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Recent Posts
- The Biblical Teaching on Tithes
- The Old and New Priesthood
- Authorial Intent
- King David – the Good and the Bad
- David – A Better King
- Saul – The King who Failed
- When Life Gets Tough
- Guard Your Heart
- Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks
- A Song of Ascent – Psalm 126
- God’s Imputed Righteousness
- A Song of Ascents – Psalm 123
- They Will Suffer for Your Unfaithfulness
- Seek Your Servant – Psalm 119:169-176
- Biblical Meditation
- The Christmas Holiday
- Establish Our Footsteps – Psalm 119:129-136
- No Distractions
- Theological Categories of God’s Justice
- God’s Word Sustains Us – Psalm 119:89-96
- Being the Good Boss
- Chasing After Donkeys
- Choosing the Faithful Way – Psalm 119:25-32
- Social Justice from a Biblical Perspective
- When God Gives Us a Test
- God’s Grace is Sufficient
- How to Deal with Jealousy
- When God Uses Evil Actions for His Good
- Alexander the Coppersmith
- Submission to Authority – Part III
- Submission to Authority – Part II
- Submission to Authority – Part I
- The Faithfulness of the Lord
- The Choice of Blessing or Cursing
- Twelve Ways to Deal with a Bad Boss
- The Wrath of God
- Babylonianism
- Contrasting Good and Bad Leaders
- Faith or Regeneration – Which Comes First?
- What is the Church?
- A Brief Analysis of the Millennial Kingdom
- A Brief Analysis of Israel in History and Prophecy
- The Lord is My Shepherd – Psalm 23
- Not of Works
- Reasons why we obey God
- A Commitment of the Heart
- When God Said “Do Not Pray”
- The Basics of Prayer
- The Meaning of Sin
- Treating Others with Dignity
Author Archives: Dr. Steven R. Cook
The Biblical Teaching on Tithes
The word tithe means “to give a tenth.” The tithe consisted of produce and livestock (Lev 27:30-32), and was given to the Levites for their support for ministry (Num 18:21-24). The Levites, in turn, gave a tithe of the tithe to the Priests for their service (Num 18:25-28). Additionally, the worshipper could eat a portion of the sacrifice with his family and the Levites (Deut 12:17-19; 14:22-27). Lastly, a tithe was taken every third year to help the poor, the alien, the orphans and the widows. This tithe was comparable to a social welfare system for the most unfortunate in society. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Church, Dispensationalism, Hot Topics, Israel, Living by Faith, Righteous Living
Tagged biblical giving, biblical tithing, Christian giving, does the Christian have to tithe?, giving, giving or tithing, is tithing biblical?, Law of Christ, mosaic law, Should Christians tithe?, ten percent, The Biblical Teaching on Tithes, tithing, what did people in the OT tithe
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The Old and New Priesthood
Presently, in the church age, every Christian, at the moment of salvation, becomes a priest to God. Peter writes of Christians, saying, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5), and “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9). This is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who “has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father” (Rev 1:6), and “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Rev 5:10; cf. 20:6). Furthermore, we do not worship at a temple; rather, “we are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor 6:16; cf. 1 Cor 3:16-17). And we do not bring animal sacrifices, but “offer up spiritual sacrifices” to God (1 Pet 2:5). Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Church, Dispensationalism, Hot Topics, Righteous Living
Tagged A chosen race, A kingdom of priests, A living and holy sacrifice, a royal priesthood, Christ our High Priests, Every Christian is a priest, Offering spiritual sacrifices, Spiritual sacrifices, Spiritual service of worship, The Christian Priesthood, the Levitical priesthood, the old and new priesthood, The priesthood of every believer, The sacrifice of praise, What did Jewish priests do?, Who is a priest?
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Authorial Intent
Authorial intent and context always determines meaning. This is true when listening to a supervisor’s instruction, reading the words on a medicine bottle, following the speed limit on the freeway, paying one’s taxes, or reading the Bible. Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Exegesis, Hermeneutics
Tagged Are we free to interpret as we please?, authorial intent, context determines meaning, meaing is found with the author, meaning always originates with the author, meaning in the text, meaning is found with the reader, reader response, the meaning of the text
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King David – the Good and the Bad
The Bible describes David as a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14; cf. Acts 13:22). This is a huge compliment, but what does it mean? God certainly knew David’s heart and what kind of king he would be, for He informed His prophet, Samuel, saying, “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). However, we should not conclude that David was perfectly obedient and kept the Lord’s will in all matters in his life. He did not. No believer ever does, for there are none who are sinless, except the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Jo 3:5). But David obeyed the Lord in important matters, and apart from a few major offences, he did not generally commit egregious sins. Continue reading
Posted in Bad Behavior, Christian Theology, God's Grace, Hamartiology, Hot Topics, Leadership
Tagged 1 Samuel 13:14, A man after God's own heart, David and Bathsheba, David confessed his sins, David has Uriah killed, David practiced polygamy, David practiced the sin of polygamy, David takes a census, David the good king, David was a man after God's own heart, David's affair with Bathsheba, David's humility, David's sins, God's grace, grace is a chief characteristic of God, He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Humility is a lowliness of mind, King David, Why could God call David a man after His own heart?
