Eternal damnation refers to the eternal punishment that unrepentant sinners face after death. It is mentioned several times in the Bible, including in Mark 3:29, where Jesus says “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” To understand eternal damnation, we first need to understand the concept of sin. In the Bible, sin is described as disobedience or rebellion against God. All people are sinners (Romans 3:23) and the punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). However, God desires all people to repent and turn to Him, and He offers forgiveness and…
Author: Kerry Baysinger
Recognizing a dead or dying church can be difficult, but there are some key signs to look for according to Scripture. Here are 9000 words on how to biblically identify if a church is spiritually lifeless and ineffective for God’s purposes: One major sign of a dead church is a lack of godly leadership. In Titus 1:5-9, Paul lays out qualifications for elders and overseers, saying they must be above reproach, self-controlled, able to teach sound doctrine, and manage their households well. Leaders in a dying church won’t measure up to these standards. They may be caught in scandal or…
What does it mean to honor God? Honoring God means giving Him the reverence, respect, and glory that He deserves as our Creator and Lord. It involves both our attitudes and actions. Scripture gives us many principles and examples of what it means to truly honor the Lord. We Honor God by Putting Him First One of the most fundamental ways we can honor God is by making Him our top priority in life. He alone is worthy of our fullest devotion, love, and service. As Exodus 20:3 says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” God desires to…
The phrase “let those who love Him be like the sun” comes from Judges 5:31 in the Bible. This verse is part of the Song of Deborah, where the prophetess Deborah celebrates Israel’s victory over their enemies under the leadership of Barak. To understand the full meaning of this phrase, we need to look at the verse in context. Judges 5 records Deborah’s song after Israel’s victory over the Canaanites. In verse 31, Deborah declares: “Thus let all your enemies perish, O Lord! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” This verse contrasts the…
The story of Moses telling his men to spare the Midianite virgins for themselves in Numbers 31:18 is a difficult one for many modern readers to grapple with. However, to properly understand this passage, it is important to consider the cultural and historical context in which it occurs. Here is an approximately 9,000 word analysis exploring this topic: To begin, let’s look at the key verse in question, Numbers 31:18, which states: “But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him keep alive for yourselves.” This verse comes amidst a larger story arc spanning Numbers…
This is an important question that the Bible addresses directly. Proverbs 15:8 and 29 indicate that even the prayers and sacrifices of the wicked are detestable to God. To properly understand these verses, we must first define what it means to be “wicked” from a biblical perspective. In short, the wicked are those who disregard God’s laws and instructions, follow their own sinful desires, and fail to repent. As Proverbs 15:9 explains, “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD.” With this context in mind, we can better grasp why even the prayers and sacrifices of the…
The verse Revelation 2:5 says “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” This verse comes in the context of Jesus’ message to the church in Ephesus. To understand what it means to “repent and do the first works,” we need to examine the background of this church. Background on the Church in Ephesus The book of Revelation contains seven letters written to seven churches in Asia Minor. These were real churches facing real issues at the time.…
The “crown of life” is referenced in James 1:12, which states “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” The crown of life represents the reward believers will receive for remaining faithful through trials and temptations. Here is an explanation of the meaning and significance of the crown of life: It is a heavenly reward The crown of life is reserved for believers in the afterlife. It is not a physical crown believers wear on earth,…
Jesus calming the storm is one of the miracles of Jesus recorded in the New Testament. It appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. In this miracle, Jesus and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat when a violent storm arose. The disciples were afraid they would perish, but Jesus rebuked the wind and told the waves to be still. Immediately the storm ceased and there was a great calm. This miracle demonstrates Jesus’ divine power and authority over the forces of nature. As the Son of God, Jesus has power over the wind…
The name Asaph is mentioned repeatedly throughout the Book of Psalms in the Bible. There are 12 psalms specifically attributed to Asaph (Psalms 50 and 73-83), indicating he was an important figure in the compilation and authorship of the Book of Psalms. Based on biblical evidence, Asaph was a Levite and the leader of music in the tabernacle during the time of King David. He was appointed by David to be the chief musician and conductor of praises before the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chronicles 16:4-7). Asaph and his associates were set apart by David to minister regularly before…
