In the final verse of Hebrews chapter 6, the Apostle Paul describes Jesus as having been made a “high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” Melchisedec, or as spelled in the Old Testament scriptures, Melchizedek, is described in Genesis 14:18 as both a king and “a priest of the most high God.” The surrounding verses […]
Evil spirits are spirit beings that, through disobedience to God, were cast out of God’s favor and light and into darkness. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as “fallen angels.” The first of these beings to disobey God was Lucifer. The scriptures describe him as allowing pride to corrupt his character (Isaiah 14:12-15). […]
Revelation 7:9-17 is a picture of the spiritual classes involved in God’s plan of which the “great multitude” is a piece of this puzzle. The setting of the picture is heaven, or the spiritual plane. The first participant in the picture is God Himself. The second participant in the picture is the glorified Christ: The […]
Building a relationship with Jesus is an important aspect of every Christian’s life. One of the first steps we want to take is to develop the “mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16),” trying to think as he does and with the same motivation and direction. When he was on earth he said, “I can of […]
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3), the punishment of death was applied not only to them, but to all their descendants, meaning every subsequent generation of mankind. Likewise, Jesus’ sacrifice of his perfect human life as a corresponding “payment” for that disobedience applies to all members of the human race back through the […]
There are three accounts of this incident (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39). It helps to understand what was actually transpiring by referring to each account. From the Luke account, it is clear that the demons were responding to Jesus’ command to come out of the man (See Luke 8:29). In response to Jesus’ command […]
Yes, the account of Exodus is indeed a reliable account from eyewitnesses. It properly narrates the work of God in directing Moses in his God given task of leading the Israelites out of captivity — just as God promised to Abraham, that he would do (Genesis 15:13, 14). Not only did God work mighty acts […]
In 2 Corinthians 12:2 the Apostle Paul was given a very vivid vision and revelation of the promised future kingdom rulership which will bring blessing to all people. This verse is complex so it is helpful to break things down to understand what is being said. “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years […]
Dreamcatchers have become a common part of popular culture, however they were originally created by and for Native American groups. Quoting from the (American) Native American culture website, powwow.com: “A dream catcher is a handmade willow hoop woven to a web or literally, a net. They can include feathers and beads, and they’re traditionally suspended […]
Revelation is a highly symbolic book that requires careful study to understand what each of the seven seals of the scroll means. The scroll in Revelation first appears in chapter 5:1-5: “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with […]
The concept of the ransom is important because it is the entire basis for our Christian faith and the plan of God for the world of mankind. What does it mean to say “Jesus is the ransom?” “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who […]
The new world order will not be one created by man. No one has the power or intelligence to bring harmony out of this chaotic world. We are more divided as a people today than we have been for a long time. There is only one possibility for a true world order. It is one […]
It can be challenging to feel that even when we want to preach the gospel, we are not living it perfectly and therefore have no credibility to preach it to others. Even the Apostle Paul struggled with similar feelings. In his letter to the Christians in Rome he wrote, “For I do not understand my […]
Because the Bible does not specifically address this question, we have to use biblical principles to determine what is right for each of us. Determining whether or not a choice like wearing a bikini is a sin or if it is godly requires the use of both biblical principles as well as determining what our […]
144,000 is the actual number of those sealed by God that will comprise the church class and bride of Christ (See Revelation 7:4). To some, this appears to be a very small number of those that have faithfully served God. After all, there are many people in the Old Testament who served God despite great […]
No, Satan cannot be saved. We can infer that Satan is completely unable to be rehabilitated from the unchangeable promise that he will be destroyed in Revelation 20:7-15. We know that “God is love” (1 John 4:16) and we might think of a loving God as always being open to forgiving a sinner who repents. […]
The carcass refers to a freshly slain animal. In this scripture, it symbolizes Jesus’s death on the cross. Jesus is pictured as a slain lamb in Revelation 5:6 (NKJV), “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a […]
As Christians we should all be seeking how we can please God. The main goal is to have our thoughts and our words be pleasing to the LORD. God-centered and Christ-centered thoughts lead to God- and Christ-centered words and actions. Psalm 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be […]
The Bible does not contradict with science that the earth is millions of years old. But how long have people been on the earth from the time of the first man Adam? We believe based on Bible chronology that it is around 6,000 years. Neanderthals and other non-human animals with human-like traits could have been […]
The Bible does not give us the answer, but the question assumes Satan knew or believed it would lead to mankind’s salvation. Had he known that fact he would likely have acted differently. While his ultimate destruction is clearly shown in Revelation 20, the New Testament had yet to be completed at the time of […]
The Ten Commandments are an important part of God’s plan, so why wouldn’t God have given them right at the beginning to Adam and Eve? Why did God wait until the time of Moses to tell His people what He expected of them? God is orderly and wise. He knows when the best time to […]
Job 2:11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him… (The loss of his children and his possessions and then being smote with sore boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.) Job 1:13-19, 2:7-8 they came each one from his own place…and […]
God, in fact, punished Israel many times for their sins. Shortly after they received the Law through Moses, God warned them, saying, “…if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins” (Leviticus 26:18). History confirms that this punishment occurred when the Gentile […]
Sometimes the mind wanders during a time of prayer, as it is ideally a comforting, safe and peaceful time. This lends to a lack of focus or even being a little sleepy. Other times, we are trying to squeeze prayer time in as just one more thing to do on our ever-expanding “things to do” […]
The key to seeing the Bible’s harmony is to understand that God has a plan that is currently in progress. Yes, Israel is God’s chosen nation and currently does not believe in Jesus. And yes, Jesus is the son of God and faith in him is the only avenue to eternal life. That means either […]
The Bible tells us the first humans were Adam and Eve. The rest of the human family have their lineage through them. “Let us make man in our own image and likeness” refers to the cooperative work of God and his first angelic creation, the Word, or Logos in Greek, who later became a human […]
The Pharisees were the group that had the most religious influence among the Israelites. They were widely accepted as the religious teachers of the day and the largest group of religious teachers in Israel at the first advent of Jesus. The name Pharisee means, “separated ones.” It’s believed that this was originally a derogatory name […]
In his pre-human existence, Jesus was a spirit being in heaven in constant communion with his Father. Jesus as “the Word” served his heavenly Father, “THE God.” He was lower in rank “a god” or “mighty one” of the angelic order. He is identified with the title “the Word” (Logos in the Greek), and in […]
