Abraham’s Hometown

Abrahams hometown – Ur of the Caldeans – Is Ur located what is now Iraq? ~ Hubert Haider The first biblical reference to Abraham’s hometown of Ur of Chaldees appears in Genesis 11. Subsequent references occur in Genesis 15:7 and Nehemiah 9:7. “Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran” (Genesis 11:27-32). Anciently, there were several cities bearing the name “Ur” or similar names. Consequently, various locations have been suggested as the possible location of Abraham’s hometown of Ur. For instance, besides southeastern modern-day Iraq, alternative northern and western sites for Abraham’s Ur have been suggested to include locations in present-day Syria and Turkey. One thing seems clear: There was more than one Ur. Places named Ur, or something linguistically …

Making the Home Work

I have a few questions for you to answer me. If a christian husband and a father comes home from work and finds his home not in order physically and spiritually, Is he lacking God’s knowledge? What about when his children and wife are not obedient. What happens to a man, if he is always busy doing dishes, washing clothes and his wife cannot be bothered. The man of the house has no outside interest, does not go to prayer and no fellowhip with other believers on a regular basis. This man’s wife stays home and does not effectively discplines her children. Do you have any material that I can pass on to them. I have tried over 15 years to councel them. ~ Sarv Sohal First, if over the “15 years” you have endeavored to ‘counsel’ the family mentioned, you have taught the biblical truths respecting how God intends the home to work, and they have not used your counsel appropriately, it is unlikely that the circumstances to which you refer will change regardless of what additional efforts or materials are expended upon them. Second, possessing freewill and having individual responsibility, humans can ignore if they choose instructions that are in their best interest; hence, the ultimate responsibility for any accountable soul’s action is his own. However, we are pleased to address making the home work as God intended. From near the dawn of mankind’s habitation on planet earth, God designed complementary or mutually helping (but different) roles for …

Prayer to Jesus

Brother Rushmore, I know you are extremely busy and I appreciate all you do! My question is this, I am hearing or reading more and more talk of people being encouraged to pray to Jesus. I recently spoke to a kind sincere brother who believes we are going around our mediator when we seek to pray directly to the Father and not Jesus. We discussed several passages and he continually refered to Stephens pray to Jesus in Acts 7. His point about a mediator and the definition of what a mediator does is valid yet other scripture clearly points to prayer being addressed to the Father. I would appreciate your thoughts on this. In Christ, Roy Williams The New Testament, of course, must be the resource to which one appeals (exclusively) to furnish the appropriate biblical answer for every religious question (1 Peter 3:15). Resorting to the New Testament or Gospel under which everyone now living is amenable and by which we will be judged at the end of time (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15) relies upon the once for all delivered faith (Jude 3, ASV), the truth that frees man from sin (John 8:32) or the saving Gospel (Romans 1:16). No other resource besides the New Testament can assure one relative to the choice he makes or ought to make in this life and what he therefore should believe, teach or do. There are at least two biblical points respecting the question whether one may or ought to pray …

How Long Was Israel in Egypt?

The 400/430 years of Egyptian bondage — Gen. 14:3 and Acts 7:6 states that they were oppressed 400 years. Ex. 12:40-41 states that their length of stay was 430 years. Is that borne out by Ex. 1:1-8? Were the Israelites in Egypt for 30 years before there arose the new king who did not know Joseph? ~ Marilyn LaStrape A thirty year difference between various Bible texts respecting the amount of time the Israelites spent in Egypt is sometimes alleged to be a discrepancy, for which disbelievers in God and his Word cite as supposed evidence that the Bible is false. In addition, loyal students of the Bible also desire an honest explanation to variations in different references to this event. After all the available evidence is sifted, though, we still may not know for sure why this variation in numbers (i.e., 400 years and 430 years) exists. However, any plausible explanation removes the question from one of discrepancy and indictment of God and his Word. Therefore, in view of several plausible explanations as to why various Bible writers used different numbers to refer to the same duration in Egypt by the Israelites, the Bible believer’s faith is sustained and not damaged. Further, the biblical critic will have to look elsewhere (howbeit fruitlessly) to attack and undermine God’s Word. Four passages introduce the time spent in Egypt by the Israelites. They are as follows. “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger …

Was Jesus Christ a Historical Person?

