Faith vs. fear – what does the Bible say?
Faith and fear cannot exist together. Faith is described in Hebrews 11:1 as being “certain of what we do not see.” It is an absolute belief that God is constantly working behind the scenes in every area of our lives, even when there is no tangible evidence to support that fact. On the other hand,…
What does the Bible say about freedom?
Freedom is a multi-faceted concept in the Bible. The story of man begins with freedom gone awry. In His generosity, God tells Adam in the Garden of Eden, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden”; there was one restriction: “But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of…
What is our inheritance in Christ?
The Bible is full of references to the inheritance believers have in Christ. Ephesians 1:11 says, “In [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (ESV). Other passages that mention a believer’s inheritance include Colossians 3:24 and…
What is Christian hedonism?
The term Christian hedonism may sound like an oxymoron at first. After all, if “hedonism” is the pursuit of pleasure, then how can it be Christian? But, as John Piper points out, pleasure per se is not anti-God. Pleasure, in one sense, is a gauge of how much importance we place on what we value.…
What does the Bible say about how much power Christians possess?
The Tyndale Bible Dictionary defines power as the “ability to do things, by virtue of strength, skill, resources, or authorization.” The Bible says a Christian’s power comes from God through the Holy Spirit. God is the ultimate source of power. All power comes from Him and is subject to Him: “Yours, LORD, is the greatness…
How can we rely on the power of God?
We often hear about the power of God, and Scripture is full of examples of His power in action. He is “the great God, mighty and awesome” (Nehemiah 9:32). We are taught to rely on His great power to get us through trials such as a job loss, a sticky divorce, bankruptcy, hateful persecutions, a…
Are we supposed to let go and let God?
“Let go and let God” is a phrase that cropped up some years ago and still enjoys some popularity today. Actually, the Bible never tells us to “let go and let God.” In fact, there are so many commandments about what we are to do that it completely contradicts the way most people interpret “let…
Does God want us to be happy?
Happiness is an emotion arising from an inner conviction that all is right with our world. It is a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. Everyone wants to be happy, but happiness, as our ultimate goal, can be elusive. People may make decisions based on what they think will make them happy, then experience despair…
Is there a second blessing subsequent to salvation?
The term second blessing is understood in two ways by Christians—one with reference to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and one with reference to sinless perfection. While the concept of a second blessing is taught in a wide variety of churches, the phrase is not found anywhere in the Bible. The Bible does speak…
What did Jesus mean when He promised an abundant life?
In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (ESV). Unlike a thief, the Lord Jesus does not come for selfish reasons. He comes to give, not to get. He comes that people may have life in Him…