The phrase “God owns the cattle on a thousand hills” comes from Psalm 50:10 in the Bible, which says: “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.” This verse is part of a passage where God is rebuking his people for making meaningless sacrifices and not living righteously. In this context, God is asserting his supreme authority and ownership over all of creation, including livestock. So what does this phrase mean for us today? Here are a few key points: 1. God owns everything This verse is a reminder that God is the ultimate…
Author: Nicole Sands
A Missionary Baptist church is a Baptist church that believes in the Great Commission, which is Jesus’s command to his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Missionary Baptists believe that spreading the gospel message through missions and evangelism should be a primary focus of the church. Some key beliefs and characteristics of Missionary Baptist churches include: Autonomy of the local church – Each local church is self-governing and independent from denominational control. Priesthood of all believers – All Christians have direct access to God through Christ and do not need a priest to intercede. Two…
The Bible has much to say about the dangers of putting oneself above God. Often referred to as idolatry or self-worship, elevating oneself to the status of a god goes against the core teachings of Scripture. Rather than seeking our own glory and desires, we are called to humble ourselves and submit to the lordship of Christ. A few key principles the Bible lays out regarding the “god of self” include: Pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). When we are prideful and self-focused, it leads to our downfall. We are to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow…
A Course in Miracles (ACIM) is a book that claims to be a new revelation from Jesus Christ himself. However, from an orthodox Christian perspective, there are several issues with the teachings presented in ACIM that contradict biblical truth. Overview of ACIM First published in 1975, A Course in Miracles was authored by Dr. Helen Schucman who claimed she received the content by “inner dictation” from Jesus Christ. Schucman was an atheist Jew who had no previous background in Christianity. The book aims to help readers achieve spiritual transformation by emphasizing inner miracles through forgiveness and love rather than outward…
The question of whether God pursues us is an important one for those seeking to understand the nature of God’s relationship with humanity. The Bible has much to say on this topic, revealing a God who actively seeks out and draws people to Himself. Looking at key biblical passages and themes, we see a consistent picture of a God who takes the initiative to pursue wayward humans and bring them into relationship with Him. God Pursues Us Because We Are Lost A key starting point is recognizing that the Bible presents humanity as lost and in need of saving. Isaiah…
Decisional regeneration refers to the process by which a person makes a decision to repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This decision leads to spiritual regeneration and new life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Here is an overview of key biblical teachings on decisional regeneration: The Fall of Humanity into Sin The Bible teaches that humanity was created good and without sin, but through Adam’s disobedience sin entered the world (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). As a result, all people are born with a sinful nature that separates them from God (Psalm…
This is an important question that many Christians ponder when reading Matthew 23:9, where Jesus says, “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” At first glance, this verse seems to prohibit referring to our earthly fathers as “father.” However, looking at the context and the rest of Scripture provides insight into what Jesus meant. The Context of Matthew 23 In Matthew 23, Jesus was addressing the scribes and Pharisees and condemning their hypocrisy and pride. In verses 1-7, Jesus instructed the people to respect the teaching authority of the…
The Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father, is likely the most well-known prayer in Christianity. Found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, this prayer outlines how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. However, there has been some debate over whether the ending of the prayer – specifically the doxology “for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever” – was original to Jesus’ teaching or added later. Looking at the textual evidence and theological implications provides insight into this discussion. The Textual Evidence When examining the original Greek manuscripts of Matthew and Luke, there are…
In the Quran, Jesus is referred to as Isa. He is considered one of the most important prophets in Islam. However, there are some key differences in how Jesus is portrayed in the Bible versus the Quran. In the Bible, Jesus claims to be the Son of God and part of the Trinity along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Jesus states, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). In the Quran, Jesus is not portrayed as the Son of God. Rather, he is respected as a prophet and messenger of God, but not divine…
The statement “whatever you ask in my name” is found in John 14:13-14, where Jesus says, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” This is a powerful promise that Jesus makes to His disciples, but what exactly does He mean by it? Here is an in-depth look at the meaning behind Jesus’ words. The context of Jesus’ statement It’s important to understand the context in which Jesus made this statement. In John 14,…