Recently, a friend from afar came to visit us. She inquired about my journey to becoming a pastor. To summarize my experience, I explained that I spent six years in an organized church, where I received a salary. However, for close to twelve years now, I have been serving independently, conducting Bible studies without a salary. Instead, I trust in God for voluntary contributions. She was amazed by God’s goodness and grace.
Is it permissible for a pastor to engage in money-making ventures or be employed in secular work while also serving God? Paul addressed this question in 1 Corinthians 9:7-14.
“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does He not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:7-14)
Jesus told a person who wanted to follow Him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:58)
We do not follow Jesus for material gains, but rather for forgiveness, restoration to God, and the gift of eternal life. This principle applies to everyone, including both pastors and disciples of Christ.
Jesus warns those who wish to follow Him that it won’t be easy. It’s not a bed of roses; life’s challenges will still arise. He further emphasized this by telling another potential follower, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
It’s ironic that many Christians often put Jesus or the Bible on the backseat when life’s troubles or even busyness arise. This is not a true way to follow Jesus Christ. Following Him can be summarized by the wedding vow: “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”
Oddly, Jesus even states, “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37)
The journey of following Jesus is a narrow path with no other options. Hence, Jesus earlier in Luke 9 teaches: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)
Doesn’t seem to have options there, do we? It requires a strong commitment to follow Him, regardless of the consequences or obstacles. Jesus Christ invites us, saying, “Come, follow Me,” with no qualifications or exceptions.
During our Bible study, we often come across a passage in Scripture that leads to disagreement among some participants about its applicability to everyone. Consider Christ’s directive: “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’” (Mark 10:21).
Is this an isolated teaching in Scripture? It is not. Jesus, in Luke 12:33-34, teaches something similar that applies to all who wish to be His disciples: “Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:33-34)
The central message of Christ Jesus is not to demand that we sell all our possessions, but rather to emphasize that we should not love material wealth more than we love God. We need to place our hearts in the right position, as stated in Matthew 6:19-21. Jesus further explains, “No one can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
We should follow Jesus with full conviction and trust. Take some time to reflect on whether you can endure the journey of following Him. The cost may be high, but the reward is priceless—eternal entry into God’s kingdom. Remember that when we decide to follow Jesus Christ, we are bound by a sacred commitment, like a wedding vow.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
Verse of the day taken from Bible.com. Our circumstances do not separate us from God; rather, it is the absence of faith and trust in Him. In fact, God remains faithful even when people are faithless (2 Timothy 2:13).
The verse highlights a significant point: God will always be faithful. Because He is good, He will continue to provide for our needs. After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah, who represents humanity before God after Adam. In Genesis 8:21-22, God says, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease.”
God will always stay true to His Word and promises. Therefore, we should ask: “Why is it being taught that God will destroy not only the Earth but also heaven itself with the return of Christ Jesus?”
In Isaiah 66:1, Scripture states, “Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; what is the house that you would build for Me, and what is the place of My rest?” Think again, what has been taught and held as Christian beliefs? Would God truly destroy heaven, His throne, and Earth, His reign?
Let us take a moment to reflect on the verse of the day: “The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18 NLT). The key phrase here is “to all who call on Him in truth.” God’s righteousness is closely connected to His truth, and He does not tolerate hypocrisy. He calls everyone to worship and follow Him in truth and spirit (John 4:24). Therefore, no one can genuinely claim faith in God or Jesus Christ without adhering to His truth.
Scripture teaches us: “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan for peace find joy. No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are His delight” (Proverbs 12:19-22).
Years ago, I bumped into a predecessor in pastoral ministry who shared a troubling story with me. He spoke of a person notorious for working against pastors who do not yield to his demands. This individual called him, asking the pastor to share the faith with a gravely ill deaconess—a woman known to both of us as a passive supporter of his malicious ways.
I hope I am mistaken, but can you understand the mindset of the person who made this request? He is notorious for creating problems for pastors whenever it benefits him. To my knowledge, he has done this at least three times, but there may be many more instances in the past that we are unaware of. He seems to believe he can deceive God and evade justice, perhaps thinking he can emulate the grace shown to the thief on the cross; you can refer to Luke 23:39-43 if you’re not familiar with the story. He may be hoping that, at the last moment, he and those like him can confess their sins and escape the consequences of their actions.