A prophecy is a prediction of a future event. Because technically Lucifer was cast from heaven sometime before man was created, any scriptural accounting of it would be more of a reporting of what happened in the heavenly realm we would not otherwise know. Lucifer’s rebellion is spoken of in Isaiah 14:12: How are thou […]
All will be saved, but not all will inherit everlasting life. But here are more specifics: God will have all men to be saved from the Adamic curse, for Jesus died for Adam, and thus for all who received Adam’s condemned life –thus all of humanity. Jesus “gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy […]
Philippians 3:7-8 Yet all that was gain to me, for Christ’s sake I have reckoned as loss. Nay, I even reckon all things as pure loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Sometimes there are people in our lives that are very important to us that believe differently than we […]
The expression “great tribulation” comes from Matthew 24:21: “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” This is part of what is sometimes termed our “Lord’s Great Prophecy.” In this place, Jesus draws upon Daniel 12:1, which says: “At that time shall […]
For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said. And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. Exodus 7:12-14 Though […]
Both Matthew 1:2 and Matthew 1:15 refer to Jacob- however they are not the same person. Beginning with Matthew 1:2, we have a genealogy for Jesus starting with Abraham. Matthew wrote his gospel originally in Hebrew, according to early Christians, for Jewish Christians primarily. Tracing the genealogy of Jesus back to father Abraham would be […]
Below is a list of the special yearly observances that God required Israel to keep. Three were in the spring, while four were fall remembrances. Spring Observances (1) Passover (Nisan 14, first month of the religious year) (2) Feast of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15-21) Included offering of barley first-fruits. (3) Feasts of Weeks (Later called Pentecost, […]
Sadly, Christians can certainly be troubled and possessed by demons. If a person becomes disobedient to God and strays into the occult, spiritism, shamanistic worship, hypnotism, drugs, idol worship, traditional religion (Voodoo) etc., that poor person is in serious danger. Those who were afflicted by demons in Jesus’ day: “When the even was come, they […]
Acts 16:1-3 (Phillip Translation) “Paul also went to Derbe and Lystra. At Lystra there was a disciple by the name of Timothy whose mother was a Jewish Christian, though his father was a Greek. Timothy was held in high regard by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium, and Paul wanted to take him on as […]
Some Jewish Bibles list the name of Jesus as Yahusha. Some believe a person must use the name of God’s only begotten son in the Hebrew language, thinking that if people don’t use “Yahusha,” neither God nor his son will recognize their prayers. They may even doubt their salvation. However, all of the New Testament books […]
1 Timothy 2:9-10 “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.” The Good News Translation (not a word-for-word translation but rather a grouping of […]
The LORD wants to help us in the overcoming process, whatever it is that we struggle against. For this is what the high and lofty One says, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: He lives in the height and in holiness, and also with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit, […]
Why does God permit evil? Why was Satan allowed to tempt Eve in the first place? Some background: Lucifer was a “morning star” and prominent spirit being in the heavenly realm. “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you […]
The expression “book of life” is used widely in the New Testament as a symbolic register of committed Christians who, as Jesus expressed it, will be “faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10). We are assured of everlasting life in the heavenly kingdom. If one commits themselves to God, appreciates Jesus as their redeemer, and develops the […]
The Apostle Paul wrote God “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4 (KJV) Note the order – saved first; then they receive all knowledge (the Greek word here means “full discernment.”) If God is love and “righteousness and justice are the foundation of […]
Wikipedia says: “Karma means action, work or deed; it also refers to the spiritual principle of cause and effect where intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual. Good intent and good deeds contribute to good karma and happier rebirths, while bad intent and bad deeds contribute to bad karma and […]
As human beings, we continually make choices to surrender to various things, and that surrender is often based on what is most important to us. For example, we often surrender to our personal opinion or the opinion of others. A decision to surrender our will to the LORD is a deliberate choice to change the […]
The death of Jesus provided what the scriptures describe as a “ransom.” in Matthew 10:45 Jesus said his death was a ransom. The ransom is mentioned again in 1 Timothy 2:7. The word ransom means a “corresponding price.” This is made clear by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:22. “As in Adam all die, […]
There was clearly a difference between sin offerings and burnt offerings. Each of these offerings were subdivided, depending on the occasion. But the main difference is that sin offerings were compulsory while burnt offerings, peace offerings and grain offerings were voluntary. That difference is significant. The main sin offering required by God was on the […]
The main reason God categorized certain animals as “unclean” was to highlight the difference between holiness and sin. Dietary laws controlled what individuals put into their bodies. For ancient Israel, which was surrounded by heathen nations and customs, it was important to have physical reminders of what constituted sin and what was holy. Not only […]
Apologetics is being able to give an answer for your Christian faith to those who ask. 1 Peter 3:15 says: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” […]
What Jesus said at the beginning of that verse is important. It says, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 16:10 Jesus knew that the ones he was sending out to spread the Gospel would be in physical danger from some […]
Any and all sin brings dishonor to Christians and the cause of Christ. Sexual sins just tend to be more noticeable. Singling out just sexual sins might make us forget to look inwardly to see what our own obvious and secret sins are. The Scriptures are specific that any sexual relationship other than between a […]
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked […]
This analogy is based on Psalm 91:1,4: “He that dwelleth in the secret place (cover, protection) of the most High shall abide (to stay permanently) under the shadow (shade) of the Almighty….He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” The secret […]
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12 Here the Apostle Paul prepares us for our spiritual warfare as Christians. He makes the point that we need to be strong not in our own […]
Prophecy foretells a time at the end of this time period when all the nations will gather against Israel to battle, the city will be captured, and the LORD will deliver Israel from that sure destruction. “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your […]
Here are some ideas on how you can approach trying to be an encouragement. “For this is what the high and lofty One says, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘He lives in the height and in holiness, and also with the one who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the […]
We live “in” the world but are not “of” the world, as our citizenship is in heaven. Here we are “ambassadors” for Christ. In all cases, we want to be God-honoring. There are several basic principles that come to mind. One is found Isaiah 50:4, “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the […]
In an age when churches are delving deeply into politics, it is vital that the Christian understand what the scriptures say on the subject. The first and most important example we can look to is Jesus. Was he ever involved in the politics of his day? The clear answer is “No!” His only involvement was […]
This question touches on the most important day of the year in ancient Israel, the Day of Atonement. On that day a bull was sacrificed. God gave meticulous instructions for carrying out every detail. After the bull was killed, it’s blood was taken into the Most Holy compartment, which contained the Ark of the Covenant. […]