HOW CAN YOU SAY YOUR CHURCH IS THE TRUE CHURCH??? THE FIRST CHURCH JESUS WAS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND PETER WAS THE FIRST POPE, IT WAS CREATED BY JESUS, ITS TRUE THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS BEEN CORRUPT & IS A PAGAN RELIGION. BUT SO HAS EVERY MAN MADE RELIGION HAS BECOME CORRUPT , I NEVER BELIVED IN A MAN GOD ( JESUS ) BORN BY A VIRGIN THATS A REAL SAD JOKE THAT POOR IGNORANT UNEDUCATED PEOPLE BELIEVE IN, JESUS WAS A MYTH CREATED BY A FEW JEWS THE FABLE HAS GROWN THROUGH THE CENTURIES First, I’m thankful that the courageous, unsigned critic who wrote the complaint above took the time to read pages from Gospel Gazette Online. I hope that at least a residue of biblical truth rubbed off on him as he waded through the text of one or more Gospel lessons. Second, it has been long conceded that typing everything in all caps in email posts is equivalent to screaming or yelling what you have to say; it may be that the author of the critique above was cut to the heart with the Gospel (Acts 7:54) instead of pricked in the heart by the Gospel (Acts 2:37). Third, since Jesus and the first universally recognized Catholic pope lived 600 years apart and the church began about 50 days after the death of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church is not attributable to Jesus Christ, but rather the church about which one reads in Acts 2 is traceable to Jesus. Fourth, that …

Only Jesus Christ Ascended

Presently, I have my Catholic mother and orthodox father visiting us from Ukraine. Please pray for the success in the evangelistic work that I am conducting with them. I would really appreciate that because it is immensely difficult to do it with them. They both are 74 years old. Louis, can you please help me with one question, please? They both try to convince me that Mary has ascended into Heaven after she died: the old Catholic story, I hope you understand. Rather than argue with them, I am trying to show them from the Scripture that it could have not had happened. Best thing that comes to my mind is a passage from John 3:13 where he indicates “No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.” If that is so (and in no way I am trying to question the integrity of this statement by John, who was filled with the Holy Spirit), than how about Enoch and Elija who were taken into Heaven also? Is there something I am not aware of? Please, help me on this one! Thank you ever so very much! Wishing you and Bonnie all the best and looking forward to receiving the note from you. Your brother in Christ, Paul Fedko There is no better Scripture to which you could have turned to show that only Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven where God is (Daniel 2:44). John 3:13 as well as Ephesians 4:10 are conclusive regarding …

Pray Without Ceasing

Practically every commentator that I remember saying anything about 1 Thessalonians 5:17 where Paul said, “Pray without ceasing,” has made a comment something like this, “Of course he does not mean that we are to be muttering prayers constantly, but that we are to be in a prayerful attitude at all times.” While my limited knowledge and ability makes me hesitate to take issue with more learned and astute brethren, I feel impelled to make some remarks about that conclusion, as innocuous as it may seem. I agree that it does not mean that we are to be muttering, or just uttering, prayers constantly, but that it means “be in a prayerful attitude at all times” I deny (although I do not have any objection to a person doing that, or teaching that it is a good thing — whatever it may mean). In order to make clearer my objection to the claim that this is the meaning, let me ask a few questions. If we had translated the positive statement into a negative form and instead of saying, “Pray without ceasing” had said, “Do not stop praying” would you agree that the meaning of those two expressions is about the same? Now suppose we said of a person, “He has stopped attending church services,” or “He has stopped giving,” or “He has stopped taking the Lord’s Supper.” Would it not be appropriate to admonish a person, “Do not stop doing those things”? If the Bible said, “Do not stop …

