Marriage is a sacred union ordained by God between a man and a woman. According to the Bible, God designed marriage to be a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman for companionship, intimacy, and procreation (Genesis 2:24). Here is an overview of God’s design for marriage according to Scripture: 1. Companionship God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18). Marriage alleviates loneliness and provides mutual support, love and companionship. Husbands and wives are to be each other’s closest human companion and friend. 2.…
Author: Matt Primack
The concept of spiritual rebirth is central to the Christian faith. It refers to the transformation that takes place in a person’s life when they commit their life to following Jesus Christ. Spiritual rebirth is made possible by God’s grace and it comes through faith in Christ. Here is an overview of what the Bible teaches about spiritual rebirth: 1. Spiritual rebirth is needed because of sin The Bible teaches that all people are born with a sinful nature (Psalm 51:5). This means there is a natural tendency in every human heart to rebel against God and go our own…
The Synoptic Gospels refer to the first three gospels of the New Testament – Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The term “synoptic” means “seeing together” and refers to the fact that these three gospels contain many similar stories, teachings, and experiences in the life of Jesus Christ. They are called the Synoptic Gospels because they share a similar view of Jesus’ life and ministry. The Gospel of Matthew was written around AD 80-90 and has been attributed to the apostle Matthew, who was a tax collector and one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. Matthew’s gospel aims to present Jesus as…
Ageism refers to prejudice or discrimination against individuals or groups based on their age. This can include stereotypes, assumptions, and attitudes that lead to the marginalization or exclusion of older or younger people. The Bible does not explicitly use the term “ageism,” but it does contain principles and examples that are relevant to how we think about and treat people of different ages. Old Age is a Blessing from God The Bible presents old age as a blessing from God, not something to be despised. In the Old Testament, advanced age was seen as a reward for righteousness and obedience…
The question of whether Christianity is a “white man’s religion” is a complex one that cannot be easily answered with a simple yes or no. There are several factors to consider when examining this issue from a biblical perspective: 1. Christianity originated in the Middle East It’s important to note that Christianity did not originate in Europe or among white Europeans. Jesus Christ himself was born in the Middle East and was ethnically Jewish. The early Christian church began in Jerusalem and much of the New Testament was written in Asia Minor and Greece. Christianity spread rapidly in the first…
The passion of Christ refers to the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross. It encompasses the final hours of his life from the Last Supper to his crucifixion and burial. The passion is central to Christian theology as it represents the sacrifice Jesus made to achieve the forgiveness of sins for all humanity. The events leading up to the crucifixion After the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, Jesus went with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Here, he experienced great emotional anguish and sorrow, even sweating drops of blood (Luke 22:44). He was then…
The Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin are told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 15. These parables convey important truths about God’s love and salvation. In this approximately 9000 word article, we will explore the meaning and significance of these parables. The Setting of the Parables Luke 15 begins by telling us that “the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear [Jesus]” (Luke 15:1 ESV). However, the Pharisees and scribes grumbled that Jesus “receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). In response, Jesus tells three parables – the Lost Sheep, the…
The ephod was an important garment worn by the high priest in ancient Israel. It is described primarily in Exodus 28, Exodus 39, and Leviticus 8. The ephod was made of fine linen and consisted of two pieces – a front and a back section – joined together at the shoulders and fastened around the waist by a skillfully woven band. On each shoulder was an onyx stone engraved with the names of six of the tribes of Israel. Attached to the ephod was the breastpiece, which contained the Urim and Thummim. The ephod was colorful and intricately embroidered. The…
King Ahaz was the king of Judah who reigned from around 732 to 716 BC. During his reign, Ahaz introduced idolatrous practices in Judah and even sacrificed his own son by fire (2 Kings 16:3). He also removed furnishings from the temple and modified parts of the temple structure (2 Kings 16:17-18). One significant act that Ahaz did was to build a new altar to replace the bronze altar that Solomon had originally built for the temple (2 Kings 16:14-16). The Bible provides some key details about this new altar that Ahaz built: It was based on a pattern that…
What are some of the symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Bible? The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity in Christian theology. He is often represented symbolically throughout the Bible. Here are some of the main symbols associated with the Holy Spirit: Dove The dove is one of the most recognized symbols of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32). The dove represents purity, gentleness, and peace. As the Holy Spirit descended…