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There are several factors to consider when responding to this excellent question. Reflect upon the following: Salvation is wonderfully described in the New Testament as a free gift. This terminology is used to emphasize that God is under no compulsion to offer it. Man, by his choice, has rebelled...
When we discuss the fact that we “hear God,” we are considering what God fundamentally communicates about the plan of salvation and how we can obey it. Of course, God “speaks” through his creation (Ps. 19:1; Rom. 1:20). But this general revelation of God does not specify how we can be saved from ...
Could anxiety be sinful? Yes, if we accept the testimony of Jesus and respect Paul's apostolic command. But the Bible certainly acknowledges that life’s complications can be depressing. The words "depressing" and "depressed" are flexible in their meaning and cover a broad spectrum of mental state...
We typically do not comment on specific issues related to congregations. It is impossible to know all of the facts surrounding certain events, and it is impossible to know the hearts of those involved. We can, however, address some general biblical principles. Individuals or congregations must ma...
No, it wouldn't. Note the following factors: 1. The term "unknown" is not in the original text. The King James translators added it. It is unwarranted and unnecessary. 2. In 1 Corinthians 14, the nature of the "tongues" must match those defined earlier in the New Testament (i.e., human languages;...
In the King James Version of the Bible, Isaiah 14:12 reads: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” The term "Lucifer" was adopted by the King James Version translators from Jerome's Latin Vulgate editi...
Before analyzing Proverbs 14:4, it's important to note that, contrary to popular belief, the Bible aims to guide us in every aspect of life. It does not divide life into secular and religious spheres. Instead, God has given us principles for righteous living in all areas (1 Peter 1:3). That impor...
Let us first address whether or not the content of Job is historically authentic. First, Job reads like history. It tells of events that happened to a man named Job. He lived in the land of Uz. It details his family, his life, and his suffering. It also conveys his friends’ interest in his suffer...
The Samaritans accepted only the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy) as Scripture, yet they confidently anticipated the Messiah. In the Temple court, Peter preached: ““Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me; to him shall ye he...
Ecclesiastes 12:14 affirms the following: "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil." The thrust of this sober passage seems to be this. The works of men, whether good or evil, may be hidden from one's contemporaries. That is,...
The term "condemned" in Galatians 2:11 is a point of controversy among some commentators. As with many biblical texts, it is important to understand what is happening in the passage and the circumstances that prompted the author to write. The larger context in which the controversial term is foun...
Because the Scriptures do not mention the Gideons, I cannot give you an answer based on explicit Biblical testimony. However, I can cite some principles that should help you reach a decision on this matter. Who Are the Gideons? The Gideons International association is an organized group of busine...
First, I would dispute the chronological theory that suggests the Universe is billions of years old. I do not believe there is indisputable scientific evidence supporting that view, and I believe there is substantial evidence against it. I have discussed this briefly in my book, Creation, Evoluti...
The term “Jehovah,” appearing in the American Standard Version (1901), takes the place of “LORD” (all caps) in the King James Translation, as well as in most modern versions. It derives from four Hebrew consonants, called the Tetragrammaton, a term that signifies a four-letter word. This expressi...
There are many ideas that people have about who will be in Heaven. Since no one on Earth today has ever personally experienced going to Heaven, all we have to go on is what has been revealed and confirmed through the Scriptures. What Does the Bible Actually Say About Who Will Go to Heaven? First,...
The Natural Order of Leadership There is a natural order that exists in the very nature of the divine scheme of things. In his first Corinthian epistle, Paul declares: “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is...
Three verses in the New Testament include the word “pastor” (in various forms): Ephesians 4:11, Acts 20:28, and 1 Peter 5:2. In Ephesians 4:11, Paul discusses various roles that Christ placed in the church. He intends for “pastors and teachers” to serve in the church. The expression “pastors and ...
The pagan myth charge, often applied to the birth of Christ, is frequently made by the uninformed. Here is a classic example: “The idea of a supernatural or virgin birth is pagan, and it must have found its way into the story of Jesus through Gentile-Christian channels (Bundy, p. 11).” The truth ...
The prophecy in Daniel 2:44 says: “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” Some may speculate...
Let's review the text from which this question comes. “And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the s...