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus declares: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” and teaching them to obey everything I […]
This is a good question to break out our concordances. The name Aristarchus appears five times in the Bible. Acts 19:29 Acts 20:4 Acts 27:2 Colossians 4:10 Philemon 1:24 Reading each of these accounts tells us something about Aristarchus. From Acts 19 we’re told that he, along with a man named Gaius, traveled with the […]
The Scriptures make a point of our Christian need for fellowship and contact with others. A general point is brought up in Proverbs 27:17: “Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens a friend’s character.” We need the interaction with others to sharpen our spiritual awareness and to ‘sharpen’ and make our character development more effective. […]
If prayer and Bible reading does not effect a change in us then they may be meaningless. God is well aware of our sinful condition. But He still desires that we struggle against sin and work to overcome the wrong tendencies we have. He knows there is great value in the struggle. Solomon wrote, “For a […]
There are various meanings of “good and bad vibes”. That phrase has to do with getting a ‘feeling’ and an impression from a person or a situation. The actual words are not scriptural, but they may describe a part of the human brain function that we are all born with. The human brain was created with […]
As you know, the relationship between Jehovah and Jesus is as a father and son. When Jesus said, “I and my father are one” (John 10:30), he was indicating their oneness in purpose. Jehovah has trusted Jesus with wonderful responsibilities. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep…Therefore doth […]
Every Christian has shortcomings. Even the great Apostle Paul said, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Romans 7:19). Being a true Christian often involves struggle, especially when we see that God wants us to change who we are to become more like Christ. […]
In Matthew 16:24-26. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what shall a man be profited, if […]
Matthew 26:29 reads, “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” It is necessary to first establish the meaning of the cup. On one occasion (Matthew 20:20-28) the mother of James […]
In Galatians 3:13 the Apostle Paul said, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree.’” From this we see that Jews were actually under double condemnation. When father Adam sinned he brought God’s curse upon […]
As a Christian, we want to strive for spiritual excellence in all things. The Scriptures tell us that we are walking epistles and are judged by our actions and our words. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:2 “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. “ By […]
It is NOT sinful to need professionally prescribed medicines. In Ezekiel 47:12, when describing the perfect conditions of God’s kingdom, the prophet says, there will be water to drink, fruit to eat and leaves for medicine. Proverbs 17:22 describes the effects of a happy personality and says “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” The Apostle Paul […]
The Hebrew word translated into English as “prudent” here is found in the Strong’s Concordance as reference #7919, śāḵal: כַל Sâkal, saw-kal’; a primitive root; to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent:—consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand(-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, […]
Jesus said. “What man of you, having one hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls […]
God does not harden our hearts. Neither does He violate our free will. What about the time that God “hardened Pharaoh’s heart?” The account is found in Exodus 7. Although it says that God hardened his heart, you must understand that it was Pharaoh who chose to resist the will of God and not let […]
The accounts in Matthew and Luke do have differences that need to be investigated. Mark and John do not describe Jesus’ birth. Matthew tells us that after the birth of Jesus an angel appeared to Joseph and told him to flee to Egypt to avoid King Herod’s plan to murder the children of Bethlehem. After […]
Sometimes issues that divide must be addressed as a group and resolved before any healing can take place. A meeting with all sides present may be helpful. The focus should be to discuss and understand why the split has occurred. It should be made clear that everyone should speak respectfully and honestly evaluate the other […]
Having an unfulfilled desire of your heart, especially for such a long time can be a challenging and heart wrenching experience. These kinds of experiences can affect us mentally and emotionally when the desire we have is one that is godly. Wanting to have a child is certainly a godly desire and it can be […]
As human beings we can have strong reactions to many things. Part of our growth as Christians is to be aware of our reactions and pray for balance in our thinking. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” […]
It’s true that God will have all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4-6). This has led Him to devise a plan that will give the most people an opportunity for eternal life. This does not contradict Jesus’ statement that the way to life is narrow. It is important to understand that the truth is found […]
It helps to have a concordance handy to look up the meaning of the word in the original Hebrew and Greek. In many cases, that word “fear” actually is better translated as “reverence.” For example, 1 Samuel (12:24, Berean Study Bible) tells us, “Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; […]
The scriptures clearly state that Jesus is the son of God, not God Himself. On many occasions Jesus said that God had “sent me.” (See Matthew 10:40; Luke 4:8; and many others) Jesus was sent by God to accomplish the work of salvation. When telling the disciples he would soon leave them, Jesus said, “…I […]
“Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ Just as it is written: ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not […]
Forgiveness can be a challenge! The Scriptures clearly teach the need for a Christian to forgive. Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” We learn about what forgiveness is about when we look at Jesus’ words regarding […]
We have not found any scriptures that would encourage a religious exemption from vaccines. In addition, there are no scriptures forbidding a vaccination. The COVID-19 vaccine helps people to fight the virus that has already killed between 3 million to 6 million people worldwide. The Bible encourages people to care for their health. God provided […]
When Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, he gave them this simple prayer as an example in the book of Luke. It says: “Our Father in heaven…” (Luke 11:2, NKJ) First, we must remember that God is our loving Father in heaven, the Creator of the universe. “…hallowed be your name.” […]
By mentioning the flood and Sodom and Gomorrah some may think God should bring destruction on this world. We do live in a sinful world. And the scriptures describe a time of trouble such as the world has never seen (See Daniel 12:1). However, there is much more to God’s plan than destruction. The purpose […]
Baptism is a beautiful outward sign of a wholehearted commitment. This commitment includes the confession “I am a sinner” the recognition and acceptance that “Jesus is my personal Savior” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) and the complete dedication of our lives to God and Christ. “I present my body—all of my life and all that I am, […]
Many Christian leaders of our day fall woefully short of the examples given in the Bible. Too often we hear of spiritual leaders who misuse the privilege through arrogance or selfishness. Then there are those tragic stories of abuse within churches by the leaders themselves or being covered up by the leaders. On top of […]
We know the Adam was married to the first woman, Eve, however there is mythology implying he had a second wife named “Lilith”, prior to Eve. The mythology of Lilith is first mentioned in ancient Babylonian demonology as a class of winged female demons that attacks pregnant women and infants. The myth migrated to the […]
