The Bible uses some sports as illustrations of spiritual principles. 1Co 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (25) Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we […]
Is there any scripture that commands me to confess my sin to the person I lied to?
It is not right to expect to be able to hide sin. Jesus berated the scribes and Pharisees for pretending to be what they were not. This is called hypocrisy. Mat 23:25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full […]
Where or what is the “promised land” for New Testament believers?
The “promised land” as far as the believer is concerned, is the Kingdom of God on earth, with Jesus reigning from Jerusalem (Luke 1:32-33) with the help of his immortalised followers – the saints or believers. (Rev 5:10) This is the gospel or good news of which we read, in Acts 8:12 – the good news of […]
Why were Jesus’ disciples told not to greet anyone in Luke 10:4?
Luke 10:4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Jesus probably told the disciples to greet no one on the road, because the job they had to do was urgent and the time was short. There is a similar instruction given by Elisha to Gehazi in 2Kings 4:29 He […]
Did Jesus believe in the existence of a personal devil?
Question: “If he didn’t, then he was positively untruthful, for He purposely conveyed an impression contrary to the truth. It represents Him not as instructing but deceiving His disciples, as encouraging superstition rather than teaching truth. It presents Him in a light entirely inconsistent with His claim to be a teacher sent from God, since […]
Who carried out the first baptism in the Bible?
Ceremonial washing and bathing in the Old Testament. The Law of Moses introduced various washing of hands, feet and sometimes the whole body. This is not actual baptism, and the Greek word baptismos, washing, is also found four times in the New Testament when referring to these Levitical washings : Mark 7:4, 7:8, Colossians 2:12 […]
What do verses like Jude 1:23 mean? Is there an eternal fire burning for those who do not believe?
Jud 1:22-23 And have mercy on those who doubt; (23) save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Clearly the fire cannot be completely literal; a literal fire consumes fuel, using oxygen to produce heat and smoke. Fire in this […]
What should you do if you think there is a demon or evil spirit around you?
It can be a great relief for someone who believes that evil spirits are around them when they come to realize that demons are not powerful intelligent malevolent beings. Demons have been the subject of other questions. They have no real existence. The Bible does not teach the superstition that illnesses are actually caused by […]
Is apostleship a calling by God or a title to gain?
Jesus called his disciples, who are later called apostles. Mat 4:21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. When Judas Iscariot was replaced as apostle, God selected him from […]
How many laws are there in the Law of Moses?
The most common figure given by Jews for the total number of laws in the Law of Moses is 613.1 This figure is first recorded in a third-century sermon given by Rabbi Simlai.2 Although the number was possibly not meant to be taken literally,3 it has become part of popular Jewish tradition. The figure has been […]