Tag: sin

January 17, 2012 / / Salvation

The concept of a birthright is important throughout the scriptures. In the old testament birthright determined everything from the portion of your inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:15-17) to judicial and familial position. (II Chronicles 21:3) In Genesis 25:19-34 we are given the account of Jacob and Esau.  The passage that is of particular interest to us is found in verses 27 – 34.

And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:27-34

August 21, 2010 / / Christian Character

There are seven things that are an abomination to God (Proverbs 6:16).  Among them are “a lying tongue” and “a false witness who speaks lies” (Proverbs 6:17, 19).  This speaks to us clearly.  God hates lying. 

April 29, 2010 / / Salvation

The word “sin” appears 427 times in the King James Version of the Bible.  That’s not counting appearances of all its derivations (sinful, sinner, sinning, etc.).  The Biblical writers use nine Hebrew and three Greek terms in their discussions of it.  It is central to the message of Scripture, and poses a potentially eternal threat to us all:  “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  In light of this, we do well to understand it.

November 10, 2009 / / Old Law

The word “grace” appears 18 times in the Old Testament.  It appears 125 times in the New Testament.  A striking change.  What accounts for this?  The apostles tell us.  John said that “the law was given through Moses, but grace…came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).  Paul declared that Christians are “not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14, 15). 

September 9, 2009 / / Apologetics

Concerning the co-existence of an all-powerful, loving, and good God with worldwide wickedness, the ancient philosopher Epicurus once mused: “Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or He can, but does not want to; or He cannot and does not want to.  If He wants to, but cannot, He is impotent. If He can, and does not want to, He is wicked.  But, if God both can and wants to abolish evil, then how comes evil in the world?” (Strobel, p. 25).

March 12, 2009 / / Salvation

In this exploration of original sin, we dissect the implications of Adam’s transgression and how it shapes our understanding of guilt and innocence. Dive into biblical critiques, including Ezekiel’s powerful rebuttal that challenges the notion of inherited sin. We also examine how Jesus’ teachings on childhood innocence pose significant questions for the doctrine of original sin. Join the conversation as we uncover the theological complexities and invite you to reconsider what it means to be accountable for our actions in the light of Scripture. 

February 10, 2009 / / Salvation

In Exodus 13:17 we are told that God led the Children of Israel in such a direction, as they were leaving Egyptian bondage, so as to avoid the Philistine army. God tells us why in the same verse, “Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war.” The word “repent,” as we see here in Exodus, carries with it a three part meaning. Firstly, the Children of Israel would recognize a problem or danger.