The Brown Bible

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 »
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Ken Brown | October 3, 2009

“Righteousness” basically means “rightness.” The earliest English versions of the Bible used the word, “rightwiseness.” When Romans speaks of one’s righteousness, or rightness, it refers to one’s rightness before God. It is the condition of being before God as one ought to be. This is not a side note when it comes to right believing. What constitutes being right before God, and why, is as fundamental as it gets.

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, The Gift of Righteousness Series | 4 Comments »
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Ken Brown | September 26, 2009

The key to maintaining the unity of the spirit is not to endeavor to become more like one another. It is to continually recognize that our differences are relatively insignificant compared to what we share.

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, Biblical Considerations Series | No Comments »
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Ken Brown | September 19, 2009

Tithing (paying one tenth) is based on the Old Testament law which we are no longer under. But what about today in this administration of grace in which we live?

Believers can certainly give one tenth of their incomes if they want to and even correctly call it their tithes since “a tenth part” is all the word “tithe” means, but there is no commandment in effect today to do so. Giving is encouraged in the New Testament, but there is no statement as to how much.

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, Biblical Considerations Series | 2 Comments »
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Ken Brown | April 20, 2009

Are there two “natures” alive and well in each child of God, an old sin “nature” and a new Godly “nature”, each actively pulling the believer one direction or the other? E. W. Bullinger (1837-1913) thought so, though the other great “E. W.,” E. W. Kenyon (1867-1948) disagreed. (See pages 153 and following of The Father and His Family.)

Category: 01) By Ken Brown, The Gift of Righteousness Series | 1 Comment »
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