Author

Author "john-oakes"

wrote in General, Practical Christianity, Q & A .

Question: Paul said in Romans chapter 7 that he wanted to do the right thing and yet he continued to do the wrong thing, even though  he knew is bad for him,  I feel torn between being a saint and a sinner…  I do not understand why God has planned it that way especially when […]

Read More

wrote in Anthropology, General, Philosophy, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: It is becoming a more and more accepted theory that humans have no ability to truly make “willful decisions.” Under this assumption, how can one come to salvation? Wouldn’t this render John 3:16 useless, because we cannot choose to believe in God?  I understand the argument that this just points to predestination, but as […]

Read More

wrote in General, Q & A .

Question: As we know God is infinite and eternal. Could there be several infinite and eternal Gods? Many thanks Answer: In principle, if we knew nothing about reality, and were simply asking the most basic question about how to explain the universe, I suppose if one were starting from scratch, with no assumptions, one could not […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: In Luke 3:3 it talks about John the Baptist preaching a baptism for the forgiveness of sins but Hebrews 9:22 mentions that the shedding of blood is needed for forgiveness of sins. How was the forgiveness of sins available for John’s baptisms without Jesus dying yet?  Thanks! Any input would be appreciated. Answer: A […]

Read More

wrote in General, Philosophy, Q & A, Uncategorized .

Question: One philisophical principle is that in a set of hypotheses, the one with less assumptions should be validated.  Most of my friends think that materialism is the worldview with the least assumptions since it only requires that we assume the physical world can be perceived, measured and understood by our human senses.  These materialist friends say […]

Read More

wrote in Daniel, End Times, General, Q & A .

Question: Read your excellent answers to Dan.9:27… What do you think about interjecting Luke 4:18-21 as first half (Yeshua’s ministry being first half of 9:27 while all things being put under His feet during completion of Eph.4:13 during Great Tribulation Period second half of week… The adoption process of Romans 8:18-23 coming into the mind,will,and purpose […]

Read More

wrote in Articles, Bible Teaching, Foreshadows and Prefigures, Jesus, Prophecy .

John Oakes is preaching a sermon today as part of a series on “Passing the Torch”. The theme is God sending the Messiah to save mankind. Notes are here.  The PPT and audio will be posted later.    Solomon Passing the Torch Notes    Solomon Building God’s Temple Audio    Solomon Bible Talk      Solomon Building the […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: Hello, thank you for your ministry. I have a question on when Jesus was called Messiah and when Simon was first called Peter. In John 1:41, Andrew tells Peter that Jesus is the Christ, but in Matthew 16:16-17, Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ and Jesus says flesh and blood did not reveal […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: I’ve been a Christian for almost 4 years and I’m 19. Recently I have been having some doubts that I don’t want to have anymore and I really want to solve them…. I know that God is not forcing us to know him and have a relationship with him, and obey him…He has given us […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: Is it plausible that John and the author of Revelation (presumably John) is praising Ephesus for their rejection of Paul as a false apostle in Rev. 2:2 with regard to Acts 19:8-9 and 23, 2 Tim. 1:15, and Eph. 1:1, and again in 1 John 2:18 as described in Acts 21:18-26 from a purely […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: Is it fair to say that a substantial portion of James’ letter is a rebuke of Paul and his followers?  As you know, Acts 15 describes a significant break between James’ leadership (likely including Peter, John, Mark, and Barnabas) and Paul’s doctrinal and dogmatic leadership as background for the letter; James 2:14-25 seems to […]

Read More

wrote in General, Philosophy, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: I have a question for you that sparked while going through one of the lessons in the ARS Apologetics Certificate Program. In terms of suffering – I understand most of the arguments/material in terms of our sin, humans causing suffering, humans choosing to suffer, Joy existing because of suffering, etc; however, there is one thing […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, Church History, General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Hey Dr. Oakes, I’ve got a friend that is trying to communicate with me about Oneness Theology as opposed to the doctrine of the Trinity. Even as he was attempting to explain it to me, I am having a difficult time understanding the differences. What is the difference between the two? What do you […]

Read More

wrote in General, Q & A, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: How do you counter something like this? – http://allpowertothelamb.com/2016/04/reconciling-isaiah/#comment-16126 Answer: First of all, let me quote the passage discussed at this web site, Isaiah 65:20.  I am using the NIV, rather than the KJV which is an archaic translation (although the meaning is almost identical). “Never again will there be in it [presumably the […]

Read More

wrote in General, Q & A, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible, Uncategorized .

