In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his followers how to live as citizens of the kingdom of God. In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus addresses the issue of responding to evil and injustice: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them…
Author: Matt Primack
A Bible church is a church that emphasizes teaching and preaching directly from the Bible. The Bible is viewed as the sole authority and standard for faith and practice in a Bible church. Here are some key characteristics of Bible churches: Expository Preaching – Sermons go verse-by-verse through books of the Bible, explaining the original meaning and how it applies today. Biblical Literacy – There is a strong emphasis on getting people to read and study the Bible for themselves. Simple Structure – The church organization and programs are simple, with the focus on the Bible. Autonomy – Each Bible…
Why did the first kinsman redeemer refuse to marry Ruth? The book of Ruth in the Bible tells the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who married an Israelite named Mahlon. After Mahlon’s death, Ruth traveled to Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi and sought to provide for herself by gleaning in the fields. There she met and eventually married an Israelite man named Boaz, who became her kinsman-redeemer. However, before marrying Boaz, Ruth sought for a closer relative of her deceased husband to fulfill the duty of kinsman-redeemer first. This man is unnamed in Scripture but is referred to simply…
The question of why God doesn’t forgive Satan is an interesting one that requires looking at several key biblical principles. At the heart of it is understanding the profound evil and rebellion that characterizes Satan against God. First, it is important to establish that Satan and other demons are confirmed to be irredeemable and unforgivable according to Scripture. Passages like Matthew 25:41 talk about “the devil and his angels” being sentenced to “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Revelation 20:10 also depicts Satan being “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and…
Having a biblical worldview means seeing the world through the lens of scripture and allowing the Bible to shape your perspective on every area of life. Unfortunately, many Christians do not consistently apply biblical principles to their worldview. There are several potential reasons for this: Lack of discipleship Many churches today focus on large gatherings and entertaining sermons but fail to provide deeper discipleship and biblical teaching. Christians who are not grounded in Scripture and trained to think biblically can easily adopt beliefs and behaviors from the surrounding culture rather than God’s Word (Matthew 28:19-20). Cultural influences We live in…
The authorship of the Book of Hebrews has been a matter of debate throughout church history. The epistle itself is technically anonymous, as the author does not identify themselves by name. There have been several suggestions over the years as to who the author might be, but there is no scholarly consensus. Here is an overview of the key facts and theories regarding the authorship of Hebrews: Evidence from the Text Itself The text of Hebrews contains a few clues about its author: The author was highly educated, as evidenced by their strong command of Biblical knowledge and their eloquent…
The phrase “a dog returns to its own vomit” comes from 2 Peter 2:22 in the Bible. In context, this verse reads: “It has happened to them according to the true proverb, ‘A dog returns to its own vomit,’ and, ‘A sow, after washing herself, returns to wallowing in the mire'” (2 Peter 2:22 ESV). So what does this peculiar phrase actually mean? Let’s explore the imagery and significance of this expression. The Imagery of a Dog Returning to Its Vomit At face value, the imagery here is quite graphic and unappealing. The idea of a dog going back to…
The story of David and Bathsheba is one of the most well-known yet perplexing accounts in the Bible. In 2 Samuel 11, we read how David committed adultery with Bathsheba and she became pregnant. To cover up his sin, David arranged for her husband Uriah to be killed in battle. After Bathsheba finished the mourning period for her husband, David took her as his wife. However, their first child together became grievously ill and died seven days after birth (2 Samuel 12:15-18). This seems incredibly unfair that an innocent baby would suffer the consequences of its parents’ sins. When confronted…
Bravery is a virtue that is highly esteemed in the Bible. Scripture provides many examples of brave men and women who trusted in God and acted courageously in the face of danger. Here is an overview of some key biblical themes related to bravery: Courage comes from trusting in God The Bible makes it clear that true bravery comes not from self-reliance but reliance on God. When we trust in God’s sovereign power and promises, we can act courageously even when afraid (Psalm 56:3-4, Isaiah 41:10). Knowing God is with us empowers us to face challenges head-on rather than run…
False guilt, also known as neurotic guilt, refers to feelings of guilt that are irrational, disproportionate, and misplaced. It goes beyond normal guilt and is often rooted in cognitive distortions or an overly strict conscience. False guilt can weigh us down unnecessarily and keep us trapped in negative thought cycles. The good news is that with God’s truth and grace, we can find freedom from false guilt. What causes false guilt? There are several potential causes of false guilt: Perfectionism – Holding ourselves to unrealistic standards that go beyond God’s commands. Overactive conscience – Having an overly strict or scrupulous…