Ye Ask Amiss

James gives two reasons why we may not get what we need in this life. He says, “Ye have not because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that he may spend it in your pleasures” (James 4:2-3). Often we do not ask for the things we need, for what we need and what we want are two different things. We fail to get the things we need because, not realizing what they are, we do not ask for them. Another reason James gives for not getting what we need is that we ask amiss. As long as we conceive of prayer as a sort of exercise in pushing a button to call a Cosmic Bell Boy to do our bidding, we are asking amiss, regardless of the thing for which we ask. Rather, prayer should be a means of so attuning our souls to God and his will that it is a time when he molds our lives so that his will becomes ours. It is not merely a matter of tacking on some words, “Thy will, not mine be done,” but a matter of so adjusting our lives and thinking that his will actually becomes ours. As Jesus put it, “I do always the things that are pleasing to Him.” Our prayer, then, is primarily a matter of opening our hearts to God in such a fashion that we may have the wisdom and insight into what his will is in that particular situation, and …

Our Salvation Is a Divine Accomplishment — Not a Human Achievement

Salvation is the spiritual deliverance granted to us by God when we respond in obedient faith to the Gospel. It is through Christ alone that this salvation can be obtained. When we became members of the Lord’s church, not only were our sins forgiven, but also our relationship to God was restored. To borrow a statement from one of the preachers in the brotherhood: None of us are going to accidentally slide into heaven. If we are there, it will be from a lifetime of intention, and planning, and forethought, and devotion, and humility before the living God! We are not, and never will be good enough in and of ourselves to deserve heaven. The following Scriptures tell us why that is a total impossibility.  “For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).  “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).  “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, we are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do” …

Degrading

One dictionary’s entry on the word, degrade, includes these definitions: “To lower, especially in rank or degree; to debase morally.” To apply the word this way is to speak to either the character or the perceived value of a person. To affix the word to the recent reality TV show, The Bachelor, is a debate at hand. Viewers were treated to outtakes of a single man’s search for a wife, in a world constructed to be anything but real. In the lap of luxury, the man dated twenty-some women and gradually narrowed the choices down to one whom he thought might be worthy to be his bride. Americans tuned in regularly to see who was ousted and who was picked. Ratings apparently did well as the tournament proceeded. May the word degrading be used to describe the series? Did its premise degrade the value of women in a supposedly advanced society? What can one assume of ladies who would place themselves in such a situation? Were they each deeply in love with the bachelor? Or, were they tantalized by the exhibitionism of the thing? Had they no better options for relationships? Need they parade themselves as ancient maidens groveling for the favor of a self-aggrandizing emperor? Where, in all of this, is modern society’s push for respect for women? For years, women’s groups have sought better status for their gender. Females wanted rights equal that of males. Great progress characterized the twentieth century. Then, the twenty-first starts with this. Where are the organizations to cry foul? …

We Are Not Perfect

Some think that being a Christian means that one never sins. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have a Savior who withstood every temptation and overcame every obstacle to live a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22). We are called to follow his example. But, it is a mistake to think that we must live a perfect life to do that. In essence, Jesus sets the standard which we strive for, but never quite achieve. John warned that those who say they have no sin are self-deceived and devoid of truth (1 John 1:8-10). The Bible tells us that we all sin and come short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Except for our Lord, there is no man who does good in life and never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20). What then is the difference between Christians and non-Christians if all are sinners? First, Christians are saved sinners. Having been obedient to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a Christian’s sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7). Further, as long as we “walk in the light” or live as a child of God ought to live, his blood continues to cleanse us of all sin (1 John 1:7). Through him, we are justified, sanctified, forgiven, redeemed and saved. Second, Christians are not controlled by sin. Sin does not have dominion over God’s people (Romans 6:14). That means that Christians are motivated by a desire to do what is right and to reject what is wrong. It …

