Author

Author "john-oakes"

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: I want to ask you a question in relations to this article –https://evidenceforchristianity.org/does-god-delight-in-evil-as-it-seems-to-say-in-deuteronomy-2863/  The section of your article that says this:  God will discipline us and even bring harm on us for disobedience How would you explain that in relations to this verse:  Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)- For I know the plans I have for you,” […]

Read More

wrote in Apologetics, Archaeology, Articles, Prophecy .

Editor’s note:  This is a Q & A already published at the site, but this is a very common issue raised and I thought it would be worth publishing as an article.  This is a series of about ten questions.  For ease of following the arguments, I will intersperse my answers between the questions. Question: […]

Read More

wrote in Archaeology and the Bible, Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Reliability of the Bible .

Editor’s note:  This is a series of about ten questions.  For ease of following the arguments, I will intersperse my answers between the questions. Question: I stumbled upon a website known as “RationalWiki” which lists supposed unfulfilled prophecies of the Bible which deeply trouble me in my understanding of the Bible. The most difficult of […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Practical Christianity .

Question: How would you respond to someone claiming that marijuana or other drugs help some one become closer to God.  While there is no example of anyone in the Bible needing to use drugs to get close to God, is there any scripture that explicitly says that this is incorrect or even sin? Answer: To […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: I had a conversation with a friend who has been convinced by looking at scripture that baptism is not needed to receive the Holy Spirit and that we have NO part and our Salvation due to God choosing us and that Salvation cannot be lost.  (Calvinism) I wanted to see where I could be […]

Read More

wrote in Audio .

This is the last week of a six week class on the evidence that Jesus is who the Bible says that he is.  It focuses on the miracles of Jesus: principally on the resurrection of Jesus.  The class is taught by Dr. John Oakes.  The notes and power point are included here.Evidence for Jesus Audio...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Questions: I hope you don’t mind but I have a couple questions that have served as mental stumbling blocks for me. 1. Are all Persons of the Triune God eternal? For instance, while Christ is the Alpha and the Omega and the Firstborn of all creation, does Scripture indicate what Christ’s existence (as the Second Person of the Triune […]

Read More

wrote in General, General Apologetics, Practical Christianity, Reliability of the Bible .

Questions: I have a couple questions that are generally vague concerning God. 1.) Why is it that when I pray it seems as if I am talking to no one? Usually during prayer in a private space there is just silence and no indication of any connection with some sort of immaterial creator being of the […]

Read More

wrote in Audio .

This is a sermon given by Dr. John Oakes in San Diego April, 2014.  It looks at the Offerings and Sacrifices in the Old Testament as foreshadows of the offerings we give to God and of the sacrifices of Jesus.   The class will help you to understand Leviticus in a whole new way.  ...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

This is a sermon preached by John Oakes in San Diego Fall, 2014.  It is a study of the Book of Malachi, especially focusing on God’s desire that his people be faithful to him–trust in him rather than expecting them to simply serve them.    Malachi: Faith in God of Faithful to God?...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

This is week five of a six week class by Dr. John Oakes on finding Jesus in the Old Testament through types, prefigures and foreshadows.  This class covers more on the sacrificial system plus the festivals as foreshadows.  The class was taught in Spring, 2014 in San Diego.  Jesus in the Old Testament Part 9 ...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

This is week number four of a six-week class on Jesus in the Old Testament taught by Dr. John Oakes in San Diego Spring, 2014  This class looks at prefigures in the Old Covenant of the New Covenant and at the sacrifices as foreshadows.   Jesus in the Old Testament Part 7     Jesus in the...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

This is the third week of a six-week class by Dr. John Oakes on Jesus in the Old Testament from his book From Shadow to Reality.  This class looks at the tabernacle and priesthood as foreshadows.   Jesus in the Old Testament Part 5    Jesus in the Old Testament Part 6...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes gave a six week class on types, prefigures and foreshadows of Jesus in the Old Testament.  Essentially, it was a detailed class on the material in his book From Shadow to Reality, and was the first time he taught the entire class.  The class was taught Spring, 2014 in San Diego.  ...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes gave a sermon on the seven festivals found in Leviticus and their role as foreshadows of things we have in Jesus.  The theme is that we need to celebrate what we have in Christ.  It focuses in on the Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Firstfruits, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

This is part five of a six week class on the Evidence for Jesus, taught by Dr. John Oakes.  This class focuses in on messianic prophecies and types, prefigures and foreshadows of Jesus.   Evidence for Jesus Part 5...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in General, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible, Theology and Doctrinal Questions .

Question: The Bible says that God is a jealous God; the Bible also says that God is love. Despite all this 1 Corinthians 13:4 says “love does not envy” (NKJV). So my question is: how can God be a jealous God and a God of love when the Bible says that love is not jealous? Answer: […]

Read More

wrote in Articles, Other Religions, World View .

Editor’s note:  This article comes from www.douglasjacoby.com and is written by my good friend Douglas Jacoby.  It is used by permission. 18 March 2015 Last year Boko Haram, the West African ultra-radical group opposed to all things western (except guns), kidnapped hundreds of Nigerian schoolgirls. On one of their notorious raids, they carried off sisters […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, Church History, General, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Do critics have a case for the allegation that since Jesus’ life and events were recorded way after his actual death that they cannot truly reflect his image and deeds during his life? Are there any other examples of historical texts that were recorded 20 to 40 years after the fact? Is the reason […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General .

