I was born, baptized, and raised in the Eastern Orthodox faith. However, within the past year, I have become convinced of believers'-only baptism. I have also come to disbelieve apostolic succession and now hold that the local church is an independent body whose officers should be pastor and deacon, as in the churches of the New Testament.

Also, I have moved from the part of my state where there were several Orthodox churches, to a very rural place where there are none. So, even if I could...

I place thread in this forum rather than the political forum so that biblical principles may be explored rather than the debate over the politics.

Member of the Gospel Coalition author Thabiti Anyabwile, popular author and pastor wrote:
How might we define “reparations” in principle? I would define reparations as “material and social repayment made as acknowledgement and restitution by an offending party to an aggrieved party for wrong(s) done in order to repair the injuries, losses and/or...

After watching the first day of the so called Impeachment of Trump, I can only say this: If that is all the Dems have, President Trump has nothing to lose sleep over.

But that is my view. What is yours? Answer the questions, and please feel free to leave your thoughts, views and opinions!

The belief in free will has a major effect on how we understand scripture. This becomes obvious when a free will believer interprets the same verse of scripture differently from a non-free will believer. As an example, Jesus said “whoever believes has eternal life”. The free will believer assumes Jesus means whoever chooses to believe has eternal life. But the other assumes Jesus means believing is a trait or characteristic of those whom God saves. As in “where there is smoke there is fire”....

Similar to the Gospels, Acts is a narrative account of events told by a third party. It is not didactic* in nature like the Epistles. That does not mean that Acts is devoid of theology. We learn a lot about God in its pages. We learn the following in Acts:

Christ's ascension and the promise of His visible return (1:9-11).
Saul (Paul) was commissioned by Christ (9:1-19).
The Gospel was commanded to be proclaimed to all people (Acts 10; 11:18).

While there is much to learn from the Book of...

I need some help identifying where I sit in terms of Baptist doctrine.

I have been spending my free time debating apologetics, bible, and doctrine for a year on an apologetical Facebook group. My views on doctrine have changed as a result, as I have delved deeper and deeper into the Word. I want to know where I am on the Baptist spectrum of doctrine. I think I am now in line with independent fundamental Baptists, but I'm not sure. My old SBC church was definitely unhappy with my current...

If good works are a sign of genuine faith, then "how many" good works are needed? (Or, how much good works do we need to show for, to say that our faith is genuine?)

Good afternoon, my dear ones. The past week has been very stressful, and I would like some legitimate advice. My sister is currently 19, and a year ago she ran away after she decided that she didn't want to follow my Dad's rules. Keep in mind, my Dad spent his whole life taking care of our mother on her deathbed and raising us to the best of his abilities. He's been through a very hard time to say the least. She has a confirmed mental disability that puts her at the maturity level of a...

James MacDonald was a featured speaker at SBC Pastors’ Conferences 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and had been scheduled to speak again in 2019.

MacDonald declared "biblically unqualified" to lead Harvest church
disruptive....combative....reckless
insulting, belittling and verbally bullying others
extravagant spending utilizing church resources resulting in personal benefit
misrepresented gifts paid for by the church as gifts from him personally
etc.

Yes, it absolutely is.
Explain to me what He meant in John 3:5 - if not Baptism.

I have already explained this in the article I presented. Is Baptism Part of Salvation?

John 3:5 is clearly talking about your physical birth. Verse four makes this clear. Nicodemus wants to know if we are supposed to go back to the womb. Jesus explains no, both water (womb) and spirit. This has nothing to do with baptism in any stretch of the imagination.