Why should we not rejoice when our enemy falls (Proverbs 24:17)? The Bible teaches us to love our enemies and to refrain from taking pleasure in their downfall. Proverbs 24:17 says, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.” This goes against our natural instincts for revenge and retribution when someone has wronged us. However, as Christians, we are called to a higher standard of conduct. Here are some key reasons why we should not rejoice when our enemy falls: 1. It is sinful to rejoice at another’s misfortune The motivation…
Author: Aaron Chin
The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan is an allegorical novel published in 1678 that depicts the journey of a Christian named Christian from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature and has been translated into more than 200 languages. Here is an overview of this influential novel: Background and Context John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress while imprisoned for 12 years for preaching without a license from the Church of England. During this time, he began the work on his allegorical story of the journey…
The Bible does not encourage or endorse communicating with the dead. Scripture teaches that the dead are unconscious and awaiting the resurrection. Praying to the dead would be both futile and potentially dangerous. Here’s an overview of what the Bible says about the state of the dead and communicating with the departed: The dead are unconscious According to Scripture, when people die they enter an unconscious sleep-like state, awaiting resurrection: “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Their love and their…
Marriage is an institution ordained by God, and a Christian marriage ceremony is meant to honor and reflect biblical principles. There are many important considerations when planning a Christian wedding ceremony in order to align with scriptural values. This article will explore key areas to focus on when incorporating biblical foundations into your Christian marriage celebration. The Covenant of Marriage In the Bible, marriage is described as a holy covenant between a man, a woman, and God (Malachi 2:14). The covenantal nature of marriage is important to emphasize in a Christian wedding ceremony. Marriage is not just a contract between…
The presence of multiple Baptist churches with sequential ordinals like “First Baptist Church” and “Second Baptist Church” in the same city is a common phenomenon in many places across the United States. This occurrence can be traced back to the historical development of Baptist churches and denominations in America over the past few centuries. Baptists originated in 17th century England, where they split off from the established Church of England largely over the issue of baptism. Early Baptists rejected infant baptism practiced by the Anglican church and insisted that baptism was only valid when administered upon a confession of faith…
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith. The Bible teaches that Jesus literally and physically rose from the dead after being crucified. But what does it mean that Jesus rose “again”? Here are some key things to understand: 1. Jesus rose again because He had died For Jesus to rise “again” implies that He had previously died. The Gospels record in detail Jesus’ death by crucifixion (Matthew 27:32-56; Mark 15:21-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:16-37). He was beaten, whipped, and nailed to a cross where He hung for hours until He died. To ensure His death, a…
The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that exactly 144,000 selected Christians will go to heaven to rule with Christ in the kingdom of God. This number comes from Revelation 7:4 and Revelation 14:1, 3. They believe this number is symbolic rather than literal, representing a “little flock” rather than a precise number (Luke 12:32). The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the 144,000 will be resurrected to heavenly life as spirit creatures to rule with Christ in heaven. They will serve as kings and priests alongside Jesus Christ for 1,000 years (Revelation 5:10, 20:6). This group is also referred to as the “anointed class”…
Worship is a central part of the Christian faith, and there are many different styles and forms that worship can take. When evaluating different worship styles, the key question is whether or not they align with principles from the Bible. There are some worship practices that clearly go against biblical teaching, while others may be more disputable matters of personal conscience and preference. Here are some biblical principles to consider when evaluating worship styles: Worship should be God-centered and focused on bringing glory to Him (Psalm 29:2, 1 Corinthians 10:31). Forms of worship that draw inappropriate attention to the worshipers…
The “leaven of the Pharisees” is a phrase that Jesus uses in the Gospels to refer to the teachings and practices of the Pharisees that He considered hypocritical, self-righteous, and opposed to the true spirit of God’s law. Leaven, or yeast, was used as a metaphor in the ancient world for how a small amount of something could spread and permeate a whole lump of dough. So when Jesus refers to the “leaven of the Pharisees,” He is saying that their corrupt and hypocritical teachings were like a little bit of yeast that could infect many people. There are several…
The phrase “works of the law” appears in key passages in Romans and Galatians, specifically Romans 3:20 and Galatians 2:16. In these verses, Paul makes an important distinction between trying to earn righteousness through obeying the law, versus receiving righteousness through faith in Christ. Understanding this distinction is crucial to grasping the good news of salvation by grace alone through faith alone. What Are the Works of the Law? When Paul refers to “works of the law,” he is referring specifically to the commands and statutes given by God in the Mosaic Law (the Law of Moses, ie the Torah).…