“The sum of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160).
Considering only one verse to prove a point can be dangerous. Many verses, when taken out of context, have several plausible interpretations. But if we settle on one interpretation without considering the sum of God’s word, we can easily find ourselves with an improper understanding of God’s will. Consider the following example with reference to salvation:
Continue Reading
The writer of the book of Hebrews repeatedly spoke of things under the law of Christ as being better than those under the Law of Moses. With Christ, we have a better hope (Hebrews 6:19-20; 7:19), better covenant (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6), better promises (Hebrews 8:6), and a better sacrifice (Hebrews 9:23-28). The writer told his audience, “Consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3:1). The role of the high priest was to offer sacrifices for sins (Hebrews 5:1) and be an intercessor between God and man (Hebrews 7:24-25). The nature of Christ’s priesthood is one of the things that is better under the new law. Let us consider the priesthood of Christ.
Continue Reading
Many say we cannot understand the Bible. Though if we could, they would certainly believe that we cannot understand the Bible alike. This belief is often used to justify the myriad doctrines and denominations we see in the religious world. But is the assertion true that we cannot understand the Bible? Can we even say we understand the Bible if we do not understand it alike?
God’s will is revealed in the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:7-10). The word of God has been revealed in such a way that we can understand it. Paul wrote to the Ephesians concerning the mystery which he had revealed and said, “When you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4). The Ephesians were not to come to a different understanding than Paul. The message was revealed in such a way that they could have the same understanding that Paul had. Since we have the word of God today, we can have the same understanding as well.
Continue Reading
This world is full of constant change. Many things come and go, whether they are people, cultures, governments, trends, or fashions. Yet the writer of Ecclesiastes noted, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The changes we see are just perpetual cycles that exist in this world. But in the midst of the changes we face in this life, there are certain fundamental truths that will always remain constant.
Continue Reading
[Article written by Matt Nevins. Originally published in his email newsletter “The Lamp.”]
In various settings I have been privileged to discuss topics relating to the Bible. From such discussions I have learned so many things from individuals that I have admired and have the greatest respect for this day. The instruction and training with such individuals has been an asset when talking to those of my peers in the world. One question that is asked frequently is about why those of the churches of Christ worship on Sunday. Some of the questioners claim to be Christians of various denominations that have left the pattern in participating in worship on another day instead of worshipping on the first day of the week. The time may come when those in the household of faith will also begin to ask this question.
Continue Reading
This is the new weblog for Plain Bible Teaching.
I will be using this to announce new content on PlainBibleTeaching.com and to post short messages about spiritual things once a week or so. So bookmark this page and check back periodically to see what’s new. And be sure to visit PlainBibleTeaching.com.
What does “propitiation” mean? How is “justification” connected to salvation? What does “sanctification” look like in our day-to-day lives? The Bible uses some powerful words to describe God’s plan to save mankind. However, these words are not always easy to understand, especially when they are not part of our everyday vocabulary. This book explores key Bible terms that unlock the message of the gospel.
Big Words in the Bible examines five important words – Propitiation, Reconciliation, Sanctification, Justification, and Resurrection – using plain language to see how the Scriptures describe these concepts and how the apostle Paul employs them in his letter to the Romans. This book also contains an appendix with eleven additional articles to explore these topics further.
Whether you are new to the Bible and want to grow in your understanding or want a simple way to explain these core gospel doctrines to others, this book will be helpful. With a focus on the Scriptures, Big Words in the Bible helps break down these fundamental topics to shed light on the life-changing message of the gospel and the salvation found in it.
Available in print and digital format.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
If you have further questions about using any of the material on this site, please contact me.