The story of God commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac is one of the most well-known and perplexing stories in the Bible. It raises many questions about God’s character, His relationship with Abraham, and the meaning behind this difficult test of faith. The account is found in Genesis 22. God tells Abraham, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2). This command from God was shocking and seemingly went…
Author: Aaron Chin
The Bible has a lot to say about social justice, which is broadly defined as promoting a fair and equitable society for all people. Here is an overview of some of the major biblical themes related to social justice: 1. Caring for the poor and vulnerable The Bible frequently instructs us to care for those less fortunate and vulnerable in society, including the poor, widows, orphans, foreigners, and others who may be marginalized or oppressed. For example: “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” (Proverbs 14:31) “Learn to do…
The phrase “I buffet my body” comes from 1 Corinthians 9:27, where Paul writes: “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” The key word here is “buffet” or in some translations “discipline.” Paul is describing his effort to master his own body and desires, so that he will not fall into sin and be disqualified from Christian ministry. Looking at the context, Paul has been talking about giving up his rights and freedoms for the sake of the gospel. He has the right to be supported financially…
Romans 6:11 says “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” This verse comes in the broader context of Paul’s letter to the Romans, where he is explaining the implications of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. In particular, Romans 6 focuses on the believer’s freedom from sin and new life in Christ. To be “dead to sin” means that a believer in Christ has died to the power and penalty of sin. Through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, the believer’s relationship with sin has been broken. Their old sinful nature…
The Baha’i faith is a relatively new monotheistic religion that emphasizes the spiritual unity of humankind. It was founded in 19th century Persia by Baha’u’llah, who the Baha’is believe was a messenger from God. Here is an overview of some of the key teachings and practices of the Baha’i faith according to the Bible: God Baha’is believe in one God who has progressively revealed His will to humanity through a series of divine Messengers including Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, and most recently the Báb and Baha’u’llah. The Bible confirms the existence of one true God who has…
A Christian funeral is a time to reflect on the life of the deceased, offer comfort to the bereaved, and affirm faith in Jesus Christ and the hope of resurrection. Here are some key areas that should be the focus of a Christian funeral service: Giving Thanks for the Life of the Deceased While there is grief and loss at a funeral, there is also opportunity to give thanks for the life of the deceased. The pastor can highlight the person’s character, accomplishments, relationships and other meaningful aspects of their life. Sharing favorite memories and the impact the person had…
Parachurch ministries refer to Christian organizations that work outside of the local church to fulfill a specific mission or provide a particular service. Some common examples include campus ministries, pregnancy resource centers, Christian media outlets, bible translation organizations, and advocacy groups. The question arises if parachurch ministries have biblical support or if they improperly supplant the role of the local church. There are several passages in the New Testament that provide wisdom for how parachurch ministries can rightly relate to local churches: 1. Parachurch ministries are gifts to the church In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul describes how God gifts people in…
The Via Dolorosa, also known as the “Way of Sorrows,” is a street in the Old City of Jerusalem believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. The winding route stretches along approximately 2,000 feet (600 m), beginning from the Antonia Fortress located near the Lions’ Gate (St. Stephen’s Gate) in the Muslim Quarter and ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter. The Via Dolorosa commemorates the path Jesus took while carrying his cross, after his condemnation by Pontius Pilate, to Calvary where he was crucified and died. According…
The ancient city of Pompeii, located in modern-day Italy, is not directly mentioned in the Bible. However, there are some passages in the Bible that may relate to the destruction of Pompeii in 79 AD. The Destruction of Pompeii Pompeii was an ancient Roman city near modern Naples in the Campania region of Italy. It was destroyed, along with the nearby town of Herculaneum, when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. The violent eruption buried the entire city under many feet of volcanic ash and pumice, preserving many buildings and artifacts until excavations began in the 18th century. The eruption…
Wormwood is mentioned several times in the Bible, but its most significant mention is in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 8:10-11, John sees a great star fall from heaven, burning like a torch. It falls on a third of the rivers and springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters become wormwood, and many people die from the bitter water. So what does this mean? Here are some key points about the symbolism of wormwood in Revelation: Wormwood Represents Bitter Judgment The Greek word for wormwood is apsinthos. Wormwood is a bitter…