Kingdom Ready Blog

Introduction

In numerous places, the New Testament states that followers of Christ should expect to face trials and persecution. Both Jesus and the apostles stated that fact. Here are some examples:

John 15:18-20 (ESV):

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

Introduction

A number of passages in Scripture indicate that during the “end time” – i.e., the period of time which immediately precedes the end of this age – Israel will be completely alone.

In other words, at that time, no other nations will be willing to assist Israel at all. The following two passages appear to indicate that rather explicitly:

Zechariah 12:1-5 (ESV):

Introduction

One of the doctrines that almost all mainstream Protestant denominations share is the doctrine of “eternal security”. According to that doctrine, all that a person needs to do, in order to be granted everlasting life, is as follows:

Make a single “statement of faith” in Jesus.

In other words, as soon as a person confesses that Jesus is our lord, and believes that God raised Jesus from the dead, then that person is guaranteed to be saved – no matter what he does after that time!

Introduction

One of the common idioms that existed in the ancient Hebrew culture was the concept of “agency”. Basically, in that culture, one person (the “principal”) would frequently commission another person (the “agent”), to act on his behalf.

Of course, this concept of “agency” is also present in our current culture. For example, if a person is granted the “power of attorney”, then that gives the person the ability to act on someone else’s behalf.

Introduction

Recently, I had an email conversation with a brand new acquaintance;  and during the course of that conversation, I happened to ask him if he had any interest in theology. Here is an excerpt from his response to that question:

I LOVE Jesus. He’s my man. I just don’t like the bible. The God of the old testament is a very angry violent god – can’t be the same being that created the universe. Anyone advanced enough to create a universe cannot possibly be that petty and cruel.

Introduction

There are a number of specific verses in Scripture, which are extremely important from a theological standpoint. In other words, the verses in question are used quite frequently, to try to substantiate a wide variety of theological beliefs.

One such verse is Genesis 1:26. That verse reads as follows:

Genesis 1:26 (ESV):

²⁶Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Introduction

There are quite a few diseases and conditions that are known to be “genetically determined” – i.e., items that are caused by the exact makeup of a person’s DNA.

For example, the condition of color blindness is definitely genetic in nature. That disorder is passed from parents to children, through their “X” sex chromosomes.

Women have two X chromosomes, so in order for a woman to express the color blindness disorder, both of her X chromosomes need to contain that trait. (If only one of a woman’s X chromosomes has the trait, then she is known as a “carrier” of the disorder.)

Introduction

One of the beliefs that most Christians have is that God is “omniscient” – that is, that God knows everything. Some of the passages that are used to demonstrate this belief are as follows:

1 Samuel 2:3 (ESV):

³Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the LORD is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.

Proverbs 5:20-21 (ESV):

²⁰Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman
and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?
²¹For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD,
and he ponders all his paths.

Introduction

One of the more interesting passages in Paul’s letters occurs in Romans chapter 1; specifically, in verses 18 through 32. Here is that entire passage:

Romans 1:18-32 (ESV):

¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Introduction

There are many principles, or “rules of behavior”, that Scripture instructs Christians to adhere to. Some of those principles are stated explicitly - i.e., in some cases, the Bible “comes right out and tells us” what we must do – and must not do – as followers of Jesus. Here are some examples of principles being expressed explicitly:

Adultery:

Matthew 5:27-28 (ESV):

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.