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David – A Better King
David was a good king who reigned in Israel from roughly 1010 to 970 B.C. David’s life was intermingled with Saul, Israel’s first king, who failed to walk with God and do His will. David was better than Saul. He was better because he was a man of faith, and faith always pleases the Lord (Heb 11:6). Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Leadership, Living by Faith, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged A man after God's own heart, David, David and Goliath, David cared for his father's flock, David fled from Saul for fifteen years, David kills a lion and a bear, David was a better king than Saul, David was better than Saul, David would not kill Saul, David's rise to kingship, King David, Saul tried to kill David, Sin and mental decline, The Lord's anointed
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Saul – The King who Failed
Saul had the outward appearance of what most people look for in a leader, for he was “a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people” (1 Sam 9:2). Often when we search for a leader, we want someone who looks and talks a certain way, has the right credentials and preferably a good work history. We shouldn’t diminish those things, but simply put them in their place, as being below the things God desires, “for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hamartiology, Leadership, Righteous Living
Tagged but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7), David, David the son of Jesse, foolishness, for man looks at the outward appearance, God does not see as man sees, God looks upon the heart, God sees not as man sees, Israel selects Saul as king, Israel's first king, King Saul's anointing, Samuel anoints Saul, Samuel anoints Saul as king, Saul - The King who Failed, Saul and David, Saul as king of Israel, Saul did not obey the Lord, Saul the handsome king, Saul tries to kill David, Saul was a king after the people's hearts, Saul's rejection as king, The good qualities of king Saul, The life of king Saul, Why Saul was rejected as King
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When Life Gets Tough
When life gets tough, sometimes God reassures and comforts us (Psa 23:4; 2 Cor 1:3-5; 2 Th 2:16-17), sometimes we comfort each other (Eph 6:22; 1 Th 4:18), and sometimes we comfort ourselves with His Word (Psa 119:50, 52; Lam 3:21-23). But there are times in Scripture when God does not give comfort—at least not in the way we might expect—but informs His people that things will get worse, and that they need to prepare themselves for the challenges and suffering ahead (Matt 10:16, 23; John 15:20; 16:1-2; Acts 9:15-16; 20:22-23). Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Faith in trials, how can you compete with horses?, How to handle difficulties, If you have run with footmen, Jeremiah 12, Jeremiah 12:1-6, Jeremiah 12:5, Jeremiah walked with God, Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah, Living by faith, looking to God, running the Christian race, spiritual sensitivities, The problem of evil, Troubles are a part of life, When life gets tough, When we have nowhere to look but God
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Guard Your Heart
Our life is a reflection of what fills our heart. Good in is good out, and garbage in is garbage out. We determine what fills the heart. Solomon said, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Pro 4:23). The Hebrew concept of the heart (לֵב leb) is the total inner person; it includes the mind, the will, and emotions. It is the base of operations which determines the course of life. Continue reading
God’s Imputed Righteousness
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, God's Grace, Hot Topics, Righteous Living, Salvation
Tagged Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, Are good works necessary for salvation?, Are we credited with God's righteousness?, do good works save?, Genesis 15:6, God's gift of righteousness, God's imputed righteousness, How are we made right with God?, how can a holy God justify unworthy sinners?, How does God justify sinners?, Imputed righteousness, On what basis are we made right with God?, Righteousness as a gift from God, Romans 4:1-5, Salvation is by grace alone, the gift of righteousness, three biblical imputations, What did Jesus accomplish at the cross?, what does the Bible say about imputed righteousness?, Why odes God justify sinners?
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A Song of Ascents – Psalm 123
Psalm 123 is one of fifteen songs of ascent (Psa 120 to 134), of which four are attributed to David (Psa 122, 124, 131, 133) and one to Solomon (Psa 127). The Mishmash states these psalms were sung on the fifteen steps that led up to the temple; however, it is more likely they were sung by pilgrims as they traveled up to Jerusalem, as stated in Psalm 122:1-2 and 125:1-2. Whether Jerusalem or the temple, these psalms were intended to prepare the worshiper’s mind to look to the Lord in faith. Spurgeon states, “Yet we must use our eyes with resolution, for they will not go upward to the Lord of themselves, but they incline to look downward, or inward, or anywhere but to the Lord.” Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, God's Grace, Psalms
Tagged A Song of Ascents, Charles H. Spurgeon, James Montgomery Boice, Look to God, Prayer for the afflicted, Psalm 123, Psalm 123 is one of fifteen songs of ascent, Psalm 123:1-4, Songs of ascent, When the afflicted pray, Why do they need God’s grace?
