Problems are allowed by God for our good, so here’s how to navigate life’s storms when you find yourself in one.

Common to All

There isn’t anything that has happened to you that hasn’t already happened to someone else. There is nothing new under the sun, so whatever you are going through right now, is probably something someone has already passed through. Many of us face great disappointments, but one man said, “Let disappointment be His appointment.” I see his point in that. We may not be able to fix our problems…so perhaps our problems are there to fix us. Whatever happens to us, good or bad, God allows them to happen and we have His promise that it will all turn out for our very best (Rom 8:28).

Strength in the Struggle

One example of trials and troubles helping is the persistently strong southern winds in Kansas. Dodge City, Kansas is listed as the windiest city in the nation (not Chicago), but these strong winds do not destroy the trees; instead, they force them to grow stronger branches and trunks, sending their taproots even deeper into the soil. With the trees being strengthened, having deeper roots acting as critical anchors, they were more easily able to avoid severe damage during intense storms and even tornadoes (where we get our share!). The constant stress on the trees makes them less susceptible to suffering wind damage. Get this: the wind helps the tree prepare for the wind. Trials prepare us to face more trials. And how not to fall when the winds come.

Which is Your Storm?

God may allow a storm in your life for several different reasons, and even reasons we don’t know. For example, here are four storms that are intended for our good. Remember, God allows all things to happen for our good (Rom 8:28). All things have God’s stamp of approval on it, so here are four of the more common storms God may send or allow us to enter into.

Storms of Correction: Sent to redirect us and grab our attention over personal sin issues.

Storms of Reflection: Designed to cause us to pause, look inward, and evaluate our lives.

Storms of Direction: Used by God to guide people toward their true calling or mission, similar to the storm encountered by Jonah.

Storms of Perfection: Intended to build perseverance, test faith, and strengthen an individual’s spiritual dependency on God.

Clearly, there are more reasons than these, but we need to learn to trust God, even in the storm. The word trust, used in Psalm 37:3, means “to lean upon, roll oneself over onto, or feel safe and secure without panic” which reminds me of Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus invites all to roll it all over onto His broad shoulders. His yoke is the one that bears the weight you cannot bear alone.

The Benefits of Affliction

The Psalmist wrote, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Psalm 119:71). [Never seen any bumper sticker with that on it!] How is that good? It was good so that he/we “might learn your statues.” The lesson is, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word” (Psalm 119:67). That’s what afflictions, trials and troubles do. God “does not afflict” the Devil’s children but His very own whom He loves (Heb 12:6). “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline” (Heb 12:7), so you should feel loved when disciplined. Children are alive today because their parents loved them enough to keep them from playing in the street.

Comforting Others

When we see our brother or sister in a storm, we should be there to offer them help. Hasn’t someone done that for us? The reasons we go through things are so that we can understand and sympathize with others when they’re going through what we went through. God “who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2nd Cor 1:4). So how does God comfort us and others in their affliction? He uses others as a means to reach His ends; chiefly comforting the hurting and grieving. The point is, He can use us as a means to give comfort to a grieving spouse or parent. God works through the hands of His saints, if only we would allow Him too.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…

Deep Valleys and Dark Shadows

David wrote in the well-known Psalm 23 that “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (23:4a). This is interesting, because shadows can’t kill. Let me ask you, “Would you rather get hit by the shadow of a Mack Truck or the truck itself?” I wonder if the disciples who were in two different storms on the Sea of Galilee may have quoted Isaiah 43:12 which says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” If only they realized this about Jesus: what’s over their head is under His feet!

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Bible Verses About Trials: 20 Scriptures on Tribulations

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Does the church today resemble the church in the 1st century?

Devoted to Doctrine – Acts 2:42a

The first century church was focused on one of the most important things the church should be doing, and that is, “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42a). You might ask, was the apostle’s teaching or some translations call it, doctrine (both are right)? First of all, it wasn’t really the apostle’s doctrine but what Jesus had passed on to them. The apostle’s doctrine was Jesus’ doctrines, which He had taught them for over 3 years. These “doctrines” would be the very things Jesus commanded His disciples and the very same things He commanded them to teach others (Matt 28:19-20).

The early church taught what Jesus taught through the apostles who were taught by our Lord. If any church hopes to grow, they must teach the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and that is found in the Bible. The early church was devoted to Scriptures and so should our churches be today.

Does the apostles’ doctrine the same thing as Scripture?

What does it mean to be “devoted” to “the apostles’ teaching?”

Is it more beneficial to study alone or in small groups like in a Sunday school or Bible study?

“the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers”

Fellowship and Prayer – Acts 2:42b

Since the church was devoted to the teachings of Jesus Christ, they would naturally continue in “the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42b). You learn more from one another than from being alone, so fellowship is so important. You can’t break bread alone. The breaking of bread could be a reference to eating together and fellowshipping at a meal, but Luke seems to separate fellowship with the breaking of bread, so this could refer to the Lord’s Supper or Communion. Either way, they were people of prayer, and prayer helped the early church to seek God’s will, and part of God’s will for His children is that we have fellowship with Him, but also with one another as the Body of Christ. And again, the church today must be devoted to the Scriptures as was the 1st Century Church.

What do you think Luke meant when referring to “the breaking of bread?”

How does fellowship help the church?

What do you think the atmosphere was like at some of these “fellowships?”

Sharing All Things – Acts 2:44-45

“and they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need”

One man told me that he attended a Christian conference for pastors in Romania, and it was the strangest feeling. Here he was half way across the globe, and yet, he felt right at home among a people he had never met nor had little in common with…but they really did have something in common; God was their Father. They were brothers in Christ, and so it was in the early church, as it says, “all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:44-45).

If a need came up, someone covered it. That’s what individual members of Christ’s Body do. We have all things in common (i.e. John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Rom 10:9-13) and so we share with one another, even if it’s sharing in their sufferings for being persecuted. Today we can distribute proceeds for missionary work.

