Throughout history, nations and empires have been identified by their capital city. In 2 Samuel 5, the king of Israel, David, makes Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Israel, as a nation and as a people, has a special relationship with God. When the people [...]
When reading the accounts of some of the miraculous events recorded in the Bible, it can be helpful, even faith strengthening, to consider the harmony of biblical accounts with the laws established by the All-Wise Creator.2 Kings 20 and Isaiah 38 both describe a [...]
In Mark 1:21-26, Jesus cast out demons. In Matthew 10:1, Jesus also gave the apostles power to cast out demons. In Mark 9:28,29, after the disciples were unable to cast out a demon, Jesus said, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by [...]
The lower numbers, being foundational to all the higher numbers, may carry symbolisms which we would not expect of larger numbers. We don't normally ask, for example, the meaning of a number like 271. But smaller numbers, when used conspicuously, do seem to be [...]
Matthew 5:13: (NASB 1995) You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.Salt is a [...]
There is a great blessing in knowing we need God. When we realize our need for God, we see that He is the source of all truth (John 17:17).When we realize our need for God, we understand we are born in sin and He has [...]
Jesus was a man of peace, who healed the sick and stood up for righteousness at every turn as God’s representative. He carried out his mission perfectly, preaching about God’s kingdom and dying as a ransom for Adam.On the night he was arrested, he [...]
We caution not to get too caught up on the specific legalities of labeling each sin, as both are God-dishonoring and closely related scripturally with idolatry. Generally, fornication is understood to mean sex between people who are not married to each other. Adultery is [...]
The two spellings are Nebuchadnezzar, and Nebuchadrezzar -- "n" and "r" different in each case. In Hebrew, these two letters are interchanged from time to time. Thus these two forms both refer to the same person. In the books of 1 and 2 Kings, Chronicles, [...]
Yes, Saul knew of Jesus before his conversion. The Apostle Paul, who was known as Saul before his conversion, was a well-known Pharisee who studied under Gamaliel, a famous Jewish rabbi and a leader in the Jewish Sanhedrin (Acts 2:33). The Pharisees heard of Jesus' [...]
Jehoiakim was a king of Judah, also called Eliakim. He was made king by the king of Egypt, who conquered his brother Jehoahaz, who went to Egypt as a captive and evidently died there. 2 Chronicles 36:4, "And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his [...]
Quoting from the (American) Native American culture website, powwow.com: “A dream catcher is a handmade willow hoop woven to a web or literally, a net. They can include feathers and beads, and they're traditionally suspended on cradles as a form of armor and protection. It is [...]
We know that as the Lamb of God who corresponded to the original Passover lamb, Jesus died in the Jewish month of Nisan on the 14th day.For the 10 years of the governorship of Pontius Pilate, under whom Jesus died, there is only a [...]
2 Kings 13:20 records the death of Elisha, a prophet of God. Elisha’s death came during the reigns of Joash, a king of Israel, who is also referred to as Jehoash (in verse 25). 2 Kings 13:10-13 provides a brief overview of Joash. Joash [...]
It is important to understand what is scripturally meant by "born again" and "being saved."BORN AGAINThe phrase "born again" is found in John 3:3. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” A more [...]
We can sympathize with you. Even the Apostle Paul struggled with similar feelings. In his letter to the Christians in Rome he wrote, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very [...]
In John 7:16, 17 we read, “Jesus answered them, and said, ‘My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.’” Jesus felt [...]
Among Christians, some of the most often quoted and beloved Old Testament scriptures are found in the 23rd Psalm. In very few words, these six verses paint a vivid picture of God’s overwhelming care for His children. The imagery of a shepherd knowing and caring for [...]
It is a challenge to determine who the first Christian might be.One might say the first Christians were those who first followed Jesus. John 1:36-51 lists a number of men who later became apostles: Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, and Nathanael. But there were different [...]
In Matthew 23:1-30, Jesus warns his disciples to avoid the love of worldly pride and prestige that were enjoyed by the religious leadership of the time. In his words, Jesus emphasizes the importance of recognizing God alone as the supreme authority of all things. [...]