Hold My Mule

This story touches a deep cord in my heart. Read it and see if it doesn’t affect you too. The old man couldn’t carry a tune in a syrup bucket, but he loved to sing — even if it was off-key. Besides, he was bad about “amening” the preacher. Services had degenerated into an undignified “assembly” because of the old man. He simply got too involved in the “goings on” and forgot himself. Four of the more “well-to-do” members decided that this man was too “crude” for the congregation. They appointed themselves as the ones to go talk to the old man. When they arrived at the old man’s house, he was in the field plowing with his old mule. Though it was beneath their dignity, they finally walked out through that dusty ground which soiled their clothes to talk to the old man. “Brother Jones,” they began, “we want to talk to you about your singing. Not meaning any offense, you just can’t sing. We wish you would not try to sing so loud because it ruins our services.” “I’m sorry,” he replied, “it’s just that when I look at these old clothes that I wear and then I think of the robes that God has for me, I can’t help singing. When I see that old shack that I live in and realize that it might fall down any time and then I think about the beautiful palace that God has for me, I just have to sing …

Does a Christian Sin?

A question comes about three verses in the KJV: 1 John 3:6, 9; 5:18. The KJV leaves the impression that a good Christian never sins: “sinneth not” (3:6); “doth not commit sin” (3:9); “cannot sin” (3:9); “sinneth not” (5:18). But other verses in the same epistle of John in the KJV show that even good Christians are not sinless: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Lord is not in us” (1:8); “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1:9); “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1:10); “My little children, these things I write unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (2:1). Why did the scholarly 54 translators of the KJV in 1611 leave the impression in three verses that it is impossible for a Christian, a man “born of God” (1 John 3:9), to commit a single sin (1 John 5:18)? It was a simple oversight, but it has left a Bible contradiction. Grammatically, for example, the Greek verb “sin” (twice in 1 John 2:1), points only to one sin, and cannot refer to a life or practice of sin. Conversely, grammatically, the verb “sin” (twice in 1 John 3:6), refers to a life and practice of sin, linear, …

The Goodness and Severity of God

“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22, NKJV). One of the first truths that small children learn about God is that he is good. A prayer of thanksgiving offered by boys and girls is: “God is great, God is good; let us thank him for our food…” The Bible speaks often of the goodness of God. “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5). “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:5). “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 118:29). It was said of the seed of Abraham, God’s chosen people, in ages past: “Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart” (Psalm 73:1). Yes, God blessed Israel abundantly as long as the people were faithful to him. Likewise, God’s goodness and mercy have been manifested toward all men in the giving of Jesus to die for the sins of mankind (Romans 5:8; John 3:16,17). James declared in his epistle, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). In order to enjoy the blessings of a spiritual nature in Christ, man has to …

Ministers of Misinformation

Initially, United States citizens were angry that the Iraqi Minister of Information, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, was spinning a different description of what was occurring during Operation Iraqi Freedom. That anger soon morphed into laughter as it became apparent that this man was living in his own little world, and only telling the cameras what he knew his boss wanted to hear. In fact, many Americans began purposely tuning in to his press conferences, as if they were a stand-up comedy routine. This man continued to deny the obvious, even as the tanks of coalition forces rolled into Baghdad — right up to the location where he was staying. He knew the truth, but he also knew what certain people wanted to hear. As such, he took on the name of “Minister of Misinformation” within the press, and around dinner tables all across this country. Sadly, I believe that many in the religious world suffer this same mentality. Whether they are preachers, teachers or scholars, they know what the Bible says, yet, they continue to preach and teach something else. Many have spent years studying the Bible, and can quote passages verbatim. But when it comes to preaching the truths that are contained within God’s Word, they retreat to their own little world and preach what they know people want to hear. For instance, Jesus made it plainly clear that he was going to establish one church, of which he serves as the Head (e.g., Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:4; Ephesians 1:22-23). Yet, week after week, …