Have you ever met someone and almost known immediately if they are a Christian?

What signs made you reach that conclusion?

Were there things that made the church appealing to those outside of the church (Acts 2:43)?

Breaking Bread Daily – Acts 2:46

The church was apparently eager to worship in the early days because it says, they were “day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:46). The 1st Century church was so zealous for God that they met together daily, likely to fellowship, eat, but most of all, to learn from the Scriptures and from the apostles. That meant there was daily worship and then breaking bread in one another’s home, or having a meal together, so being together gave them “glad and generous hearts.”

Does worship and fellowship (like with meals) make a difference in their lives?

In what ways is gladness connected to worship and meals?

Why does it say the received their food with glad and generous hearts?

How can someone that receives have a generous heart?

Praising God – Acts 2:47a

Toward the end of Acts chapter two, it says of the church, “praising God and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47a), so part of the passion of the 1st century church was that they were praising God and possibly, by living godly lives, they had favor with “all the people.” It helps their witness if Christians live a life above reproach. Finding favor with all the people doesn’t mean that all the people put their trust in Jesus Christ and the teaching of the gospel. It means that the unsaved were astonished by how the believer’s acted among one another and among those not in the church. That was nothing like they had ever experienced in the world, and so the people found favor in their actions.

Even under severe persecution, the church still praised God, like Job’s statement, “Even though He slay me, yet will I praise Him” (Job 13:15). God is highly pleased when we suffer unjustly, like for our faith, and yet praise Him even while it’s happening. When you give God praise, even during times of trouble, He sees you worshiping Him and trusting Him…even while things are going bad. You don’t praise that which you don’t trust, right? So the early church trusted the sovereignty of God, no matter what was going on around them.

How can we learn to praise God even in the storms of life?

Does the Christian community still retain some of these 1st century attributes, and if so, which ones?

Why did others favor the early church?

God Grows the Church – Acts 2:47b

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching …”

As we wrap up our study about the primitive church, we see that the church was a passionate one because they studied and were “devoted to the apostles’ doctrine.” They fellowshipped together, they shared what they had, and had all things in common. Even among those outside of the church favored them, at least to an extent.

Now what happened when the church did all of this and was zealous for God, studied God’s Word, and shared their possessions and praised Him and prayed to Him? God responded by adding “to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b). God added to the church because the church had a solid foundational teaching of the apostle’s doctrine, which was really Jesus’ doctrine that He commanded the disciples to teach others (Matt 28:19-20).

We know the Word of God has effectual power to change lives and to save souls (Isaiah 55:11; Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:18; Heb 4:12), so the early church did what they were told to do and God gave the increase or grew the church. Jesus said He would build His church (Matt 16:18), not that you and I will build it (epic fail!), but Jesus is pleased to use men and women like us as a means to reach His ends, chiefly, that God gives the increase and grows His church. These are the keys to church growth. Not some program and agenda, but just being biblical.

Which of these elements are missing from your church listed in Acts 2:42-47?

Can you do anything about the missing elements?

Why did God bring growth to the early church?

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: How Did the Early Church Differ From the Church Today?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Church is not a grand museum. Where saints are polished, framed, and shown. It is a workshop of redemption. Where Christ is shaping hearts of stone.

The Church Is Not a Museum
Theresa Burley

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Mt 11:28

They say the Church is full of sinners,
As though we’ve hidden this somehow.
But every heart that enters through her doors
Is well acquainted with that now.
The Church was never built to showcase
The trophies of the strong and wise.
It stands as witness to the mercy
That lifts the fallen and the blind.

Some come with wounds that time has deepened,
Some carry burdens none can see.
Some wrestle doubts and old temptations,
Some long to find what they might be.
The pews are filled with fellow travelers,
Not those who claim to have arrived.
For faith is not the boast of perfect men,
But broken souls made new by Christ.

The world expects an instant change,
A life transformed without a fight.
Yet even those redeemed by mercy
Must learn to walk within the light.
And though the heart is made a new creation,
Old habits seldom disappear.
For God is patient with His children,
And works through many growing years.

“The Lord…is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance..” 2 Pet 3:9

No one condemns a crowded hospital
Because it shelters sick and weak.
Nor mocks the hands of skilled physicians
Who help the wounded stand and speak.
Yet many judge the Church for harboring
The very people Christ came for.
As though all healing should be finished
The moment one walks through the door.

And if you look, you’ll find me with them,
Not at the front with those who lead.
But standing humbly among the others,
A soul still conscious of its need.
For I have known the weight of failure,
And I have felt redemption’s call.
The difference grace has made within me
Is not that now I never fall.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 Jn 1:9

The difference is I know the Savior
Who lifts me up and bids me stand.
Who does not cast away the sinner,
But draws him closer by His hand.
The Church exists because of Jesus,
Not because her people shine.
Her hope has never been perfection,
But grace sufficient for all time.

The Church is not a grand museum
Where saints are polished, framed, and shown.
It is a workshop of redemption
Where Christ is shaping hearts of stone.
So if you see unfinished people,
You’re seeing exactly what should be.
For grace is found among the broken,
Not in the myth of purity.

Author’s Bio: Theresa Burley writes about faith the way she has lived it—not as someone who has all the answers, but as a traveler still walking the road. Her poetry is shaped by seasons of joy, loss, questions, hope, and the quiet ways she has seen God’s faithfulness through them all. She lives in Kansas, where she enjoys time with family, creative pursuits, and finding reminders of grace in everyday life.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: What is the Role of the Church?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Want to witness to Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons or Muslims? Here are Bible verses to use that refute each one of these false religions.

