In giving the Ten Commandments to His people God acted as any good father would. He provided rules and guidelines that would enable His people to live lives of fulfillment and joy in the Promised Land. These boundaries would also protect His children from the dangers and harms that could befall them. God gave His…
Jude 16
In Jude 16, we again get a description of the fruit of the false teachers. Jude, inspired by God, lists 5 things that should stand out about these apostates. Jude 16 (NIV) These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. Jude 16 (NKJ)…
Forgiveness Among Christians: Luke 17:3-4
Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” Why did they tell the Lord to increase their faith? The apostles needed increased faith because Jesus had just given them a radical teaching on forgiveness. Forgiveness is an essential part of a healthy Christian community and in Luke 17:3-4, as well as the…
Sources in Jude
Jude 9 (NIV)But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” This particular incident is not recorded anywhere else in Scripture. Moses’ death is recorded in Deuteronomy 34 but nothing is said about the incident…
What we can learn from the first century church
Acts 4:32-35 (NIV) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy…
Freedom and Joy
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Jesus said in John 10:10 that he came that we may have life and have it to the full. It is a life of freedom and joy but how…
Jude 5-7
Jude 5-7 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound…
Taming the Tongue
We recently began a study on the book of Jude in our Wednesday evening class. One of the main themes of this short book is contending for the faith (Jude 3). One way we do that is by how we live our lives and this would include how we use our words. The uncontrolled tongue…
Civil Disobedience and the Christian
In 1 Peter 2:13-17 Peter, inspired by God, told his original audience to submit themselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority. Did Peter mean that they should submit to those authorities in any and every situation regardless of the order? What were the principles behind Peter’s God-inspired words in this passage? Oppressed people…
Study on the book of Jude
The book of Jude is one chapter, 25 verses, and packed full of information. It was originally written as a sermon/letter to be read aloud in the congregation. The original audience were probably Hebrew Christians located in the region of Asia Minor. Jude wanted to write about the salvation that he shared with his brethren….