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They Will Suffer for Your Unfaithfulness
Numbers chapters 13 & 14 reveal the biblical concept of blessing and cursing by association. In this section of Scripture, God disciplined the Israelites in the wilderness because of their disobedience, and that discipline had direct impact on their children. The key verse in this article in Numbers 14:33, which reads, “But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your corpses lie in the wilderness.” Continue reading
Posted in Bad Behavior, Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Leadership, Living by Faith
Tagged blessing and cursing by association, blessing and cursing by association is biblical, Choices have consequences, Choosing faith over fear, Choosing fear over faith, growing spiritually, how we live impacts the lives of others, Israel in the wilderness, Joshua and Caleb, Live by faith, Living by faith, My Godly grandmother, The spies in the land, They Will Suffer for Your Unfaithfulness, Trust in the Lord, When bad choices impact others, Why children suffer for because of bad parents, Why Israel was denied entrance into the Promised Land
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The Christmas Holiday
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, the Jewish Messiah, Who is the Savior of all who trust in Him for salvation (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Eph 2:8-9). Unlike the Jewish holidays that were mandated under the Mosaic Law (i.e. Passover, Feast of Booths, Yom Kippur, etc.), Christians are not biblically commanded to celebrate Christmas; rather, it has become a longstanding tradition within the church. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Christmas
Tagged “Dear God, Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus, Christmas is about a future hope, Christmas is about love and sacrifice, Christmas is about the gift of God to a fallen world, Christmas love, if you ever want to see your Son again, Jesus is the reason for the season, Little boy bribes God by kidnapping the baby Jesus, The baby Jesus, the birth of Jesus, The Christmas holiday, the meaning of Christmas, the reason for the season, what is the meaning of Christmas, you’ll give me what I want.”
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Establish Our Footsteps – Psalm 119:129-136
In Psalm 119:129-136, the psalmist seeks God, His grace and His word to sustain him when facing oppression. God’s acts in history reveal He is gracious and good, so the psalmist pleads for the Lord to uphold him as he is obedient to His word. Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Exegesis, Christian Theology, Psalms
Tagged A call for help, A call for help from God, Establish my footsteps in Your word, Establish Our Footsteps, give you peace, God's face shining upon us, God's grace to us, God's word sustains, Make Your face shine upon Your servant, My eyes shed streams of water, Psalm 119, Psalm 119:129-236, Redeem me from the oppression of man, Seeking God's word to sustain us, The LORD bless you, the LORD make His face shine on you, The unfolding of Your words gives light, Turn to me and be gracious to me
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No Distractions
The pressures of life can distract us from our priorities, and when this happens, we lose focus. Christians are called to “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col 3:16). And when the pressures of life begin to mount, be wise and cast “all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet 5:7), and “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phi 4:6), and “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’” (Heb 13:5) Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Living by Faith
Tagged Be anxious for nothing, Cast your anxiety on Him, Cast your cares upon the Lord, Don't be distracted, Don't worry, Focus on God, Focus on things above, Leanr and live the Bible, Living by faith, Luke 10:38-42, Not living by faith, The parable of the sower and the fields, The worries of the world
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Theological Categories of God’s Justice
The righteousness of God refers to the intrinsic, immutable, moral perfection of God, from which He commands all things, in heaven and earth, and declares as good that which conforms to His righteousness and as evil that which deviates. The righteousness and the justice of God work together. Whatever God’s righteousness requires, His justice executes; either to approve or reject, to bless or condemn. The various theological categories of God’s righteousness include rectoral justice, retributive justice, remunerative justice, redemptive justice, and restorative justice. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hot Topics
Tagged Aspects of God's justice, Biblical categories of God's justice, God's Justice, God's justice explained, God's righteousness, God's righteousness defined, God's sovereignty, How should we understand God's justice, rectoral justice, redemptive justice, remunerative justice, restorative justice, retributive justice, Theological aspects of God's justice, Theological categories of God's justice, What does the Bible say about God's justice?, What is God's justice?