Islam

The religion of Muslims is Islam, which means “to submit” or “submission,” and of course, their submission is to their god, Allah, which we know is no god at all (Isaiah 43:10). And then there is Mohammed his prophet. Yes, he was a prophet, but a false one. They do believe in the first five books of the Bible, like Genesis, but don’t believe in the Trinity, being montheistic. This, despite the original Hebrew language showing that God is more than one. One of God’s names is “Elohim,” which is plural and used in Gen 1 and 2 and in several other places in the Old Testament. Muslims do believe in God’s absolute sovereignty and predestination, but then again, they teach that every Muslim must follow the required Five Pillars of Islam and that their salvation depends on it. These are:

• Shahada: Declaring that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.
• Salah: Performing ritual prayers five times each day.
• Zakat: Giving an obligatory charity or alms tax to help those in need.
• Sawm: Fasting during daylight hours in the lunar month of Ramadan.
• Hajj: Making a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca at least once in a lifetime, if able.

Muslims, for the most part, can never have any real assurance as to whether they’re going to heaven or not. They are never sure if they’ve done enough good works (like Zakat). They reject the Trinity and Jesus as being God and even deny Jesus’ death, so here’s what the Apostle John wrote on what it means to deny that Jesus is the Son of God. John wrote, “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:23). You can’t have God as your Father unless you have Jesus His Son. He also is God (John 1:1-4). Muslims accept Jesus as a Prophet, but not as God nor do they believe in His substitutionary death for sinners, but if there is no fellowship with the Son, there is no fellowship with the Father; or the forgiveness of sins.

Muslims also believe the prophecy of Moses concerning the “Coming One” (Deut18), but they mistakenly believe it was speaking about Mohammed, even though it was actually written about the coming of Jesus Christ. Deuteronomy 18:15 says, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen; to him you shall listen.” Of course, Mohammed did not descend from Israel’s “countrymen.” Next, Moses states that God “will raise up for them a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them everything that I command him” (Deut 18:18). Once more, this great Prophet will come from His own countrymen. In fact, He will come from the Tribe of Judah, and not from any other line (Gen 49:10). No Arab or Muslim would ever claim to be part of Israel’s “countrymen.” So it cannot be Muhammed that Moses wrote about. It must be (it is!) about Jesus Christ Who alone fits this prophecy.

Mormons

The Mormons or the Church of Latter Day Saints is a false religion that can be refuted from Scripture. Mormons believe that eventually, everyone will be saved, despite Scriptures that declare many are called and will declare they know the Lord, but few indeed will be chosen (Matt 7:21-23; 22:14). If everyone is going to be saved, why did Jesus have to suffer and die?

In their religion, they believe Jesus became God but was not originally God, and also, we too can become gods with our own planets someday. But what does Isaiah 43:10 say about that? This cannot be possible for other gods to be before or come after the One, True God. Isaiah the Prophet wrote, “Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me.” That’s pretty clear that there are no other gods that were before God and “there will be none after Me” either. The Bible here proves that we cannot and will not ever become gods. I think that’s best too, because, can you imagine millions of different gods in the universe who will most likely not all be in agreement. Talk about a potential “Star Wars!”

Finally, Jesus is supposed to be the eldest child of heavenly parents and they live on the planet Kolob. They teach that Jesus became God through good works, and Jesus succeeded in becoming a god, but Lucifer (Satan) failed and became the Devil. So the Devil is Jesus’ half-brother!? That’s hard to swallow.

Regarding God the Father, they teach that He is God. Sounds good, right? Not so fast! They also teach that God the Father was not always God. He was once a man! Wow! That’s robbing glory from God and He is not pleased with that. So God the Father was once a man as Jesus was but the question arises; Who was the very first God? Shouldn’t we be worshipping Him? How many “gods” ago was the original God? They cannot answer that?

Jehovah Witnesses

Jehovah Witnesses is another false religion that can be refuted from Scripture. One of my old mentors who is now with the Lord said that Jehovah Witnesses are actually Jehovah’s “False Witnesses.” He is right of course. But how do you use the Bible to show a Jehovah Witness the error of their ways about their view of Jesus and the Trinity?

Jehovah Witnesses believe that Jesus was created and was formerly, Michael the Archangel and the Father alone is God. To them, Jesus is not God. They also don’t believe the soul is immortal and don’t believe in the Trinity, believing the Holy Spirit is a “force” or power of God. They believe in annihilation after death for sinners.

To believe Jesus was created is to contradict their own Bible! Scripture says that through the Word of God because Scripture says of Jesus Christ that “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being” (John 1:4). If Jesus was created, and the Scripture says He created all things, isn’t He a “thing” or something created then? He could not create Himself since He would have had to pre-exist to begin with. You see the logical fallacy of their belief and reconciling that to Scripture.

As for their rejection of the Trinity, how do they explain the oft-used “Elohim” in the Old Testament, which is clearly plural in the Hebrew language? In the New Testament, what about Matthew 28:19 which says, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit?” Notice the “and” is giving separation from the other Person. It is the Father “and” the Son “and” the Holy Spirit. Can you baptize anyone into a “force,” which is what they believe the Holy Spirit is?

As for no immortal soul, how do they explain the lake of fire which those cast into it, are tormented forever and ever (Rev 20:12-15).

Finally, John 20:28-29 gives them headaches where Thomas declares of Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28)! Notice that Jesus does not rebuke Thomas for declaring Jesus as God and Lord.

Knowing they don’t have the right Savior, means they don’t have eternal life (John 17:3), so we must show them from Scripture how wrong they are because that will impact their eternal destination. We do it out of love, not because we are smarter; we just don’t want anyone end up in an eternal hell.

Non-Christian Religions: Plus Something

There is one thing in common with all of these religions. They don’t recognize Jesus as God and as God, having eternally existed with God the Father (John 1:1-3). If it is not faith alone and being saved by grace alone (Eph 2:8-9), then it’s not salvation alone. If they don’t know the One True God the Father and Jesus Christ, God of very God, then they don’t have eternal life. If you have the wrong Savior, you don’t have the right salvation, meaning you don’t have eternal life. Jesus says as much when He said, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). When Jesus said, “this is eternal life,” He uses the equal sign (=) as adding up to salvation. Anything short of that is not going to save. You have eternal life only if you know the One True God and Jesus Christ whom God the Father sent. They know neither! The Apostle Paul wrote that any gospel contrary to that of the Bible is no gospel at all (Gal 1:6-9), meaning there is no salivation in that gospel.