However, Scripture warns us: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8)
Christians, faith, and truth cannot be separated. Conniving together for evil works against the righteous for whatever earthly benefit would never be tolerated by God. Because God is righteous and true. Let’s evaluate our ways to see if we indeed have called on God in truth?
There is no such thing as half-truth. It’s either truth or a lie. We Christians are called to renounce our worldly ways. How then can anyone justify deceit and yet claim faith in Jesus Christ?
Concerning life, Jesus Christ teaches, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. ‘I tell you, My friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.’” (Luke 12:1-7)
The Christian walk is not a journey in compromises. Nothing we did in darkness is kept from God. Rather, we are called to walk the faith. The Bible says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Reflect carefully about your confession and faith. Only a truthful confession of faith counts with God. Hence, the Christian life will always be challenging. Anyone who claims to be a Christian and yet involves themselves in lies better wake up. For God’s omniscience sees through our hearts and minds. Let us therefore walk the talk.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonian Christians, said: “But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5)
We belong either to the day or night. There’s no middle ground. God cannot be deceived. We can always rely on His righteousness and grace.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
Christians often find it challenging to understand God’s concept of faith. As mentioned in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This means that faith is not based on what we can immediately perceive or touch. Instead, it relies on a steadfast belief in God’s truthfulness. Therefore, we trust that He cares for us and will fulfill His wonderful purpose for our lives—our salvation. Paul emphasizes this in Romans when he states, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32).
“All things” encompasses the smaller aspects of life, such as our daily needs, in comparison to the “breath of life” that makes us living beings. Jesus Christ teaches us not to worry about these lesser things when he says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life—what you will eat or drink, or about your body—what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)
Christians, we should prioritize the truly important matters—specifically, eternal life. We must not compromise our faith in God out of fear over a lack of resources, which can lead us to become overly focused on the pursuit of money. This is why Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
I have often found myself at a crossroad, deciding whether to follow God without knowing what lies ahead. The last time this happened was when my tenure as a pastor in a local church was unjustly ended. Although I completed my term, it was not renewed. I recall someone telling me that if I had just let things slide, I would still be the pastor of that church. However, I simply cannot compromise my faith in God and His Word. I chose to persist and trust Him to lead the way.
Now, here I am, independently conducting Bible studies and writing about the truths concerning the faith. Just recently, I ran into one former church council member. I shared with him that stepping out to do ministry on my own has been a great blessing from God.
Let us continuously be aware of the precious gift that God offers to everyone. As Paul states in Ephesians 2:8, salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ alone. Therefore, let’s persevere in our faith and diligently seek His kingdom and righteousness. Allowing a wrong to slide isn’t adhering to God’s righteousness, is it? Jesus teaches us that if we faithfully sought His kingdom and righteousness, all these other things— our daily provisions— will also be given to us (Matthew 6:33). This is essentially the message of Proverbs 10:22: “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
Faith in Jesus Christ is at the center of Christianity. It is inconceivable, isn’t it, to have a faithless Christianity? Consequently, Hebrews 11:6 states, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
Adam’s punishment for breaking God’s covenant was not only death, he would also toil for his food until he died (Genesis 3:17-19). However, this curse was reversed after the flood during Noah’s days, as seen in Genesis 8:20-22.
“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in His heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.’”
God’s restoration of His blessings to human toil was evident through His covenant with Noah. For that alone, we should be grateful for God’s grace.
In fact, Jesus teaches us Christians to love even our enemies because God has a common grace for everyone. Check out Matthew 5:44-45, Psalm 145:9 and Acts 14:17. So why is there suffering and scarcity of food or resources for people? It is because of man’s selfishness and greed. Hence, in Christ’s parable in Luke 12:15-21, the rich man who has an abundant harvest is condemned to die because he laid up treasures for himself and is not rich towards God.
