Category: Bible Study (Page 1 of 2)

Love Does Not End at Death: Lessons from the Rich Man and Lazarus

October 15, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

(The Rich Man and Lazarus) I heard a preacher point out that this is more of an illustration story than a parable because it uses a proper name.

One of many lessons we can gain from this story is that a person continues after death. Whether in the Paradise portion of Hades or the Torment side, recognition, memory, concern, and awareness continue. The rich man wanted to warn his family and was told, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.” God’s Word was their opportunity then. Today we have Jesus and the completed God-breathed words of Scripture.

“Love does not end at death.”

God’s Word is the pathway by which people come to know their Creator and trust in Jesus—the only way to the Father (John 14:6).

Matthew 22:37 commands us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. This story shows that the person (the conscious soul/spirit) continues with memory, recognition, and concern after the body returns to dust.

This account is found in Luke 16:19-31. Other clear points include recognition, remembrance, concern for others, pain, the fixed chasm, and the fact that there is no second chance. Our time is now.

See: Luke 16:19-31; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Hebrews 9:27; John 14:6; Matthew 22:37; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (especially 13:8).

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Live as if you soul's eternity depends on your choices

Choices make a difference

October 12, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Deuteronomy 30:15–20

15 “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;
16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.
17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them,
18 I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it.
19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,
20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Joshua 24:14–15

14 “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
15 If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Matthew 7:13–14

13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

John 3:16–18

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Related passages (NASB1995)

Romans 10:9–10: “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Hebrews 2:3: “how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,”
Hebrews 3:12–15: “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, ‘Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.’”
2 Thessalonians 1:7–9: “and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”

The Truth is in God's Word, Not What Any Man or Woman Teaches Iron Sharpens Iron Study, Grow, and Apply God's Word

Thank You—And Why I Keep Writing

October 11, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Thank you to everyone who reads the messages in Advocate for Christ. Writing and sharing these posts is one way I can do good and serve the Lord while caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s (see Galatians 6:9). I don’t write for accolades. If something here encourages or challenges you, feel free to respond with a like, love, comment, or share—especially if you believe it could benefit someone else. That’s how these messages get seen and read on social media.

My hope is twofold:

To strengthen, encourage, and inspire those who are in Christ to study, grow, and practically apply God’s Word to daily life. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). I welcome respectful, Scripture-based conversation that helps us all grow.
To share the message of Christ with those who do not yet know Him—those who are currently lost according to God’s Word. By turning from their own way (repentance) and trusting and obeying Jesus, they can receive forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. This change of life and doing His will flows from trusting Him. His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28–30).

My intent is not that anyone believe my words simply because I said them, but that they spark further study. If what I wrote differs from what you believe, please clarify the difference with Scripture—not feelings. Our souls depend on it, and I want to know if I am wrong so I can correct it. How about you?

Today, much so-called wisdom is grounded in feelings that weaken, discount, or set aside truth. This artificial wisdom encourages apathy when following Scripture conflicts with someone’s preferences or ideas. God is unchanging, and His Word is unchanging.

The truth is in God’s Word, not in what any man or woman teaches.

John 17:17; Proverbs 26:12; Proverbs 27:17; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 John 4:1; Hebrews 4:12; Galatians 6:9; Matthew 11:28–30

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Satan, not God, caused the evils to Job God permitted the trial within limits but did not create the evil In God there is no evil God is Love

Satan, Not God: Caused the Evils Against Job

October 10, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Satan, NOT God, caused the great wind that killed the family of Job.
Satan, NOT God, did all the evils to Job.
Satan, NOT God, is behind all the evil we see in today’s world.
In God, there is no evil; although God may test us, God will never test us with evil or beyond what we can bear.
When we choose to rely on God and be servants of God’s love rather than slaves to sin, God is our strength and refuge.

Scripture shows that Satan was the direct agent who carried out these evils against Job (Job 1:12–19; 2:7). God permitted the trial within strict limits but did not originate the evil. Later statements in Job that speak of the adversity the Lord “brought” are the common biblical idiom for permission, not the claim that God is the source of moral evil. In every case, God remains free of evil and does not tempt anyone with it. God remains pure, upright, and free of all moral evil.