Conclusion

We must not argue or attack those who do not believe, but “Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near” (Phil 4:5).  Our duty is to always be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet 3:15).  Without gentleness and respect, our witness is useless.  No one has ever been debated into the Kingdom.  We must remember, we are not better than others…only better off and only because of Jesus. You didn’t deserve it any more than I did. Knowing this, may God use you as a means to use Scripture to bring people out of these false religions and unto the real Jesus Christ, Who alone can save (John 17:3). They must know the true Jesus and not a created one, because without an infinite sacrifice (Jesus), there is no remission for an infinite penalty (hell – Rev 20:12-15, 21:8).

Finally, I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Are Mormons Christian/ What do They Believe About Jesus?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Romans chapter 13 tells us how Christians are to live in the world and to be examples by submitting to human authority, except where it would have us violate God’s Law.

How the Church Lives in the World

God’s Word tells us how Christians are to live a godly life in the world, and that’s highlighted in Romans 13. Romans 12 was written for how Christians are to relate to one another in the church, but chapter 13 is more about being model citizens in the world as a testimony to Jesus Christ and the Gospel. As for this lesson, there are the five W’s and the one H of each of these verses in Romans 13. They are the “who, what, where, when, why, and how” questions to be used.

How does the Christian affect the world? What does being salt and light mean? What are God’s requirements of every Christian in the world as far as being an employee? Actually, the world would be a better place and so would the business world. If Romans 12 is the model of how Christians ought to relate to one another, then Romans 13 is how Christians ought to relate to their employers and employees and to society in general.

Submitting to Government: Romans 13:1-2

Paul is clear about what God’s expectations are for believers in the world of work and society. Starting in verse one he says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”

Who is Paul talking about here?

Who were the authorities that existed then?

Is breaking the speed limit resisting God’s authority?

Where does all authority come from?

Are there any exceptions for resisting those appointed by God (Acts 5:29)?

What does “God’s judgment” on lawbreakers look like in this society?

Submitting to Employers: Romans 13:3-5

So being an obedient, submissive and faithful worker is commanded of us by God. In verse 3-5 Paul continues, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.”

God has placed people in the church and in the world as it pleased Him. Some churches have a deacon and an elder and every church should have a pastor so acting in authority for the good of the body of Christ but God has placed in authority over us those who protect and service like law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency services and even the military. We must obey the law while at work, in public, and in private, because these men and women are God’s agents and it is God Who has placed them in their position of authority. It is by His design and His purpose. Be a law-abiding citizen and you’ve got nothing to fear.

What would it be like in society with no law enforcement (authorities)?

Who does the man or woman in law enforcement really work for?

How are “rulers a terror to good works?”

Why should we obey our rulers for our “conscience’ sake?”

How would God display His wrath if we break the law?

Submitting to Rulers: Romans 13:6-7

Paul continues in verse 6-7; “For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”

In other words, we are to esteem those in authority, showing them respect and honor because that is their God-granted role. It doesn’t say give them honor if they deserve it. Do you think when Paul wrote this that Nero deserved it? Remember, they were paying taxes to pay for an occupying army! This clearly shows we are to obey the law and pay our taxes. Jesus said “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Mark 12:17) but also pay customs (which word meant “fees” or money), fear those in authority, and honor to all men and women.

Are there any exceptions to not paying taxes?

What does it mean “render to all their due?”

Does it matter who is in office?

To whom is honor due?

Submitting to our Society: Romans 13:8-10

In verses 8-10, Paul writes that we are to “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness, ‘You shall not covet,’, and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Does this mean that we should never get a loan?

What debt does Paul seem to writing about?

Did Jesus see hate as murdering of the heart (Matt 5:21-22)?

Is gossip the same thing as “bearing false witness?”

When we gossip about others, are we breaking the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves?

Why is love “the fulfillment of the law?

Putting on Christ Publically: Romans 13:11-14

Paul tells us that the world is watching us and so writes in Romans 13:11-13; “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

What does Paul mean by “waking up?”

What day is it which is at hand?

Why is our salvation nearer now than the day we were saved?

What does Paul mean by writing the night is far spent?

What are the “works of darkness?”

What does it mean by “put on the Lord Jesus Christ?”

How can we not make any provisions for the flesh?

Summary

How different would be the world if Christians took to heart these commands to be a good neighbor, citizen, employer/employee, and fellow member of the Body of Christ. Then indeed, it would be said of us all, collectively, that “These that have turned the world upside down are come here also” (Acts 17:6). Maybe it should read we have turned the world, right side up! Below are answers to this study.

Romans Chapter 13 Recap

Answer these questions from Romans 13:1-2

Who is Paul talking about here?

Who were the authorities that existed then?

Is breaking the speed limit resisting God’s authority?

Where does all authority come from?

Are there any exceptions for resisting those appointed by God (Acts 5:29)?

What does “God’s judgment” on lawbreakers look like in this society?

Answer these questions from Romans 13:3-5

What would it be like in society with no law enforcement (authorities)?

Who does the man or woman in law enforcement really work for?

How are “rulers a terror to good works?”

Why should we obey our rulers for our “conscience’ sake?”

How would God display His wrath if we break the law?

Answer these questions from Romans 13:6-7

Are there any exceptions to not paying taxes?

What does it mean “render to all their due?”

Does it matter who is in office?

To whom is honor due?

Answer these questions from Romans 13:8-10

Does this mean that we should never get a loan?

What debt does Paul seem to writing about?

Did Jesus see hate as murdering of the heart (Matt 5:21-22)?

Is gossip the same thing as “bearing false witness?”

When we gossip about others, are we breaking the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves?

Why is love “the fulfillment of the law?”

Answer these questions from Romans 13:11-13

What does Paul mean by “waking up?”

What day is it which is at hand?

Why is our salvation nearer now than the day we were saved?