This speaks to a bigger question of how we can most profitably spend our time in order to be pleasing to our heavenly Father. If your conscience is picking up that something is not right, that even by not participating in the overtly sinful parts of a game (probably difficult to do if you want […]
Apostle Paul in Romans 7:15-20 says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I […]
The Bible describes TWO salvations for mankind. 1 Corinthians 15:35-55 describes the heavenly resurrection, but the earthly resurrection is addressed in 1 Corinthians 15:21-23. “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 Everyone who dies in Adam will have a resurrection. As in John 5:28-29, there […]
The story of Job’s life is one that has puzzled people for a long time. Initially, Job’s initial reaction to his trying experiences was excellent. Job 1:22 says, “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” But, as his burdens wore on him he finally came to accuse God. He said, […]
Sin is a transgression of the Divine law or God’s law. Thousands of years ago God gave Moses and the Jewish nation the Ten Commandments as well as 613 other laws stated in Leviticus. Since the Jews were God’s special people from whom the Messiah was to come, they needed to be kept pure and […]
We learn in Genesis 2:16-17 that the LORD God gave Adam a direct command to eat of every tree in the Garden except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if he ate of it, he would surely die. It was not long after this directive that God said, “It is […]
The concept of confession of sin to a priest is nowhere taught in either the Old or New Testaments. In fact, the New Testament teaches that all true believers are priests. 1 Peter 2:9-10 describes believers as a “holy priesthood” and a “royal priesthood,” “a people belonging to God.” In the Old Covenant, the Jewish […]
Often a person who lies repeatedly either is not aware that his or her behavior is a violation of God’s commandment (Exodus 20:16) not to lie and is, therefore, committing a sinful act, or is so used to lying that he or she has rationalized the behavior to the point of guiltlessness. In either case, […]
Many Christians, do not feel that dancing is proper. Although the Bible does not give specific instructions on dancing, we find examples of when dancing was appropriate and when it was not. An example of inappropriate dancing occurred when Moses went up to the mountain to talk to God (Exodus 32:6, 19-25). While Moses was […]
In Numbers 20:8, the Lord told Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” Numbers 20:9-11 records […]
We can see no reason why you shouldn’t have plastic surgery to remove permanent scars or other conditions. It is only natural to want to feel and look “normal.” However, be careful that vanity is not your reason for the surgery. When vanity motivates a person to undergo surgery, he/she has become his/her own idol. […]
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three […]
Must one become a Christian in order to be saved? If so, what about the countless millions who have never heard of Jesus? What about all the good people who are not Christians? What about those who lived before Jesus’ time? What about the person who believes, but does not make any changes for the […]
Although the Bible does not discuss sexual orientation, it does discuss sexual acts. Leviticus 18 tells us with whom it is not appropriate to engage in sexual activity. Leviticus 18: 22 says, “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul discusses […]
“If you forgive anyone his sins they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:23 This scripture needs to be looked at in context of the two preceding scriptures. After Jesus was resurrected, he appears to his apostles and tells them, ”’As the Father has sent me, I am […]
You are referring to what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian brethren regarding propriety in worship (1 Corinthians 11:3-16). At the time of Paul’s writing the Corinthian community was actively discouraging women from wearing veils on the grounds that “woman is the head (source) of every man” contrary to the biblical creation narrative. In […]
Sinning against the holy spirit means that the sinner deliberately and willfully mocks God and his promises, after having been enlightened by the holy spirit and called to be a Son of God. (See Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26, 29, and 31.) When sin is not deliberate, or against the holy spirit, it is not unpardonable. We […]
If a Christian is supposed to rebuke sin with the word of God, but Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7, how does this work? We must first distinguish between God’s forgiveness and our forgiveness. God forgives the sinner’s actual sin if that sinner asks God to do so and is repentant. We can only […]
In Christian theology, universalism is a belief that all mankind will eventually be saved. More specifically, it says everyone, regardless of their relationship with God and His son Jesus, will be resurrected in heaven. As described in Episode 1191: “Are Christians Supposed to Convert the World?” we at Christian Questions are not universalists. However, we […]
In the Old Testament we learn that self-mutilation was a common practice among false religions. 1 Kings 18:24-29 describes a ritual in which those who worshipped the false god Baal slashed themselves with swords and spears. Because of the traditions of pagans, God made a law against this sort of practice. Leviticus 19:28 says, “You […]
The word “lust” (Strong’s #1939) means to long for (rightfully or otherwise), set your heart upon, covet, desire, or long for what is forbidden. There is no sin in noticing the attractiveness of another person. God made us so that we would be attractive to one another. However, at the moment we begin considering what […]
“But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age [old enough to be married], and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not; let them marry. Nevertheless he that standeth steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath […]
Do we just need to try our best, love God and respect people? Thousands of years ago God gave Moses and the Jewish Nation a Law to live by—the Ten Commandments. Although many Jews and Christians alike have tried to keep these commandments perfectly, all have failed, except for our Lord, Jesus, who was a […]
“Faith by itself, if not accompanied by action is dead” James 2:17 “A person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” James 2:24 Why is it that so many Christians do not see the connection between these two very important aspects of the Christian walk? We believe that one reason for […]
What happens if you continue to sin after you’re “saved”? Can you still go to heaven? When Jesus fulfilled his mission on earth, which was to die, he redeemed everyone who ever lived in the past and everyone who was yet to live. Numerous scriptures bring out this fact. For example, 1 Timothy 2:3-6 (KJV) […]
We believe that in order to go to heaven a person must be seeking the Lord and righteousness and believe that Jesus was the Messiah who died so that the entire human race would have a chance for salvation either in heaven or on earth. God often calls such individuals to follow in the pathway […]
The word “rapture” does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Many Christians have the idea that rapture will occur when Christ returns. This thought comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Luke 17:34-35 and the similar account in Matthew 24. “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women […]
When Jesus died and was resurrected, he paid the ransom price so that all people would be freed from the Adamic curse of death. This is an important thought to keep in mind because if one believes you have to be a true Christian (one who is selflessly dedicating his life to do the will […]
How can we harmonize 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 with Revelation 21:2? We believe these scriptures are dealing with different time frames. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After […]
How can we be sure that Jesus did not use the Greek word “krisis” to refer to the second death when he said in John 5:29 that those that have not followed after him would have a resurrection of judgment? How can we be sure that the resurrection of judgment in John 5:29 does not […]
You stated that John says in Revelation 21:21 that “the great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.” You wanted to know if that verse meant that there were no secrets in heaven. You wondered if the “gold” in heaven meant truth and “clear” or “transparent” meant that nothing would be […]