Then and Now

We have all looked into magazines or newspapers in which we have found those “Before and After” pictures. Before the person was obese, after he is very thin. Before the person had no muscular build, after he looks “muscle-bound.” The purpose of those pictures, and the advertisements which they depict, is to get us to buy some product that is purported to work on our physical bodies in some magical way to make of us something that we are not. We rather suspect that the most of them do not do any good that would not have been done without them if the person had put forth the same amount of effort. However, there is a “before and after” picture, a “then and now” picture found in the New Testament to which we should give some careful attention. In Ephesians 2:11-13, Paul gave a “then and now” picture to the Gentiles who had become Christians in the city of Ephesus in order to show them just how greatly God had blessed them by adopting them into his family. In times past, these Gentile Christians were Gentiles according to the flesh, and as such, they were looked down upon by the Jews who referred to them disparagingly as the “Uncircumcision.” It is no secret that the Jews looked upon all Gentiles as barbarians, and at the same time took great pride in the fact that they were the descendants of Abraham and recipients of the great promises of God, as well …

The Bible

(Therefore Stand, Vol. 18, No. 8, August, 2002, p. 58) The following are four important facts about the Bible that we should all know. The Bible is the ONLY book that came to us from the mind of God. All other books were produced merely by human beings. The Bible, on the other hand, comes from God’s mind and was revealed through human agents (apostles and prophets) by the guidance of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:6-13; Galatians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:1-5). The Bible is the ONLY Book that comes to us from the heart of God. In speaking of God’s people in Romans 9:23-26, Paul notes that God has called out his people to make known “the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared beforehand for glory.” This fact is not only revealed to us in this passage but, according to Paul, was also prophesied in Hosea 1:10. This great love is encapsulated in John 3:16. The Bible is the ONLY Book that tells us ALL things we must know, believe and do to get to heaven (2 Peter 1:3). It will make one a child of God and will make that child complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Nothing else is needed; nothing else is acceptable for our spiritual needs. The Bible is the ONLY Book by which humans will be judged. The part of the Bible by which you and I shall be judged is the New Testament (John 12:48; Romans 2:16). …

Never Content?

Many, many years ago there lived a very powerful king named Xerxes. Xerxes, though loaded with all the prizes and gifts of fortune, was content neither with his cavalry, nor his foot soldiers, nor with the multitude of his ships, nor with his incalculable amount of gold, but offered a reward to the man, who should invent a new pleasure. And yet, with this very pleasure he was not content; so true is it that unbridled desires will never find a limit. (Short Tales and Anecdotes From Ancient History by William Smith, 1866, p.12) King Xerxes thought that happiness could come from owning things. He thought that having power would make him happy. So, he was always trying to get more of both. Yet, he could not find anything that completely fulfilled his desire for contentment. In Hebrews 13:5, we are told to be content with the things we have. This does not mean that we do not continue to use our talents to obtain more things. It does mean, though, that we are not to be unhappy with what we have. We are to understand that what we have comes from God. And, we are to understand that what we have is to be used in service of God. We also should learn that our hope for happiness is not in the things we possess or in the power we have. Our happiness is in God. Serving him and doing his will is what will bring true happiness. “Happy is …

Know Your Master’s Crib

In biblical times, most farmers had at least one ox or one donkey. He would use these animals to work his field and to carry loads. The animal was very valuable to the farmer. He took very good care of his animal. The animal grew to know his master very well. He would follow his master wherever he went. At the end of the day, the farmers would come back into the town from the field. Many times, he did not have to lead his ox or donkey to the house. The animal knew the way to go and would just go there on his own. Even though the animal might have to make many turns down many small streets, he would know exactly where to go. He knew his crib (the place for him to sleep and to eat) was in his master’s house. In Isaiah 1:3-4, we read, “The ox knoweth his owner, and the his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.” The nation of Israel had become less wise than an ox or a donkey. The animals would go to their master’s home. The animals would follow their master. But the people of Israel refused to do such with their God. And God was condemning …

What Does “I’ll Think
About It” Really Mean?