What does Paul mean by writing the night is far spent?

What are the “works of darkness?”

What does it mean by “put on the Lord Jesus Christ?”

How can we not make any provisions for the flesh?

Conclusion

Please make as many copies as you need for your church or Sunday school class or Bible study group. These are free to use but not for duplication and distribution for money and also with all dure respect, give the website citation. Freely I have received so freely I have given (Matt 10:8).  Please do the same and thank you.

Most important of all, I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Roman’s Commentary: Summary and Key Verses

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

First Peter 4 seems perfectly suited for today’s Christian facing persecution and seeking to have “the mind of Christ.”

Introduction

Saint Peter by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682). Public Domain.

The Book of 1st Peter is a book for the ages. There is never going to be a time when the Word of God is not helpful and beneficial in the Christian’s walk with Christ. Peter endured beatings and imprisonment before finally being crucified, as tradition holds, upside down, but Christianity could be said to have been turning the world upside down too…perhaps we could say right side up. Read along with us in 1st Peter chapter 4 to see what type of Bible study and questions we have for your small group Bible study or Sunday school could use.

Suffering in the Flesh

First Peter 4:1-2 “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”

What does it mean, “for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin?”

Since Christ suffered in the flesh, how do we also suffer for Him?

What is Peter saying we should “arm” ourselves with?

How can we replace our human passion or living in the flesh for the will of God?

To suffer for Christ’s sake is to be more Christ-like.

Philippians 3:10 says “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…”

When we share in other people’s suffering, we get to know them much better.

From the Dead to the Living

First Peter 4:3-5 “For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”

How many of us remember living in these lusts of the flesh?

What has changed? Why did it change?

Have you experienced persecution from those you used to run with or people you know today?

Why are people surprised that Christians don’t join them anymore?

How do they “malign you?”

What does it mean that they will all have to “give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead?”

Who are the living and the dead?

Preached to the Dead?

First Peter 4:6-7 “For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”

What does Peter mean that this was “why the gospel was preached to those who are dead?”

What does it mean that they are “dead?”

Answer: The most common view among many commentators is that “the dead” refers to Christians who heard the gospel but have since died (martyred or otherwise). Though they faced human judgment and physical death, the preaching of the gospel guarantees that their spirits live on victoriously with God.

What does it mean that they are to be judged “in the flesh?”

What does Peter mean when he wrote “the end of all things is at hand?”

Does he mean the end of the world or the end times or the end of a person’s life?

What did Peter mean by telling us to be “sober-minded for the sake of your prayers?”

Love as a Covering

First Peter 4:8-11 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

What does Peter mean by saying that “love covers a multitude of sins?”

Was “love covers a multitude of sins?” about Jesus’ death for us?

Did he mean that our earnest love for one another covers these sins?

Are there some sins that we should cover or keep secret from others and the church?

What do you do first when a church member is sinning?

Covering sins means to overlook some sins and not repeat them to others (not referring to grievous sins like murder, adultery).

Why does Peter tie in showing hospitality to not grumbling?

What is the connection between the two?

What are the oracles of God Peter was writing about? [Paul’s writings, Peter’s writings, the gospels or all Scripture?]

How can we “serve by the strength that God supplies?” What does that mean?

What does serving through the strength that God [Gives glorify to God.]?

Blessed for Insults

First Peter 4:12-14 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

Why should we not be surprised when we experience trials?

What would be the surprise if we never experience them?

How can we rejoice in persecutions?

Why should we?

How is God’s glory revealed in our sufferings?

How was God’s glory revealed in Christ’s sufferings?

How is it possible to receive a blessing for being insulted for Christ’s sake? What kind of blessing would it be?

What is “the Spirit of glory and of God” that rests upon us? What is this “Spirit of glory?” Is it God’s Holy Spirit?

Suffering for the Right Reason

First Peter 4:15-19 “But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And ‘If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?’ Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

Why would Peter be writing to Christians to not suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer or a meddler? [Suffering for the right reason and not sin – hate is seen by Jesus as murder.]

Why are we not supposed to be “ashamed” but instead, glorify God in suffering?

What does Peter mean that judgment begins at the household of God? What kind of judgment is this since Christians are supposed to have all of their sins already judged at the cross? [Matt 18:15-20]

What does it mean to “suffer according to God’s will?” Is it really God’s will to suffer?

Please Note: You are free to copy and paste as many as you wish to freely use for yourself, your church or Bible study, but please no copies made and distriuted for profit and we would appreciate at least giving us a citation for credit.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: How to Respond to Persecution Jesus’ Way

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

How will everyone know who Jesus’ disciples are? It is by the way they love, so much so, that even lost sinners might recognize who Jesus’ disciples are.

Love and Life

There are thoughts of eternity in the human heart. God “has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Eccl 3:11), so the desire to live a long life is set deeply into our hearts, but there is more. All human beings desire something else, and that is the desire to be loved. For a child, a skinned knee, a dead goldfish, and hurt feelings are all made a little better by the loving care of a mother. A child doesn’t care how much mom knows at the moment…the child does care how much she cares.

Love and Health

In one study at Yale, men and women who felt the most loved and supported had substantially less blockage in their coronary arteries. [1] Similarly, researchers from Case Western Reserve University studied almost 10,000 married men and found that those who answered “Yes” to this simple question: “Does your wife love you?” had significantly less angina (chest pain) than those who felt unloved by their spouse. [1] When researchers at Duke surveyed men and women with heart disease, those who were single and lacked companionship were three times as likely to have died after five years. In all three studies, the protective effects of love were independent of other risk factors, and surgery patients who were loved experienced quicker recoveries because they had more purpose. Someone loved them. So then, it’s not only laughter that’s good for the soul (Prov 17:22), but love.

Love of Pets

Pets are considered part of the family, and loving pets and being loved by pets is good for us too. Those who owned a pet (dogs, cats, primarily) had lower blood pressure, an extended lifespan, and boosted mood levels. People who owned pets experienced release of pain killing and mood elevating endorphins. It’s not surprising that animals are therapeutic with the mentally disabled, autistic children, juvenile delinquents, and nursing home residents, among others.

