Restitutio

What does the bible say about hell? Though many Christians believe hell is where the wicked suffer eternal conscious torment, this view contradicts dozens of scriptures about the fate of the wicked. In this masterful presentation, hell expert, Edward Fudge, works through not only the bible, but also intertestamental literature and church history to show the original view of hell and how it changed...

This is part 14 of the One God Over All class . After a brief sketch of one God believers throughout time, we’ll consider how well positioned we are today to publish this truth. We may be few, but we are mighty, motivated, and making a difference! Additionally, we’ll consider a few important questions like (1) How can unitarianism be right if most Christians are trinitarian? (2) Should...

This is part 13 of the One God Over All class . What happened in the fourth century? You've probably heard all kinds of rumors about Arius of Alexandria and his newfangled heresy. But, was Arius really a sinful outsider who tried to corrupt Christianity? Was his idea of a Son with a beginning even new? In this episode we'll cover an outline of the major events that happened in the controversy that...

This is part 12 of the One God Over All class . If the entire bible clearly and repeatedly teaches that there is one supreme God who is over all and that Jesus is his subordinate son, then surely we should find evidence of this idea in the historical writings of Christians after the New Testament period. Within the four broad strands of Christianity in the second and third centuries, three of them...

This is part 11 of the One God Over All class . Who or what is the spirit of God? It won't do to read later tradition back into the scriptures. Rather, we need to see how the bible itself talks about the holy spirit. To get at that answer we'll take a look at a couple of bible dictionaries along with dozens of texts. Next we'll explore how the spirit solves the problem of a God who is both transce...

This is part 10 of the One God Over All class . We've looked at Jesus' identity as Messiah, his relationship to God throughout his ministry, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. Repeatedly we've asked the question, if Jesus is not the one God over all, then how should we interpret him? Today we delve into his exaltation and priestly ministry in heaven. We'll explore a little about what it means...

This is part 9 of the One God Over All class . If Jesus is not the one God over all, then how should we interpret his death and resurrection? How does his death pay for our sins? What does the resurrection tell us about Jesus? Unlike medieval Christianity that taught God the Son united himself to impersonal human nature, the bible portrays a whole person, a second Adam, who died for our sins. When...

This is part 8 of the One God Over All class . Does the bible call Jesus God? If so, how many times? This seems like such a straightforward question, but it's pretty hard to answer. We'll examine three types of texts in which Jesus might be called God, including those with manuscript issues, translation issues, and interpretation issues. In each case we'll see that, in fact, the text in question d...

This is part 7 of the One God Over All class . In the bible we encounter a strange phenomenon. Sometimes beings other than Yahweh are called Gods. How can we square that with monotheism–the idea that the Father is the only true God? Although most Christians are aware that the bible calls Jesus God a couple of times, most have never noticed that the scriptures also use the term for Moses, ang...

This is part 6 of the One God Over All class . The bible routinely recognizes the subordination of the Son to his Father. Throughout his ministry on earth, Jesus repeatedly and unapologetically taught, "The Father is greater than I" (John 14.28). Further, after his exaltation, Jesus remains dependent on the Father as his superior (1 Cor 11.3). Then, even once the age to come arrives, the Son will...

This is part 5 of the One God Over All class . Last time we looked at what Jesus taught about God. Although this class is called "One God Over All," it's also important for us to talk about Jesus. If the Father alone is the one God over all, then what does that mean about Jesus? Who is he? We're going to take the next few sessions to explore what the bible teaches about Jesus. Today our focus is o...

This is part 4 of the One God Over All class . Today we enter the New Testament and ask the question, “What did Jesus believe about God?” After all, whatever Jesus said on the matter is primary for us as Christ-followers, right? As it turns out, Jesus not only believed the Shema , but strongly endorsed it as his core understanding of what’s most important! Furthermore, he repeate...

This is part 3 of the One God Over All class . Yahweh is particularly sensitive about fidelity.  He wants his people to be solely devoted to him; he’s not content to share them with other gods. Century after century, when Israel strayed from him, Yahweh sent prophets to confront his people.  Eventually, he could not abide their treachery and he took drastic measures, removing them from the l...