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God’s Word Sustains Us – Psalm 119:89-96
In this pericope, the psalmist set his mind upon the Lord and contemplated His Word and faithfulness; and though he faced hardship, he was strengthened and sustained by learning and living God’s Word, which is boundless and never fails. Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Exegesis, Christian Theology, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith, Psalms, Righteous Living
Tagged Don't forget God's Word, Forever, God is faithful, God's faithfulness, God's Word revives us, God's Word strengthens us, God's Word Sustains Us, I shall not forget Your Word, O LORD, Psalm 119, Psalm 119:89-96, The delight of God's Word, The stability of living by God's Word, Trusting in God's Word, Walking with God, Your word is settled in heaven
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Being the Good Boss
On a day to day basis, the good leader is one who will listen to you, stand up for you, trust you and not micromanage every aspect of your work. She communicates clearly, constantly, and in a collaborative manner. He seeks your advice, listens to your concerns, and consults you on the best solutions for success. She sets high expectations and encourage you to be the best you can be, operating according to agency standards, and striving for new heights of excellence. He also cares about your life outside of work and wants you to have good physical, social, and mental health. Lastly, the good boss can be tough when needed. She lives in reality and knows there are some who will not respond to her leadership, and, may be required to use her authority to reprimand and/or terminate staff; however, this is always a last recourse after all other positive strategies have failed. Overall, I see the good boss as one who lives sacrificially for the benefit of others, always desiring their success as well as the success of the agency. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Inspirational Writings, Leadership, Marriage, Righteous Living
Tagged Being the good boss, Being the good leader, characteristics of a good boss, Characteristics of a good leader, Describing the good boss, How to be a good boss, How to be the good leader, Servant leadership, The Christian boss, The Christian Leader, What are the characteristics of a good boss?
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Chasing After Donkeys
God’s providence refers to His wise and personal acts, whereby He creates and controls circumstances in order to direct history according to His predetermined plan, all for His glory and the benefit of His people. As Christians, we live in the flow of history, and are moved by the circumstances He controls, for the Lord “does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” (Dan 4:35). Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Inspirational Writings, Leadership, Living by Faith
Tagged Chasing after donkeys, Does God direct us through circumstances, election, God's control over his creation, God's influence in the world, God's providence, God's sovereign control, how did Saul become King?, how do we know God's will?, How does God direct our lives?, How God directs our lives, How God directs our lvies, How God leads, King Saul, Knowing God's will, Providence, Providential control, Providential sovereignty, When Saul became king
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Choosing the Faithful Way – Psalm 119:25-32
In Psalm 119:25-32, the psalmist expressed himself as one who faced great distress and who cried out to the Lord for strength. Though faced with conflict, he committed himself to pursue God and to run in His ways. His desire was to have enhanced knowledge of God’s Word, which would strengthen his soul and increase his capacity for righteous living. The benefit was a soul set free to run with God and a knowledge and capacity to do His will. Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Exegesis, Christian Theology, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith, Psalms, Righteous Living, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Believers struggle with depression, Choosing the faithful way, depression, faithful obedience, Personal revival, Psalm 119, Psalm 119:25-32, Revive me according to your word, seeking strength from God, what does it mean to run with God?, what does it mean to walk with God?
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Social Justice from a Biblical Perspective
When Israel was a theocratic kingdom, God legislated certain benefits to the poor, widows, orphans and sojourners in order to meet their daily needs, and these were to be given by those whom He’d blessed with abundance. God instructed His leaders to uphold and defend the rights of the vulnerable, knowing there would be wicked persons who would seek to exploit them. Sadly, much of Israel’s history was marked by a breakdown among His people, as the leaders and wealthy in the land exploited the poor they were called to defend. Now, in the Church age, God provides care for the needy in society through human governments, as well as through individual Christians and local churches. Lastly, perfect government will come in the future when Jesus Christ returns and establishes His kingdom on earth and provides righteous reign and care for all. Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Worldview, Christian Theology, Church, Hot Topics, Leadership, Living by Faith, Righteous Living
Tagged A Christian view of social justice, caring for the por, Christians and social justice, helping orphans, Helping the homeless, Helping the poor, helping widows, Scripture for social justice, social justice, social justice and Christians, Social justice and the Bible, Social justice and the church, Social Justice from a Biblical Perspective, The church and social justice, what does God say about social justice, what does the Bible say about helping the poor, What does the Bible say about social justice?, what is social justice
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When God Gives Us a Test
God tests His people. It’s a fact that is repeated throughout Scripture (Exo 16:4; 20:20; Deu 13:3; Jud 3:1-2; Isa 48:10). He tests us with difficult situations in order to humble us, so that we will not look to ourselves for strength, but to Him. In the end, the test reveals that it is God who provides for us. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Each day has enough trouble of its own, Faith for today, Faith for tomorrow, Jehovah Jireh, Learning to trust in God, Seek first His kingdom, Seek the Lord, The Lord will provide, The purpose of testing, the value of suffering, The value of testing, When Abraham offered Isaac, When God gives us a test, Why did God test Abraham?, Why does God test His people?, Why does the Lord test us?, Yahweh Yireh
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God’s Grace is Sufficient
God gives grace in proportion to our weakness. The greater our weakness, the more grace He gives. This is a moment by moment grace; always sufficient for the need, and the need is always changing. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, God's Grace, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith
Tagged Boasting about weakness, for power is perfected in weakness, God sustains us, God's grace, God's grace is sufficient, God's greater grace, Grace for the day, Grace for today, Grace in suffering, My grace is sufficient for you, Paul's thorn in the flesh, Power in weakness, Sufficient grace, the meaning of grace, The purpose of suffering, What was Paul's thorn in the flesh, When believer's get prideful, Why did God give Paul a thorn in the flesh?