Christians, there have been talks of an impending economic hardship or collapse. Learn from the story of 1 Kings 17. There was a drought, and therefore, famine ensued. Elijah, a man of God, was shielded from the drought and famine. God asked him to go to the brook and commanded ravens to bring him food. Later, the brook dried up, and he was commanded to go to a widow, whom God commanded to feed Elijah.
Elijah came to the widow. She was destitute, with only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug, enough for her to prepare her and her son’s last meal. Strangely, Elijah told the widow to go prepare food and bring it first to him.
If you have been reading this story in the Bible, perhaps at this point in the story, anyone would say Elijah thought only about himself. Because the widow had already told him she had nothing left except her last resources for her and her son’s last meal. But reading on would reveal Elijah was simply exercising his faith in God. God told him to go to this widow for provision (1 Kings 17:8).
The widow, clearly burdened by God, did exactly what Elijah told her to bring him food first. The Bible then narrates, “And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that He spoke by Elijah.” (1 Kings 17:15-16)
The widow and her son actually benefited from the presence of Elijah, because God was with him. They experienced God’s divine providence because the widow honored God by responding positively to God’s instructions spoken through Elijah.
Christians, if God can provide for Elijah, the widow, and her son in strange ways, and He changes not, He would do the same if only we would trust God, even in the midst of economic difficulties.
The Bible in Psalm 37 states, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when He delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:23-25)
Jesus Christ teaches us not to worry about food, drink, or clothing. God provides for even the birds, so how much more will He care for us, who are far more precious to Him? These worries often consume the thoughts of those who do not believe, but our heavenly Father knows all our needs. Instead, we should seek first His kingdom and His righteousness—through Christ Jesus (Romans 10:4)—and God will take care of our daily needs (Matthew 6:25-33).
If we claim to believe in John 3:16, which states that eternal life is in Christ Jesus, why is it so difficult for us to trust that Jesus Christ cares for our daily needs? Stop worrying and have faith in God’s Word.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
Many people blame God when life becomes difficult, asking questions like, “Why did God allow this to happen?” Is God really uncaring? Did He create a miserable life for us?
In the beginning, God created man and provided a suitable partner for him. His only condition was that they should not eat the fruit from one specific tree. However, Adam, humanity’s representative before God chose to break this covenant. Since then, troubles have plagued humanity.
The Bible recounts the first murder and mentions how, as human populations grew, God observed their ongoing wickedness. It states, “Every intention of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually.”
So, is it really God’s fault that humanity is in such a fallen state? Isn’t it rather a result of humanity’s own choices to reject God and His goodness?
Despite humanity’s rebellion, God allows people to live until their physical lives come to an end. Only then does God take back the source of life from them. Ecclesiastes 12:7 states, “The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
God alone is the source of life. When humanity seeks to govern itself, it incurs the consequences of separation from God. God warned Adam, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree in the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Adam’s death was a consequence of him breaking the covenant. God does not take back what He has given—the breath of life—until the physical body expires. Although God intended for humanity to live forever, as evidenced by the presence of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden, but Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden because they lost their right to eternal life.
Yet, God always provides. His purpose in creating humanity in His image cannot be denied. He promised the Seed of the woman—not just any woman. The Scriptures declare, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). This promise is not limited to those under the Mosaic Law but extends to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. As Galatians 3:24-28 states, “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
God cared for Adam and Eve in the garden and similarly looked after the Israelites during their time in the wilderness. He considered Israel special among the nations until they rejected Christ Jesus. With the arrival of Christ, God extends that same care to all who believe in Jesus, but with the gift of eternal life. All we need to do is believe and trust in God’s goodness.
Life in this world will not always be trouble-free. Everything tangible and physical is subject to corruption and decay. The Christian life is rooted in the spiritual, even as we live in the flesh. We are called to salvation and yet remain here on Earth because it is our mission to share the Gospel of Christ with others. This calling is not limited to being a missionary; it involves being part of God’s work and living accordingly. That is the true essence of Christianity.
As we remember our deceased loved ones, we are reminded of our own fragility. One day, we too will be memories for others. However, when that day comes, we continue to exist and live in the presence of Jesus because we have believed in Him. Therefore, let us cultivate a legacy of sharing the message of Jesus and His Gospel, so that others might also join us in eternal life.