This is part 2 of the One God Over All class . This class is all about who God is. That Yahweh is our God and that Yahweh is one are truths we must take to heart if we want to think biblically about God. Today we'll continue our march through the Hebrew Bible, stopping to see how God reveals himself through his ten commandments, the golden calf incident, and the Shema creed. Although the Shema tea...

Today we are starting a brand new class called "One God Over All!"  My plan is to work through scripture to build a biblical theology of the one true God and his Son, Jesus the Messiah. This class will cover both texts supporting God's exclusive oneness as well as misunderstood verses that seem to teach otherwise.  Additionally, we will briefly explore how Christian theology developed from the New...

Have you heard about the upcoming Unitarian Christian Alliance conference (or as I like to call it, UCA-con)?  It's going to happen next month from October 15-17.  My guest today is Dr. Dale Tuggy, the chairman of the board of the UCA.  Listen in as he discusses what's on the docket for our inaugural UCA conference as well as a teaser for what he will be saying about John 1 in his presentation.  (...

When was the last time you heard a sermon about singleness?  Married people have lots of sermons, classes, books, and conferences dedicated to them, but singles are largely ignored.  Today, Matthew Elton, himself a single millennial, shares what Jesus and Paul have to teach us about the incredible advantages of singleness for God's people.  Far from second class citizens, singles have much to offe...

Nearly a year ago, I interviewed Pastor Jeff Deuble from Sydney, Australia about his journey of discovering the genuine Jesus of the first century.  At the close of that interview, he mentioned that he had written a book that makes a case for his understanding of the biblical Christ.  Well, I’m happy to say that this book is now available, published by Living Hope International Ministries. ...

How should those of us committed to a biblical sexual ethic treat those who are same-sex attracted or who identify as the opposite sex?  In our polarized world, it seems like only two options are available to us: (1) we accept, approve, and celebrate LGBT+ lifestyles or (2) we deny, denigrate, and dismiss them.  Either we reject scripture or reject love.  Surely, there must be a better way.  Can w...

This is the third and final part of our series on conditional immortality with Warren Prestidge.    Although most Christians today believe hell is a place where the dammed suffer eternal conscious torment, the bible teaches that the lost will perish.  For example, the most famous verse in the bible says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him wou...

 Last time Warren Prestidge walked us through a case for conditional immortality.  Today, we'll delve into some of the key texts that proponents of natural immortality employ to make their case, including these four texts: Luke 23.43; John 14.2-3; 2 Corinthians 5.8; and Philippians 1.23.  In each case, Prestidge appeals to the context of the passage and basic logic to make his case.  If you've eve...

What happens when you die?  This is such a big question for all of us.  Do we go somewhere like heaven or hell? Do we stay on earth as a disembodied spirit?  Or are we unconscious? My guest today is Warren Prestidge of New Zealand, who contends that we should embrace the biblical language of the sleep of the dead.  The idea--often called conditional immortality--is that immortality is not automati...

This is the last episode of our class, Why Christianity.  We've covered so many different reasons why Christianity is attractive, makes sense, and is worthy of our attention.  We've looked at scientific, logical, epistemological, social, psychological, and historical reasons for God's existence, Christ's resurrection, and the gospel's effectiveness.  Today, we consider three stories of changed liv...

Although many throughout the Western world are quick to criticize Christianity, Jesus remains well-liked.  In fact, one of the most obvious answers to the question, “Why Christianity?” is “Jesus.”  To this day, reading the Gospels  draws the reader to Jesus’ magnetic and compelling way of life.  What’s more, the less satisfied we are with our own society, the mo...

Community is so important.  As so many continue to struggle with the ache of loneliness, anxiety about social encounters, and the gnawing pain of depression, we who belong to Christian communities have a huge opportunity and obligation to invite outsiders in, provide them a taste of God’s goodness, and welcome them with a spirit of genuine hospitality.  However, as soon as you begin reaching...