Truth was never meant to be a mystery. In fact, it can be found, felt, understood and applied to life in ways that will change everything. This column is dedicated to presenting a clear and correct understanding of the Bible - and the critical truths about divine and human life it contains.
There is a great deal of confusion in the Christian community regarding the spiritual gift of tongues. To understand its role today, we must first understand it's role in the Bible.
Some religious traditions believe in a view called soul sleep which teaches that the believer in Jesus who dies will have his or her soul "rest" until Christ's future coming. This view has also been called Christian mortalism or psychopannychism. What does the Bible teach about soul sleep?
Romans 1:20 teaches, "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." What does it mean that people are without excuse?
As the trend of vegetarian dieting and lifestyle grows, some Christians have wondered whether Christians should be vegetarians or not. What does the Bible say? Do we have freedom to eat whatever we want or are there restrictions for the believer?
According to the Watchtower’s website, "Jehovah’s Witnesses are Christians, but they are not Protestants for the same reason that they are not Catholics—they recognize certain teachings of those religions as unscriptural." Is this claim made based on a biblical definition of a Christian or something else?
Reincarnation has become an increasingly popular spiritual idea in contemporary society. With far more than a billion adherents of eastern religions that embrace spiritual systems that teach reincarnation and numerous Western spiritual practices that include the belief, many Christians are asking, "What does the Bible teach about this issue?"
First Samuel 1–2 shares the account of Hannah, an extraordinary woman who endured many difficulties in life. Hannah’s situation would have been overwhelmingly sad, but she overcame her sorrows by praying to the Lord.
Deborah is mentioned as the only female leader in the book of Judges, a woman who followed the Lord and was greatly used by Him to provide direction and encouragement to Israel. What kind of woman was she and what does the story of her life teach us today?
Prayer isn't a formula. It's not about saying the right thing or not saying the wrong thing. Prayer is about spending time with our Daddy. Tell Him about your day, ask questions, express the desires of your heart—completely uncensored. Prayer is not about performance; it's about relationship.
While many know this story from children's books or Sunday school classes, it contains much to teach adults about the hearts of those around Jesus and gives insight into the heart of Jesus Himself.
Will animals exist in Heaven? Will we recognize them or will there be new creatures too? Does the Bible give us a glimpse of the possibilities that lie ahead?
What does it mean when Jesus calms the storm? Is the typical application of this familiar story correct? Is Jesus calming the storm a morality story about faith, or is it something else?
Writing in about 180 A.D., Irenaeus, the bishop of Lyons in France, wrote concerning Jesus, "…and to raise up anew all flesh of the whole human race, in order that to Jesus Christ, our Lord, and God, and Saviour, and King…"
Is the Bible a myth? The Bible is written as a factual, historical account rather than a legend. God left absolutely no room for doubt as to whether or not this is His written Word. When the facts are shown, it is clear that the Bible is not a myth.
There's power in God's Word. Jesus used it to turn the devil away when facing temptation. We can use the Bible in the same way today – in fact, we're supposed to. What is it about the Word of God that is so powerful?
Mormons do not believe in the trinity. Why? And what is it about the trinity that makes believing it so essential to Christianity? If Jesus is not God, doesn't that make Him a created being? And if He's a created being, what happens to our salvation?
While we do not have the original copies of the books of the New Testament today, we do have ample evidence that today's New Testament is a faithful copy of what was originally written.
Is the Old Testament part of the Bible accurate? We do have ample evidence that today's Old Testament is a faithful copy of what was established during the earliest times.
So, what does it mean to be blessed? Does the Bible tell us the way to have true blessing? Yes, and blessing might not be what you always thought. It might be better.
Does an amillennialist worldview have basis in Scripture? What is amillennialism, anyway? Does the Bible really say Christ will rule the earth for a thousand years?
The impact of divine sovereignty on our lives is determined, in part, by our understanding of God's other attributes, especially the faithfulness of God. It's one thing to know what the Bible says about God's faithfulness; it's another to live according to that knowledge.
A completely sovereign God who was also changeable or unpredictable would be impossible to please or obey. But our God is immutable—He does not change His mind, renege on His promises, or break His covenants with His people.
The Bible is not only true, but it is the actual words of God with which He inspired each of the authors of the 66 books to write exactly what He intended.
Exploring the Word
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