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How to Deal with Jealousy
Jealousy can be either healthy or unhealthy, depending on the motivation of the heart. God is jealous. He is jealous to protect His glory (Isa 42:8), His name (Eze 39:25; cf. Isa 42:8), and His people (Zec 8:2). When we love what God loves, then we’ll possess a godly jealousy, like Elijah (1 Ki 19:10) and Paul (2 Cor 11:2). But when we care little about God, then sinful jealousy will dominate our hearts, and we’ll seek to destroy rather than protect and edify others, such as when Joseph’s brothers tried to kill him (Gen 37:11-28), or when the Sadducees attacked and imprisoned the apostles (Acts 5:17-18). We overcome sinful jealousy by: 1) placing God’s Word at the center of our lives and letting it direct our thoughts, words and actions (Psa 1:2; 2 Cor 10:5), 2) realizing the Lord owns everything (Psa 24:1; 89:11), and that He is free to leave or take whatever we have, including possessions, family, or health (Job 1:6-21), and, 3) that sinful jealousy cannot exist in a heart saturated with God’s love, for “Love…is not jealous” (1 Cor 13:4). Continue reading
Posted in Bad Behavior, Christian Theology, Hamartiology, Hot Topics, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith, Love, Marriage, Righteous Living
Tagged A definition of jealousy, Does God get jealous?, God's jealousy, godly jealousy, How to deal with jealousy, How to deal with sinful jealousy, Is envy and jealousy different?, Is jealousy a sin?, Is jealousy ever right?, Should Christians be jealous?, What does the Bible say about Godly jealousy?, what does the Bible say about jealousy?, what is sinful jealousy?, Why are we jealous?, Why is God jealous?
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When God Uses Evil Actions for His Good
Through Scripture, God gives His people the capacity to see all of life from His vantage point. Having God’s perspective allows us to rise about the daily grind of life and the petty actions of others and realize there is a sovereign God who rules over His creation and directs the activities of mankind—even evil activities—for His own good and the good of His people. For this reason, we can understand Paul’s words and know “that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Continue reading
Posted in Bad Behavior, Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Living by Faith
Tagged All Things Work Together for Good, Divine viewpoint, Genesis 50:20, God can use evil actions to bring about good, God meant it for good, God was with Joseph, God's providence, God's sovereignty, How did God use the evil actions of Joseph's brothers for good, human viewpoint, Joseph sold into slavery, Living by faith in adversity, living with the divine perspective, Providence, Romans 8:28, Seeing life from God's perspective, The story of Joseph
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Alexander the Coppersmith
There are times when it’s necessary to specifically name a person as hostile in order to warn others to avoid unnecessary harm. This was true of the apostle Paul, who warned his friend, Timothy, about a man named Alexander. Continue reading
Posted in Bad Behavior, Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Living by Faith, Righteous Living, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Alexander the Coppersmith, avoiding people who cause trouble, Avoiding trouble, God will repay, God will repay those who hurt us, Guard yourself from others who want to hurt you, Is it ok to name people and their faults?, Never seek retaliation, Never take your own revenge, Protect yourself from people who want to hurt you, When to avoid trouble, When to guard yourself from others
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Submission to Authority – Part III
Christians will, at times, suffer unjustly at the hands of those whom God has placed in authority over us, like the suffering Hagar experienced at the hand of Sarai. And, the harsh or immoral character of leaders should never dictate our response; rather, we should be governed by God’s Word, as we look to Christ as our example of unjust suffering. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Leadership, Living by Faith, Righteous Living, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged 1 Peter 2:18, Abram and Sarai and Hagar, Genesis 16, Jesus as our example of submitting to authority, Living by faith under a harsh boss, Should I submit to my boss when he's a jerk?, Should we submit to abusive authority?, Should we submit to harsh leaders?, Submission to authority, Submitting to the boss, The conception of Ishmael, When should we say "no" to authority?, Why did God make Hagar submit to Sarai?