Love is a Verb

Love is infinitely more than just feelings. Love is a verb, but love also includes intangible things like feelings of security, acceptance, and affection, but love is also tangible, and is displayed by actions that provide evidence of that love. Love is not just a feeling or being whipped up into an emotional state. Love is a verb. It’s what you do! It’s not impossible to give away too much love, nor can one ever receive too much love because the human heart has an ever-expanding capacity to love and be loved. God gave His only Son because He loves us and showed it in a physical or tangible way (John 3:16). That’s love in action!

Hate Brings Judgment

It is difficult to reconcile the fact that someone hates their brother or sister and yet professes to be Christ’s. Hating a brother or sister is dangerous ground because Jesus said, “whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matt 5:22). The Apostle John states that “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them” (1 John 2:9-11). Whoever hates their brother or sister may think they’re in the light, but they’re walking in darkness. God calls anyone a liar who claims to be a believer and yet hates their brother or sister, so “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).

The Silent Lamb

Jesus Christ “was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter…”

One of the greatest differences between the way of the world and the teachings of Jesus is how we respond to sinners or enemies. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28). This means we don’t give people what they deserve (payback, revenge, etc.); we give them what they need, and that is love, even if we don’t feel like it. Jesus prayed to the Father, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34a). When Jesus “was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:23). I must do the same when reviled for Christ. When I ponder the fact that the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, “was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7), how then can I open my mouth?

A Potent Witness

In John 13:34, Jesus gives the disciples (in fact, all believers) a new commandment. He says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” That explains why the Apostle John emphasized love so much in his letters. The type of love Jesus is talking about is pouring oneself out for the benefit of others. It is showing love to others when they don’t deserve it (like I’ve received when I didn’t deserve it.). God did the same for us (Rom 5:6-10). Jesus knew that love would make His disciples known because the world doesn’t love like that. This kind of sacrificial love can be a powerful magnet that draws people to Christ.

Jesus’ True Disciples

Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). By what? It is by this unconditional, sacrificial love for one another that “everyone will know,” and that surely includes non-believers. John MacArthur said, “We might be the only Bible some people read,” and he’s right! An important part of this passage is where Jesus said, it is “By this” depth of love that others will know we’re His disciples. This indicates that people will know we’re His disciples by our love for one another. They won’t know we are His disciples by our theology, our seminary training, our Sunday school lessons, or by doing good for others. It is by our love that convinces lost sinners, so by loving one another, everyone will know that we are Jesus’ disciples. If we’re less than loving to one another, people will have a hard time discerning whether were His or not!

A Tangible Love

The Apostle Paul gave one of the most beautiful definitions of love in the entire Bible. He wrote, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor 13:4-7). Love is not some greeting card or “I love you,” as much as it is patience, humility, bearing with others, believing or giving people the benefit of the doubt, hoping for the best in people, and is able to endure all things (from others!). Faith and hope are essential, but love is the greatest (1 Cor 13:13), so instead of focusing on the gifts of the Spirit, why not focus on the fruits of the Spirit, and the greatest of these is love. Now, what does that look like? You express it when you “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:14-15). And when you love people so much you’re willing to offend them in order that they might be saved, that’s tangible, physical evidence of the love of God in you.

Summary

Just as God did to us, we must do to others, and that is, we don’t give people what they deserve…we give people what they need and that is love. And we must make the first move as God did with us (1 John 4:19). God has sent us the greatest love letters of all time – 66 books that show His love for us, and several of these books tells us to love others, so “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but indeed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Love without deeds is hypocrisy; a deed without love is legalism. Love must be “indeed and in truth.”

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: How Can You Love the Unlovely (Unlovable): A Christian Study

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1. Love is Real. Dean Ornish. Newsweek; U.S. Edition. Oct 2, 2005 http://www.newsweek.com/love-real-medicine-121033 (Accessed Dec 11, 2017).

How do scientists explain the origin of the universe? What proof is there that everything that exists arose from a pre-existing quantum field?

Before the Bang

How do scientists explain the origin of the universe? What proof is there that everything that exists arose from a pre-existing quantum field? My next question is, how can something pre-exist? And what caused the pre-existing quantum field to come into existence? You see my point? One of the axioms of science is that things cannot appear from absolute nothingness without cause, energy, or pre-existing components. That scientific fact alone ought to get our attention, and yet atheistic scientist insist that life arose spontaneously (Yes…over long periods of time…more on that later.), and they theorize the universe popped into existence by something that pre-existed. Basic science has proven that there must be an outside cause for everything that exists, including life, and that the universe and life itself could not have popped into existence out of nothing or without some cause. That means this “cause” must have existed before anything else did. So before the Big Bang, or the moment of Singularity, something, or perhaps, Someone must have existed to be the agent of these causes (the universe and life).

Physical and Thermodynamic Barriers

The Law of Thermodynamics is about the laws governing our universe and these laws strictly prevent matter or energy from simply appearing from nothing. The first issue is that Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created. It can only change from or move from one place to another. The Sun creates enough energy to sustain life on earth, but the earth is not the source of that energy. The sun is. The Thermodynamic Laws have systems that require external energy inputs to organize, as you see the universe has organization. They call it the “Cosmos” which means “order” or “harmony” from which we get the word cosmetics. We can see that the universe is organized and there is harmony even in our own solar system. Never seen a planet smash into another, yet.

