The Bible has much to say about suffering, especially as it relates to followers of Christ and the church. Though suffering is often viewed negatively, Scripture shows how God can use it for good in the lives of believers. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical themes surrounding suffering and the church: Suffering is promised for believers Jesus told his disciples that suffering would be part of the Christian life. In John 16:33 he says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Paul also warns many times that believers…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and plays a vital role in the life of a believer. Though the Holy Spirit has been present and active throughout Scripture, there was a particular point in time when He began indwelling believers in a new way. This took place after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. Jesus promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to them as a helper and guide once He left the earth (John 14:16-18). The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was the fulfillment of this promise. According to…
Encouragement is vitally important for Christians according to the Bible for several reasons: 1. Encouragement helps sustain faith Faith can be difficult to maintain in a fallen world filled with trials and persecution. We all go through times of spiritual weakness where our faith wavers. Encouragement from fellow believers helps strengthen and sustain our faith during these challenging times. As Hebrews 3:13 (ESV) says, “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” We need the mutual encouragement of the Body of Christ to…
The Jordan River crossing recorded in Joshua 3 holds great significance in the biblical narrative. This miraculous event allowed the Israelites to enter the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The Jordan crossing demonstrated God’s power and fulfilled His promise to give the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants. In this roughly 9,000 word article, we will explore the context, events, and implications of the Jordan River crossing in depth. Context of the Jordan Crossing After escaping from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years. This was due to their…
The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is mentioned by Jesus in the gospels as an unforgivable sin. This has caused much concern and confusion among Christians over what exactly constitutes this blasphemy and whether they may have committed it. Based on a close examination of the relevant biblical texts, we can gain insight into the meaning, context, and implications of the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The Biblical Background The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is directly referenced in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In Matthew 12:22-32, Jesus heals a demon-oppressed blind and mute man. The Pharisees…
The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there is one God who exists eternally in three distinct persons – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. The Father is the first person of the Trinity. This is clearly taught throughout Scripture and has been affirmed by orthodox Christianity since the early church. The Father’s role as the first person of the Trinity means a few key things: 1. The Father is eternal and uncreated The Bible teaches that there is only one eternal God who has always existed (Psalm 90:2). The Father is fully…
The Bible does not explicitly prohibit fun and entertainment. However, it does provide principles to guide believers in assessing whether certain activities are wholesome and glorifying to God. Moderation The Bible promotes moderation and self-control in all things. While recreation and leisure have their place, they should not become the central focus of one’s life or lead to excess and addiction (Proverbs 25:16, 1 Corinthians 6:12, Titus 2:12). Christians are called to live balanced lives, with time allotted for work, worship, service, and rest. Good Stewardship The Bible emphasizes wise stewardship of money, time, talents, and resources. Followers of Christ…
Ambrosiaster is the name given to an unknown author of a commentary on most of the books of the Bible. The commentary was originally attributed to Ambrose, the 4th century bishop of Milan, which is why the author is referred to as Ambrosiaster. However, textual analysis has shown conclusively that Ambrose did not write this commentary. The identity of the actual author remains a mystery, although it is clear he was active in Rome during the later 4th century. Here is an overview of what we know about Ambrosiaster and his important biblical commentary: When Did Ambrosiaster Live and Write?…
The term “bridegroom of blood” appears in Exodus 4:24-26, which reads: At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.) This passage occurs right after God commissioned Moses to go to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery. On the way, God suddenly decides to kill…
The Pledge of Allegiance is a patriotic oath that many Americans recite as a way to express loyalty and devotion to their country. The pledge was originally written in 1892 and adopted by Congress in 1942. It states: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” For Christians, pledging allegiance to anything other than God can raise some questions. Does saying the Pledge of Allegiance violate any biblical principles? Should Christians refuse to say the pledge out…