God is love!

James 1:13-15; Job 1:12-19; Job 2:7; 1 John 4:8, 16; John 14:30; 1 John 5:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Psalm 92:15; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalm 46:1; Romans 6:12-23; John 8:32, 34-36

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If Jericho Fell on the News: Would We Alter the Gospel?

October 2, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

While listening to Joshua’s account of the fall of Jericho in the Old Testament, I wondered how it would be received in today’s world of Social media and live news feeds. I imagine the media would explode with interviews, conjecture, ridicule, and laughter run-amok. Would there be even one media source that would not be mocking these followers of God who say their God is the “One and Only God” in my opinion, the sarcasm would be relentless.

Can you envision the video they would capture or the reporter’s words? “These people actually believe the huge city walls in this video will collapse if they march around the city once a day for six days while staying quiet, and then on day seven march around the city seven times with priest blowing trumpets; then, at the sound of one last trumpet, they believe all they have to do is yell, and this massive wall, this huge massive wall of Jericho, is going to fall down so they can take the city”

Can you imagine the news coverage? How about the jaw-dropping shock to the world of unbelievers when the wall falls?

Do you think the walls of Jericho would have fallen if they had done anything less than what God commanded them to do? The same God who specified the march also specified how a person comes into Christ. Hebrews 11:30 says the walls fell by faith after they had been encircled for seven days. The city had already been given (Joshua 6:2); the marching did not earn it. The promise was attached to the instructions, and the result came when those instructions were kept

For some reason, many today take huge liberties with God’s word and make statements along the lines of, “God loves us; Jesus died for us, and because He loves us, we don’t need to be baptized (immersed) to be saved. We don’t need to gain understanding, repent, confess Jesus as Lord, or change our life; all we have to do is say a prayer, and we are saved, and once we are saved, we are always saved.

Scripture does not present a prayer as the converting act. It names belief, repentance, confession, and baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 10:9–10). A changed life follows that response; it is not a work done beforehand to earn it (Romans 6:4; John 14:15). Passages on security address those who continue in Christ (John 10:28–29; Romans 8:38–39). They do not cancel the warnings against falling away we find in (Hebrews 3:12–14; 10:26–29; 2 Peter 2:20–22).

What if a priest in Joshua’s camp said, 7 times is unnecessary; God loves us; let’s pray, then blow the trumpets and yell, ‘God is with us! Or any other variance from God’s command. Do you really believe the walls would have fallen had anything less than God’s command been done?

I don’t!

God attached the promise to the instructions He gave. The walls fell when those instructions were kept (Joshua 6:20). I do not believe a substituted plan would have brought the same result.

The walls would never have fallen if they had done anything other than what God told them to do. In 2 Kings 5:14, Naaman was told to dip seven times in the River Jordan to heal his leprosy; He first wanted a different method. He was cleansed when he dipped seven times “according to the saying of the man of God. ”had he tried to sprinkle water on his body or do anything else, he would not have been healed because he did not do as God commanded. We are told to teach the message of Christ with boldness and love, not by changing the message to get more people to listen or respond. Doing so is foolish!

Christ’s blood is the ground of forgiveness. Faith, repentance, confession, and baptism are the conditions God set for receiving it—not works that earn it.

Throughout Scripture, we have words and examples showing that it is important to do God’s will, God’s way, as stated in His Holy Word, not our own desires. This was true then, and it’s true now.

Jesus tells us, “If you love Me, you will keep My Commandments.” God specified the way at Jericho. He has specified the way now.

Hebrews 11:30; Joshua 6:2–5, 20; 2 Kings 5:10–14; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3–4; Galatians 3:26–27; 1 Peter 3:21; John 14:15; Matthew 7:21; James 2:14–26; Hebrews 5:9.

