The Brown Bible

Ken Brown | July 24, 2010

I was listening to a preacher on the radio this week who was extolling the virtues of doing the many good works we as Christians are called to perform. I had no problem with his message up to that point, but then just as a brief side note, he commented that these works are how we gain God’s favor. Really? I thought I already had God’s favor.

Unfortunately, many Christians are unaware of how much God is already on their side so to speak. They think they must do something to gain (and/or keep) His favor, His willingness to act on their behalf. They sometimes even go so far as to play “Let’s Make a Deal” with the Creator of the universe. They tell God that if He will do such and such for them, then they will do this or that or will never again do whatever. Where does such thinking come from?

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, The Gift of Righteousness Series | No Comments »
Tags: Bible, charis, charitoo, Christianity, forgiveness of sins, God's favor, grace, Heaveny Father's love, Lord Jesus Christ, make a deal, redemption, religion, righteousness

Ken Brown | June 26, 2010

Elijah built an alter out of stone, placed wood and a sacrifice on it, drenched it with water (12 barrels), and then prayed that God would answer by fire. God’s response is recorded in 1 Kings 18:38. “Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” How hot would this “fire” have to have been, and what was it?

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, Biblical Considerations Series | No Comments »
Tags: 1 Kings 18, Bible, Christianity, Elijah, fire of the Lord, lightning, melting point of sandstone, religion, sandstone, trust, Word of the Lord

Ken Brown | June 24, 2010

I have been reading articles on a number of web sites on the topic of the relation between faith and reason. There were many assertions along the lines of the two being opposite and incompatible. There were statements that faith hinders the search for truth, being contrary to scientific inquiry and that one can maintain faith only by abandoning reason etc. Really?
Proponents of these views must scratch their heads a bit regarding Sir Isaac Newton, commonly referred to as “the father of modern science.” Sir Newton was a “man of faith,” a dedicated believer. He once attributed all of his scientific discovery to “the working of the holy spirit.” He wrote a complete chronology of the Old Testament. (That takes some serious dedication.) He revised it 17 times. He very closely compared church doctrines of his day with the written Word of God, accepting most doctrines but rejecting those that he considered to be, in his words, “repugnant to reason.” Obviously, Sir Newton had no problem embracing both faith and reason.

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, 99) Other Topics, Biblical Considerations Series | No Comments »
Tags: 1 Corinthians 2:14, belief, Bible, Christianity, faith, faith and reason, Isaac Newton, leap of faith, miracles, pisteuo, pistis, reason, religion, take it on faith

Ken Brown | May 12, 2010

Many Christians have stumbled over the wording in Acts 8:22. The translation as it occurs in the vast majority of English versions indicates that when believers go to God to ask for His forgiveness for some particular sin, He might forgive them and might not. This contradicts every other New Testament verse on this subject as it pertains to the grace administration in which we live.

Acts 8: 22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. [King James Version]

What is the story here?

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, The Gift of Righteousness Series | No Comments »
Tags: 1 John1:9, 1-John, Acts 8:22, aphiemi, Bible, Christian, Christianity, ei, forgive, forgiveness, forgiveness of sins, if perhaps, religion, righteous, righteousness

Ken Brown | April 23, 2010

In our posting, “Is Death a Friend?” I asserted as per 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15 that the dead in Christ are dead and will remain so until Jesus Christ returns to raise them from the dead. I was asked to consider that the parable of Lazarus and the rich man indicates otherwise. I am going to address this, but first let me say that my heart goes out to those who wrestle with this topic emotionally. I know it is difficult. I empathize with this, but cannot fully relate, having never believed that those who have fallen asleep in Christ are really awake and are already enjoying eternal bliss. To me it is more comforting to know that my parents are not watching me, but for them the moment of Christ’s return will be as though it were the next moment after their deaths. It also strikes me as a matter of supreme justice that we all arrive at the same time. No one is advantaged more than anyone else. Here is the parable:

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, 21) How to Research the Bible, Biblical Considerations Series | 1 Comment »
Tags: Abraham, Bible, Christianity, extended similes, God, God's Word, heaven, hell, Jesus, lazarus, life after death, men ought always to pray, Moses, parable, parables, Pharisees, prodigal son, prophets, punishment, religion, resurrection, rewards, the law, the rich man, tradition, unjust judge

Ken Brown | April 21, 2010

I attended a seminar this past weekend on 1 John. Though I was disappointed by the lack of documentation given for various assertions, there was one little tidbit that was a probable answer to something I have stumbled over for many years. 1 John 1:5 says God is light.

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

A mere two verses later we read:

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If God is light, why does it say He is in the light? Our God is the prime deal. He isn’t just within the light shown from somewhere else.

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, The Gift of Righteousness Series | No Comments »
Tags: 1 John 1:7, 1 John 1;5, 1-John, Bible, Christianity, God is in the light, God is light, Light, religion

Ken Brown | April 2, 2010

“Everyone has the right to his own opinion.” We hear this line used from time to time, and in certain contexts I don’t disagree. But is it always true? Has anyone ever verbally maligned you, lying about you or about your friends or family? What was your response? Were you angry, hurt, or disgusted because “no-one has the right to talk about me or my family that way”? Or were you complacent, acknowledging “every one has the right to his own opinion”? Each of these quoted statements has a valid basis. It depends on what “right” we are talking about.

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, Biblical Considerations Series, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Tags: Bible, Bill of Rights, Christianity, legal right, moral right, opinion, religion, right, rights

Ken Brown | March 8, 2010

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626), a famed British author and philosopher has been often quoted, “Death is a friend of ours; and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home.”

Many modern Christian leaders also claim that for believers, death is a friend. The following was lifted from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) website:

“What is death? For the Christian death is a friend rather than an enemy. It is another step on the pathway to heaven rather than a leap into some dark unknown.”

These words from Billy Graham were no doubt meant to be comforting. They do not, however, express the view given by the Apostle Paul by divine revelation.

1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, Biblical Considerations Series | 1 Comment »
Tags: Bible, Billy Graham, Christianity, death, enemy, friend, precious in the sight of the Lord, religion, resurrection, Sir Francis Bacon

Ken Brown | February 27, 2010

A participant on our site recently e-mailed me a question. He wanted to know if one could lose his salvation. He correctly identified scriptures that show that salvation once gained cannot be lost, but was concerned that he might be wrong. I empathised with his concern. There can hardly be a more crucial quetion for a believer to have answered. He wondered why so many churches teach that salvation can be lost.

There are quite a number of ways to show from the Scriptures that one cannot lose his salvation. Presenting all of them would make this a very long article. I’ll just approach a few, and then discuss reasons why a number of churches teach otherwise. Let’s start with a passage in 1 John.

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, Biblical Considerations Series | 1 Comment »
Tags: Bible, Christianity, eternal salvation, gift of salvation, religion, salvation