Quantum Fluctuations & the Infinite Digressions

Now the opposite of cosmos is chaos, and we all know what that is. I get an image of a new teacher’s first day in Kindergarten. When scientists state the Mass-Energy Equivalence (E=mc2), it means matter requires an equivalent energy source. When there are Quantum Fluctuations, particles are alleged to have arisen from pre-existing quantum fields, so they claim that matter (the universe) does not come from nothing, but then the question is: Who created or caused the Quantum Fluctuations to occur. Where did it come from? What was the source, and where did that “source” come from? You see? It’s the infinite digression that keeps pushing back to the need for a cause, or as the Greek Philosopher stated, “The Unmoved Mover” or “Prime Mover.” Aristotle argued that everything in motion is moved by something else, and to avoid an endless chain of causes, there must be a primary, unchanging source that initiates all motion without being moved. For Christians, that chains stops and starts with God. There is simply no other rational explanation because this “Prime Mover” showed intelligence in the organized movement of the universe. We cannot argue with the Law of Causality because it says that every physical event requires a preceding cause. Nothing has ever moved without the Mover, and we know who He is (Psalm 19:1-2).

Caltech Science Exchange

Spontaneous Generation Debunked

First of all, some definitions are in order. We begin with abiogenesis which deals with the origin of life (sometimes called biopoiesis). It is the theory about the natural process by which life allegedly arose from non-living matter, such as simple organic compounds. Biogenesis, however, is the opposite of spontaneous generation or abiogenesis. Biogenesis asserts that living things can only be produced by another living thing, and not by a non-living thing or inorganic matter. Now this (biogenesis) has been proven true scientifically; not so with abiogenesis. For centuries, people believed living organisms could spontaneously spawn from non-living matter (e.g., maggots from rotting meat). Eventually, this was proven impossible. [1]

Life From the Living

In 1668, Francesco Redi scientifically proved through observation that maggots come from fly eggs. He used covered and uncovered jars. Then, in 1859, Louis Pasteur clearly disproved microbial spontaneous generation completely. He used swan-neck flasks to provide concrete evidence that life cannot arise by chance or spontaneously. Biogenesis Law says that living cells only arise from pre-existing living cells while the theory of Abiogenesis leans toward life’s origin requiring millions of years of gradual chemical evolution. It was not a sudden, spontaneous jump but one that took millions of years. So why do they call it “spontaneous” if it involves millions of years!? It doesn’t sound spontaneous to me!

Time and Chance

Portrait of Louis Pasteur Photograph by Nadar, 1895

What they are really saying about the origin of life, and some say, the origin of matter, is that Space + Time + Chance = Everything. In other words, what begins as an impossibility becomes certain through the miraculous and the miraculous comes through time. But what is time really? What are time’s properties? How can time be a cause? How much does time weigh? What does time consist of? Can you touch it? Actually, time is not a thing but only a measure in time, so time is a non-being and has no power to create. So you can add time to something, but have you really added anything? Did time do something to you or for you? And, did time exist before matter? Was time a causative factor in the creation of the universe? Can time exist without matter? Can time create? No. It would not seem so logically speaking.

The China Bowl

Things will move from order to disorder.

Let’s say you dropped a perfectly formed china bowl on the floor. If you collect these shattered pieces on the floor and drop them again and again, will they become more organized or more ordered? Will they become more complex? No. If I do it enough times and over a longer period of times, even millions of years, will time and chance make it into another china bowl or something “upward” like a china teapot? Naturally, no, but that’s just what evolutionists want us to believe happened for life to originate. Personally, I don’t have enough faith to believe that.

The Cosmological Reality

Even the Big Bang is now considered “spontaneous creation,” moving from absolute nothingness in modern physics, so what was the Big Bang? It is where space and time expanded from an infinitely dense singularity. The singularity supposedly contained all the universe’s energy in a pre-existent state, so it is believed that time itself began at the Big Bang. Interestingly, the total universe energy may equal exactly zero. [2] In other words, the positive matter cancels out negative gravitational energy. [3] What’s the big deal about that? The universe, all physical matter included, “represents a highly improbable arrangement of matter and energy, an extremely improbable arrangement by time and chance,” so says Professor Edgar Andrews of Oxford University. He continued by saying, “The Laws of fundamental constants of nature give every appearance of being fine-tuned to permit the existence of intelligence life on earth (known as the Anthropic Principle).” Just like the china bowl repairing itself by dropping it incessantly over and over again is impossible, so it is impossible for the universe or life to become more organized any more than a china bowl’s broken pieces can turn back into a china bowl.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

1. Is Spontaneous Generation Real? ThoughtCo.com https://www.thoughtco.com/spontaneous-generation-4118145 {Accessed Aug 7, 2026).

2. What Happened Before the Big Bang? NBCNews.com https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/what-happened-big-bang-ncna995216 (Accessed Aug 7, 2026).

3. When Did Time Begin? NewScientist.com https://www.newscientist.com/article/2468497-when-did-time-begin-hint-it-wasnt-at-the-big-bang/ (Accessed Aug 7, 2026).

Here is some related reading for you: The Importance of the Creation vs Evolution Discussion

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

T oday, discontentment is everywhere, but Christians should shine like a beacon of contentment, since their contentment rests with Christ.

Money and the love of money can control us in many circumstances.

First Timothy 6:7-8 “for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

I brought nothing in and can bring nothing out of this world, except my soul and that’s through trusting in Jesus Christ. It’s so easy to own possessions but easier still to have possessions own you! There are risks at having a lot of possessions because “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Tim 6:9). It’s not that money is the root of all evil, but it can be a root of evil when money takes root in you (1 Tim 6:10).

First Corinthians 4:7 “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

Think about that verse for a moment. Name one thing that you came up with by yourself. Is there anything you have that you did not receive from God? The Apostle Paul is trying to humble the pride-oriented Corinthian church, but that should humble us too. Shouldn’t we be content with what we have, since all we have is from God?!

Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

A believer that worries about money is never more like an atheist at that time. Why? They are not trusting God’s promise to provide for them as the Bible says He will. Money can forsake us, but God, never! It is very easy to start trusting money more than trusting God takes care of us, especially when funds get low! Worry is a lack of trust. The solution is to believe God’s Word and to be content with whatever we have and in whatever state we find ourselves in. God is in total control of the good, bad and the ugly, and will bring about the best for us from all of those (Rom 8:28).

