Philippians 2:14 instructs us to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” This verse teaches an important principle for Christians to apply in their daily lives. In this article, we will explore the meaning, context, and application of this verse to understand how we can live it out. The Meaning of Philippians 2:14 The phrase “do all things” indicates that this command applies broadly to every area of our lives. It is not limited to just certain circumstances or relationships. The words “without grumbling or disputing” describe the manner in which we should do all things. Grumbling means complaining or…
Author: Emma Price
Who are the Free Will Baptists, and what do they believe? The Free Will Baptists are a denomination of Christians who believe in the doctrines of free will, free grace, and free salvation. Their beliefs center around the ideas that every person has free will to accept or reject God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, that God’s grace is freely given to all, and that salvation is freely available to all who believe in Christ. History and Origins The Free Will Baptist denomination can trace its origins back to the General Baptists in England in the early 17th century.…
The Gospel of Mark makes extensive use of the term “immediately” (Greek: εὐθὺς euthys). By one count, Mark uses εὐθὺς 42 times, while the other three canonical gospels use it a combined total of only 18 times. So why does Mark use this term so frequently? There are several reasons scholars have proposed to explain Mark’s pervasive use of “immediately”: 1. To portray the urgency of Jesus’ ministry Many scholars believe Mark uses “immediately” so often in order to create a sense of urgency about Jesus’ ministry and mission. In Mark’s telling, Jesus hits the ground running as soon as…
This is a complex question with much debate and discussion among Christians and Rastafarians alike. At nearly 9,000 words, this article will provide an in-depth analysis of what the Bible teaches about who God is and whether He can be equated with the Rastafarian god “Jah.” Overview of Rastafarian Beliefs Rastafarianism originated in Jamaica in the 1930s and worships Haile Selassie I, former Emperor of Ethiopia, as the messiah. Rastafarians believe Selassie is the black incarnation of God, whom they often call Jah. This name comes from the shortened form of the Hebrew name Jehovah or Yahweh. So for Rastafarians,…
The incident of Peter cutting off the ear of Malchus is described in all four Gospels (Matthew 26:51-54, Mark 14:47, Luke 22:50-51, John 18:10-11). Here is a summary of what happened: Jesus and his disciples had gone to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray on the night before his crucifixion. While they were there, a crowd sent by the chief priests and elders came to arrest Jesus. This crowd included temple guards, as well as some Roman soldiers. The Gospels specifically mention that one of the men was named Malchus. When the crowd arrived to seize Jesus, Simon Peter drew…
Defining what constitutes “Christian music” can be complicated, as there are many different opinions on what qualities make music align with Christian values and beliefs. At its core, Christian music contains lyrics that promote Christian ideas and biblical principles. But beyond lyrics, some key questions to consider when evaluating if a song or genre qualifies as Christian music include: Does the Music Affirm Core Christian Beliefs? For music to be considered truly Christian, the lyrics should align with fundamental biblical truths about God, Jesus, salvation, and Christian living. Songs that clearly reference God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, biblical stories,…
Revelation 7:9 describes a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. This passage comes in the midst of Revelation’s descriptions of the end times. John sees four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth (Revelation 7:1). Another angel ascends from the east with the seal of the living God, and calls out to the four angels not to harm the earth until…
The concept of living in a “fallen” world is central to the Christian faith. It refers to the biblical teaching that when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, it brought sin and death into the world and created a separation between God and humanity (Genesis 3). The state of the world today – filled with evil, suffering, and brokenness – is a direct result of the “fall” of humanity into sin. So what are some of the key things the Bible teaches about living in a fallen world? 1. The world is full of sin and its…
Revelation 13:3 states “One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.” This verse refers to one of the heads of the beast from the sea, which represents a powerful kingdom or empire. The healing of the fatal wound has great significance in Revelation and biblical prophecy. First, the healing of the fatal wound signifies the resurrection or revival of this kingdom or empire. John likely had in mind the Roman Empire here. Rome seemed to suffer a mortal wound but revived in…
All sin is ultimately against God because He is the supremely and perfectly holy Creator that we have rebelled against. Every moral violation is a personal offense against Him. When David committed adultery and murder, he acknowledged in Psalm 51:4, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” Even when our sin is against other people, it is ultimately against God because He created those people in His image and gave them worth and value. God’s Nature and Character God is perfectly righteous, just, pure, and holy (Psalm 99:9, 1 John 1:5). He…