Did the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks represent God’s judgment against the United States? Did Hurricane Katrina devastate New Orleans because of the rampant immorality there? Is God going to send some natural or man-made disaster to punish this country for the slaughter of millions of innocent lives through the practice of abortion?
A lot of people will answer “yes” to these questions. But what does the Bible say? Jesus’ words in Luke 13 help answer this question for us:Continue Reading
Many people in the United States are anxious about the country’s economy. This is understandable with all of the job losses, home foreclosures, and falling value of investments. These things do not just face this country, but many places in the world are also facing economic turmoil.
The book of Revelation warned of the fall of the Roman empire that was to come. Naturally, when the empire fell, the global economy suffered. Under Roman rule “the merchants of the earth [had] become rich” (Revelation 18:3). When Rome fell, the merchants would “weep and mourn over her, because no one [would buy] their cargoes anymore” (Revelation 18:11). “And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning” (Revelation 18:19). But the Christians in that day were to have a different perspective: “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her” (Revelation 18:20). While the merchants were mourning, Christians were rejoicing.
We should understand that the collapse of the American economy is not exactly parallel with the fall of Rome. Rome was punished by God for sin (Revelation 18:4-8). The United States suffers because of irresponsibility and other factors. But like the Christians in the early church, our perspective about these things should naturally be different from that of the people of the world. So let us look and see what principles we find in the Bible to help us handle our current economic hardships.
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Paul instructed the church in Ephesus to be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). He then went on to explain the reason for unity and the basis of it.
Our unity must be based upon the following:
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There are several different names and titles used for God in the Bible. One interesting one is “Lord of Sabaoth” and is used twice in the New Testament (Romans 9:29; James 5:4). What exactly does this name mean?
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When does a person cease being a non-Christian and become a Christian? Is it possible to make a distinction between the two groups?
As important as this question may be, you will not get the same answer from all professed Christians. Some believe that one is saved and, therefore, a Christian at the point of faith. Others believe this happens after one says a “sinner’s prayer.” Still others think that one can simply be a good person and be considered a Christian on that basis.
First, let us look at the word of God and see what is not the dividing line between the Christian and the non-Christian.
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[This article was written by Tim Haile.]
If the Bible is what it claims to be, then God does exist. Conversely, if God does exist, then it is reasonable to believe that He would reveal Himself to His creatures, and particularly to a sentient creature like man. It is important to remember that, if the Bible is true, all unbelievers will experience the kind of pain that one would experience if he were to be cast into a lake of burning sulfur (Rev. 21:8). The difference is that the lake of judgment will inflict pain and torment to the soul, not the body (Matthew 10:28), and that the punishment will be experienced for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10; 14:11). Such a prospect behooves us to consider these matters soberly and fully.
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“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8).
Often, when one teaches that obedience is necessary for salvation, he is accused of teaching that we earn our salvation. Passages like the one above are sometimes cited as “proof” that there is nothing we must do to be saved. But is it even possible for salvation to be earned? Is it possible to live in such a way that God owes us a home in heaven?
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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.
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