The title “Lamb of God” for Jesus appears only twice in the New Testament, but it nevertheless encapsulates a key aspect of his identity and mission. John the Baptist declares Jesus to be the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” in John 1:29 and John 1:36. Understanding the meaning and significance of this title requires an examination of the background of sacrificial lambs in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, lambs were commonly used for sacrificial offerings. When John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God, those familiar with the sacrificial…
Author: Nicole Sands
How old was David when he _____? David is one of the most well-known figures in the Bible. He started as a young shepherd boy who was chosen by God to be the future king of Israel. David slayed Goliath as a youth and eventually became king after Saul. He reigned over Israel for 40 years from around 1010 BC to 970 BC. But at what points in David’s life do the key events happen? How old was David when he was anointed as king? When he fought Goliath? Or at other important moments? Let’s explore David’s life chronologically and…
The verse Deuteronomy 30:19 states “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.” This verse comes near the end of Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. It summarizes a key theme throughout Deuteronomy – that the people had a choice before them, to obey and follow God’s ways which would lead to life and blessing, or to disobey and face death and curse. Let’s explore the meaning behind “choose life”…
Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner, known as a shaman, who acts as an intermediary between the human world and the spirit world. The word “shaman” comes from the Tungus tribe in Siberia and means “one who knows.” Shamans believe they can interact with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, usually induced by repetitive drumming or the ingestion of psychotropic plants. During these trance states, the shaman’s spirit is said to leave the body and enter the supernatural realm to gain knowledge, power and to help others. Shamans are believed to have the ability to…
Fatalism and determinism are two related philosophical concepts that deal with the nature of human free will and destiny. While they share some similarities, there are important differences between the two views. Fatalism Fatalism is the view that all events are predetermined by fate and therefore inevitable. According to fatalism, human beings have no control over their destinies and cannot change their fates. This means that no matter what choices we make, the outcomes have already been set in stone by fate. Fatalism has a long history, appearing in the mythologies and philosophies of many ancient cultures. Many pagan religions…
The topic of whether it is wrong for Christians to own angel figurines is one that does not have a clear-cut biblical answer. There are good arguments on both sides of the issue. Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of personal conviction and preference for each Christian. Here is an overview of the main points on both sides of this issue: Arguments for Allowing Angel Figurines Some Christians see no issue with owning angel figurines or decorations. Their key arguments include: The Bible does not explicitly prohibit angel figurines. There is no commandment against this practice. Angels are a…
The question of whether God can sin is an important theological question. According to orthodox Christian theology based on the Bible, the answer is definitively no – God cannot sin. This article will examine the biblical basis for this position and explain the theological reasoning behind it. God’s Nature is Perfectly Holy The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that God’s fundamental nature and character is one of absolute moral perfection and holiness. Passages such as 1 John 1:5 state, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” Light here refers to God’s pure holiness with no hint of evil…
What does the Bible say about youth ministry? The Bible has a lot to say about ministering to young people and the importance of passing on faith to the next generation. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical themes around youth ministry: The Responsibility of Parents One of the most important principles in Scripture is that parents have the primary responsibility for the spiritual nurture of their children. Passages like Deuteronomy 6:4-9 emphasize the need for parents to be actively and intentionally teaching their children about God and modeling a life of faith. This includes instructing children…
The Gospel of Barnabas is an apocryphal gospel attributed to the biblical figure Barnabas, one of the earliest Christian disciples and an associate of the apostle Paul. The gospel text claims to have been written by Barnabas, but it was likely composed sometime between the 14th and 16th centuries. The Gospel of Barnabas contains narratives of the life of Jesus that differ significantly from the accounts found in the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It conforms to the Islamic view of Jesus rather than the Christian view. This has led many scholars to believe the Gospel of…
The story of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego in 1531 at Tepeyac hill near Mexico City has become an integral part of Mexican culture and Catholicism. According to tradition, Mary appeared several times to Juan Diego, who was an Aztec convert to Catholicism, and requested that a church be built on the site of the apparitions. She also left an image of herself imprinted miraculously on Juan Diego’s tilma (cloak), which has become Mexico’s most popular religious and cultural image, known as Our Lady of Guadalupe. But are these apparitions and the image on the tilma…