This is a question that many Christians have wondered about over the centuries. The Bible does not give us a complete picture of what heaven will be like, but it does provide some clues that can help us think through this issue. We Will Have Glorified Bodies in Heaven The Bible teaches that when believers die, their spirits go to be with Christ while their bodies remain in the grave (2 Corinthians 5:8). At the resurrection, we will receive new, glorified bodies that are imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). So we know that in heaven, we will still be embodied beings,…
Author: Tim Collings
Honoring one’s parents is a clear biblical command. Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” And Ephesians 6:2 echoes this: “Honor your father and mother.” God desires that we honor our parents because He established the family unit and gave parents a unique authority over their children. Honoring them is honoring God’s design. But what about when a parent is abusive? How can we honor an abusive mother or father? This difficult question requires wisdom and discernment. Here are several biblical…
King Zimri is mentioned in a few places in the Old Testament of the Bible. Here is a summary of what the Bible tells us about him: Zimri was the fifth king of Israel who ruled for only 7 days. His story is told in 1 Kings 16:8-20. After Zimri assassinated King Elah and took the throne, the Israelite army proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, as the new king. When Zimri saw that the capital city of Tirzah was taken, he went into the royal palace, set it on fire, and died in the flames. Zimri’s short reign…
Nicodemus is an important biblical figure who appears in the Gospel of John. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin – the Jewish ruling council in Jerusalem. Nicodemus is most well known for his nighttime conversation with Jesus recorded in John 3:1-21, where Jesus spoke to him about being “born again.” Here is an in-depth look at Nicodemus and what the Bible reveals about his life and interactions with Jesus. Nicodemus Seeks Out Jesus We are first introduced to Nicodemus in John 3:1-2 which says, “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler…
The antilegomena refers to those books of the Bible which were disputed and not universally accepted as canonical during the early centuries of Christianity. “Antilegomena” means “spoken against”, while the protocanonical books are those that are “spoken for” and accepted by all. The term was first used by the church historian Eusebius in the 4th century AD. He divided the New Testament writings into three categories: 1. Homologoumena – Writings universally acknowledged as canonical (the four gospels, Acts, Paul’s epistles, 1 John, 1 Peter) 2. Antilegomena – Disputed writings (2 Peter, 2-3 John, Jude, James, Hebrews, Revelation) 3. Heretical writings…
The verse 1 John 4:7 states, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” This verse teaches us several important truths about love: 1. Love originates from God 1 John 4:7 explains that “love is from God.” As the source of love, God sets the perfect example of what true love looks like. God’s love is unconditional, sacrificial, and eternal. When we love others, we reflect the very nature and character of God. Our love finds its origin, model, and fuel in God’s love for us.…
The Chi-Rho symbol is one of the earliest Christograms and has been an important Christian symbol since the days of Constantine the Great. Chi and Rho are the first two letters of the Greek word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, which means “Christ.” The Chi-Rho emblem was used by the Roman Emperor Constantine I (r. 306–337) as part of a military standard (vexillum). Constantine’s standard was known as the Labarum. Early symbols similar to the Chi Rho were the Staurogram and IX monogram. They were used by early Christians as code language and secret symbols during the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.…
The Bible does not directly endorse or condemn any specific form of human government. However, it does provide principles and examples that can help us evaluate different systems of government from a Christian perspective. Democracy, in its simplest definition, is a form of government where power resides with the people and the leaders are chosen and held accountable through elections. The word “democracy” does not appear in most English translations of the Bible, as it originated later in history. However, there are some relevant biblical principles relating to human government that can apply to democracies. Biblical Principles Relating to Government…
The Bible does not directly address the issue of abortion, but it does provide principles that can guide Christians in thinking about this difficult topic. The sanctity of human life, the value of children, the sovereignty of God, and other biblical truths shape how Christians should consider abortion. The sanctity of human life The Bible consistently affirms the value and dignity of human life, which is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Passages like Psalm 139:13-16 poetically celebrate God’s intimate involvement in creating each person. This grounds the sense in which human life is sacred and precious. Exodus…
Philippians 3:14 says “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This verse points to the ultimate goal that all Christians should be striving for – eternal life with God in heaven. The “goal” refers to the final reward, the “prize” of being called up to be with Christ for eternity. Let’s take a deeper look at what this verse is saying and how it should motivate and focus our lives as believers. The Context of Philippians 3:14 To fully understand this verse, we need to put it in context…