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Millions Estimated Lost—Eight Were Saved

September 29, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Scholars estimate that millions were living on Earth at the time of the great flood. Noah, a preacher of righteousness, spent decades building an Ark on dry land and, while building it, also preached righteousness before the impending flood. Many probably thought Noah was nuts, at least until the day the rain fell. The day reality set in, the day it was too late to act. (Sound familiar)

Today, science, archaeology, history, and Scripture provide overwhelming evidence that Jesus lived, died, and was raised again. Today, God-breathed, inspired Scripture shows us how, through belief and obedient faith, we can repent, confess Christ, and be Immersed “In Christ,” buried in the waters of baptism for the forgiveness of our sins. Scripture tells us of Christ’s return, His judgment, and how, by God’s grace and our obedient faith, we can look forward to receiving new glorified bodies, living forever with Christ in heaven and forever with our brothers and sisters “in Christ.”

Unfortunately, just like with the rejection of Noah, the message of Christ is constantly being rejected or skewed. Those sharing the truth of His message are often ridiculed and dismissed as religious fanatics for attempting to share the news of Christ with the hope that people will react and respond.

Christ is the most important message you will ever hear. Please don’t wait until it’s too late to act.

Do a self-check, do a biblical check, and be certain the path you’re on is the path God set before us all in His Holy Word, not a rendition of truth crafted by those who tickle ears. (see: 2 Timothy 4:3–4)

Accepting God’s love includes accountability.

Romans 14:12
2 Peter 2:5
Hebrews 11:7
Genesis 6:5–22
1 Peter 3:20–21
Romans 10:17
Mark 16:16
Acts 2:38
Romans 10:9–10
2 Timothy 2:15
2 Timothy 4:3–4
Philippians 3:20–21
Romans 6:3–8
see also: Genesis 7:1, 5, 16, 21–23; Genesis 9:19; Matthew 24:36–44; Luke 17:26–27; John 3:5; Acts 2:36–41; Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 15:51–53; Ephesians 2:8–10; Colossians 2:12; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 3:3–13; 1 John 1:7

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God’s Greatest Commandments: Love Him First, Love Others Always

September 28, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:29-33

Matthew records the same teaching this way: “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:40). They do not erase the rest of God’s will. They show what every command is for: wholehearted love for God, and real love for people.

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Love your neighbor as yourself.

“Love your neighbor as yourself” assumes we already seek our own good; it does not teach self-worship but we cannot claim love for God while refusing to love others as ourselves. These are not mutually exclusive (1 John 4:20–21)

Jesus calls us to follow Him daily. He knows what is best for us. Luke 9:23 says that following Him means denying ourselves and taking up the cross daily. Are we drawing closer to Him in prayer and study? Or are we so occupied with everything else that we rarely think of our Savior, or even take time to pray?

Jesus does not treat love as a warm feeling we can have while ignoring what He said. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). He also gave a new command: love one another as He loved us—not only as we love ourselves (John 13:34; John 15:12–13).

That’s A LOT OF LOVE!

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8

In the above verse, James calls double-minded people to repent. Drawing near means turning from a split loyalty—not merely adding a brief prayer to a crowded day.

In Christ we can have the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, as we bring our requests to Him with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6–7). Prayer, however, is not a substitute for the Word. God’s Word cannot teach us if we leave it closed. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved… rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

2 Timothy 2:15
John 13:34
John 14:15
Mark 12:29-33
Matthew 22:40
Philippians 4:6–7
1 John 4:20–21
James 4:8
Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Leviticus 19:18; John 15:12-13; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14; 1 John 4:7-11, 19-21; Luke 9:23; Philippians 4:6-7;

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Do we really believe God Who will humbly reason from His Word?

Do We Really Believe God? Then Who Will Humbly Reason from His Word?

September 25, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

We have no shortage of knowledge at our fingertips, yet we have a vast shortage of open minds. Minds willing to humble themselves as they discuss and reason about God’s Word. Instead of being offended when something contradicts our current beliefs, why not turn to Scripture and let God’s complete words be the final answer?