Question: I have several questions I hope you may help with: -Does Jesus not fall under the Curse of Jeconiah in Jer. 22:30, 36:30 in which none of Jeconiah’s descendants (Matt.1:11 states Jesus is a descendant) shall sit on the throne of David nor rule in Judah? -Did Paul violate Deuteronomy 23:16 and Jer. 34:13-17 when […]

Read More

wrote in Apologetics, Apologetics, Bible and Science, Creation, Science, Spanish Articles, Spanish Audio, Spanish Content .

Dr. John enseno una clase para la conferencia Transformacion en Monterrey 7/30/16.  Ese clase estaba para los universitarios.  Ese cubre los criticismos de los que no creen en Dios o la Biblia.  Especialmente la leccions enfoque en la sciencia y la Biblia.   Las flechas del Maligno PPT    Las Flechas del Maligno Audio   El audio es […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A .

Question: I’m a bit confused about what this scripture means by saying that “women will be saved through childbearing” does this assume that women who haven’t had children aren’t saved? I know that can’t be right I just can’t think of another interpretation. “But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, End Times, General, History, Q & A .

Questions: I was confronted with these questions. Did Paul teach that the law was over by Jesus’ sacrifice? Also, when will the ten tribes come back to Israel? Answers: Not sure if I would say it exactly that way:  “the Law was over by Jesus’ sacrifice.”  What Paul did say is, “When you were dead […]

Read More

wrote in Apologetics, Articles, Jesus, Other Religions, PowerPoints, The Existence of God, Uncategorized, World View .

Dr. John Oakes gave a lesson for the Seattle Church of Christ titled “What is Truth?”  The lesson discusses the Christian and other Worldviews and how to explain Christianity to those who have a different world view.  This lesson has been posted before, but the PPT has been updated extensively.  What Is Truth PPT    What is […]

Read More

wrote in Anthropology, General, General Apologetics, Other Religions, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: These are the questions I have in mind.   They stem from a discussion I had with a friend of mine who likes Christianity (especially Bart Ehrman and the Gnostic Gospels) [editor’s note: we are not sure what the questioner means by this comment] but rejects the idea that Jesus was resurrected because: a […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, End Times, General, Q & A .

Question: Is it possible that 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 and Revelation 20:7-10 describe the same event? Answer: I am afraid that I cannot give you a definitive answer.  I will have to say that I cannot blame people who see some potential parallels between the “lawless one” of 2 Thess 2:8 and the deception of Gog […]

Read More

wrote in Apocrypha, Archaeology and the Bible, Church History, General, Other Religions, Q & A .

Question: Where does the gnostic belief that the Old Testament God is the Demiurge and not the true creator come from?  Also, where did the belief in archons tricking people into being reincarnated at death come from?  I’ve been reading some material about this and it has troubled me.  What is the evidence against these […]

Read More

wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, Church History, General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: There is a substantial amount of extra-biblical material written by historians that lived within a couple generations of Christ’s ministry supporting His existence, His status as a well-known miracle worker, and His crucifixion (Josephus, Tacitus, Seutonius, Pliny the Younger, Philo, as well as mention in much later editions to the Talmud). However, there is […]

Read More

wrote in General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Is there proof outside the Bible of Christ’s Transfiguration? Answer: The transfiguration occurred on a remote mountaintop and there were only four witnesses.  It is hard to imagine what kind of proof one could ask for except the statements of the eye-witnesses.  What kind of “proof” are you asking for?  Are you asking for […]

Read More

wrote in Apologetics, Articles, Bible Teaching, PowerPoints .

Dr. John Oakes taught on many topics for churches in Ukraine, Moldova and Russia June 14-July 3, 2016.  All audio are in both English and Russian.  Evidence for Jesus Kiev PPT   Evidence for Jesus Russian I  (note: part II will be posted later)  Evidence for Jesus Russian III   Ezekiel Russian I    Ezekiel Russian II  Ezekiel notes  […]

Read More

wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, Bible Interpretation, General, Q & A, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I wanted to ask you about Matthew 15:3-6. What does Jesus mean when he told the Pharasees in verse 5 that “whatever help you might otherwise receive from me is a gift devoted to God”? Answer: This is a reference to a common Jewish practice of giving a sacrifice (actually, more accurately a gift) […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, End Times, General, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: What is the meaning of the phrase “going to sleep” that is used many times in the New Testament.  Also, what happens when we die? Answer: This was a common euphamism for saying that someone died in their culture.  We also use euphemisms for talking about death.  We say someone “passed away.”  Or we say that […]

Read More

wrote in General, Other Religions, Q & A, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: Can you compare the concept of forgiveness and cleansing of sins in Christianity, Hinduism and Islam? Answer: This is a very important question.  The concenpt of sin and of forgiveness is quite different in the three religions. Islam and Christianity are closer to one another, but still different in very important ways.  Hinduism is […]

Read More