“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
Acts 17:11 ESV
I find nothing wrong with a Christian visiting those temples to see what they do and becoming acquainted with their religious rituals. When Christians travel to various nations, they must pray for opportunities to engage with people about the gospel or pray for the locations they visit, especially if they visit a sacred sanctuary. In the Christian community, there are various teachings that forbid prayer in religious non-Christian spaces. This is because they believe you can disrupt the demonic stronghold that functions as an authority in that location. This is the result of a wrong assumption that your actions will encourage evil spirits to harm you in the long run. Have they not read in Acts 17 how Paul stood up and preached about the true God whom they should worship? Have they not read in Acts 17 how Paul stood up in Areopagus and even preached to the Athenians about their idolatry practices, urging them to repent and serve the true God? After all, he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. (see Acts 17:16, 23; 1 Jn. 4:4)
Continue ReadingThis is not true. Joseph and Mary had a normal sexual union after the birth of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, "When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him to do. He took Mary to be his wife. He did not have marital relations with her before she gave birth to a son. Joseph named the child Jesus." (Matt. 1:24-25) Jesus did, in fact, have half brothers and half sisters with Joseph and Mary. Unfortunately, some claim they could be Jesus Christ's cousins. However, this is far from the truth. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary? Aren't his brothers' names James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And aren't all his sisters here with us? Where, then, did this man get all this?" (Matt. 13:55-56)
Continue ReadingYou can explain that the first Person is the Father, who is known as God (1 Peter 1:3). Jesus, the Son, is referred to as God (Jn. 1:1). And a third Person, the Holy Spirit, who is also known as God (Acts 5:3-4). Yahweh, the one composite God of Israel, is the divine name of these three Persons (Deut. 6:4). We are to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). The Trinity is not written in the Bible, but our Lord Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles reveal the concept and doctrine. This theological term simply refers to three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all of whom share the essence of God in unity.
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Your inquiry about the aforementioned "missing" passage is very crucial. There are several passages in the Bible that are said to have been removed by modern translations but retained by King James translators. Are the modern scholars dishonest in doing this? Are they perverting the Bible because of their actions? The quick answer is no, they are not. We must recognize that in biblical Greek translation, the earlier the texts, the more accurate they are. As a result, the quantity of manuscripts will not determine accuracy, but rather the age of the document based on dating. Because a number of recently discovered manuscripts predate those on which the King James translation based their rendition, we must rely on recent findings that were unavailable in the 17th century. If Matthew 17:21; 18:11; 23:14; Mark 9:44, 46; 11:26; 15:28; Luke 17:36; 23:17; John 5:4; Acts 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29; and Romans 16:24 are not found in the earliest manuscript, it is likely that the paragraph was added by some scribes to insert their comments into the Scriptures. Despite this potential, many recent versions continue to insert them in the footnotes.
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The context of what Jesus Christ was saying is in the background of the ancient Near East. Laodicea is the recipient of water from Hierapolis and Colossae through the aqueduct that the Roman built. This is because Laodicea has no good water source. The city of Hierapolis gives hot water that brings healing from their hot spring while Colossae is their source of refreshing cold water that comes from their snowy mountain. Unfortunately, by the time these waters reach Laodicea, they are already tepid, which is good for nothing. The same is true for Christian adherents who believe they are spiritually doing good but are actually lacking. Their hearts are being prodded by the Lord in order for them to savor their fellowship with Him. And such Christian adherents will merely be in attendance on the day of judgment, receiving little in the way of rewards. Those who have triumphed will be honored by Christ Himself (See Rev. 3:14-22).