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Submission to Authority – Part II
Rebellion against God’s authority started with Satan, an angelic creature who, at an unspecified time, led an angelic revolt against God and created a kingdom of darkness. Afterward, God created Adam and Eve to serve under His authority, as mediatorial administrators who cared for the earth. However, God permitted Satan to tempt Adam and Eve to rebel against His authority, and when they agreed to follow Satan, his kingdom of darkness was expanded and he became the temporary ruler of this world. According to God’s wise plan and sovereign will, He sent His Son into the world and the Son added humanity to Himself, lived an absolutely righteous life in obedience to His Father and went to the cross and died for sinful humanity. At the cross, Jesus reclaimed this world and pronounced judgment and sentencing for Satan, who will eventually be cast into the Lake of Fire forever. Until that time, Satan continues as a subversive living in God’s world, and he has many followers who are used by him to subvert God’s will on earth. These enemies of God seek to infiltrate governmental systems and command people—both saved and lost—to disobey God. Though Christians are commanded to obey human leaders, we can never obey a command that is contrary to God’s will. Continue reading
Posted in Angels & Demons, Bad Behavior, Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Leadership, Living by Faith, Righteous Living, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged Adam and Eve rebelled against God, Adam and Eve submitted to Satan, Civil disobedience, God intended Adam and Eve to rule over the earth, God is always sovereign, God permits Satan to act, God permits Satan to tempt His people, God's sovereignty, Good end evil coexist, Is Satan the god of this age?, Is Satan the god of this world?, Is Satan the ruler of this world?, Is there a time when Christians disobey authority?, Jesus reclaimed the world, Satan convinced Adam and Eve to rebel against God's authority, Satan has planted subversives in the world, Satan is the god of this age, Satan is the god of this world, Satan led an angelic revolt in heaven, Satan rebelled against God's authority, Satan's world system, Submission to authority, the fall of Satan, The parable of the wheat and the tares, When did Satan fall?, When should the Christian refuse to obey authority?, Why does good and evil coexist?
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Submission to Authority – Part I
God is the supreme Ruler of His creation, and He has established human governmental authorities to promote law and order. This means He has delegated authority to persons and groups who serve as administrative overseers to others. As Christians, we are commanded to submit to those in authority over us, whether it is the president, state governors, local city officials, police officers, employers, parents, teachers, etc. Failure to submit to human authority is regarded as failure to submit to God, Who has placed those persons over us. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Leadership, Living by Faith, Righteous Living, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged 1 Peter 2:13-14, Biblical examples of submission to authority, Christian citizenship, God delegates authority, God is the supreme ruler over creation, hupotasso, Pray of those in authority, Romans 13:1, Should believers submit to human authority?, Submission to authority, Submit to authority, what does it mean to submit to authority?, What does the Bible say about submission to authority?, when can the believer say no to authority?
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The Faithfulness of the Lord
The strength of the believer is in God, as we trust His Word, believing He will sustain us as we face life’s difficulties. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Inspirational Writings, Living by Faith, Spirituality, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged a fortiori rationale, Christian victory, Do not trust in man, Faith in God, faith in God's Word, God is faithful, God's faithfulness, God's loyal followers, People fail, The faithfulness of the Lor, Trust in the Lord, Trust the Lord in the trial, Victory in life, Victory in life comes from the Lord, Wait on the Lord
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The Wrath of God
God’s wrath refers to His intense hatred of sin. God’s hatred of sin is primarily born out of His attributes of righteousness and love. Righteousness and love are eternal attributes, but wrath is not. God’s wrath is the natural response to that which is contrary to His righteousness and love. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hamartiology, Hot Topics
Tagged A definition of God's wrath, Be angry but do not sin, Be angy, Be slow to anger, Believers should be slow to anger, Does God get angry?, Examples of God's wrath, God's patience delays His wrath, God's wrath, God's wrath at the cross, Is anger a sin?, Reasons why God gets angry, Should believers get angry?, The reasons for God's wrath, The Wrath of God, What does the Bible say about God's anger?, What does the Bible say about God's wrath?, why does God get angry?, why God gets angry, Wrath at the cross
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Babylonianism
Babylonianism is a philosophy of human autonomy. It is a system of values that start and end with man, and is embraced by the vast majority of people who assign no serious thought of God to their discussions, plans, or projects, and who seek to use His resources independently of His wishes. Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Worldview, Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Living by Faith, Righteous Living
Tagged Babylon is the birthplace of organized religion, Babylonian values, Babylonianism, Babylonianism is a philosophy of human autonomy, Living in Babylon, Satan's world system, The great harlot, The land of Shinar, The tower of Babel, What is Babylonianism?
