What does Nahum 1:7 mean? "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him."
The book of Nahum is a prophecy against the city of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria (current day Mosul, Iraq). History records that the Assyrians were ruthless and cruel to their captives. Sadly, parts of Judea were under Assyrian control. In God's judgment, it was time to avenge His people from Assyrian oppression. Nahum described the [...]
How do faith and forgiveness work together?
Summary: Forgiveness is dependent upon our faith in God’s word. A Christian embraces the truths in God’s word. We remember, “without faith it is impossible to please God,” (Hebrews 11:1). Consequently, we study the Bible, have faith in the scriptures, and apply it. In order to receive forgiveness for our sins, we need to have [...]
How will people sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom (Matthew 8:11)?
What is the Kingdom in this verse? Jesus referenced the kingdom earlier in Matthew 6:10, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” Jesus was teaching an earthly salvation (for mankind) as well as a heavenly salvation (for His followers who make a covenant by sacrifice). Two salvations [...]
What are ancient manuscripts and why are they important?
Ancient manuscripts are texts “written” (Latin: scripta) “by hand” (Latin: manu) that date far back into the past. Where biblical manuscripts are concerned, ancient manuscripts are very important because the older they are, the closer they tend to be to the original text. This is vital if we want to know what was actually said by [...]
Please explain Jesus's words in Matthew 10:34-39, "I came not to send peace, but a sword…a man who loses his life shall save it."
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, my servants would fight….” Also Matthew 26:52 (NLT), “ ‘Put away [...]
What does the Bible say about procrastination?
Procrastination and laziness can be related. When people procrastinate their responsibilities, there is a tendency to choose pleasure (television, naps, etc.) over work. King Solomon addressed this issue in Proverbs 6:6-11 (NIV). “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores [...]