The Sin of Gluttony

Overeating

The Bible condemns gluttony, yet it is a topic that is largely overlooked in sermons and Bible classes. Because of this, there may be some confusion about what gluttony is. First, let us notice what it is not.

  • One who is overweight is not necessarily a glutton. Other factors are involved in one’s weight, including behavior, lifestyle, medications, genetics, etc. It is also possible for someone to be thin and be guilty of gluttony.
  • One who enjoys food is not necessarily a glutton. After all, God “created [foods] to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3).

While on earth, Jesus was wrongly accused of being a glutton (Luke 7:34). We do not want to make the same mistake that His accusers made by wrongly accusing others of gluttony because we do not understand what it is. We also do not want to ignore this sin if it exists in our life.

In this article, we will address the oft-neglected topic of gluttony and see what the Bible actually says about it.Continue Reading

What Is the Gift of the Holy Spirit?

Acts 2:38

Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself’” (Acts 2:38-39).

When Peter preached the first gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost, he convicted his audience of being guilty of putting the Savior to death. Yet the Lord provided a way for them to be forgiven of their sins and be saved. One of the promises they would receive when they obeyed the gospel was “the gift of the Holy Spirit.” What did Peter mean by this? There are a few ideas that have been suggested:

  • Some believe that this “gift” is the Holy Spirit Himself.
  • Others have concluded that this refers to the miraculous gifts of the Spirit.
  • Some see “the gift of the Holy Spirit” as synonymous with salvation.

Which of these views is correct? Or did Peter mean something else by this phrase?Continue Reading

Understanding Legalism

Jewish Rulers Take Counsel Against Jesus

For many religious people, the term legalism has a strong negative connotation. Yet others may be unfamiliar with it. To be fair, it is not a term found in the Bible. Instead, it has been coined to describe a certain approach to the Bible.

Legalism is associated with the idea of strictness, narrow-mindedness, and being judgmental. The Pharisees are the classic example of “legalists.” However, while the Pharisees may have been strict, narrow-minded, and judgmental, there was more to them than that. At times, they justified certain sins and acts of disobedience, including the refusal to help their aged parents in need (Matthew 15:3-6). At other times, Jesus rebuked them for what could be described as spiritual mediocrity as they hypocritically taught others to do what they refused to do (Matthew 23:2-4) and presented an appearance of holiness while being spiritually corrupt in their hearts (Matthew 23:27-28).

Just as there is more to the Pharisees than the common stereotype, I believe there is more to “legalism” than the popular concept of it.Continue Reading

Our Common Salvation

Woman being baptized

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 3).

The verse above is often cited to show the need for Christians to engage in a spiritual battle for the cause of Christ. We are to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11), which enables us to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). In doing this, Jude explained that we must “contend earnestly for the faith.” This is just as important today as it was when Jude penned these words in the first century.*

However, Jude’s original intention was to write about another topic – “our common salvation.” This was (and is) a vitally important subject, but because of the pressing need to “contend earnestly for the faith,” the Holy Spirit saw fit to have the inspired writer deliver a different message than Jude originally intended. Whether Jude ever delivered a follow-up message on that topic – in person or in writing – we do not know. However, the idea of “our common salvation” is worthy of our consideration, so we will discuss that in this article.Continue Reading

How Much Time Should We Spend on the Lord’s Supper?

Communion Trays

In my limited personal experience in every church where I have been a member, the observance of the Lord’s Supper in the assembly has been simple and relatively brief. Even when visiting on a Sunday with other congregations, that experience has been the same.

Lately, I have been hearing of more churches rearranging their Sunday service schedule in order to have one service wholly dedicated to the Lord’s Supper and another service in which they engage in the other acts of worship (singing, praying, preaching/teaching). As of the time I am writing this, I have not visited a church that has gone to this type of arrangement. However, based upon comments I have seen online, those who have done this seem to have an overwhelmingly positive view of this new format.

This begs the question: How much time should we spend on the Lord’s Supper? In this article, I want us to consider some thoughts regarding that question.Continue Reading

“Mockers Will Come With Their Mocking”

The Last Supper (Leonardo di Vinci)

At the time of this writing, controversy recently erupted at the beginning of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, in which a group of “drag queens” appeared to represent the last supper of Jesus and His apostles. (Pictures of this are currently all over the internet, but I decided they were too vulgar to display on this website. Instead, the image above is of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting which was allegedly being parodied.) Depicting this event with the Lord and His apostles in this way makes a mockery of Christ. However, some claim that this was not the intended reference. Yet even if that were true, the entire lewd scene was an insult to Christians and anyone else who holds a Biblical view of morals and sexuality. Sadly, such a display is no longer surprising today.

As a culture becomes more and more godless, believers in Christ increasingly become the targets of ridicule, harassment, ostracism, and, in some cases, even physical violence. This has been the case in various places throughout the world. Yet now, even in places that were once tolerant of Christianity and generally embraced Biblical values, there is a growing antagonism toward God, the Lord Jesus Christ, His church, His word, and His people.

The apostle Peter warned about this back in the first century:

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation’” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

We certainly see “mockers” today who ridicule anything that pertains to faith in Christ. Let us consider a few points about this.Continue Reading

Lessons for the Young (and the Not-So-Young)

Young Man Reading Bible

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body” (Proverbs 4:20-22).

In the book of Proverbs, the wise man sought to impart wisdom to his son. It is natural for one to want to help his children or other young people in this way. As we get older, we have lessons that have been shared with us by others, knowledge we have learned on our own, and wisdom we have gained from our experiences. The wise man of the book of Proverbs – as well as the others who wrote the words we can read in the Scriptures – had these words revealed to them by God (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Therefore, the lessons we find in the Bible are particularly important.

So, what lessons are needed for young people today? We are going to briefly notice a few examples from the Scriptures. As was the case with the wise man’s words to his son in the book of Proverbs, these instructions are not just for young people. All of these instructions are good for both the young and the not-so-young. Let us consider seven lessons here.Continue Reading