The topic of why governments allow churches to be tax-exempt is an important one that the Bible can provide perspective on. At over 9,000 words, this article will take a deep dive into the biblical principles and teachings that are relevant to this issue. To begin, it is helpful to understand the general biblical view on the role and purpose of government. While the Bible does not prescribe one form of government over another, it does provide principles for how governing authorities should conduct themselves. A key passage is Romans 13:1-7, where the apostle Paul writes: Let every person be…
Author: Erin Weitzman
The “blessed hope” referred to in Titus 2:13 is the return of Jesus Christ. This verse says, “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” The blessed hope of believers is the glorious appearing of Jesus when He comes back to earth. Here are 9000 words explaining what the Bible teaches about this event: The return of Christ has been the hope and expectation of Christians throughout history. Jesus promised His disciples that He would come again (John 14:3) and the angels declared at His ascension that He would return…
The Bible contains many prophecies that were fulfilled hundreds or even thousands of years after they were recorded. The accuracy and detail of these prophecies strongly suggest divine inspiration and provide evidence that the Bible can rightly predict future events. One of the most remarkable prophecies is Isaiah’s prediction of Cyrus the Great. In Isaiah 44:28, the prophet mentions Cyrus by name and prophesies that he would conquer Babylon. Isaiah made this prediction around 150 years before Cyrus was born! The prophecy was perfectly fulfilled when Cyrus captured Babylon in 539 BC and allowed the Jews to return to their…
Perfectionism is a complex issue that involves setting exceedingly high standards and being overly critical of oneself. Many Christians struggle with perfectionistic tendencies even though the Bible makes it clear that absolute perfection is impossible for imperfect humans. Here’s an overview of some key biblical principles regarding perfectionism: Striving for flawlessness is unwise The Bible warns against striving for perfection since it leads to frustration and condemnation. Scripture says that no one can attain sinless perfection in this life (1 Kings 8:46, Romans 3:23). Even righteous figures like Noah, Moses, David and Paul struggled with imperfection. Ecclesiastes 7:16 warns against…
The issue of doubting one’s salvation is an important one that many Christians struggle with. This article will dive deep into what the Bible says about salvation, assurance, and doubt in order to provide biblical clarity on this topic. What Does it Mean to be Truly Saved? According to the Bible, for someone to be truly saved they must repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Acts 3:19, Acts 16:31). This results in them being born again spiritually and receiving eternal life (John 3:3, John 3:16). When someone is born again, they…
Backbiting refers to the act of speaking unfavorably about someone who is not present. It often involves sharing information that will make others think negatively of the person being discussed. Backbiting goes against principles in the Bible about how we should treat others. Here is an overview of some of the main biblical passages about backbiting and the key points they reveal: Backbiting is condemned in Scripture Several verses directly condemn backbiting as a sin: “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and…
The Bible offers some intriguing glimpses into what heaven will be like, but the details are limited. When it comes to mansions in heaven, there is only one direct reference, found in John 14:2. Jesus tells his disciples, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” This verse is not about literal mansions, but rather dwelling places or abodes. Jesus was promising his followers that there is ample room for everyone in heaven. He would not have made this promise if it were…
Humility is a virtue that is emphasized throughout the Bible. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical teachings on humility: Humility is pleasing to God The Bible makes it clear that God values and honors humility. For example: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5) “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11) Humility is associated with wisdom and the fear of the Lord, which Scripture praises (Proverbs 11:2, 15:33). Pride, on the other hand, is depicted as sinful and…
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith. After Jesus was crucified and buried, He rose from the dead on the third day, just as He had foretold. The resurrection validated Jesus’ claims to divinity and served as proof that He had conquered sin and death. Two important post-resurrection appearances of Jesus are recorded in the Gospel of John. In John 20, Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene outside His tomb. When she recognizes Him, she exclaims “Rabboni!” (meaning teacher). Jesus then says to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to…
The Bible is a complex and multilayered text that has been translated numerous times over thousands of years into hundreds of languages. This complex translation process inevitably raises questions about how it impacts the inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility of the Bible. Inspiration refers to the belief that the Bible writers were divinely guided by the Holy Spirit in their writing. 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” This verse indicates that Scripture comes from God himself. Inerrancy is the belief that the Bible…