The term antichrist is mentioned in 1 John 2:18,22; 4:3 and 2 John 7. But some other references to “antichrist” are “the man of sin,” “the mystery of iniquity,” “that wicked one,” “the son of perdition,” “the beast,” “the man of lawlessness,” and “the secret power of lawlessness.” For example, see 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 and […]
The first mention of the seven spirits in Revelation is found in chapter 1, verse 4, “To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne.” We believe the “seven spirits” […]
“This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.” Revelation 13:18 This scripture follows the prophetic symbols of the seven-headed beast, a two-horned beast and an image of the beast. Finally this “image of the beast” receives power to […]
“You will not leave my soul in Hades nor allow your Holy one to see decay.” Psalms 16:10 Peter said that the quote is prophetic since David’s body decayed, was David talking about his future resurrection during Judgment Day? In Acts 2:25-28, the Apostle Peter quotes Psalm 16:8-11 and then explains these verses in Acts […]
The concept of the five-fold ministry comes from Ephesians 4:11-13: “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all […]
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be […]
How do we determine to what or to whom a passage of prophecy refers, since the passage is often taken out of context? For example, how do we know that the “root [branch] of Jesse” refers to Jesus (Isaiah 11:1) and that Isaiah 9:8 is also talking about Jesus? There are over 300 Old Testament […]
How do you begin to regain your relationship with God? You pray to Him. The Apostle Paul tells us to go “boldly to the throne of grace,” to obtain mercy and find grace to help in every time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Through prayer you may ask God to forgive you and grant you the […]
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that […]
First, continue to pray and not be discouraged, no matter how difficult the situation. God knows your circumstances and will not forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He loves you and will help you. “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is thy […]
Prayer is one of the greatest privileges God has afforded his children. Prayer is the vehicle by which we may commune with our Heavenly Father in order to gain spiritual strength and wisdom. In fact, prayer is not only a privilege, but a necessity, commanded as indispensable to our Christian growth. In the Scriptures various […]
There are several scriptures (John 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23-24; 16:26) where Jesus directly tells his disciples to pray to the Father in his name. “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13 What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name […]
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) This scripture tells us that a believing human being on this comparatively small planet has the enormous opportunity to communicate with, to praise and to petition the Creator of all things. What a privilege! However, are there some significant guidelines for the prayer […]
Can deadly diseases such as cancer be cured without medicine and instead by the prayers of believers and pastors? The miraculous gifts that Jesus’ disciples received at Pentecost were necessary in order to fulfill Jesus’ last command to them before he ascended into heaven. “Go into all the world and preach the good news to […]
The Apostle Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). There is a reason he makes that statement. Prayer is the Christian’s lifeline. No matter how hard the Christian tries, he is beset with sin from his own fallen flesh, from the world’s allurements, and from Satan. The Christian is incapable of withstanding […]
Evil is certainly a reality and Satan has been allowed to be the “prince” of this “present evil world.” (See John 14:30 and 16:11.) You may ask, “If God is love, why would He permit evil to prosper when it is in direct opposition to His character?” To answer that question we need to go […]
Why would a merciful God allow the innocent to suffer? It certainly seems incredibly cruel and unjust if we look at the situation purely from a human perspective. First, it must be acknowledged that there is no such condition as an innocent human being. “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of […]
If there is a God, why would He allow those who lie, cheat, steal and harm others to continue to prosper? Thousands of years ago a faithful servant of God named Job wondered why God allowed the wicked to prosper and asked God, “Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? […]
God created man in his “image” (Genesis 1:26-27), which means that man has the ability to reason and to make choices. God could have made man a robot to always do what is right, but then he would not be in God’s “image.” God could have shielded man from Satan’s temptation, but then man would […]
“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by […]
The Apostle Paul is the most remarkable of all the Apostles. He was the one directly chosen of God to replace the betrayer, Judas. Paul was also known as Saul of Tarsus. His father was a wealthy Roman citizen, and the name Paul was more commonly used in Rome. His family was strongly Jewish and […]
The Law was a list of rules God gave to Moses for the Israelites to follow. It said – among other things – to honor your father and mother and to not steal or kill. And there weren’t just 10 commandments – there were actually hundreds of parts to the Law. But because everyone is […]
“And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.” Exodus 23:13 (King James Version) Israel was prone to be influenced by the world around them and often worshipped heathen gods. This was extremely […]
The account of Noah and the great Flood is found in Genesis 6-8. God caused a flood to come upon the earth in order to destroy a hybrid race of giants or mighty men (“Nephilim”), whose mothers were human and whose fathers were angels (sons of God) who had materialized and taken on the image […]
Yes, we know God knew beforehand because of Revelation 13:8 – the lamb was slain ‘before the foundations of the earth.’ God already had the plan in place before mankind was created. He told them not to eat the fruit so they would learn the importance of obedience, and that obeying God was an absolute […]
“The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the Lord your God. Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, […]
For centuries, Jews and Christians have embraced the biblical account of the Exodus story as fact. However, especially in the last 20 years, some scholars have stated the event was not historical due to a lack of archeological evidence. Good news! Recent excavations in 2017 may have uncovered historical evidence for the Exodus. We quote […]
What happened to Aaron’s rod that budded and the golden pot of manna that had been placed in the Ark of the Covenant? “This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded and the stone tablets of the covenant.” (Hebrews 9:4) In Hebrews 9 the Apostle Paul refers to the time […]
The first mention of these two trees is found in Genesis 2:8-9. “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good […]
“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:4 The words “in those days” of Genesis 6:4 refer back […]
We do not know if Adam and Eve repented, since the Bible makes no mention of their repentance. Since Adam lived a long time (930 years – Genesis 5:5), it is quite possible that both he and Eve did repent, especially after the murder of their son Abel by his brother Cain. That act must […]
We believe that the knowledge of good and evil was something that God ultimately wanted every member of the human race to have. Had Adam not disobeyed God by partaking of the forbidden fruit, God would have allowed him to have that knowledge at a later date after he had proven his obedience. However, that […]
We will mention one instance in the Old Testament that is illustrative of your inquiry. 1 Samuel 15:2-3 states, “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy […]
“Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge […]
The Bible does not say specifically who Cain’s wife was. The only plausible answer is that she was his sister or perhaps a niece. We presume this because we do not know how old Cain was when he killed Abel. Since they were both farmers, they were most likely full-grown adults. Adam and Eve surely […]
