Paul wrote about “liars whose consciences are seared” (1 Tim. 4:2 ESV). What did he mean? What is a seared conscience? For that matter, what is the conscience? Our conscience is our inner voice that inflicts us with feelings of guilt when we have sinned (Rom 2:15). The interesting thing about the conscience is that it can be wrong and can even completely fail to work!
Continue reading →
Ever since I was a child, I’ve heard Christians say things such as, “Times are really bad. We are surely living in the last days.” Indeed, things are getting really bad in our world. Society is becoming godless and secular. Gross immorality is put on display in TV shows, movies, and music. Many churches have compromised and allowed the surrounding culture to influence them more than the Bible. Is this what Paul meant when he wrote 1 Timothy 4:1?
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (1 Tim. 4:1 ESV)
Are we living in the later times Paul spoke of? Yes, we can be absolutely certain that we are living in the last days. How can we be so certain we are living in the later times? We can be sure because the later times began over 2,000 years ago with the establishment of the New Covenant.
Continue reading →
If you ask anyone what the Devil’s name is, they will almost certainly respond that it is Satan, Lucifer, or perhaps Beelzebub. This is what Bible teachers and Hollywood alike teach us, so it is understandable that most people will give one or all of these answers. However, this is a case where Bible teachers and Hollywood both got it wrong. In reality, the Bible never tells us what the devil’s personal name is.
Someone may say, “Not so fast! Both Job and Isaiah mention the devil’s name and the gospels mention Beelzebub.” It is true that these “names” are in the Bible, but there is more to the story. Let’s take a look at some of the passages where people think the Bible reveals the devil’s name.
Continue reading →The Jewish people owe their existence to two miracles which took place in the first two generations of Israel’s patriarchs. Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was unable to have children. God miraculously enabled her to conceive Isaac at the age of 90! Like her mother-in-law, Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, was also barren. God intervened allowing her to conceive Esau and Jacob (Gen 25:21-22). Her two sons struggled with each other in her womb leading her to inquire of God. God said, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23 ESV).
Continue reading →As Abraham’s life drew to a close, he sent his sons who were not part of the covenant away. He sent them eastward, away from the land of blessing.
5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country. 7 These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. (Gen. 25:5–8 ESV)
He wisely did this while he was still alive so that there would be no disputing what his will was. Abraham didn’t want his sons who were not part of the covenant to be near Isaac. He removed them from any presumed position of privilege.
Genesis specifically says that Abraham sent the sons of his concubines eastward. Why is this detail included? The narrative could have just said that he sent them away without providing a direction. When Moses wrote Genesis, was there something about moving east that he wanted us to pay attention to? Indeed there was:
Continue reading →