Philippians 4:11 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

If Paul were in need, you’d never know it from his letters. He was content…to even be in prison, and that’s where he wrote the Book of Philippians, called by some as the “Joy Epistle” or letter. To us it might seem remarkable that he was content chained to guards and behind prison walls. In many of these Roman prisons, there were nights that were freezing cold, cockroaches everywhere, rats, human excrement, and little or no sunlight, day or night. There was likely every sort of stench and smell you could imagine….but Paul had to learn to be content. So where else to learn contentment than in such disconcerting circumstances? You don’t learn contentment when everything’s going well.

First Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

The Jewish leaders in Jesus’ day thought gain was godliness. In fact, unless you were rich, you were not likely to be a Pharisee or Scribe or Temple leader. They ascribed wealth with God’s blessing, but the fact is, some people can’t handle success. And the Pharisees were such. Godliness with contentment is great gain.  It’s like you’re telling God, “I am satisfied with what I have Father. You have blessed me with so very much. Thank you God.” A godly contentment is not dependent upon circumstances or suffering or lack of money.

Luke 3:14 “Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”

Early in John the Baptist’s ministry, there were dozens of converts who came to him but one Roman soldier asked, “What shall we do.” I find it very interesting that even Roman soldiers were drawn to John the Baptist. They must have seen that he was a godly man with a consuming passion for God and in his preaching, they must have been convicted. John the Baptist had the same counsel for the Roman soldiers that Paul did for Timothy; “be content with your wages.” In fact, both commands to the Roman soldiers had to do with money; be content with their wages but also, don’t extort money from anyone else by making false accusations or even threatening them. Roman soldiers had a history of doing that to their subjects.

Second Corinthians 12:10 “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

For the sake of Jesus Christ, Paul endured all his sufferings, and there was great suffering in this man of God. It didn’t matter because he learned to be content and even in his weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. Paul realized that God is more glorified in weaker vessels since His power is more easily displayed and made visible. And that gives God all the glory and no credit for us. That’s as it should be (Psalm 115:1). Our weakness provides God an opportunity to show Himself strong.

Paul the Apostle, by Rembrandt. 1657

Exodus 2:21 “And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah.”

It was written of Moses that he was the meekest man or earth (Num 12:3) and most meek people I know are content people. You do realize that meekness is not weakness. Meekness has been described as strength under control but meekness also shows contentedness because it tells God that you are satisfied in life. Moses went from the palace in Egypt to living in tents in the desert, but he was contented…contented with God.

Summary

It’s not really about a glass half full or half empty. It’s about being thankful you even have a glass. I do hope these Bible verses have made you feel a little more content with your life and can now rest more easily in God’s precious promises. As disciples of Christ, we are to be content even with persecutions, name calling, insults, and other such behavior because that brings a huge blessing (Matt 5:10-12). If we have truly found our contentment in Christ, then no insult or slander against us could ever take away our contentment. That’s because our contentment is not in things but in a Person, the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: How to Live a Life of Contentment: 7 Christian Tips

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

God’s attributes also say a lot about His character, but here are 5 major attributes of God that are essential.

God is Holy

The only attribute of God that is mentioned three times in all of Scripture is that God is holy. Isaiah the Prophet wrote that the seraphim, which hover over the Lord’s throne, “Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:2-3)! God is not just holy, but He is holy, holy, holy to infinity. That is the greatest emphasis you can use in the Hebrew language. It is the only attribute of God that is mentioned three times. Isaiah was undone after seeing the Holy God, said, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5)!

Compared to God, even the best of our works are filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6), but we are called to be holy. Naturally this doesn’t mean we’ll be sinless and live in perfection. That’s not possible this side of the veil, but the Apostle Peter admonishes us that just “as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Of course, believers are declared holy before God through Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:21), but we must strive to live out holiness before God and before the world.

God is Love

People say they love God, and that’s fine, but it must be understood that God made the first move (John 6:44; 1 John 4:19). Scripture teaches that “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19), and not the other way around. It was God who “so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (1 John 3:16-17). Christ made a way for us over 2,000 years ago, so those who are loved by God also love those who are loved by God, since “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Micah the Prophet describes the love of God very well, writing, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (7:18-19). Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13), and Jesus did just that, testifying, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Love is costly, but His love brings everlasting life. It was the only way we could be reconciled to God.

God is Good

When a man came up to Jesus and ask Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life” (Mark 10:17c), but the rich man had it all wrong. Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18). Wait! Isn’t Jesus God? Isn’t Jesus good!? Yes, but the man apparently didn’t know that he was talking to the Lord because he called Jesus “teacher.” The point is, God is good…and as for humans? Not one is good…no, not even one of us (Rom 3:10-12)! He alone is good and He is always good. He is a “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land” (Psalm 68:5-6). Aren’t we glad He is a good God? He is good to those who are not!

God is Unchangeable

Jesus Christ is “…the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8). Again, aren’t you glad God is not like us and changes His mind about people? What if God withdrew His offer of salvation or changed His mind about you after something you did? What if He decided not to save us because we sinned too often? Thankfully, God does not change His mind. Malachi the Prophet wrote, “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed” (Micah 3:6). God never has a bad day and then takes it out on others like we oftentimes do. God is the same today and He will be the same forever. To me, that’s a huge relief. The psalmist declares that even His Word is forever, writing, “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89). His Word is as eternal as He is, since we know that “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

God Full of Glory

If we read enough Scripture, we start to see that God desires to be glorified, and we can glorify Him too in our lives. This is one of the chief purposes for God creating mankind. We should seek to glorify God in our lives, like from abstaining from sexual immorality. We can glorify God in our bodies by controlling our passions (1 Cor 6:18; 1 Thess 4:3). The psalmist wrote, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness” (Psalm 115:1), so it is to you, “O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all” (1 Chron 19:11). The Apostle John was an eyewitness of His glory; not only on the Mount of Transfiguration. John understood that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: 7 Attributes of God You May Not Know

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.