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In terms of genealogy, they are the same Israel as in the Old Testament. In the Bible, they are the generations of the twelve tribes of Israel. However, Israel's belief system started to evolve during the time of the New Testament in the person of the religious authorities: scribes, Pharisees, Herodians, chief priests, elders, and Sadducees. In contrast to Moses, Isaiah, David, and the other prophets of the Old Testament, they expected a human political figure to deliver them from their colonizer. They anticipated a human rescuer more than a divine one. This is the current theological perspective of modern Jews. The Father is the only deity recognized in modern Israel, which is more Unitarian. This is not the same faith as the Israelites of the Old Testament prior to Jesus, who acknowledge both the Angel of the LORD and the Spirit of God as Yahweh. Nevertheless, in defiance of Israel's unfaithfulness, the Lord continues to protect and preserve them as a chosen nation in the midst of their surrounding enemies. They will one day see the One they pierced and crucified. In order for them to have the opportunity to confess Jesus Christ as Lord (Yahweh), to the glory of God the Father, it is crucial that we proclaim the gospel and disciple the nation of Israel. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20
Continue ReadingMany evangelicals do not consider Seventh-day Adventists to be born again Christians since they followed the law in order to be assured of their salvation. The expression "born again" refers to a spiritual rebirth that takes place when a sinner believes in Jesus Christ rather than observing the law or prohibitions such as Sabbath and Jewish dietary staples. The main objective of the law is to make people aware of their sin. However, no human being can be justified (made righteous) by following the law; only through faith in Jesus Christ. A genuine born-again Christian will never put reliance on the law to save him. His faith is in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, leading him to obey His commands out of love for Him. (References: Jn. 3:3; Rom. 3:20; Jn. 14:15)
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I have been asked a lot of inquiries concerning various accounts in which individuals have expressed that they have witnessed a person who appears to be a "double" of the person they know. Exactly what does this imply? The idea that every individual possesses their own spirit duplicates is a myth that dates back thousands of years and can be traced back to ancient times. There are numerous cultures that have stories of this kind, and these stories may be found in their literatures, folklore, and other forms of storytelling. Currently, this kind of occurence is known as “doppelganger” A mid-19th century German word for “double goer” or “ghostly double” which serves as a replica for the second person who exactly looks just like you. We are not referring to individuals who looks the similar in their external physically features but those who are exactly the same in every physical form including behavior, face, and even movement. These apparitions appear to be silent, often with a sorrowful or serious look, and may be doing something. In the mid-nineteenth century, they coined the term "doppelganger" coming from a German folklore which means “double goer" or “ghostly double.” This is a ghost-like image of someone who looks exactly like the person involve. They even call this as their “evil twin.” We are not referring to living individuals who may share the same visible physical features, but to those who are identical in every bodily form, including voice, demeanor, face, and even movement. These occurrences are thought to be omens, bad luck, or even a harbinger of approaching death. It can sometimes lead to dark ideas or confusion. In this instance, the person with a doppelganger should not communicate with their "ghostly" counterpart. Those who think this will never leave the comfort of their own houses for fear of an accident. In reality, these supposedly "ghostly doubles" are familiar demonic spirits attempting to deceive people in this world and lead them away from trusting the Lord Jesus Christ. These spirits instill fear in order to undermine God's divine peace, which transcends human understanding. If a Christian believer receives such news, he or she should remain calm because the Lord is in charge of their life and situation. The evil spirits cannot cause you harm since you are always safe in the hands of the Beloved. You may also seize the opportunity to communicate the truth of the gospel with those who have experienced such events. You might utilize this moment to engage them in the truth of God's word and pray for them. See Lev. 19:31 (KJV); Psalm 18:2; 3:3; Isa. 54:17; Phil. 4:6-7
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I understand Mary's role as a human vessel to bring the human Jesus into this world. She nurtured Jesus in His humanity by caring for Him through nursing and restless nights, as well. But don't forget that this is part of Mary's denial of herself as a follower of Jesus Christ, not merely her role as a mother. The difficulty arises when people focus on what Mary did rather than what Jesus Christ did for us. Remember, Mary was not falsely accused, scourged with a whip, mocked, despised, slapped in the face, stripped, crowned with thorns, nailed and crucified on the cross, or speared on the side, as prophesied in the Old Testament. As much as they want to deny it, their actions demonstrate that Mary is on par with Jesus because of what she did for Him. Mary did not die and rise from the grave; it was Jesus. Mary did not give her life for us; Jesus did. Many believe that Jesus would not have been born without Mary. But couldn't God have used someone other than Mary from David's genealogy to give birth to Jesus? Furthermore, without Jesus as the Creator, Mary would not exist. So who deserves our complete focus? Jesus, the God-Man, or Mary the human? The Bible says, "We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
Continue ReadingI understand the desire to serve the Lord, but He expects us to be holy as we serve Him. It is true that believers are flawed people who serve the Lord. The most essential thing is that they are not living in sin. In order to avoid inviting God's discipline and trip up our weak brethren, we must shun sin in our daily lives. I am hoping that you will end your sinful relationship and reconcile with God so that He can maximize your life to the fullest. (Lk. 1:74-75; Heb. 12:6-7; 1 Jn. 1:6; Psa. 32:1-2)
Continue ReadingIf you're talking about those who are walking righteously in the Lord, this is also David's dilemma when he sees the evil people living as if they're not sick and even flourishing. He gradually realized, however, that the fate of those who rebelled against the Lord would be horrible someday. As the great Psalmist writes, “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb” (Psa. 37:1-2). Asaph also writes in the same way, “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked… But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end” (Psa. 73:2-3, 16-17). Suffering is occasionally experienced by the righteous in order to increase their faith and relationship with Christ. After all, knowing Christ in our lives is more important than anything else in this world (Phil. 3:8).
