The Bible | Golden Apples

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Article

Forgiveness Without Fog

Forgiveness isn’t forgetting or excusing—or instant reconciliation. Biblically, it’s a clear, repeatable act: name the wrong, release your personal claim to payback, refuse inner and outer retaliation, and entrust judgment to God—again as needed. This frees you to heal while justice and boundaries still stand.

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Essay

The Invention of “Saving” Faith

For centuries, James 2 has been read as teaching two kinds of faith—“true” vs. “demonic.” This essay shows how that split stems from Augustine’s Latin Bible and the Donatist fight, not James. Restore the dialogue cues, and the passage calls believers to live their shared faith, not classify it.

Bold vector-style cartoon illustration of a man, representing Paul, standing protectively in front of a child, angrily swearing at a group of adults. A speech bubble above him contains symbols (#%$!) to represent expletives. The child looks sad and worried, while the group of adults appear upset and hostile. Outlined in thick black lines with flat colors of pink, gold, and dark teal, in a clean sticker-like style.

Article

The Apostle Paul Taught me to Cuss

Did Paul swear in the Bible? He wasn’t afraid of sharp language. He called his old life “skúbalon” (excrement), mocked false teachers with grotesque wordplay, and even echoed ethnic slurs to dismantle them. Like Jesus, he used shocking words to protect truth, expose hypocrisy, and defend God’s people.

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Article

Who Said That?

The Bible is God’s Word for us—but not every line was written to us. Confusing the author, recipient, speaker, and audience can twist meaning and create contradictions. Learning to track these “four parties of Scripture” clears the noise and lets us hear God’s Word as it was meant.

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Article

Free Grace and Deconstruction

Deconstruction isn’t just doubt or hurt—it’s a spiritual crisis where faith is dismantled and tested. Some walk away, others distort, but many rebuild or deepen their trust in Christ. Free Grace offers a uniquely fear-free environment where love, assurance, and truth can guide people through the chaos.

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Article

The Hell Awaiting Christians? (Pt. 2)

The Bible warns that some believers will face Christ not with boldness, but with shame. John’s words in 1 John 2:28 point to a sobering reality: unfaithfulness may leave us overwhelmed by regret in His presence—not condemned, but painfully aware of wasted opportunities when He returns.

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Article

The Hell Awaiting Christians? (Pt. 1)

Most Christians think of eternity as clouds and crowns—but Scripture paints a more sobering picture. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, believers will face not only rewards but also loss, shame, and regret. This series explores the Bible’s warnings about what unfaithful Christians risk at the Bema.

Article

The Problems of Allegorical Interpretation

When allegorical interpretation ignores grammar, history, and authorial intent, it breeds chaos—overloading words, merging unrelated contexts, and inventing hidden codes. The result is subjective “truth” that weakens Scripture’s authority. Here’s how these errors work—and what to do instead.

Article

The Seven Subtypes of Allegorical Interpretation

Allegory in biblical interpretation assigns symbolic or hidden meanings to Scripture—sometimes beyond the author’s intent. While some are biblically sanctioned, others risk replacing God’s message with our own ideas. Here are seven common subtypes you might encounter.

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Everything we've ever posted about the Bible:

The Invention of “Saving” Faith

The Apostle Paul Taught me to Cuss

Who Said That?

Free Grace and Deconstruction

The Hell Awaiting Christians? (Pt. 2)

The Hell Awaiting Christians? (Pt. 1)

The Problems of Allegorical Interpretation

The Seven Subtypes of Allegorical Interpretation

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