A Christian is a follower of Jesus. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me,’” Matthew 16:24.In order to do this, a person must first recognize he [...]
“God is love,” 1 John 4:8. Also, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,” (John 3:16). He gave the most precious gift He had, his son. Love has an element of sacrifice, putting the interest of others first. “It [...]
God is love and forgiveness is a manifestation of love. God’s character and essence is love. His every intention for his creatures is their highest welfare. Even before the earth or man was created, God knew Adam would sin. And at that time, God had already [...]
Beginning with the first verse of Matthew 6, Jesus discusses five areas of important Christian development. Give to the needy. This is a way to ‘practice righteousness’ in verses 1-4. Pray, which allows us to communicate with our heavenly father and develop the proper [...]
The New Testament does not instruct Christians to pay a bride price (lobola). However, Romans 12:18 teaches, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." If the bride's family requests a lobola, and it is a [...]
Conflicts between brethren are very personal matters to be handled as quietly as possible. The broad principle stated in Titus 3:2 should be honored, “Speak evil of no man”. If we are to “love our brother as ourselves,” Matthew 12:31, we surely want to [...]
In the New Testament, we find no mention of “collecting firstfruits” from believers. “Firstfruits” is a picture of Christ or his church (See: 1 Corinthians 15:20,23, 2 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV, and Revelation 14:4).In Old Testament times, the Israelites were instructed to “bring the best [...]
Biological Information:One's gender is determined by genes at conception. Females have XX genes, while males have XY genes. Surgery and hormones cannot transform the numerous differences between sexes. In fact, for those dear people who do undergo sex reassignment treatment, the emotional and social [...]
Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.”The definition of the word “meditate” from Strong’s Concordance is hâgâh, to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder.So, then, what is God’s [...]
The book of Exodus records that the whole nation of Israel was living in bondage under the Egyptians. Israel’s liberation came from God through the leadership of Moses. Because they had never existed as a free, self-governing nation, it was necessary that they receive [...]
“This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations…for the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; [...]
Galatians 4:3-5,7,9 (CSB), “…we also…were in slavery under the elements of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as [...]
Scriptures say "If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men." (Romans 12:18) There is a difference in living in "peace" and living in "harmony." Though we have no right to force our beliefs upon another, as Christians, [...]
Yes, deaconesses may be elected in the church (ecclesia). In fact, the Bible mentions one sister who served in that capacity, although it doesn’t say whether or not she was elected. Romans 16:1 (NIV), “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon (servant) [...]
We start this cleansing process by keeping our minds focused on God. Romans 12:1,2 (Phillips translation), “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within…meet all his demands and move toward the goal [...]
During the three-and-a-half years of our Jesus’s ministry, our Lord was crucified in a figurative sense; that is, he was daily delivered up to death – his will, his talents, his all were sacrificed – to follow his Father’s will. Every deed of his [...]
It is always proper for Christians to pray for divine protection or deliverance from ungodliness. Jesus, himself, taught us to pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:13) But our “faith” is tested when it seems that God [...]
It depends on what is wrong with the relationship. If the spouse is committing adultery or practicing a sinful behavior, then that person’s relationship with God is strained. God, Himself, does not depart from the person, because God has promised He will never leave [...]
The Bible teaches, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the [...]
Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out [...]
