Posts by Jim Oesterwind
The Pursuit of Purity in Christ
Jim Oesterwind If we keep the biblical teaching of separation in the classroom, few within Fundamentalism would question its importance. As it relates to the fundamentals, all would be in agreement. However, what many fail to understand is that separation must be applied to practice. Applying separation in practice to people, churches, colleges, etc. takes…
Read MoreBlack Friday Possessions
Jim Oesterwind And Jesus said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses’ -Luke 12.15 Covetousness is nothing new, but it is steadily tearing our country apart. Ron Colone wrote an op ed piece in the Santa Ynez Valley News. His…
Read MoreJesus’ Teaching on Marriage and Divorce (3): Divorce for Another Reason?
by Jim Oesterwind The LORD would not accept the well-intended offerings of the children of Israel in the day of the prophet Malachi. They tearfully offer, but God rejects them. They wonder why. God answers by pointing out their unfaithfulness to their wives and callous neglect of His institution of marriage. A primary purpose for…
Read MoreJesus on Marriage and Divorce (2): Divorce for Immorality?
by Jim Oesterwind There is a digital fantasyland called Second Life where people live virtual lives because they have become disengaged from the real world. One woman’s husband in the real world asked another woman to become his wife in the virtual world. Imagine the devastation that causes. The ‘virtually abandoned’ wife said that her…
Read MoreJesus on Marriage and Divorce (1): Divorce for Any Reason?
by Jim Oesterwind One writer recently observed, “A divorce is like an amputation: You survive, but there’s less of you.”1 Another concludes, “Divorce, as a cure, is far worse than the disease.”2 Marriage is under attack like never before in our country. People minimize God’s institution of marriage by deciding that they will just live…
Read MoreThe Training Wheels of Evangelism – Part 3
by Jim Oesterwind This is part 3 of a series, here is Part 1, Part 2. There is no denying the fact that a dramatically changed life testifies to the power of God’s grace in converting the vilest among us. Hardened criminals, brutal terrorists, and party-animal entertainers have all been converted to Christ. Consider Mao…
Read MoreThe Training Wheels of Evangelism – Part 2
by Jim Oesterwind This is the second of a series. Part 1 is here. The opal is a beautiful stone because of the “play of color” on its surface. When you alter your line of sight or move the stone, the colors chase one another over the surface of the gem in broad splashes. Opals…
Read MoreThe Training Wheels of Evangelism
by Jim Oesterwind This is part 1 of a multi-part article. Part 2 is here. See also Pastor Oesterwind’s address at the Northern California FBF Fellowship meeting. Do you remember learning how to ride a bike? Many of us gained confidence riding our bikes through the use of training wheels. They are designed to give…
Read MoreGender Neutrality, Inclusivity and the 2011 TNIV
by Jim Oesterwind Inclusive language is all the rage, these days. In everything from your local newspaper to your grammar checker in your word processor, you are encouraged to use inclusive language, appeasing the sensibilities of the modern mind. Inclusive language is an issue for Christians as even Bible translations are affected by this new…
Read MoreThe Subjective Ministry of the Holy Spirit
by Jim Oesterwind For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. (Romans 8:15–16) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the…
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