Fearless Study of the Controversial Stuff

When we pray and earnestly seek God's truth as He placed it, there is no question that it is too difficult, no topic too controversial.

We dive fearlessly into Scripture, sorting through the passages that challenge us, confuse us, or even make us uncomfortable. 

When we rightly divide as God tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15, we can let God speak.  The bible is of no private interpretation.  It's the living Word and Mind of God. 

This is not a place for arguments or shortcuts—every topic is examined prayerfully, carefully, and in the light of God’s Word.

Whether you’re wrestling with tough doctrines, misunderstood passages, or debates in the Church, this is a safe place to explore, learn, and grow. Remember, bold study must always be paired with humility, respect, and a heart that seeks God’s truth above all.

Many people have a strong understanding of the bible but they are applying the wrong ministry to their lives. 

Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash

Topics

1. Is water baptism necessary for salvation?

Water baptism under the Law was meant to prepare Israel to become a nation of priests. Today, when we place our trust in Christ, we are baptised by the Holy Spirit and sealed until the day of redemption (Eph 1:13–14). There is now one faith, one Lord, and one spiritual baptism (Eph 4:5). Adding water baptism can be a stumbling block, as it attempts to duplicate the one baptism God already gives, which is unnecessary in the age of grace.

2. Is tithing for us today?

Tithing was part of Israel’s covenant under the Law (Mal 3:8–10). In the Church today, we are called to give generously and cheerfully, according to what God puts in our hearts, not by a fixed percentage (2 Cor 9:7). Giving is an act of worship, blessing others, and supporting God’s work, but it is not required for salvation.

3. Is communion expected of us today?

The Lord’s Supper was instituted for Israel under the Kingdom program. In that context, it was a solemn act of remembrance, and to partake unworthily was an abomination (1 Cor 11:27–29). Today, the Church is spiritually nourished by Christ Himself through the Holy Spirit, and communion is a tradition, not a requirement. Observing it can be meaningful, but it is not part of salvation or grace in our age.

4. Can we lose salvation?

Salvation is eternal and secured by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone. When we trust Him, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Eph 1:13) and are kept by God’s power (Eph 4:30). Our behaviour may affect rewards and inheritance, but the gift of salvation itself cannot be lost. Growing in faith, prayer, and study strengthens our walk, but our eternal security rests entirely in Christ.

5. Is there an unforgivable sin that applies to our age of grace today?

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matt 12:31–32) applied to Israel under the Kingdom program. In this age of grace, all sins are forgiven through Christ. As Paul writes, we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God’s grace (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14). There is no unforgivable sin for those in the Church today—God’s mercy extends to all who trust in Christ.

6. Why does God allow bad things to happen?

The world is fallen and under sin.  Free will chose to do wrong. God wants true love.  (Rom 8:20–22), and trials often refine our faith (James 1:2–4). God permits hardships to teach, correct, and draw us closer to Him. Though we may not always understand, His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9), and nothing happens outside His sovereign will.

7. Why is Paul’s twofold ministry overlooked?

Most churches are unaware of the right division of Scripture (Acts 28:28; Ephesians 3:1–6) and the distinction between Paul’s ministry to Israel and his ministry to the Church. Understanding this distinction clarifies why God’s plan for the Church today differs from His plan for Israel under the Kingdom.

Paul calls this truth a mystery—God’s hidden wisdom, hidden before the foundation of the world (Eph 3:9). To many, it still remains a mystery. Yet when Paul’s prison epistles are studied in their proper context, God’s wisdom becomes clear, faith is strengthened, and confusion is removed.

If Christ appointed Paul the prisoner as the apostle to the Gentiles in this age of grace, then our doctrine must come from Paul’s writings after Acts 28:28, when he became the prisoner of Jesus Christ for us Gentiles. This is where instruction for the Church, the Body of Christ, is found today.