There are times when it is dangerous to think! How often do we respond to someone’s unwelcome question or offer with the oft-heard refrain, “I’ll think about it”? There is the story of how in preparation for war the ancient Greek king, Agesilaus, assembled his armies to go into action. He sent word to an ally asking him to help Greece in its hour of peril. The other ruler replied that he would consider it. Agesilaus replied: “Tell him that while he is considering it we will march!” Sometimes when we say, “I’ll think about it,” we really mean that we do not want to decide. In such cases, we don’t really mean that we will think about it; we mean exactly the opposite — we don’t want to think about. We will shelve the proposal. How many times do we meet an invitation to teach in the Bible school program or become a part of the visitation program or assist in World Bible School, with, “I’ll think about it”? Does our thinking about it ever generate into actually doing it? Remember that King Agrippa was “almost persuaded” to become a Christian (Acts 26:28). Paul knew that he believed (Vs. 27), but Agrippa did not want to render a decision. Sometimes when we say, “I’ll think about it,” we are merely postponing something that we should do immediately. This was the shortcoming of Governor Felix when Paul boldly “reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled and answered, ‘Go thy way for …

The Gospel

In one of the most often quoted passages of the New Testament, Romans 1:16-17, Paul makes his thesis statement of this wonderful treatise concerning the Gospel: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” The Gospel will never give you a reason to be ashamed. Paul was not ashamed of preaching the Gospel anywhere that he went, and this was certainly true of Rome. For what about the Gospel could possibly cause shame? It is the good news of Jesus Christ, salvation provided, and victory achieved. Which of these would cause us shame? Are we ashamed of the perfection of Christ’s life, his sacrifice on our behalf, or the fact that he died? Or are we ashamed of what he has taught and demands of each one of us? We may be ashamed of our failure to do what Christ says, but we should never be ashamed of what he has said for us to do. The Gospel is the power of God. Surely, the dynamic power of an omnipotent God is difficult to comprehend! But perhaps even more difficult is the thought that this power is expressed in the words of the New Testament. But when we realize that the Gospel expresses …

The Resurrection of the Dead

This time of year, Spring, is often associated with the time of Christ’s resurrection. Rightfully so, for it was about this time of year when the Jewish Passover was observed, and it was during the time of Passover Jesus became our sacrificial “Lamb,” as John the Baptist noted, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). By being crucified, the Creator of mankind (John 1:1-3), was now demonstrating his tremendous love for mankind and becoming the Savior of his church. He hung on the Cross, arguably the cruelest means of torture ever devised by man, for the space of about six hours before finally succumbing to death. He was buried in a borrowed tomb belonging to one Joseph of Arimathaea, but Jesus did not stay in the grave. It has been said that every major world religion can point to a grave, but only Christianity’s grave is empty! In modern times, there are those who attack the doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. No wonder! The resurrection is foundational to our Christianity. Without it, faith in him is void and meaningless. With it, we have hope! Consider Paul’s instruction to the those of Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus …

The Grace of God

Ephesians 2:8-9 Introduction The English word “grace” occurs 170 times in the Bible (KJV), 39 times in the Old Testament and 131 times in the New Testament. The Greek word for “grace” appears 156 times in the Greek New Testament, and besides “grace” is translated as ‘thanks,’ “pleasure,” “joy,” “benefit,” “acceptable,” “favour” and “liberality”; Jesus Christ used the Greek word for “grace” four times (translated as ‘thanks’) (Luke 6:32-34; 17:9). The respective Hebrew (chen) and Greek (charis) words that are translated as “grace” are equivalent to each other and mean “favor.” The most common and maybe simplistic definition of the extension of God’s grace toward mankind is “unmerited favor.” After only a little contemplation, then, it is certain that God’s grace toward mankind is reflected in both testaments of the Bible and under all three religious dispensations (i.e., Patriarchy, Judaism and Christianity). However, there is much confusion in the religious world respecting the grace of God (e.g., Calvinism, Universalism, unconditional grace, conditional grace). One can only sweep away the denominational fog and confusion regarding the grace of God by resorting to the Bible for God’s definition and divine instruction about grace. God’s Grace Defined The Hebrew word “chen” means “to favor someone”1 and is the Old Testament counterpart of the Greek word “charis.” The Greek word “charis” when referring to God’s grace toward humanity means unmerited favor. However, charis has several other meanings depending on the contexts in which it appears. “In secular Greek of all periods it is also a …