The Conservative Baptist Association (CBA) is a fellowship of independent Baptist churches and individuals who hold to conservative Baptist beliefs and practices. Here is an overview of what the CBA believes: Beliefs about the Bible The CBA affirms belief in the divine inspiration, truthfulness, and authority of the 66 books of the Bible (Genesis to Revelation) as the complete written revelation of God. They believe the Bible is infallible, inerrant, and the final authority for faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17). They hold to a literal 6-day creation, a young earth, a worldwide flood, and reject evolution. They believe the…
Author: Erin Weitzman
The office of pastor is a role found in many Christian churches today. However, there is debate among Christians as to whether the Bible explicitly teaches about or mandates this office. Exploring what the Bible says about church leadership and shepherding God’s people can shed light on this question. Evidence for the office of pastor There are several arguments made to support the idea that the office of pastor is biblical: The Greek word translated “pastor” in Ephesians 4:11 is poimēn, which means “shepherd.” This suggests a defined office of pastor/shepherd in the church. Peter instructs elders to “shepherd the…
The Bible has a lot to say about witchcraft, sorcery, magic, and being bewitched. At its core, being bewitched refers to coming under the power or influence of evil spirits through magical arts or witchcraft. Let’s take a deeper look at what the Bible teaches about this topic. Definitions from the Bible The Bible uses various terms that relate to witchcraft and being bewitched. Some key terms include: Witchcraft – The practice of magic, sorcery, and spells (Galatians 5:20). This includes attempted manipulation of people and events through supernatural means. Sorcery – The use of spells, incantations, and magical practices…
The tenth and final commandment, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20:17), is an important conclusion to God’s laws for humanity. While the first nine commandments focus on outward actions, the tenth goes to the heart of the matter by prohibiting the desires and attitudes that lead to wrong actions. There are several reasons why “You shall not covet” is included in the Ten Commandments: 1. Coveting leads to other sins…
The Ten Commandments are found in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. The very first commandment given to the Israelites through Moses was: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). This commandment established that the Lord alone deserved their worship, allegiance and obedience. No false god or idol was to usurp His rightful place as the one true God. There are a few key reasons why this commandment to have no other gods was so prominent: 1. It affirmed God’s exclusive sovereignty By commanding “no other gods before me”, Yahweh was asserting his uniqueness and supremacy. As the…
Easter is one of the most important Christian holidays. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. Here are some common questions people have about Easter and what the Bible says about this holy day: When is Easter and how is the date determined? The date of Easter changes every year. It is determined by a complex formula based on the lunar calendar. Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox around March 21. So it can fall anytime between March 22 and April 25. This…
The Bible has a lot to say about defilement and being made unclean. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical teachings on this topic: Ritual Impurity Much of the Old Testament law was focused on ritual purity and impurity. God gave the Israelites detailed laws regarding activities and substances that could make a person ceremonially unclean. For example: Touching a dead body (Numbers 19:11-22) Skin diseases like leprosy (Leviticus 13-14) Bodily discharges (Leviticus 15) Eating certain foods (Leviticus 11) When a person became ritually impure, they had to undergo purification rites before they could enter the sanctuary…
The commandment “You shall not murder” is one of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17. Here are 9000 words explaining why this commandment is included in the Ten Commandments and what the Bible teaches about it: The Ten Commandments were given by God to provide moral guidance and structure for the Israelites as they entered into a covenant relationship with Him. They serve as foundational laws and principles that God expected His people to live by. The commandments address matters of relationship with God as well as with other people. “You shall not murder” specifically deals…
The concept of time travel, moving backward or forward in time, is not directly addressed in the Bible. However, the Bible does contain principles and examples that relate to our understanding of time and give insight into whether time travel could be possible according to a biblical worldview. God’s Sovereignty Over Time The Bible teaches that God is eternal and transcends time. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8). He inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15) and for Him, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day (2 Peter 3:8).…
Old Covenant vs New Covenant—What Are the Differences? The Old and New Covenants are the agreements that God made with His people in the Bible. The Old Covenant was the agreement made between God and the Israelites at Mount Sinai after He freed them from slavery in Egypt. It is sometimes referred to as the Mosaic Covenant because Moses was God’s chosen leader of the Israelites. The New Covenant is the agreement made between God and humanity through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As the names imply, the Old Covenant represents the original agreement between God and His people, while…