The parable of the talents illustrates the individual responsibility of every Christian to serve God. Christian living is much more than saying, “I accept Jesus.” We are to demonstrate our salvation by service through our works. (James 2:17-26). Remember that Jesus, himself, was called [...]
“Blessed are the poor in spirit (humble-minded) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The Greek word translated “poor” has the significance of utter destitution, extreme poverty. Thus, a full appreciation of our own spiritual destitution is essential in order to receive the divine grace [...]
Summary: The question of a person’s earthly age and appearance really does not apply to the spirit body. In the resurrection of the Church class, our divine bodies will look nothing like our earthly bodies. We cannot even comprehend what the divine body is [...]
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 2:3,4) These verses indicate that God has a far-reaching plan for the salvation of [...]
In this event, Jesus was talking to the Pharisees. How could God’s kingdom be in the hearts of Pharisees? Jesus had called the Pharisees hypocrites! (See Luke 11 and Matthew 23.) The NIV, ESV, CSB, NASB translate this as “the kingdom of God is among [...]
First ask, who established the tradition? Did God found the tradition or did men? If God told a group of people to do something and to repeat it at certain times, then the remembrance is holy and good. God’s arrangements are designed to keep [...]
An account of Jesus cleansing the temple is recorded in Matthew 21:12-17. The temple would have been a busy place at Passover time. Both local and foreign-born Jews had come to observe the Passover week. There would be sacrifices of sheep, cattle, and doves [...]
What events led up to Palm Sunday? The evening before, Jesus enjoyed a fine feast at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. This was the same Lazarus that Jesus had recently awakened from the sleep of death (John 12:1,2). There was a large crowd [...]
As Christians, we have the assurance that “all thing are working together for our good.” (Romans 8: 28) Therefore we must “with faith” endure whatever circumstances the Lord permits us to experience. We have His word that He knows and will provide the things [...]
The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1), given to the Apostle John, was a symbolic vision using “signs” (verse 1). These symbols are the rule, and literal interpretations are the exception. When Jesus answered his disciples in Matthew 24 regarding his “parousia” (presence, mistranslated [...]
Most of our sins are repetitive. What unique sin have you committed recently? We all tend to repeat sins, because we are born imperfect and have inherited weak, sinful tendencies. (Psalm 51:5) Some struggle with anger, others with selfishness, others are lustful. This is [...]
Remember that Revelation is a symbolic book. The word “signified” in Revelation 1:1 means putting the message in signs, pictures. Verse 1: The church class is the temple of God. (1 Corinthians 3:16). True Christians understand God’s perfect standard of judgment (measuring rod) and [...]
Reincarnation was never taught in the Bible. God's doctrine of resurrection is far superior to reincarnation. Every precious human being is unique and will be resurrected in Christ's kingdom on earth. "All that are in their graves will hear His voice and come forth," [...]
To understand the Bible, we need to harmonize all the scriptures on a specific topic. For example, Jesus said, “sell your possessions and give to the poor,” Matthew 19:21. Does Jesus really want us to sell all? Then we will become one of the [...]
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap," Galatians 6:7. If no one interferes with God's law, the person refusing to work will have bad consequences. The natural consequences will motivate that person to [...]
Yes, he was speaking to Jesus. However, Jesus was the Logos or the Word before he came down to earth as the man Christ Jesus. We might say that God was the great architect of the universe and that Jesus carried out the construction [...]
John 14:13–14: “Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” Jesus ties the request to the purpose of glorifying the [...]
Yes, Jesus’ sacrifice does cover a fallen flesh’s need for nicotine.People get addicted to nicotine through smoking. Smoking is a physical addiction. Upon stopping, the body and brain will have strong cravings and reactions. Without nicotine, the body begins to crave carbohydrates. Some people [...]
The Apostle Paul asked Christians this same question! Romans 6:1-2, 12-13, 16-18, 21, 23 (NIV): “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? No! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in [...]
When God created Adam, God first formed Adam’s body then breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Adam became a living soul (Genesis 2:7), He did not receive a soul. Additionally, souls die - they are not immortal. “The soul that sins, it [...]
