Cremation has become an increasingly popular means for disposing of the dead. In fact, by the year 2010, it is estimated that one-third of all Americans will cremate their loved ones. While those who opt for cremation often do so on the basis of emotional, economical, or ecological considerations, there are compelling reasons for Christians [...]

Roman Catholicism teaches that believers incur debts that must inevitably be discharged in Purgatory “before the gates of heaven can be opened.” While Purgatory is not equivalent to a second chance for unbelievers, it is nonetheless decidedly unbiblical. First, the doctrine of Purgatory undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement on the cross. Scripture declares that [...]

Just as universalism is the rage in liberal Christianity, so too annihilation is gaining momentum in conservative Christian circles. The question of course is— is annihilationism biblical? First, common sense dictates that a God of love and justice does not arbitrarily annihilate the crowning jewels of his creation. Far from rubbing us out, he graciously [...]

The horrors of hell are such that they cause us to instinctively recoil in disbelief and doubt. Yet, there are compelling reasons that should cause us to erase such doubt from our minds. First, Christ, the Creator of the cosmos, clearly communicated hell’s irrevocable reality. He spent more time talking about hell than he did [...]

On the basis of the Bible we may safely conclude that not all existence in hell is equal. First, the unified testimony of Scripture is that God is perfectly just and will reward and punish each person in accordance with what he or she has done (Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12; Jeremiah 17:10; Ezekiel 18:20, 30; [...]

Degrees of reward in heaven are not often the subject of contemporary sermons. They were, however, a constant theme in the sermons of Christ. He explicitly points to degrees of reward that will be given for faithful service, self–sacrifice, and suffering. Indeed, the canon of Scripture is replete with references to rewards. While we are [...]

An all-too-prevalent perception in Christianity and the culture is that heaven is going to be one big bore. That, however, is far from true. Rather, heaven will be a place of continuous learning, growth, and development. By nature, humans are finite, and that is how it always will be. While we will have an incredible [...]

What do you see in your mind’s eye when the word “sex” is mentioned? An image of Madonna on MTV? A James Bond movie? Cosmopolitan magazine? Or does your mind immediately flash from sex to Scripture? Trust me, when it comes to sex, Playboy cannot hold a candle to Scripture. If you think that’s an [...]

Scripture does not conclusively tell us whether our pets will make it to heaven. However, the Bible does provide us with some significant clues regarding whether or not animals will inhabit the new heaven and the new earth. First, animals populated the garden of Eden. Thus, there is a precedent for believing that animals will [...]

Scripture does not specifically address the issue of apparent age; however it does provide glorious insights concerning the state of our resurrected bodies. First, when God created Adam and Eve in Eden, he created them with apparent age and in the prime of life. Additionally, Jesus died and was resurrected at the prime of his [...]