The Bible states, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” (Psalm 116:15) The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only gift anyone can bring with them into eternity. God’s gift of life is priceless!
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
The article says, Ajoy, now 34, is one of a growing network of “ex-evangelicals” who have removed themselves from what they now view as the damaging beliefs of some evangelical, Pentecostal, and Baptist churches. She runs a popular TikTok account discussing faith and, among other things, the effects of traumatic religious experiences that can last for years – even a lifetime. Click to read the full article below.
Scaring people into believing doesn’t work. It has resulted in people who claim to believe in Christ Jesus but wouldn’t endure for their faith. Their sole desire was to be raptured and escape the supposed seven years of tribulation that follow the rapture.
Here is a short video explaining how the teaching about rapture came to exist.
Paul, in his letter to the church, emphasized, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you witnessed I had and now hear that I still endure.” (Philippians 1:29-30)
John, the apostle of Christ Jesus, was already facing tribulation. John in Revelation said, “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” (Revelation 1:9) Yes, the tribulation that Jesus Christ taught in Matthew 24:9-14, which applies to His followers— Christians of John’s era.
How can we be certain that this applies to the first-century Christians, particularly during John’s time? Jesus spoke of a Great Tribulation that would follow, as mentioned in Matthew 24:15-35. This refers to the Old Covenant Jews, specifically the destruction of the temple and city by the Romans.
If you are not convinced, see the context of Matthew 24, leading to Christ’s teaching on the tribulation and great tribulation. Scripture in Matthew 24 told us: “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when His disciples came to point out to Him the buildings of the temple. But He answered them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.’ As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’” (Matthew 24:1-3)
What age was ending? Jesus only spoke of two ages. Refer to Mark 10:29-30: “Jesus declared, ‘Truly, I say to you, no one who has forsaken home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or possessions for my sake and for the gospel will not receive a hundredfold reward in this present age—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and possessions—along with persecutions. And in the age to come, eternal life.’”
The present age that Jesus spoke of was the Old Covenant Age, while the age to come is the New Covenant, which we understand as the Church Age.
One significant piece of evidence that the Old Covenant Age has ended is the absence of the Jewish temple. The Book of Hebrews illustrates this point, specifically in Hebrews 9:8-28. Let’s examine these passages to understand their proper teaching.
First, the scripture teaches us that the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section (the temple) is still standing, which symbolizes the present age. (Hebrews 9:1-10)
Next, from Hebrews 9:11-26:
Under this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper; they only address food, drink, and various washings—regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. However, when Christ appeared as the High Priest of the good things that have come, He entered once for all into the holy places—not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
If the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, can sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Therefore, Jesus Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. Where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be established. A will takes effect only at death; it is not in force while the one who made it is alive. Thus, not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.
When every commandment of the law was declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” In the same way, he sprinkled the blood on the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law, almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.
Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
He did not need to offer Himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own; otherwise, He would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages (the term “aiōn” in Greek could be translated as “age,” not necessarily “ages”) to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Lastly, Hebrews 9:27-28:
Just as it is appointed for man to die once and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.
The Christian church has lost its grip on truth. When will Christians wake up to realize that their primary mission is not simply to maintain the existence of the organized church? The means does not always justify the end. Christians should uphold the truths of the Bible. If believing in those truths causes some Christians to leave, so be it.
We can learn from the story in John 6. Jesus Christ shared the truth about Himself with the Jews, but they found it strange and unacceptable. Scripture states, “When many of Christ’s disciples heard it, they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’” Jesus, aware that His disciples were grumbling, responded, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:60-63).
Jesus went on to say: “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this, many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him. (John 6:65-71)
Paul, in Romans 10:17, concluded his lengthy discourse on election, which began in Romans 9, by stating, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” God calls people through His Word. Jesus has earlier emphasized this concept in John 6:63, saying, “My Word is spirit and life.” This is the biblical manifestation of election, not a supernatural, random selection by God.
