God did not create humanity with the intention of having us die; His original purpose was for mankind to live eternally in a perfect relationship with Him on a perfected earth (Genesis 1:26–28; Psalm 115:16).When God finished His creation, He declared it "very good," [...]
The question of whether people with different religions can go to heaven is answered by distinguishing between God’s universal plan for salvation and the specific, limited call to a heavenly reward.The call to heaven is not a universal offer made to all of humanity [...]
This is a beautiful chapter to study, as it contains some of the most profound and concentrated teachings of Jesus.John Chapter 3 starts out with the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus and a lesson in discipleship. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and respected leader, comes to [...]
The biblical distinction between the human "soul" and "spirit" establishes that a person IS a soul, rather than possessing one. The soul is the entire living being or human life, created when God formed man's body from dust and breathed into his nostrils the [...]
Luke 2 records one of the most significant and wonderful events in mankind’s history – the birth of Jesus. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they and every subsequent generation of mankind after them became subject to the penalty of sin, which is death [...]
Scripture gives Jesus many meaningful titles, but one of the most tender and powerful is the “Good Shepherd.” It’s striking that Jesus chose such a humble image to describe himself and his followers. In contrast, human societies often use fierce animals like lions, eagles [...]
Yes, God absolutely cares about us. This care is demonstrated not through a life free of hardship, but through a detailed, loving and just plan for all humanity that addresses sin, provides for reconciliation, and ultimately offers eternal life. His care is active and [...]
If we define a ghost as a dead person who has come back to life to communicate with the living, the answer is no. A person is made up of a body and the breath of life - the “spark” that only God can [...]
Mark 1:14-15: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”During his ministry, Jesus [...]
Revelation 7:9-17 describes a picture of the spiritual classes, of which the "great multitude" is a piece of this puzzle. The setting of the picture is heaven, a spiritual plane of existence.The first participant in the picture is God Himself.The second participant in the [...]
The Bible speaks of three different types of death:· Adamic death, passed onto the entire race by Adam for his original disobedience to God· Christ’s sacrificial death for the benefit of all mankind, paying the ransom price for Adamic death · Second death, which will [...]
When a loved one dies, it is a natural reaction to want to believe that the person is not really dead but that he/she has just transitioned to another type or phase of life. Many religions worldwide (including many Christian denominations) teach this belief [...]
Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus was elevated to a new, glorified level of existence. After he had disappeared from their sight, the apostles who had witnessed Jesus’ elevation were told by two angels that Jesus was “taken up…into heaven” (Acts 1:8-11). Later, Stephen, a [...]
The Apostle Paul uses the illustration of an athlete’s training to illustrate the lifestyle of a faithful Christian. Several Bible commentaries make reference to the Isthmain games, named because they took place in the isthmus where Corinth stood. For example, Ellicott’s Commentary for English [...]
In a large sense the whole universe is God’s house, and the different planes and of life are the different “rooms.” My Father’s house: Again, in a large sense the whole universe is God’s house, and God Himself abides in the height of the heavens. [...]
The Bible teaches that in the future, mankind will be resurrected to a state of human perfection, as was experienced by Adam and Eve before their sin. This is part of the “restitution” spoken of in Acts 3:21. Restitution refers to a restoration to a [...]
Jesus knew his time on earth was coming to an end. Beginning in John 13:30 one of the last conversations between Jesus and his disciples is recorded. Jesus was preparing for both his death and his resurrection that would follow. He knew that having [...]
Salvation became necessary for all people because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God’s command (Genesis 3:17-19). Disobedience to God is sin, and sin leads to death (Romans 6:23). Through the sacrifice of his perfect life, Jesus provided a corresponding price for Adam’s disobedience [...]
The term “Christianity” is an all-encompassing general term that describes the religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or its beliefs and practices. Christians study the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe God sent His son Jesus, [...]
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3), the punishment of death was applied not only to them, but to all their descendants, meaning every subsequent generation of mankind. Likewise, Jesus’ sacrifice of his perfect human life as a corresponding “payment” for that disobedience applies [...]
