Christians should not buy lottery tickets or support policies allowing them. Lotteries have a long history in the United States. The Continental Congress authorized a lottery to finance the Revolutionary War, and Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, and other universities raised money through lotteries. The lesson of history is, however, that lotteries do not raise the revenues they promise, and are breeding grounds of corruption and crime.… Continue Reading
Category Archives: BIBLE QUESTIONS
WAS THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER SAVED BEFORE BAPTISM?
The story of the Philippian jailer is found in Acts 16. The jailer was in charge of Paul and Silas, who had been arrested on false charges by the owners of a slave girl. They had cast a demon out of the girl, depriving her owners of the money they made by exploiting her (Acts 16:20-21). Because of this, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten, and put into the innermost prison, with their feet in the stocks.… Continue Reading
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST?
The theme of all the New Testament is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Practically every page provides information on this important topic. In its simplest terms, the gospel of Jesus Christ is simply the “good news” concerning Him. The Greek word translated as gospel means “good news.” The word “evangelist,” a “preacher of the gospel,” comes from the same root word.… Continue Reading
WHY DID JESUS REFUSE, AND THEN ACCEPT THE “VINEGAR” OFFERED AT THE CROSS?
As they took Jesus to Golgotha crucify Him, “They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink” (Matthew 27:34). Mark described the drink given to Christ as “wine mingled with myrrh” (Mark 15:23). What Matthew and Mark were describing was a cheap Roman vinegar wine which had a drug mixed in to dull the senses.… Continue Reading
IS IT SINFUL TO “JUDGE” SOMEONE ELSE?
Most people would assume that is is sinful to judge another person. After all, Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Because of this statement, many have assumed that it is sinful to correct anyone, because this would mean that one is “judging.” But is it even possible to go through life without ever judging, or discerning between what is right, and what is wrong?… Continue Reading
IS ANGER ALWAYS WRONG? CAN IT BE CONTROLLED?
Anger is a destructive emotion that has led to every kind of sin, including murder, as when Cain killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:4-8). The elder brother of the “prodigal son” refused to go to the party for his brother because “he was angry, and would not go in” (Luke 15:28). Paul wrote “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26).… Continue Reading
DID THE LORD SAVE PAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS?
No. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus (later known as the apostle Paul) is the most thoroughly documented conversion in all the Bible, but it is still widely misunderstood. As Saul was making his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, Jesus appeared to him, but Saul was not saved simply because the Lord appeared to him. Luke records, “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?… Continue Reading
MUST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEED THAT OF THE PHARISEES?
The words of Christ in Matthew 5-7, the “Sermon on the Mount,” are often considered a summary of all Christian living. If all the best of modern psychology were gathered, it would not compare in beauty and simplicity with the Sermon on the Mount. Early in that sermon, Jesus made a strong statement: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).… Continue Reading
MUST WE GIVE THANKS IF WE ARE IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES?
When the world seems to be closing in on us, or when we feel like we have our backs up against the wall, giving thanks may be the last thing we would ever think of. We may reason, if I am in difficult circumstances, then have no responsibility or need to be thankful. After all, we are to be thankful for blessings, not difficult circumstances.… Continue Reading
HOW CAN GOD HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED?
When God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, Moses was afraid. “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:13-14).… Continue Reading
WHAT DOES JOB TEACH US ABOUT SUFFERING?
Victor Hugo said, “Tomorrow, if all literature was to be destroyed, and it was left to me to retain one work only, I should save Job.” The book of Job is valuable for its literary message, but also because it deals with the great themes of life, including the problem of suffering. Job describes the struggles of a righteous man who suffered tremendous pain.… Continue Reading
WHY WOULD SOMEONE BE BAPTIZED AGAIN?
Paul wrote that “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). Among these great unities is “one baptism,” indicating that only one baptism was applicable to men when Paul wrote.… Continue Reading
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT CREMATION?
Cremation refers to disposing of the body of the deceased by burning to ashes. In ancient times, it involved either burning the whole body, or the burning of all but the bones, which were then buried. Cremation was practiced by the Greeks and Romans, but rarely by the Hebrews and early Christians. Achan was burned because of his sin (Joshua 7:25).… Continue Reading
WHY IS THERE SO MUCH CONFUSION ABOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION?
There is probably no book of the Bible that is more often misunderstood, misapplied, or abused than the book of Revelation. It has been the “jumping-off” point for cults and wild religious speculation for centuries. Simply understanding the purpose of the book and its nature would end confusion. It begins, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John” (Revelation 1:1).… Continue Reading
IS PROVERBS 22:6 A GUARANTEE TO FAITHFUL PARENTS?
Solomon said, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). These words bring comfort to many parents who understand that the difficult task of parenting will be rewarded by faithful children, but there are many parents who are filled with guilt and anguish because their children have gone astray, despite their best efforts.… Continue Reading
CAN THE AVERAGE PERSON REALLY UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE?
Yes! Numerous passages of scripture are directly addressed to the common person. “Husbands, love your wives … Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands … Children, obey your parents in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:25, 22; 6:1). “I write unto you, little children … I write unto you, fathers … I write unto you, young men” (1 John 2:12-13). The Bible is God’s message to humanity.… Continue Reading
WHEN SHOULD A PERSON BE “REBAPTIZED”?
Strictly speaking, scriptural baptism is a “one time” proposition. Ephesians 4:5 says that there is “one baptism” today. The “one baptism” consists of the immersion of a penitent believer in water, whereby he contacts the blood of Christ, receives the forgiveness of his sins, and the Lord adds him to the church. Even if a person “backslides,” or becomes unfaithful, it is not necessary to be rebaptized, if his original baptism was a scriptural baptism.… Continue Reading
DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHAT WE DO IN WORSHIP IF WE ARE SINCERE?
Sincerity in worship is important, but it is not the only or most important thing in worship. It is common for religious people today to think that as long as they are sincere, and enjoy or find meaningful what they are doing, they can do almost anything in worship. This has led to many innovations into worship, as people seek newer and more exciting worship.… Continue Reading
DO CHRISTIANS BECOME ANGELS IN HEAVEN?
No. It is sometimes said in funerals, especially if the funeral is for a small child, “There is now another angel in heaven.” But there is no evidence in scripture that any person becomes an angel upon death, and in fact the scriptures teach otherwise. This myth that departed humans become angels is very popular with today’s entertainment industry, and numerous movies and television programs have been made with this theme.… Continue Reading
IS “ALLAH” THE GOD OF THE BIBLE?
Allah is the name given to the one God in the Qur’an [Koran], the holy book of Islam. When a Muslim prays, he prays to Allah. The name “Allah” is the Arabic form of a simple generic word for god found in the Semitic languages (Hebrew, Arabic, Akkadian, etc.) The biblical word is El which is found more than two hundred times in the Old Testament.… Continue Reading