Following the story of John 6, in another similar occasion, “Jesus said to Jews, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of My own accord, but He sent Me. Whydoyou not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My WORD.” (John 8:42-43)
Christianity revolves around Jesus Christ and His Word, nothing more and nothing less. I encourage fellow Christians to engage in a sincere study of God’s Word. There is a reason why believers should attend seminary and graduate before becoming pastors; this training equips them to teach from Scripture correctly.
However, If they still cannot teach solely from the Bible, they should seek additional training to learn how to handle the Bible correctly, as instructed by the apostle Paul (2 Timothy 2:15).
Let me remind everyone of what the apostle James said about us who teach from the Bible: “My brothers, not many of you should become teachers, for you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1)
A lot of Christians desires to learn from the Bible. As the saying goes in a Spiderman movie, “With great powers comes great responsibility”, the same may be said of us who teach from the Bible. Jesus Christ said, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:39-40)
In Isaiah 30:20, the Bible promised, “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.” Christ Jesus is the manifestation of God’s promised Teacher. Shouldn’t Christians seek to learn from Him alone? Jesus is the Word (John 1:14-17). He further emphasized in Luke 6:40 that we could emulate Him by comprehending God’s Word.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
The Bible teaches, “And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you younger people, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Peter 5:4-5). One thing that God despises is arrogance. It is truly sad that many Christians are not learning from the Bible.
During my seminary days, our preaching professor emphasized that if he heard any of us preaching in Greek, he would immediately stop us. He made a valid point in discouraging the use of foreign languages that our audience might not understand. However, it’s perfectly acceptable to learn or use Latin phrases, as well as Greek and Hebrew, in educational settings.
The Old Testament Bible was originally written in Hebrew, with portions in Aramaic. During the silent years of God—period stretching from Malachi to the appearance of John the Baptist—the Old Testament was translated into Greek, a version known as the Septuagint. The entire New Testament was written in Greek as well. Latin was not used in the Bible until the 4th century of Christianity, primarily due to the influence of Emperor Constantine’s era.
It is ironic that some Christians today quote statements of faith in Latin, a language that most people do not understand. This practice mirrors the Dark Ages of Christianity, when the Bible was written in Latin, effectively forbidding common people from reading and learning directly from it.
A teaching from the Bible by Paul comes to mind: “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:4). Paul discourages the use of foreign tongues because they were unintelligible to most people. Shouldn’t Christians, then, refrain from doing the same? Therefore, when Christians quote statements of faith in Latin, useless of course while in Vatican City, could this be considered unintelligible, similar to the speaking in tongues mentioned in the first-century church?
Christians who frequently quote in Latin today are behaving similarly to the Corinthian church during Paul’s time. Since Paul discouraged the use of foreign tongues, would he approve Christians quoting in Latin today?
Why was the Bible translated from its original languages into various modern languages? Wasn’t this done to make the Bible more accessible and understandable, thereby strengthening the church? Isn’t that the very argument Paul made in 1 Corinthians 14:1-12, discouraging speaking in foreign tongues? In fact, Paul even added, “If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them remain silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.” (1 Corinthians 14:27-28)
It’s truly ironic that some Christians still fail to grasp this. Hopefully, they will come to recognize that such behavior is neither appropriate nor approved by the teachings of the Bible. This is especially relevant when we consider that these Christians adhere to the traditions of the Reformation— people who opposed Roman Catholicism— with figures like Martin Luther leading the charge. Luther recognized the mistake of keeping the Bible in Latin, so he translated it into German, the language spoken by the masses in Germany.
Many devout Christians have undertaken the same endeavor of translating the Bible into their native languages. John Wycliffe, along with his followers, successfully completed the first complete English Bible in 1382, although it was a translation of the Latin Vulgate rather than the original languages.
William Tyndale’s translation, the first from the original Hebrew and Greek, was published in 1526 as the New Testament. His work laid the foundation for subsequent English Bibles, but he was executed before completing the Old Testament. Miles Coverdale completed the first full, printed English Bible in 1535, building on Tyndale’s translations and incorporating his own from other sources.
We, as English readers of the Bible, should always be grateful for the efforts of these dedicated Christians. Therefore, let us discourage the use of Latin and instead express our statements of faith in English. Unless, of course, your intention is to simply elevate yourselves.
