Self-deception, also known as self-delusion, refers to the act of misleading ourselves to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. It is a way that we as humans deceive ourselves in order to justify actions, beliefs or emotions. Self-deception can manifest in many ways, but ultimately it involves believing something that deep down we know to not be true. According to the Bible, self-deception is a dangerous tendency of our sinful human nature. The Bible warns about the dangers of self-deception in multiple passages. One of the most direct is Galatians 6:3 which states, “For if anyone…
Author: Tim Collings
Rhoda is a minor character mentioned briefly in the New Testament book of Acts. Though she appears only once, her story provides an interesting glimpse into the early Christian community. The sole reference to Rhoda occurs in Acts 12:12-17. The passage describes how Peter was imprisoned by King Herod but miraculously freed by an angel. After his release, Peter went to the home where a group of believers were gathered praying for him. When he arrived, Peter knocked on the outer gate and Rhoda came to answer it. Rhoda recognized Peter’s voice and was so overjoyed that she forgot to…
What should be the response of a Christian whose spouse has had an affair? Infidelity in a marriage can be extremely painful and devastating. For a Christian, the shock and hurt of a spouse’s affair brings up many difficult questions about how to respond in a godly way that upholds Christian values of love, forgiveness, and commitment while also setting necessary boundaries. This article will explore principles from the Bible on how Christians can navigate the aftermath of infidelity in 9000 words. Understanding the Damage of an Affair It is important first to recognize the extensive wounds an affair inflicts…
The words of Jesus in Matthew 7:23, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness,” are often quite troubling for Christians. Many wonder what Jesus meant by this stern statement and how it applies to us today. To properly understand this verse, it is important to consider the broader context. Jesus makes this statement at the conclusion of His Sermon on the Mount discourse, as part of a warning about false prophets (Matthew 7:15-23). He describes how there will be people who profess faith in Him and even do works in His name, but are not genuinely…
The idea of being content with what we have is found in Hebrews 13:5, which says “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” This verse encourages us not to get caught up longing for more possessions and wealth, but instead to appreciate and be satisfied with what God has already given us. There are several important reasons the Bible tells us to focus on contentment rather than materialism: 1. Finding contentment avoids the traps of greed and envy. When we…
Marriage between a Christian and a non-Christian can present some unique challenges. When one spouse is a believer and the other is not, it can strain the relationship and cause tension in the marriage. However, the Bible does provide guidance on how Christians should navigate this situation. First, it’s important to remember that the unbelieving spouse is sanctified through the believing spouse (1 Corinthians 7:14). This means that the unbeliever receives blessings from being with a believer. There is hope that the unbelieving spouse will come to know Christ through the example of the believing spouse. The believing spouse should…
The verse Ephesians 4:2 instructs believers to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” This verse teaches an important principle for Christian relationships – that we should bear with one another in love. But what exactly does it mean to “bear with” others? The Greek word translated “bearing with” is anechomai. It means to hold up under trials and difficulties, to endure or tolerate. In the context of Ephesians 4, it refers to putting up with the flaws, faults, and…
Being “rooted and grounded in love” is a powerful concept presented in Ephesians 3:17. To fully understand what it means to be rooted and grounded in God’s love, we must first examine the context of this verse. Ephesians 3:14-21 is a prayer of Paul for the Ephesian believers. In verse 17 specifically, Paul prays that “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that…
Memorizing Bible verses and passages is an important spiritual discipline for several reasons: 1. It helps transform our minds The Bible teaches that we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). As we memorize God’s word, we are literally renewing our minds with divine truth that can displace worldly thinking and priorities. Memorizing Scripture enables us to have God’s word readily available to inform our perspective and shape our thoughts, attitudes and actions. We can draw upon God’s truth in the moment of temptation or when making decisions. “I have stored up your word in my…
The millennium kingdom refers to the thousand-year reign of Christ described in Revelation 20:1-6. During this time, Christ will rule the world from Jerusalem in righteousness and peace. An important question is whether animal sacrifices will resume in the millennium temple prophesied in Ezekiel 40-48. There are good arguments on both sides of this issue. Some believe animal sacrifices will be reinstituted as a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice. Others argue that with Christ’s once-for-all atonement, animal sacrifices are no longer necessary. There are also differences of opinion about whether Ezekiel’s vision refers to a literal millennium temple or not. This…