent life in our universe.

Wonderful lessons from the Passover season

Wonderful lessons from the Passover season by Roger Waite

Wonderful lessons from the Passover season

God's Holy Days have rich meaning reminding us each of the major steps in God's great plan to save all of mankind and bring us into His great Family. As the Passover and Unleavened Bread festivals draw near it is good to reflect on the meaning of the wonderful Passover season.

Near-death experiences

Near-death experiences by Reg Wright

Near-death experiences

Many have used personal near death experiences or stories of near death experiences to confirm their belief that there is life after death -- that when a person dies he or she either goes to heaven or hell. But is this really what the bible teaches? How should we understand these accounts of near death experiences?

Beyond these perilous times

Beyond these perilous times by Reg Wright

Beyond these perilous times

We join all Australians in extending our sympathy, our concern, support and prayers for the families and friends of those innocent hostages killed in the Lindt Cafe siege. Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones in these tragic circumstances.

In times like these we can draw great strength and comfort in the reality of God's promises in the Scriptures.

The Feast of Ingathering

The Feast of Ingathering by Roger Waite

The Feast of Ingathering

Most people are unaware that God has given us seven holy festivals to celebrate throughout the year. Mainstream christianity keeps festivals such as christmas and easter which were never celebrated by those names until centuries after Jesus Christ had lived and died. In fact Jesus and the apostles in the decades following the crucifixion didnot keep christmas or easter but kept the holy festivals commanded by God. What do you know about these holy festivals in particular the Feast of Ingathering?

A fast commanded by God

A fast commanded by God by Reg Wright

A fast commanded by God

This past Saturday was a spiritually uplifting but physical challenging day. Why, you may ask. Not only was it a weekly Sabbath but also an annual Sabbath of God – the Day or Atonement. Did you know we are commanded to fast on the Day of Atonement?

Our world held captive

Our world held captive by Reg Wright

Our world held captive

Our world is indeed a paradox – on the one hand there is tremendous good, but on the other there is tremendous evil. With all our wonderful progress, the world is in perhaps the biggest mess it has ever been in human history. It is held captive. But a time is coming when it will be freed from this captivity.

The Feast of Trumpets: A turning point in history

The Feast of Trumpets: A turning point in history by Ken Murray

The Feast of Trumpets: A turning point in history

Today is the Feast of Trumpets. Why is the Feast of Trumpets so valuable to you personally, and for all humankind?

Did God ever command us to observe a Holy Day about trumpets and their significance to God's plan? Why do we call this Holy Day the Feast of Trumpets?

Jesus Christ and the thief

Jesus Christ and the thief by Ken Murray

Jesus Christ and the thief

Did the thief on the cross and Jesus Christ go to heaven the same day they died?

In most cases translators and publishers of the Bible have done an admirable job but this is one case where their doctrinal bias has regrettably obscured the meaning of Christ's words.

Could a simply misplaced coma conceal the true meaning of Christ words?

Is polygamy acceptable to God?

Is polygamy acceptable to God? by Ken Murray

Is polygamy acceptable to God?

Is Polygamy sin? Does God command one thing but allow sin through polygamy?

While polygamy was practised by some of the Patriarchs and was permitted by the oriental culture and civil laws of their times, it clearly was not the ideal marital relationship blessed and approved by God. It is not even an acceptable practice in many modern cultures that permit casual living together and easy-to-obtain divorce.

God speaks and commands clearly against polygamy.

The drought is finally broken!

by Matt Sieff

The drought is finally broken!

Last Wednesday night was an evening of great relief and excitement for New South Welshmen.

The NSW State of Origin team had a breakthrough which some have attributed to their unified defence. Sport experts tell us games are won by how well a team stands together against the opposition's attack.

When we rightly respond to God's power - His Holy Spirit – we "play" on the same spiritual team.

But what does that unified response look like?

Do you have an immortal soul?

Do you have an immortal soul? by Roger Waite

Do you have an immortal soul?

If you believe you have an immortal soul, could you prove it from the Bible?i

Do we have an immortal soul that separates from the body at death? Is there a spirit part of us that continues to have a conscious existence as soon as we die?

What does the Bible really say about this important subject?

War and rumours of wars

War and rumours of wars by Bill Bradford

War and rumours of wars

The failed Gallipoli campaign cost Australia 10,000 lives and left a legacy of Australian and New Zealand's sacrifice in war. In all, Australia lost 100,000 of it's finest in World War 1, only 13 years after it became a Federation. Who knows what might have been without this enormous loss?

ANZAC Day doesn't glorify war. It remembers those who have given so much, but it brings us back to a fact of life. WHAT IS THE REAL CAUSE OF WAR?

 

The Passover and unleavened bread reveals steps to salvation

The Passover and unleavened bread reveals steps to salvation by Bill Bradford

The Passover and unleavened bread reveals steps to salvation

Last week I wrote about how physical observances help us to understand the depths of God's spiritual plan of salvation. It is important to really understand God's plan of salvation as pictured in the Holy Day seasons, so I would like to continue our journey and discuss some astounding truths.

The first Holy Day season, Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is special in that it reveals and describes the two major steps a person must experience to attain eternal life.

Why do some Christians eat fish on Good Friday?

Why do some Christians eat fish on Good Friday? by Roger Waite

Why do some Christians eat fish on Good Friday?

When I was young my mother was always insistent that on Good Friday we would have fish and chips for dinner that night. When I questioned her and asked her why, her answer was that Jesus didn't eat meat on Good Friday and so we eat fish to commemorate that.

Do you know where this tradition of eating fish on Friday originated?

The power of the Passover

We need forgiveness of sin more than we need anything else. The power of the Passover by Bill Bradford

The power of the Passover

The man knew it was to be soon. The results of His teachings and works astounded people at the beginning. But, slowly, things began to change. The storm clouds were brewing. At the beginning He was popular, new, refreshing. Lame people walked at His Word. Lepers were cleansed, the blind were able to see for the first time, loved ones were raised from their deathbeds, and good news was declared to them as it came from God.

When Jesus came on the scene He preached a message of hope and deliverance.

What is the real purpose of living by God’s laws? – Part 4

What is the real purpose of living by God’s laws? – Part 4 by Ken Murray

What is the real purpose of living by God’s laws? – Part 4

This is the fourth and final part of a series of blogs about the purpose of God's law.
In this blogs I consider 3 more purposes of living by God's wonderful laws.
* God's Laws were given for us in order to prevent sin.
* Keeping God's Laws saves us from being ashamed.
* God's Law has the purpose of showing us what is right and wrong - reward or failure.

What's the purpose of God's law?

What's the purpose of God's law? by Ken Murray

What's the purpose of God's law?

A common misconception today in the world of Christianity is that you don't need to live by God's Commandments in order to be a Christian.

One of the cunning arguments used to baffle people is that you can't earn salvation by law-keeping.

But, did God give His Ten Commandments, His statute laws regarding God's Sabbath, Holy Days, eating clean meats and not unclean meats, tithing, and many other laws, principles and precepts of how to live, for us to earn salvation?

What is the real PURPOSE of living by God's many wonderful laws?