The Bible does not specifically condemn the practice of slavery. It does, however, give instructions as to how slaves should be treated (Deuteronomy 15:12-15; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1). Many infer from the above references and other references as well (Leviticus and Philemon) that the Bible is condoning all forms of slavery. It is not. What […]
Nothing is said about the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament after the Israelites returned to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon in order to build the Second Temple during the time of Ezra and Zachariah. However, the Apocrypha (books that appear in some Bible versions, but are not considered to be canonical) […]
“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Genesis 5:24 The Apostle Paul confirms this thought in Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him.” Notice, neither of these scriptures mentions that Enoch went to […]
Abraham, originally known as Abram (“exalted father”), was born in the Babylonian city of Ur, approximately 4,000 years ago. He was a direct descendent of Noah’s son Shem. Although most of the people in Ur were idol worshippers, Abram prayed to the one true God, Jehovah. Because of his great love for the LORD, God […]
The idea that God initiated war in the Old Testament, especially with all its gore and sometimes even the slaughter of innocent women and children is a difficult concept for Christians to grasp. After all, Jesus taught us that God is love and that we are to love even our enemies. Why, then, did God […]
Acts 3:25 states, “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples of the earth will be blessed.’” This promise was given to Abraham in Genesis 22:18 and again to his son Isaac in Genesis 26:4. The original covenant […]
Melchizedek is mentioned in only three books of the Bible (Genesis, Psalm 110:4, and Hebrews). The only historical account of Melchizedek is found in Genesis 14:9-20 where Abram (later known as Abraham), rescued the inhabitants of Sodom, including his nephew Lot, who were taken captive by the king of Elam. Upon his return, Abram is […]
In Jesus’ statement that “the meek shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5) The key word in this statement is the word inherit. In order to inherit something one must be an heir. The Apostle Paul touched on the Christian’s inheritance in Galatians 3:29. ” And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and […]
“There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.” Romans 8:1 The answer is, yes, for the dedicated Christian (“in Christ”) who submits themselves to God’s will, we are able to have a relationship with God through His son. That person […]
The number of references in the New Testament of the Bible to the Old Testament, as identified by multiple sources, varies. Conservatively, there are over 200 citations from the Old Testament in the New Testament. The number increases to nearly 1,000 or more when including allusions or references to Old Testament verses. Some estimates exceed […]
Thank you for writing us at Christian Questions. You wanted to know if the author of the Gospel of John is the same John who wrote 1 John, 2 John, 3 John as well as the Book of Revelation. Yes, we believe he is the same John, the son of Zebedee (Mark 1:19-20). He was […]
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us—ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all […]
What do you do when you are tired of singleness and want marriage “right now”? Has God forgotten you and is ignoring the strong desires of your heart? First, we must say that your conclusion that God had forgotten about you is incorrect. God is all-knowing. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” […]
Since we are not marriage counselors and do not know the whole story, we can only give you scriptural advice. As you know the Bible warns against marrying an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14-15) because the challenges of such a union can be very difficult. As Christians we need to rise above our challenging circumstances so […]
Even though Adam and Eve sinned and became imperfect, their children were still very near to physical perfection that the offspring of brother and sister unions or other family unions did not suffer adverse effects as children born from such unions would today. In fact, people in ancient times lived in good health for hundreds […]
Although marriage is compulsory if a Christian man and woman want to cohabitate and begin a life together, a church wedding is not necessary. The couple should, however, say their vows in the presence of God and, if possible, before a congregation of family and friends, who witness the couple’s commitment to each other. In […]
Although there are no scriptural references that specifically forbid unmarried couples from living in the same home, it certainly makes good moral sense to live apart. Here’s why. In speaking to unmarried widows, the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:9 says, “For if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better […]
In the eyes of God marriage is a sacred institution. The vows to love, cherish and be faithful for better or worse, in sickness and health unto death are serious promises that a couple make to each other before God and before a congregation of people. As Christians who choose to live in accordance with […]
Who will be living on the earth during Christ’s 1000-year kingdom? First we need to understand to whom the Apostle Paul was referring in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 when he said, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” We […]
“And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and […]
Are we living in God’s kingdom right now? Understanding the timing of God’s kingdom requires an understanding of how salvation works. The subject of the two parts or phases of salvation is crucial for understanding God’s beautiful plan of the ransom for all. Although Jesus died for everyone, His blood was first applied for His […]
In the time of Jesus all his followers were Jewish. Even after his death, the early church was primarily Jewish. This indicates that there were Jews who became Christian. For other Jews this was a difficult transition, feeling Jesus was casting off their Jewish way of life. They misunderstood his work. Jesus said, “Think not […]
King Hezekiah of Judah decreed that the Jewish nation celebrate Passover on the 14th day of the second month rather than the first month of the year as God had ordained (2 Chronicles 30). The theme of 2 Chronicles 30 deals with the re-institution of the Passover, which had fallen into general non-observance after the […]
When was the first Passover lamb to be slain? Israel was told to take the Passover lamb for their homes on the tenth of Nisan (Exodus 12:3). Then we are told: “So shall it be yours, to keep, until the fourteenth day of this month,—then shall all the congregation of the assembly of Israel slay […]
Under the Mosaic Law pork is one of a number of foods forbidden from consumption by Jews. These foods are known as “non-kosher” foods. In order for meat to be kosher, it must first come from a kosher animal. A kosher animal must be a ruminant and have split hooves. Therefore, cows, sheep, goats and […]
The Law of Moses was given to the Jews to keep them pure and separate from the nations around them. The Jews were God’s special people from whom the Messiah was to come. According to Galatians 3:24, the Law was a “tutor” (some translations say “schoolmaster”) to bring people to Christ. The Greek word used […]
Jesus is God’s son. In the very beginning, God’s son was called “The Word of God.” We’re told in John 1:3 “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.” This means under God’s direction, his son created the entire universe including the first humans, Adam and Eve. After Adam and Eve […]
“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that […]
If we look at what Jesus declares about himself, we can determine who he is. Jesus says, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him who sent me.” (John 7:16) This statement verifies the Father-son relationship. In the next verse, Jesus says, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out […]
“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.” […]
