Christianity – Page 4 – God Breathed Words

Posted on April 22, 2018May 9, 2018 by christianwordsblog

HELL

Hell is not a subject for polite conversation. Surely, in these modern times, free of superstition, the concept of eternal damnation is not only offensive but ludicrous? Of course, for any that are atheist, Hell has no meaning. But for the Christian, on what do they base this assessment of irrelevance? If the Bible is wrong on Hell, then how is ‘right’ on Heaven or Paradise? Some Christians avoid speaking about Hell, while others deny Jesus’ teaching on the subject. In this post, I examine what the Bible has to say about Hell.

Posted on April 17, 2018September 15, 2018 by christianwordsblog · 2 Comments

(ETERNAL) REGRET

Scripture suggests that a man or woman will regret nothing about the circumstances of their lives but will rue their decisions in response to them. In this post, I examine what God would have us know about eternal regret.

Posted on April 8, 2018April 8, 2018 by christianwordsblog

BOASTING

It is in the nature of men and women to ‘boast’ of their achievements, to take pride in their homes, possessions, even their family; their success in business or for their intellectual recognition; the internet and social media is full of people who are ‘self-made’ and who relish the independence they have gained. Men and women measure their status by how influential they are, or delight in executive positions as the heads of powerful corporations and governments. And Scripture does not proscribe boasting entirely.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.(Galatians 6:14)

Posted on April 3, 2018April 18, 2018 by christianwordsblog · 2 Comments

JUDGING

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So, when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? (Romans 2:1-3)

Paul’s epistles were not originally arranged in chapters, and ‘therefore’ links to the text in chapter 1. Verses 18 onwards to the chapter end (v32) Paul describes the godless and lawless in the most explicit terms – and yet, he tells the reader to not sit in judgment.

This echoes Jesus’ own words from the ‘Sermon on the Mount’:

‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged.For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you…’(Matthew 7:1-2)

Posted on March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 by christianwordsblog

TONGUE (LANGUAGE)

tower-1897536_1920 — ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’ Genesis 11:4

Ten days after the Ascension of Jesus Christ there was a miraculous event on Jerusalem during the Feast of Shavuot or ‘Weeks’, most commonly referred to as Pentecost.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)

Posted on February 25, 2018February 5, 2021 by christianwordsblog

BLESSED

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5.3)

Greek word translated: μακαριοι; makarioi (3107)

Jesus, during his Galilean ministry, sitting high on a hillside above the lake, describes as ‘blessed’ people who are suffering in one form or another; mourning, humbled, hungering, thirsting and persecuted. At first reading this sounds odd, if not ridiculous.

The sermon on the mount is the closest Jesus came to setting out a ‘manifesto’, if you will, a summary of his ministry. Controversial and counter-cultural, then and now, Read more

Posted on February 24, 2018June 14, 2020 by christianwordsblog

TRIALS (TEMPTATION)

Another form of trial is temptation, but if God instigates tests, would he also tempt any to do evil? James makes clear that would violate his nature. So how does the follower of Christ distinguish between trials, by origin or motive?

When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. (James 1:13-14)

πειρασμός peirasmos (G3986) translates trial but is also the word translated ‘temptation’.

Posted on February 23, 2018February 23, 2018 by christianwordsblog

TRIALS (SUFFERING)

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Scripture tells everyone that God subjects the followers of Christ to trials and tests, so as to check faithfulness, and it is natural that no one enjoys this process. Nobody likes being checked and measured, yet it is God’s purpose for mortal life, it is the proving ground of the soul.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-3)

Greek word: πειρασμός peirasmos (G3986) translates trial meaning test or a proving process. It can also mean adversity and calamity.

Posted on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 by christianwordsblog

SALT

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You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13)

The Greek word is ἅλας halas (Strong’s 217) and it means common table salt (sodium chloride).

Posted on December 20, 2017December 21, 2017 by christianwordsblog

TOLERANCE

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Today tolerance is seen as a virtue. That it is so, is simply a product of a world view that excludes absolutes. Where truth can be individual, there is no Truth, therefore all is tolerable because all is fabricated and therefore of no value. It is the lot of humankind to be prone to deception. It was no different in the early church.