“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10 NIV)

Are you offended or curious when someone states something from God’s Word that you’ve been taught differently? Is it possible you have been taught only part of the answer? Do you take time to review the Scripture they provide to support their claim, or do you go to a preacher or friend for a response? Will you take time to examine the Scriptures daily to see whether their points are true, or will you cling to your feelings on the matter?

Why not let the inspired words of God do the talking so you can learn more fully? Why not study the whole truth more closely yourself and seek answers from God’s word to any discrepancies between what you believe and what God’s word tells us?

This is how we can unite with Scripture! Instead of forcing pieces of Scripture to fit our feelings and current understanding, take a closer look.

This is the example the Apostle Paul gave us; he went into the synagogues to reason.

While in Thessalonica, Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded…” Acts 17:2-6

Paul reasoned from Scripture, yet not all were persuaded.

Later, in the town of Berea, Paul went into the synagogue to reason, and God’s word points out that those in this synagogue: “Now these Jews were more noble than those of Thessalonica; They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Acts 17:11

Why were they considered more noble? Because of their open minds and eagerness to know the truth

By approaching God’s word with an open mind, we will indeed do our best to learn. So, let’s do so eagerly, examining Scripture to see if what we understand is so.

2nd Timothy 2:15 tells us: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us: ”For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,”

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10 NIV)

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV“)

Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 119:18, 119:105, 119:160; Proverbs 2:1-6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Proverbs 18:13; John 17:17; Acts 17:2-4; Acts 17:11; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 13:9-10; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Galatians 1:8-9; Ephesians 4:3-6, 4:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:21-25; James 4:6, 4:10; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 John 4:1.

God’s word is complete.

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Thankful in all things Joy in every trial Our forever home

Joy Is Not the Absence of Pain

September 22, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

The Bible tells us to “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

To count it all joy (James 1:2-4)

Joy is not the absence of suffering and pain we all experience in this life, but knowing that this life is but a temporary home.

By doing God’s will and keeping Jesus’s commandments, we lay up treasure in Heaven for ourselves, giving those in Christ complete confidence that Heaven is our Forever Home. It does not teach salvation by works; rather, it describes the life of those already “in Christ.” (see Matthew 6:19–20, John 14:15) This gives us a peace beyond understanding which belongs to those who remain in Christ.

May we always be thankful and count it all joy. “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15).

Revelation 3:8-11, .Romans 8:18; Romans 8:28; John 16:33; Hebrews 13:14; 2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Peter 1:3–7; Colossians 3:1–4; Philippians 4:4–7; Hebrews 11:13–16; 2 Corinthians 4:16–18; Revelation 21:3–4; Matthew 6:19–21; John 14:1–3, 15; Galatians 6:9; 1 Peter 3:15.

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Help Others See What They Can Become in Christ

September 20, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 1 Comment

I am very thankful for all the encouragement I’ve received, both directly and indirectly, over the years. I’m thankful for those whose examples made me long to be more like them, as they lived lives that glorified Christ. It was obvious in their actions and words, in their concern for others, and in how and where they spent their time. Their efforts exemplified Christ’s life and personified selflessness.

These examples of good people made me want to examine myself, study God’s word, and deepen my understanding. These few people who affected me so much are now many in my life—many because I now choose to surround myself with them and others like them. In my opinion, their encouragement and edification have helped me become a better person.

I miss seeing many of these people weekly, as we did before Alzheimer’s affected our lives in such a way that we couldn’t. However, I still follow many of these outstanding examples on social media.

The people I speak of here are part of the Lord’s Church and helped me realize the importance of biblical study and of becoming and living as a Christian—because it doesn’t happen through osmosis! NO, these people continuously challenged me to study God’s Word together and independently, and now I strive to help others “see what they can become” in Christ, and through Christ, so we can all become better Me’s.

“Help others see what they can become” ~Philip Sanders

1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 4:29; Philippians 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:15, Proverbs 27:17; Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17; Hebrews 3:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:15-16; Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7; 1 Peter 2:12.

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Category: Bible Study (Page 1 of 2)

Love Does Not End at Death: Lessons from the Rich Man and Lazarus