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; the Word also was a god [a mighty one].” John 1:1 RVIC Jesus is often called the Word because God reveals his word, plan or purpose through him. We believe that Jesus was God’s only direct creation. All the rest of the creation […]
“Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a […]
Jesus in several scriptures brings out the separateness of himself and his Father. He says, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.” (John 7:16) This statement verifies the father-son relationship. In the next verse, Jesus says, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my […]
We believe that God and his Son Jesus are two separate entities. God’s very first creative act was his Son, the Word, or Logos, by which and through which all things were made (John 1:1-3; Proverbs. 8:22-31; John 1:10; Colossians 1:15-18; Hebrews 1:2). In John 1:1 the Greek definite article is used to distinguish the […]
“We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have […]
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heal.” (Genesis 3:15) God told the serpent (Satan) that the seed of the woman (meaning Eve’s offspring) would one day bring a fatal blow to Satan and his offspring […]
“I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God […]
“For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’” 1 […]
The Law of Moses was given to the Jews to keep them pure and separate from the nations around them. The Jews were God’s special people from which Messiah was to come. The Law acted as a schoolmaster in order to bring the Jews to Christ. ‘’So the law was put in charge to lead […]
The word “rapture” does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Many Christians have the idea that a rapture will occur when Christ returns. This thought comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Luke 17:34-35 and the similar account in Matthew 24. “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two […]
We are not of the opinion that there will be a one-world government ruled by the antichrist, prior to the great time of trouble spoken of in Daniel 12:1. The term antichrist is mentioned in 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3 and 2 John 7. But some other references to “antichrist” are “the man of sin,” […]
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall […]
The answer begins with the story of creation. God created the first man Adam, who sinned by disobeying God. The book of Romans (6:23) says, “The payment for sin is death.” Therefore, Adam eventually had to die because he disobeyed God. Sadly, Adam’s disobedience started a terrible “chain reaction” of sin that has been passed […]
Yes, Jesus did say this. It is found in John 10:34. “Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” In the context he was being challenged by some Jews who wanted him to tell them plainly if he was the Messiah. His answer to them was that his […]
The Bible tells us Mary was Jesus’ mother, and God was his father, (not Joseph). Matthew 13:55-56 and Psalms 69:9 indicate that Mary and Joseph had four sons and several daughters after Jesus was born. Because they all had the same mother, these siblings were half brothers and sisters to Jesus. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s […]
Some mistakenly believe that Jesus was alive in spirit form after his crucifixion, even though his body was dead. They cite as their reference 1 Peter 3:18-20: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but […]
The Bible does not specify just how many women traveled with Jesus and his male disciples, but Luke records the names of a prominent few and mentions “many others.” “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, […]
Jesus’ miracles and healings are not always in chronological order throughout the Gospels. In fact, none of the healings and miracles is found in all four of the Gospels with the exception of the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:15, Mark 6:35, Luke 9:12, and John 6:1). In order to determine when Jesus’ healing […]
“But woe to the man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24) In looking at both translations of this verse in Matthew 26:24 and Mark 14:20 we found that most modern English translations have reversed the order of the original Greek text. […]
Mark 5:1-20 recounts the story of Jesus healing the demon-possessed man. This healing, unlike Jesus’ previous healings (see Mark 1:34; 1:44; 3:12) took place on the eastern side of Lake Galilee. This was a territory largely inhabited by Gentiles, as is indicated by the presence of a large herd of pigs (Mark 5:11-14)— animals Jews […]
In Matthew 22:23-33 Jesus is being questioned by the Sanhedrin about a woman who had been married to seven brothers. The questioners wanted to know whose wife she would be in Heaven? “Jesus answered and said to them ‘You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.’” (Verse 29) Was there an […]
The difference between old and new wine is based on fermentation. Old wine is fermented and has an alcoholic content. The new wine mentioned in the Bible is usually grape juice and has no alcoholic content. The word “wine” is mentioned 231 times in the King James Bible. In the Old Testament there are three […]
We researched your question on the Internet. Below is a synopsis of our findings. The precise shape of the object on which Jesus was crucified cannot be proven explicitly from the Bible. The Greek word translated “cross” is stauros, meaning “a pole or a cross used as an instrument of capital punishment.” The Greek word […]
To understand why Jews have rejected Jesus as their Messiah, we need to look at the political and religious scene at the time of Jesus’ first advent. The Jewish nation was occupied and under the heel of the Roman Empire. Although their leaders had studied the Old Testament and were in expectation of their Messiah, […]
“And you, Capernaum will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of […]
In order to arrive at the correct year of our Lord’s birth we need to look at the Seventy Weeks of years prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27, equaling 490 years (70 x 7). The Seventy Weeks begin with “the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem,” and reach to “Messiah the Prince,” including […]
“Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures [eagles] will gather.” Matthew 24:28 “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures [eagles] will gather.” Luke 17:37 First a little background for Jesus’ reply to his disciples’ question regarding where some would be taken who were “in bed,” “in the field,” or “grinding at the […]
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Matthew 7:6 Jews often referred to the Gentiles (all non-Jews) as “dogs” because they were thought of as unclean, as dogs were, roaming the streets and […]
If Jesus was born under the Law Covenant, was he obligated to keep the temple sacrifices, high Sabbaths and the Seventh Day Sabbath? If so, then shouldn’t Christians today be required to keep them as well? “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, […]
Mark 7:26-27 reads, “He [Jesus] replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread [the favor being applied to the house of Israel] and toss it to their dogs [the Gentiles].’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she [the Canaanite woman] said, ‘but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’” Although it may […]
Jesus owned no tomb or burial place of his own. Isaiah 53:9 says, “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.” His burial arrangement is attributed in all four Gospels to Joseph of Arimathea, a man of wealth and high social standing. He was apparently a member-most likely […]
If Jesus didn’t need to be baptized for repentance or remission of sins and was already begotten of the holy spirit, why was he baptized? It is true that Jesus was a perfect sinless man who was not in need of John’s baptism, which was for repentance of sins. John’s baptism was done in order […]
Tarshish first comes into notice in the days of Solomon. The city was a symbol of size and strength, famed as a port with ships renowned as the largest of that age. Tarshish was located on the Mediterranean Sea and was usually identified with the powerful Phoenician trading colony in southwest Spain near modern Cadiz. […]
“and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:44 The Jewish leadership refused to recognize Jesus as their Messiah during the “time” he visited them on earth. The word […]
