The Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20, form the basis for modern western civilization. In their summary of the proper attitude to God and one another, they provide fundamental concepts that allow people to function in obedience to God. The relevance of the Ten Commandments for the Christian lies in the timeless principles they describe. Paul explained that the Christian is no longer bound by the old covenant, including the ten commandments, because Christ brought the Jew and the Gentile together, “having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace” (Ephesians 2:15).… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: BIBLE QUESTIONS
WHAT DOES “NO SCRIPTURE IS OF PRIVATE INTERPRETATION” MEAN?
Peter concludes the first chapter of his second epistle with these words. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.… Continue Reading
ARE THERE “LOST BOOKS” OF THE BIBLE?
We have long understood that the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament make up God’s complete revelation to man. The Bible does mention other ancient books, however. Joshua 10:13 says, “The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher?”… Continue Reading
DOES SAYING “THE SINNER’S PRAYER” SAVE?
Preachers sometimes invite their listeners to pray something such as, “God, I am sorry I have sinned. Please forgive me and let Jesus come into my heart. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” The preacher then says, “Since you have asked Christ into your life, you are now His child and your sins are forgiven.”… Continue Reading
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD”?
The apostle Paul wrote to the evangelist Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). This verse well-illustrates the need for understanding that word meanings may change, and we must be ever on guard against misapplying or twisting scripture, even when we try to teach the truth.… Continue Reading
IS ANGER ALWAYS WRONG? — BOB PRICHARD
Anger is a destructive emotion that has led to every kind of sin, including murder, as when Cain killed Abel (Genesis 4:4–8). The elder brother of the prodigal son “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). It is possible to be angry without sinning, but very difficult.… Continue Reading
IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST A DENOMINATION? — BOB PRICHARD
A frequent follow-up question to “Are you a Christian?” is “What denomination are you?” “Denomination” is not found in the Bible, and the idea is based on sectarianism and division. “Denomination” is not simply an incidental name, but a choice to be divided from other believers who do not share the same sectarian doctrines. Religious denominations are divisions among people who may all claim to follow the same Lord and same Bible but cannot agree because of their denomination.… Continue Reading
WHAT DOES LOVE YOUR ENEMIES MEAN? — BOB PRICHARD
The watchword of Christianity is love. As Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure, He said, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:34-35).
The love required of Christians goes beyond loving one another, however.… Continue Reading
DOES THE BIBLE OFFER HOPE FOR DEPRESSION? — BOB PRICHARD
Note: This article considers the spiritual side of a serious topic. Please note that depression sometimes necessitates medical intervention.
Depression is perhaps the most common emotional problem that we face today. Experts suggest as many as one in five Americans experiences severe depression sometime during their lives, and depression may be the most common health problem for women. Symptoms of depression include apathy, insomnia, difficulty in concentrating, and a general loss of interest in life.… Continue Reading
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? — BOB PRICHARD
We can ask no more important question than “What must I do to be saved?”
Each of us will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and we are responsible for obeying the Lord.
Salvation has two parts: God’s part and man’s part. God, because of His great love for mankind, has done His part in sending Christ to die for the sins of men.… Continue Reading
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF FAITH, SUBSTANCE, HOPE, AND EVIDENCE IN HEBREWS 11:1? — BOB PRICHARD
Many, both in the religious world and otherwise, have a gross misunderstanding of what constitutes faith. Contrary to scripture, many believe that faith is necessary to “fill in the gaps” in the absence of real, tangible evidence. Carl Sagan, the late and noted atheist and author, once said, “Faith is believing in something in the absence of evidence.”
Hebrews 11:1 answers and clarifies this misunderstanding.… Continue Reading
IF ONLY EIGHT PEOPLE WERE ON THE ARK, WHERE DID THE RACES COME FROM? — BOB PRICHARD
The census of those on the ark included Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons (Genesis 7:13). With these four men and four women, the earth was repopulated after the flood.
The Bible does not tell us when the races originated. It is possible that the races developed from the division of mankind at the tower of Babel, although Moses only says that God confounded their language and scattered them abroad (Genesis 11:1-9).… Continue Reading
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “JEHOVAH” AS GOD’S NAME? — BOB PRICHARD
Names are important. It is difficult for us to conceive of things apart from their names. The many different names for God in the Bible describe and demonstrate His character. Jehovah (usually rendered “Lord” in the King James Version) appears often in the Scriptures. Jehovah means “the Eternal One, the Unchangeable One, the One Who was, and is, and is to come.”… Continue Reading
MUST WE GIVE THANKS IF WE ARE IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES? — BOB PRICHARD
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 doing. We may reason, If I am in difficult circumstances, then I have no responsibility or need to be thankful. After all, we are to be thankful for blessings, not difficult circumstances.… Continue Reading
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD? — BOB PRICHARD
While there is ample historical evidence that there was a man named Jesus of Nazareth who lived in the first century, some question if we can believe His claims to be the Christ, the Son of God. The best record of His life, the Bible, gives more than enough evidence that His claims are true, because of the fulfilled prophecies, the record of His miracles, and the testimony of His followers.… Continue Reading
ARE WE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS? — BOB PRICHARD
Yes, we are living in the “last days.” It should not be a cause for alarm, however, because we have been living in the last days for almost two thousand years! The ‘last days’ refer to the last great period of history, the Christian Age. There have been three great dispensations or ages of God dealing with mankind. The first was the Patriarchal Age, when God dealt directly with the heads of families (from Adam to Moses).… Continue Reading
WHO WERE THE PHARISEES?
‘Woe unto you, scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites!’ (Matthew 23:13). It seems that the word hypocrite is almost a synonym for Pharisee, because the members of this Jewish sect seemed to always be in conflict with Jesus and the disciples. But there was much more to being a Pharisee than being a haughty hypocrite. They emerged from persecution about two hundred years before Christ, emphasizing the importance of keeping the law and traditions.… Continue Reading