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Adam and Eve's eyes were opened immediately after Adam took the bite. This is where sin first entered the human race. The concept of original sin implies that all humans are contaminated by sin as a result of our first parents' disobedience. We are all morally and ethically wicked to the point where no one is by nature good including babies, except Jesus Christ. God has granted infants privileges to enter the kingdom of heaven until they reach the age of reason, given that they are incapable of repentance until then. Some theologians call this special grace. Bible References: Gen. 3:7; Rom. 5:12; Psa. 51:5; Lk. 18:19; Matt. 19:14; Isa. 7:15-16
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The term pornography is defined as writing about prostitutes. Pornography has progressed from pictures to videos. This is a composite word formed from the Greek words porne (prostitute) and graphein (writing). The term "prostitute" also refers to someone who exploits their talents or compromises their self-esteem for personal or financial gain. Porneia is translated in Scripture as "marital unfaithfulness," "fornication," and "sexual immorality." As a result, anyone who engages in pornography is committing sexual sins in her heart, which grieves the Holy Spirit. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality (Gk porneia); that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7
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A person is tough to change if they do not want to change. This makes it difficult to transform them. At the same time, there is still a chance. There are certain actual situations that I am aware of in which the wives also had husbands that cheated on them, but it turned out that the Lord changed them. The transformation of their wives was the thing that moved them to change, according to the question that was posed of them. Considering that you have no idea when the real transformation will take place, I do believe that this is a very difficult situation. Nevertheless, this is the point at when patience, prayer, and waiting will be required. While you are waiting for the transformation to take place, the question that needs to be answered is what you will do. My conversations with wives have revealed that they are not only prayerful and continue to submit to their husbands, but they have also become involved in the voluntary work of the church ministry. A significant number of Filipinos use the term "martyr" to describe this mentality, which refers to an individual who does not retaliate but continues to be a loving and compassionate wife to her husband. Instead of rebelling and seeking vengeance against their husbands, I would prefer that they follow the ways of the Lord. It's possible that this path won't be simple, but all you have to do is put your faith in the Lord, particularly in His word. As long as your life is not in danger, you should remain at your man's side so that you can continue to pray for him constantly. Wives, in a similar way, place yourselves under your husbands' authority. Some husbands may not obey God's word. Their wives could win these men for Christ by the way they live without saying anything. - Peter 3:1
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Yes. This is the point of Romans 7:2-3, which says, For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. - Romans 7:2-3 Marriage did not begin with any human or government. God designed marriage. It is simply a male-female relationship. When a couple marries, the male and female become "one flesh" figuratively in the sight of God and men. The two are to be cleaved or glued together. Consider what happens if you firmly separate the C-shaped handle from the body of a cup. It will certainly split apart, ruining the cup. The same is true for a married couple who separates; it will undermine their marriage bond, affecting not only them but their entire generation. This is why it is vital that before the two marry, they go through marriage preparation so that they understand their responsibilities as husband and wife. The Lord desires the couple to live in love, peace, and harmony as husband and wife until their deaths. Yes, until death do them part. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. - Genesis 2:24
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The first thing we need to determine is if the Holy Spirit is referred to as Yahweh. If the Holy Spirit is called Yahweh, he must be worshiped, whether or not it is explicitly stated in the Bible. You will observe in Psalm 95:7-8 that the one who speaks in that passage is Yahweh. When you connect that passage to Hebrews 3:7, you will discover that the Yahweh who was speaking is actually the Holy Spirit. It is no wonder that “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” The Lord who spoke here is without a doubt the Holy Spirit, whom they were worshiping. As Paul said, “Now the Lord is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:17).
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Every human being on the Earth was given the opportunity to discover the existence of a Creator, which led them to Jesus Christ, or to hear the gospel directly from someone. Every person on the planet has no excuse. In reality, many former Muslims who became Christians said that, despite the fact that they had never heard of the gospel, they had dreams or visions about Jesus Christ that led them to believe in Him, even if no one preached it to them at the time. Although this does not eliminate the need for missionaries, it does demonstrate that the Lord has a means of making Himself known to individuals even in places where the gospel is prohibited. The Lord placed us in different corners of the world so that we could seek Him. But the question is, will they sincerely seek Him? Luke wrote, And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us. - Acts 17:26-27 A rational individual would never die without having had the opportunity to learn about God's existence or hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. I will never underestimate the Lord's power to reveal Himself to every individual, whether they are in the heart of the Amazon jungle, the bustling street of Shibuya Crossing, the tech-savvy Silicon Valley, Communist countries, liberal-thinking first-world countries, or the world's second most populous continent, Africa. I believe that God listens not only to the Israelites, but also to the cries of any young woman trapped in the hands of human sex traffickers, a child trapped in the poor slums of a third-world country, a teenage girl who became pregnant as a result of rape, or a young boy sexually abused by a family member. To find the Lord, however, we have to seek Him with all of our hearts. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 Yes, every person who dies in any part of the world has the opportunity to seek God and/or hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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According to the Scripture, if a person dies having a relationship with Jesus Christ, he or she is guaranteed to go to heaven. However, we are not here to judge the dead person as to whether he or she is in heaven or not, because only the Lord knows each person's heart. What we can do is trust that the Lord has given everyone the opportunity to know Him. God desires for all people to be saved. So we can be confident that the Lord has given every person an opportunity to know Him. We can only pray for his surviving family; we cannot pray for the deceased because death brings quick judgment. The author of Hebrews states, "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" (Heb. 9:27). Unfortunately, anyone who does not put their trust in Jesus Christ will be condemned to eternal damnation immediately after his death. According to the Lord Jesus, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (John 3:18). This is why we need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
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