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Faith or Regeneration – Which Comes First?
The ordo salutis refers to the order of salvation. Some believe regeneration precedes faith in Christ, and others that faith in Christ precedes regeneration. This article seeks to present a fair presentation of the subject. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Salvation
Tagged does faith precede regeneration?, Does regeneration precede faith?, faith precedes regeneration, John 3:3-8, Love, ordo salutis, regeneration precedes faith, spirituality, the meaning of regeneration, the order of salvation, the ordo salutis, to be born again, what does it mean to be born again?, what must I do to be saved
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What is the Church?
The church refers to the body of Christ which began on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. It is comprised of Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Jesus as Savior. The church exists universally as an organism, the global presence of Christians who form the body of Christ. The church also exists locally as an organization, a nearby assembly of believers who gather together for Bible study, worship, fellowship, and the practice of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Christian church is a mystery not revealed in the Old Testament and is separate from Israel, having a different identity and purpose. Continue reading
Posted in Church, Dispensationalism, Hermeneutics, Hot Topics, Israel
Tagged dispensational distinctions, Dispensationalism, dispensationalism and the church, Does the church replace Israel?, Ecclesiology, Gentile Christians, Israel and the church, Jewish Christians, Jews and Gentiles, The body of Christ, the church and Israel, the church as an organism, the church as an organizatio, The church as the body of Christ, The church in the New Testament, the early church, the first century church, the house church, the living church, the local church, the meaning of ecclesia, The meaning of ekklesia, The purpose of the church, the study of the Church, The universal church, What is dispe... dispe... dispensationalism?, what is the church, what is the ekklesia
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A Brief Analysis of the Millennial Kingdom
The Bible reveals two aspects of God’s rule over His creation. The first is His universal rule in which He sovereignly decrees whatsoever comes to pass and “works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11). The second is God’s earthly rule in which He governs through a human mediatorial administrator. The first account of such a rule is found in Genesis where the Lord assigned Adam and Eve to rule over the whole world (Gen. 1:26-28). Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Dispensationalism, Israel, Prophecy
Tagged a dispensational view of God's kigndom, Are Christians advancing God's kingdom?, are we living in God's kingdom?, Are we living in the kingdom?, Is Satan ruling now?, Is Satan the god of this world?, Is the kingdom being advanced now?, is the kingdom now, is the kingdom on earth?, Is the millennial kingdom literal?, Israel rejected the kingdom offer, Jesus offered the kingdom to Israel, The church is not living in the kingdom, the kingdom God, The kingdom in prophecy, the kingdom of heaven, The kingdom on earth, The Messianic kingdom, the millennial kingdom, The universal kingdom, what does the Bible say about the kingdom in prophecy, What does the Bible say about the kingdom?
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A Brief Analysis of Israel in History and Prophecy
Both Covenant and Dispensational theologians agree that God made promises to Abraham of land, seed, and blessing (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:13-17; 15:17; 17:26; Deut. 29:1-29; 30:1-10; 2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:33-37; Jer. 31:31-33). The difference lies in that Covenant theologians believe that God has fulfilled all those promises to Abraham, whereas Dispensationalists believe God will fulfill those promises in the future. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Dispensationalism, Hermeneutics, Israel, Prophecy
Tagged Are the biblical covenants still in effect?, Biblical Covenants, biblical promises, covenant promises, Dispensational theology and Israel, Does Israel have a future?, Dr. Andy Woods, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, God loves Israel, God promised the land to Israel, Has God already fulfilled His promises to Israel?, Israel future, Israel in history, Israel in History and Prophecy, Israel in prophecy, Israel present, Isreal past, Jesus is the promised Messiah, Jesus will sit on David's throne, The Abrahamic covenant, the Abrahamic promises, The future of Israel, What is Israel's future?
