Kingdom Ready Blog

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.

Introduction

Some Christian denominations place quite a bit of emphasis on two specific manifestations of the Spirit – the manifestations of speaking in tongues and interpreting of tongues.

From what I have seen, those denominations have the following basic belief, about speaking in tongues and interpreting of tongues:

All Christians can do authentic speaking and interpreting of tongues, whenever they decide to.

In other words, those groups believe that each and every Christian can perform Spirit-empowered speaking and interpreting of tongues, whenever they want to.

For simplicity, I’ll refer to that doctrine as the “Tongues at Will” doctrine.

Introduction

There are a number of verses in Scripture that are frequently used, to try to substantiate the doctrine of the Trinity. Those verses are sometimes referred to as “proof texts”, because their proponents claim that those verses prove the existence of the Trinity.

From my experience, the verse that is most frequently used as a proof text is John 1:1.

Here is a common rendering of John 1:1, in English translations of the Bible. The ESV, NASB, NIV, and even the King James all translate John 1:1 as follows:

Introduction

From what I can see, one of the items that Scripture emphasizes – in both the Old and New Testaments – is the importance of being humble.

In fact, there are a number of different “facets” of humility that Scripture speaks about. In other words, the Bible talks about being humble in several different “areas” of our lives.

So, let’s take a look at Scripture, to see if we can identify some of those areas.

Humility with regard to knowledge

Introduction

Jesus is given many titles in Scripture. For example, in many places he goes by the following titles: the Christ (or Messiah), our Lord, and the Son of Man. In addition, in a few places he is called the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the King of the Jews.

One other – and very notable – title that Jesus is given is: the Son of God. Here are some examples:

Matthew 16:15-17 (ESV):

Introduction

As we are all aware, the Bible is filled with miraculous events - e.g. the parting of the Red Sea, giant hailstones falling from the sky, the flood, people being raised from the dead, etc.

Up until a few years ago, I was under the impression that miracles are completely based on God’s decisions. In other words, I used to think that the only reason why a miracle occurs is because God (or Jesus) decides to perform the miracle. As a result, I assumed that human beings have no effect whatsoever on whether a miracle occurs or not.

Introduction

One of the key figures in the New Testament is John the Baptist. For one thing, Scripture tells us that John the Baptist fulfilled the Old Testament prophesy, about the one who would “prepare the way of the Lord”:

Matthew 3:1-3 (ESV):

¹ In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ³For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”