The global pandemic of Covid-19 has raised many questions and challenges for people of faith. Why would a loving, all-powerful God allow such widespread suffering and death? What does the Bible have to say about it? While we may not have complete answers, Scripture does provide wisdom and perspective as we walk through this difficult season. God’s Sovereignty Over Suffering First, the Bible is clear that God is sovereign over all things, including suffering (Psalm 115:3). Nothing happens apart from His divine permission. Disease and disasters are part of living in a fallen, sin-cursed world. Genesis 3 shows that creation…
Author: Emma Price
Deciding how much to give as a tithe is an important spiritual decision for many Christians. The Bible provides principles and guidance that can help each believer determine how much they should give regularly and cheerfully to God. While 10% is a common benchmark, the New Testament calls believers to give generously and sacrificially according to their means. Here are several biblical principles to consider when deciding how much to tithe: 1. Recognize that everything we have belongs to God The earth and everything in it was created by God and belongs to Him (Psalm 24:1). As His stewards, we…
The Maronites are an ethnoreligious group that originated in the Levant region of the Middle East. They trace their heritage back to Mar Maron, a 5th century Syriac monk and saint. The Maronites have had a presence in the Levant since the early centuries of Christianity and remain closely tied to Lebanon, where today they comprise 21% of the total population. The Maronites are Eastern Catholics in full communion with the Holy See in Rome. They retain their own liturgy and hierarchy within the Catholic Church. The Maronite Church maintains Syriac as its official language and the Maronite liturgy is…
The question of whether sinless perfection is possible in this life is a complex theological issue with differing views among Christians. At the heart of the debate is how sanctification occurs and to what extent humans can overcome sin before reaching heaven. This approximately 9000 word article will overview the main biblical arguments surrounding this topic. Defining Sinless Perfection First, it is helpful to define what is meant by “sinless perfection.” This term refers to the idea that Christians can reach a state of complete sanctification in this life where they no longer sin and are free from inherent sinful…
The phrase “He who has ears to hear” is found numerous times throughout the New Testament, spoken by Jesus Himself. This intriguing statement prompts the question – what exactly did Jesus mean by this? When we examine the contexts in which Jesus said these words, some helpful insights emerge. It Indicates There are Spiritual Truths that Need to be Heard In the Gospels, Jesus often said “He who has ears to hear” after teaching parables or difficult spiritual truths (Matthew 11:15, 13:9, 13:43; Mark 4:9, 4:23; Luke 8:8, 14:35). The parables were stories with deeper meanings that conveyed kingdom principles.…
The doctrine of election refers to the biblical teaching that God, in His sovereign grace, has chosen people to salvation. This doctrine is found throughout Scripture and has been affirmed by many Christian confessions and creeds throughout church history. The doctrine of election begins with the truth that all people are sinners deserving of God’s judgment (Romans 3:23). Left to ourselves, none of us would seek after God or desire salvation (Romans 3:10-18). But in His great mercy, God chose to save a people for Himself (Ephesians 1:4-6). This choice was not based on anything good in us, but solely…
Jesus’ statement in John 10:29 that “no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” is a profound assurance of the eternal security of believers. To properly understand what Jesus meant, it is helpful to examine the context and background of this verse. The Setting of John 10:29 John 10 contains Jesus’ famous discourse on Himself as the Good Shepherd. In John 10:22-30, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication and was engaged in a discussion with some of the Jews there. They demanded that He tell them plainly if He was the Christ. Jesus responded that…
The king of the South mentioned in Daniel 11 refers to a series of rulers who controlled Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great. Alexander’s vast empire was divided among his generals after his death, with Ptolemy I Soter taking control of Egypt around 323 BC. He established the Ptolemaic dynasty that would rule Egypt for nearly 300 years until the Roman conquest in 30 BC. Daniel 11 provides a detailed prophecy of events involving the kings of the North (the Seleucid dynasty based in Syria) and the kings of the South (the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt). Verses 5-15…
The issue of whether Sunday is the Christian Sabbath has been debated for centuries among Christians. The seventh day, Saturday, was established at creation as the Sabbath day of rest (Genesis 2:2-3). After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the early church began meeting on Sundays, the day Christ rose from the dead, to celebrate and commemorate His resurrection (Mark 16:9; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). Does this mean Sunday replaced Saturday as the new Christian Sabbath day? There are differing perspectives. The Sabbath in the Old Testament In the Old Testament, the Sabbath day was established by God as a…
As Christians, we are blessed to have many wonderful promises from God recorded in the Bible. Promises that assure us of His love, provision, protection, and eternal life with Him. But with thousands of promises in Scripture, how do we know which ones apply to us personally? Here are some principles to help discern which promises are for you: 1. Consider the context of the promise. Study the verses around the promise to understand the setting and intended audience. For example, God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you…