The period of time when Israel was first called a nation at the death of Jacob in 1813 B.C. until Jesus pronounced the house of Israel “desolate” (Matthew 23:38) was 1845 years. It was during that time period that Israel was “favored” by God. However, God’s relationship with Israel was not always favorable. God chastised […]
Did the Apostle Peter teach that the nation of Israel would have to repent and be converted before Christ could return? “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was […]
God said to Abraham, “Through your offspring all peoples of the earth will be blessed.” This promise was given to Abraham in Genesis 22:18 and again to his son Isaac in Genesis 26:4. In Genesis 22:17 God tells Abraham that he will make his descendants (his seed) as numerous as the stars in the sky […]
He died. More precisely, the dying process began, kind of like a time bomb was set. This was God’s warning: But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day <Strongs Exhaustive Concordance #3117> that you eat from it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:17 The […]
What does spiritually dead mean? It means that you are not born again. Christians use this term to mean different things with disagreement among denominations. Probably the most popular understanding is that it is used to affirm a relationship with Christ, typically through baptism. John 3 is often quoted with the exchange between Jesus and […]
The miraculous gift of speaking in tongues was from God and was much needed at the time since the gospels were not yet written. The apostles and disciples were commissioned to spread the “good news” by word of mouth to Jews and other people from diverse cultures that spoke a variety of languages. The gift of […]
The Bible describes the holy spirit as being the invisible power or influence of God. God gave most of us five senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The holy spirit is like a very “special sense” that God gives to faithful Christians to help them make good decisions – like helping others, being honest, […]
“When they came up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” (Acts 8:39-40) Just how the […]
Prayer is essential to the Christian because it is your lifeline to God. It is through prayer that the Christian is able to connect with God and experience the peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:6- 7). When Jesus walked the earth he spent many hours communing with his Father in prayer. Jesus’ disciples noted […]
God treats people differently based on the situation and the time period in which they live. In early biblical times, God understood that people needed to hear His voice directly or through angels and prophets in order to believe in His power because the Bible hadn’t been written yet. For example, God spoke to Noah, […]
God is a spirit being, which means, like all spirit beings, He’s invisible. However, we don’t need to see Him to know He’s there. We can’t see the wind, but we CAN see what the wind can do — we can see the wind blowing through the trees, and the wind affecting ripples on the […]
Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” As awful as some people’s experiences are, we must remember that we are alive, we know how to love, and we have a wealth of experience that may someday be used to assist others. The sun comes up every day emphatically showing us that […]
There are several scriptures that clearly state that God does not and, in fact, CANNOT lie. We list four below: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19 […]
The two verses that reveal his name are found in Exodus 3:14 and Exodus 6:3. In Exodus 3:13-15 God commands Moses to tell the people that ‘I AM’ sent him. “Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and […]
How do we draw nearer to God? We do that by worshipping Him, praying to Him and inviting Him into every aspect of our lives. James tells us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your […]
If God is the Creator of all things, then why did he create sins such as rape and murder? If God has a plan for us all, then do we have free-will since he knows every action we will make? God never created sin and all its manifestations (lying, rape, murder, etc.). Satan is the […]
In the Old Testament God had a physical presence on earth referring to Moses’ encounter with Him near the burning bush. You wondered why God no longer shows his presence in the same manner today. Moses was directed to the burning bush when he saw the angel of the LORD within it. It was then […]
Even though all kinds of sinful thoughts may pass through our brains, it is our Christian duty not to entertain them because sinful thoughts soon become sinful deeds. When you recognize a sinful thought against God, you must immediately ask for His forgiveness and then ask Him to help you let go of every thought […]
Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) How does this affect righteous people in the Old Testament such as Enoch, Noah and Abraham who died long before Jesus was born? These ancient worthies, as we often call them, did not go to heaven to be with the Father, even […]
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13) When Jesus said that he had not come to call the righteous, he meant the self-righteous, such as the scribes and Pharisees. The “sinners” are all who recognize themselves as imperfect and in need of repentance. The Apostle Paul, quoting Psalm 14:3 says, […]
“And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the holy spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the […]
Each experience that Abraham had since God told him to leave Ur with his family increased his faith and trust in God. By the time he was asked, many years later, to sacrifice the promised seed (Isaac), God knew that Abraham’s faith in Him and in His ability to raise the dead had solidified to […]
God is the term used to denote the Supreme Being, the Creator of all things. Judaism, Christianity and Islam see God as a being that created the world and rules over the universe. He is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omni-benevolent (all-loving), omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time), and immortal (self-existing and everlasting). He is […]
Matthew 27:52-53, “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” The first question this scene raises is, why did God send an earthquake? In the Scriptures, an earthquake is used […]
Forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same. Although God always requires forgiveness by the one who was wronged (see Matthew 6:14-15), forgiveness does not always lead to reconciliation, the reason being that reconciliation, unlike forgiveness, is a two-way process involving both the offended and the offender. “Forgiveness is an internal process where you work through […]
Yes, there is forgiveness providing the person asking forgiveness is truly repentant. There are many scriptures that indicate that God forgives all manner of sin and shows mercy to the sinner. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’-and […]
The Old Testament says “an eye for an eye,” but the New Testament says “let the LORD have vengeance,” which is correct? The Law of Moses never applied to the Gentiles. It was given to the Jews to keep them pure and separate from the nations around them. The Jews were God’s special people from […]
When someone dies, it’s as if they have gone to sleep. When Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, Jesus described him as “sleeping.” Do you remember last night when you were asleep? Probably not! Death is like sleep; you don’t feel or know anything. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your […]
In the beginning, God created everything. (Gen 1:1) The best part of his earthly creation was the first man, Adam. Adam’s wife Eve was created using one of Adam’s ribs. Adam and Eve were perfect, and lived in the Garden of Eden. God wanted to test Adam and Eve’s obedience, so he gave them a […]
The Bible actually says nothing about near death experiences. While the Bible does record that a person (such as Lazarus in John 11:1-44) died and came back to life, or was very ill to the point of death (Jairius’ daughter in Matthew 9:18-25, Mark 5:22-42), it does not record the experience from the ill person’s […]
Certainly the loss of a loved one is very difficult. God’s plan is full of comfort and hope for everyone. Jesus made that clear when he said, “Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth…” (John 5:28,29) In […]
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