Question: Is there a difference between a “servant” and a “bond-servant”? I’ve read many different explanations, some even contradicting other definitions. I’ve read mostly that a “servant” is synonymous for ‘slave’ (one taken as a slave) and a “bond-servant” is one who has chosen to stay with his/her master by choice. I see throughout the […]

Read More

wrote in Articles, Bible, Foreshadows and Prefigures, Jesus, PowerPoints .

Dr. John Oakes gave a class/sermon on finding Jesus in the Jewish festivals of Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles.  The theme is that we ought to take the time and mental energy to celebrate what we have with God in Christ and the Holy Spirit.   Old Testament Festivals and […]

Read More

wrote in Creation, General, Science and the Bible .

Question: NASA says new observations from the Hubble Space Telescope confirm the presence of a subsurface salty ocean on Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede. Jim Green, NASA’s director of Planetary space even says that the “The solar system is now looking like a pretty soggy place”. My question is, does this discredit the Bible in any way?. Assuming […]

Read More

wrote in Anthropology, Archaeology and the Bible, General, History, Reliability of the Bible .

Editor’s note:  The person making this inquiry included material found from a web site.  This material is included, unedited, after my response. Question: I have some questions concerning archaeology and the Bible. 1.) Why is there such an absence of evidence concerning anyone mentioned in the Bible prior to Solomon or David, there is virtually […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, Bible Manuscripts and Textual Questions, General, Miracles, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: Mark 16::17-18 describes divine abilities believers should possess but not observant to the contrary. You think the same principle of miracles apply today? Answer: Scholars are nearly unanimous that Mark 16:9-20 was not in the original Book of Mark, so I see relatively little need to explain this section in Mark.   It is […]

Read More

wrote in Apocrypha, Archaeology and the Bible, Daniel, General, Historical and Messianic Prophecy, History, Reliability of the Bible .

Question: I am writing to ask you a quick question: a Christian friend of mine shared his conviction that Daniel was not truly written  by Daniel, but was written some time in the second century BC.  I would like to know what are the arguments for and against this view, and the same for the […]

Read More

wrote in Bible Interpretation, General, Practical Christianity, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: Mark 11:24 is a verse I find difficult to because the favors I ask of God in faith do not materialize more often.  Could you kindly explain what it really means? Answer: Mark 11:24 is true, of course, but we should not forget that there are other passages on the topic which would help […]

Read More

wrote in General, Practical Christianity, Supposed Inconsistencies in the Bible .

Question: How could God bless all nations through Jacob after he deceitfully won Esau’s blessing in Genesis 27. I thought lying was a sin. Answer: The same way he could use Abraham, despite his lack of faith at first when he heard that he would have a child and despite his dishonesty about his wife […]

Read More

wrote in Anthropology, General, Reliability of the Bible, Science and the Bible .

Question: Genesis 5 states that the patriarchs prior to the flood lived as long as 900 years. How exactly is anyone supposed to take this into consideration when during ancient times, life span was actually shorter than it is now?  Only now are humans living longer, not shorter. So in the face of this how […]

Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes taught a five-part series on the Book of Ezekiel for the singles ministry in San Diego May and June, 2014.  This class covers Ch 34-48 and is the most encouraging part as it reveals God’s plan to restore his people to a right relationship with him and to protect his people.  ...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes taught a five-part series on the Book of Ezekiel for the singles ministry in San Diego May and June, 2014.  This class covers Ch 18-34 which finishes the section on God’s righteous judgement on Judah and begins to discuss the restoration of God’s people to a relationship with him.   The power...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes taught a five-part series on the Book of Ezekiel for the singles ministry in San Diego May and June, 2014.  This class covers Ch 8-15, which is a pretty tough class because this material is on God’s judgment for sinful Israel.   The power point and notes are available in the power...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes taught a five-part series on the Book of Ezekiel for the singles ministry in San Diego May and June, 2014.  The second class looks at the dramatic confrontation between Ezekiel and the stubborn and unrighteous in Judah. Ezekiel SD 2...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes taught a five part series on the Book of Ezekiel for the singles ministry of the San Diego Church of Christ May and June, 2014.  This part is the introduction to Ezekiel and Chapter I. Ezekiel SD 1...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes and James Shults taught a class on the Bible books after the exile in Babylon, including Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Esther, and Malachi.  The theme of the class was God’s desire for us to repent, return, be restored and rebuilt into what he wants us to be.  The last class covers the...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes and James Shults taught a class on the Bible books after the exile in Babylon, including Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Esther, and Malachi.  The theme of the class was God’s desire for us to repent, return, be restored and rebuilt into what he wants us to be.  The fourth class completes a...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes and James Shults taught a class on the Bible books after the exile in Babylon, including Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Esther, and Malachi.  The theme of the class was God’s desire for us to repent, return, be restored and rebuilt into what he wants us to be.  The third class begins a...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More

wrote in Audio .

Dr. John Oakes and James Shults taught a class on the Bible books after the exile in Babylon, including Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Esther, and Malachi.  The theme of the class was God’s desire for us to repent, return, be restored and rebuilt into what he wants us to be.  The second class continues with...

This content is for members only.
Register
Already a member? Log in here
Read More