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The Lord is My Shepherd – Psalm 23
The 23rd psalm is known and appreciated by many, but it belongs personally only to those who call God their shepherd. It is a song of David’s confidence in God who faithfully provides for him. David pictures God as a shepherd who guides, provides, and protects (vss. 1-4), and as a dinner host who nourishes and refreshes His guest (vs. 5-6). One gets the impression that David wrote this psalm at a time when he was experiencing hardship (perhaps when he was fleeing in the wilderness from Absalom). The psalm reveals a confidence in David’s soul, no doubt the result of his relationship with God and his trust in the LORD’s goodness and loyal-love. Whatever threat David was facing, he could rely on God’s goodness and lovingkindness, and David knew the end of his life would be “in the house of the LORD forever” (vs. 6). Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Exegesis, Christian Theology, Living by Faith, Psalms, Suffering & Persecution
Tagged A psalm of David, David as shepherd, David killed the bear, David killed the lion, faith in troubling times, God as our Shepherd, God as Shepherd, God is with me, God's love and goodness, God's loyal love, God's shepherds feed His people, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, I will fear no evil, Jesus is the good Shepherd, Jesus is the great Shepherd, Lie down in green pastures, Psalm 23, Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, the 23rd Psalm, The Lord is my Shepherd, The meaning of chesed, The name of the LORD, the name of YHWH, The valley of the shadow of death, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, Your rod and staff comfort me
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Not of Works
Christians are saved by what Jesus accomplished for us at the cross and not by any good works we produce. Good works should follow salvation, but they are never the condition of it. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, God's Grace, Hot Topics, Salvation
Tagged Are good works necessary for salvation?, do good works save?, Does God accept our good works?, God's riches at Christ's expense, good works do not save, How we are saved, Jesus paid it all, Must we do good works to be saved?, Not of works, we are not saved by good works, we are not saved by human works, We are saved by faith in Christ, We are saved by God's grace, We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, works do not save
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A Commitment of the Heart
Good and evil reflect a commitment of the heart, and this commitment determines our values and actions, either good or bad. Who are you? Are you one who has set your heart to turn away from God and live as you please? Is your will more important than His? Or, are you one who has an honest and good heart that welcomes God and His Word and who submits yourself to doing His will? I hope it’s the latter. Your words and actions will show it. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hamartiology, Hot Topics
Tagged a commitment of the heart, agapao, Good and evil, Hebrew ra, Is there a good heart?, is your heart bad?, is your heart evil, is your heart good?, Love for God, love of evil, love of good, the evil heart, the heart of man, the orientation of the heart, the reason for evil, the source of evil, the source of good, what comes out of the heart, who are you?, why do we disobey God?, why do we do evil?, why do we do good?, why do we sin, why is the heart bad?, why is the heart evil?, why we disobey God, why we love the approval of men and not God, why we love the darkness, why we obey God
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When God Said “Do Not Pray”
Three times God told Jeremiah, “do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you” (Jer. 7:16; cf. 11:14; 14:11). The reason behind God’s command was that He had decided to judge and punish His people (Jer. 7:20) because they’d repeatedly broken their covenant with Him by disobeying His commands and pursuing other gods, which He had forbidden (Ex. 20:2-4; cf. Ezek. 20:4-24). Continue reading
Posted in Bad Behavior, Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Prayer
Tagged be devoted to prayer, Do not pray, Does God ever say no to prayer?, Does God not hear our prayers?, Examples of divine discipline, Jeremiah 7:16, pray always, Pray without ceasing, The prayer of Moses, the sin of idolatry, The sin unto death, When God does not hear prayer, When God said do not pray, Why did God tell Jeremiah not to pray?
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The Meaning of Sin
The word sin is found throughout Scripture, and both the Hebrew and Greek share the same basic meaning. The Hebrew word חָטָא chata means “to miss the target, or to lose the way,” and the Greek word ἁμαρτάνω hamartano is defined as “miss the mark, err, or do wrong.” Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Hamartiology, Hot Topics, Salvation
Tagged a definition of sin, atonement for sin, biblical examples of sinners, can a Christian sin?, chata, Could Jesus Sin?, David had an affair with Bathsheba, Examples of sinners, God permits sin, hamaritia, hamartano, Moses struck the rock, original sin, Peter denied the Lord, Samson slept with prostitutes, sin, sin is lawlessness, Solomon worshipped idols, The Meaning of Sin, The noetic effects of sin, to miss the mark, What is sin?, what is the meaning of sin?, When Christians sin, Why does God permit sin?
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Treating Others with Dignity
What does it mean to treat others with dignity? Dignity most commonly refers to the honor we confer on others. Scripture directs us to “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king” (1 Pet. 2:17). The word honor translates the Greek word τιμάω timao, which means “to show high regard for, honor, revere.” Continue reading
Posted in Christian Theology, Church, God's Grace, Love, Righteous Living
Tagged Dignity, honor God, Honoring others, how do we honor our parents?, how do we show honor to others?, how do we treat others with dignity?, is dignity the same as honor? honor your parents, the noble woman, the proverbs 31 woman, treating others with dignity, we honor people because they are made in the image of God, what does it mean to honor others?, what does it mean to honor our parents?, what does it mean to treat others with dignity?, what does the Bible say about dignity?, what does the Bible say about treating others with dignity?, What is dignity?
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