“For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth” (2 Corinthians 13:8).
In this verse, Paul was not discussing what is or is not possible. Rather, he was speaking of the determination of faithful disciples of Christ. We must choose one of two sides – we can be for the truth or against the truth. As Christians who have committed to being on the side of truth, let us notice what we can do to benefit and support it.
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As the religious world prepares for the Easter holiday this Sunday, let us be reminded of what the Bible has to say on the topic.
Is Easter in the Bible? Yes and no, depending on what is meant by the question. Is the word Easter in the Bible. Yes, if you are reading the King James Version. When Herod killed James and saw that it pleased the Jews, he intended to do the same to Peter. Luke recorded, “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quarternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people” (Acts 12:4).
However, if you read from a different translation, such as the New American Standard Bible, a different word is used instead of Easter: “…intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.” Which is the correct translation? The Greek word used here is pascha (Passover). It refers to the feast of Unleavened Bread that was instituted for the Jews under the Old Law (cf. Exodus 12:1-27). Easter does not belong in Acts 12:4.
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We do not typically think of the term “hard-headed” as being a compliment when it is used to describe someone. Yet the Bible teaches that it is an essential characteristic of one who would proclaim the word of God. When God commissioned Ezekiel to “go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them” (Ezekiel 3:4), appointing him as “a watchman to the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 3:17), God gave the prophet a hard-headed demeanor so that he would be able to accomplish his task.
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We often talk about the conversion of Saul – later known as the apostle Paul – because of the important lessons to be found in it about how one becomes a Christian. But what about what happened after Saul’s conversion? There are important lessons here as well. Let us look at what Saul did following his conversion.
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The biggest sporting event of the year – the Super Bowl – will kickoff this Sunday evening. The televised game garners much attention, even from those who are not sports fans. Super Bowl parties, large and small, will be held in every part of the country.
Many congregations typically have regular assemblies scheduled during this time. As Christians, what are we to do? We have several options, though not all are equal in merit. Let us examine these in light of the Scriptures.
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The presence of false teachers in the world is a reality that we cannot ignore. Peter warned, “There will also be false teachers among you” (2 Peter 2:1). These were ones who taught “a different gospel,” which Paul explained “is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7).
But how is this done? A false teacher does not come in, take away your Bible, and replace it with one that has different content which supports his error. He also does not refrain from citing or quoting Bible passages. Yet he teaches error. How? As Paul said, the false teacher must distort the gospel. He uses a Bible in proclaiming his error. This should not surprise us. Satan even quoted Scripture in tempting Jesus (Matthew 4:5-6). We need to understand how this is done so we will be better prepared to identify, expose, and combat error.
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A small church in Gainesville, Florida has caused no small disturbance with their plan to host a Quran burning this Saturday to mark the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Terry Jones, the leader of this church, has been urged by Muslims, religious leaders, and government officials to cancel the event for fear of violence that could erupt. The latest news, at the time of this writing, is that the event has been cancelled, but that Jones could still change his mind. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, happens.
But what about this? Is this something a church ought to be doing? Jones and his church are well within their legal and Constitutional rights to burn copies of the Quran (assuming they are their own personal copies and not stolen). But that’s not what we’re going to discuss here. Instead, we want to consider whether or not a Christian should burn copies of the Quran as this church had planned to do.
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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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