Category: Bible Study

HATRED FOR CHRISTIANS

“What you desire you do not obtain, and so you resort to murder.” —James 4:2 In the beginning of the book of Wisdom, a group of people decided to beset, revile, and torture a just man (Wis 2:12, 19). They planned to “condemn him to a shameful death” (Wis 2:20). This group opposing the just man believed there was no life after death, “for haphazard were we born, and hereafter we shall be as though we had not been” (Wis 2:2). Therefore, they decided to “eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” (1 Cor 15:32) Today, we call this group...

CHARGE IT

“I charge you to keep God’s command without blame or reproach until our Lord Jesus Christ shall appear. This appearance God will bring to pass at His chosen time.” —1 Timothy 6:14-15 St. Paul said: “I have a solemn charge to give you, Timothy, my child” (1 Tm 1:18). He charged St. Timothy to be fully aware that Jesus could return at any time, and to preach the Word of God accordingly. “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is coming to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingly power, I...

BASICS-TRAINING

“If we have food and clothing we have all that we need.” —1 Timothy 6:8 The Bible says all we need is food to eat and clothes to wear (1 Tm 6:8). Very few Christians agree with this. Most feel they at least need a house for shelter, insurance for security, a car for transportation, a phone for communication, and Wifi for entertainment. What Americans consider a simple life is extravagant by biblical standards. The Bible considers the typical American lifestyle a “temptation and a trap” (1 Tm 6:9). By our lifestyle, we let ourselves “be captured by foolish and...

A TALE OF TWO SINNERS

“That is why her many sins are forgiven – because of her great love.” –Luke 7:47 The penitent woman owed a large debt to God (Lk 7:43); she had committed “many sins” (Lk 7:47). Jesus “wrote off” her huge debt of sin; He forgave it all (Lk 7:42, 48). The woman’s response to being forgiven was a model for us all. She reformed her life, accepted the gift of saving faith (Lk 7:50), came directly to Jesus, and showered Him with love (Lk 7:45). Jesus told a story about another grievous sinner who owed a “huge amount” of debt to...

MAMA’S BOYS & GIRLS

“And when perfected, He became the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.” ––Hebrews 5:9 Numerous well-meaning Christians don’t consider the Blessed Virgin Mary their mother. They may assume paying attention to Mary detracts from following Jesus. Often a verse from today’s Gospel of John is referenced to show the Blessed Mother is, in fact, our mother: “Seeing His mother there with the disciple whom He loved, Jesus said to His mother, ‘Woman, there is your son.’ In turn He said to the disciple, ‘There is your mother.’ From that hour onward, the disciple took her into his...