If these verses were taken literally and in isolation, it would seem to promote violence. However, Jesus never contradicts Himself. Compare the Matthew passage with His words in John 18:16, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, [...]
Ancient manuscripts are texts “written” (Latin: scripta) “by hand” (Latin: manu) that date far back into the past. Where biblical manuscripts are concerned, ancients manuscripts are very important because the older they are, the closer they tend to be to the original text. This [...]
Mary Magdalene was a Jewish woman who suffered from demon possession. There are only twelve verses in the Bible, specifically in the Gospels, where Mary Magdalene is mentioned by name. Mark 16:9 (KJV,) "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, [...]
When the bush was on fire but not consumed, it was an indication that something supernatural was happening. This unnatural occurrence attracted Moses’s attention. Exodus 3:2-6, “And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of [...]
1. Does a person die for his or her sins? No. 1 Corinthians 15:22, “For as in Adam all die…” Christian or not, everyone dies. Christian or not, everyone has sinned. We are all under the penalty of death due to the sin of [...]
The traditional Jewish thought is that Moses wrote Psalm 91. Moses wrote this during the 40 years of wilderness wandering. He experienced many dangers while leading over a million people through a hot desert without the protection of a large army or a permanent [...]
Three Scriptures use the word paradise. So to determine the way to get there, we need to identify where it is. Luke 23:43, “Verily, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise.” Rotherham, one of the more accurate translations, places [...]
Yes, fear is tormenting. But, dear one, God does not want you to fear. Instead, remember 1 John 4:16 (NIV), “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love.” When we believe this [...]
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 [...]
“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 [...]
The Apostle is writing to the New Creation – not the natural man. He recognizes the new will as the New Creature, and the old body as its tent. Our natural bodies are much better than none, but still quite unsatisfactory. The New Creature [...]
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 [...]
Matthew 13:10-11, 15 (NIV), “The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’ He replied, ‘Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them…For this people’s [...]
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 [...]
Man now is exploring the technology of genetic modification to alter the inheritable characteristics of living creatures (even human babies). People involved with ethics in research are concerned about these developments. Man has never been good at predicting all the unintended consequences of [...]
After Jesus received water baptism and after He received the Holy Spirit, He said, "But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!" Luke 12:50 (NKJV). What baptism was this? It was the complete death [...]
God does not deny what is true. So, if someone at death is truly repentant, God will accept the fact that he or she has repented. But, does a deathbed repentance earn a heavenly reward? Galatians 6:7,8 reads, “Do not be deceived, God is [...]
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 [...]
What helps us understand the meaning of Revelation chapter 6 is what happens in chapter 5. There Jesus is given a scroll by God that is written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. Then in chapter 6, the Lamb (Jesus) begins to [...]
James 4:8 (NIV), "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." When we approach God, we should come with pure, sincere, humble hearts. If we are sinning, we need to "wash," - stop sinning and ask [...]