#StayQuiet
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
This morning, I was listening to some music, then a cover song on Michael Jackson’s “Heal the World” started to play. I was immediately reminded by its message, which I summarized as “love is all that is needed to make the world a better place for everyone”. True enough, don’t you think?
Christ Jesus came to the world to redeem people for Himself. He’s not in the business of picking and choosing, but an honest offer for salvation. However, along with salvation, His aim is for us Christians to be bearers of the Gospel, precisely with the goal of making His created world a place of joy and gladness. (Isaiah 65:17-25)
However, the irony is, and it cannot be denied, that there are people who claim to be Christians and yet, they didn’t live in love. They didn’t care for each other, or do God’s work without selfish motivations. Scripture said, “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 Corinthians 13:4-7)
I have known people who have always been part of missions work, presenting themselves as loving, faithful servants of the Lord. Yet, they connived to demean people that call for accountability. Churches collect people’s money; hence, every cent given ought to be accounted for. Nobody is outright accused of any wrongdoing. But why so secretive about money collected and left unused? Is there anything wrong with calling for accountability?
Without kindness, selflessness, and truth, there can be no real love. What is the best testament of a Christian? James explained, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:14-18)
Christ Jesus has done His redemptive work, offering everyone an opportunity to be His people. And yet, some have claimed faith and yet remained unconverted. They loved the world more than people. They loved riches more than truth. They loved fame more than Jesus Christ. Hence, Scripture said, “For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Timothy 3:2-5)
Anyone who finds themselves identified in 2 Timothy 3:2-5 ought to repent and change. Verbal confession of faith does not count; real change involves the heart, mind, and action. The last commandment of Jesus Christ to His disciples before crucifixion was to “love one another”. See Scripture, Jesus Christ told His disciples, “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. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Israel was called to be God’s people so that they may be the light and salt of the world. They were supposed to bring all nations to God. Yet, they failed miserably due to self-righteousness. Do you not see people who professed to be Christians doing the same? Of course, I do not mean everyone. But it has become hard to distinguish real Christians from pretenders unless you spend time with them. However, by the time you discover who’s who, controversy would have already erupted. That’s the sad reality of our present Christianity.
In my almost three decades of being a Christian, it’s ironic, but sometimes I have found people outside our faith to be more loving, caring, and understanding. If my personal experience reflects the true state of modern Christianity, how then can the church be effective in bringing people to the faith, and not be a stumbling block later?
I thank God for His grace, that despite all the ugly experiences we’ve had as Christians, my children didn’t stumble in their faith. But how many have been similarly hurt and have left the faith? Shouldn’t those who caused it be accountable to Christ Jesus? Jesus Christ said, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)
Sadly, I don’t see such people repentant. Instead, they continue with their lies and propaganda just to make themselves right in their own eyes. Reminiscence of Judges, don’t you think? (Judges 17:6) I sincerely hope they one day repent and change.
So I found Christianity today falling short on two fronts: first, they teach a lot of traditions but not necessarily doctrines of the Bible; second, it’s difficult to find true and honest love among Christians. Both shortcomings are condemned by Jesus Christ in Revelation 2-3.
My family and I are always thankful to Christians we encountered at our home church. Not that everyone is true. But we have experienced unconditional love from some brethren then and even today.
The same may be said of some Christians here who have become our friends. We are forever grateful for their love, most especially when times are rough for us.
However, I dare not make a ratio of who’s who; else I find it discouraging. Instead, I remain hopeful that God indeed has His people everywhere.
Same as in life, we get to know real friends only when we’re down and alone. That’s also the sad reality of modern Christianity. But to be fair, an honest evaluation of the church post-apostles’ time would reveal it’s no different from today. But should Christians be complacent and make that an excuse and remain lacking?
This blog is not meant to condemn or rebuke anyone. Rather, I hope to awaken people to the reality that confession of faith should come with a change of heart, mind, and action. How can the church truly be agents to heal the world if there is no real love and compassion for the suffering and lost? The real essence of love is God and Christ Jesus. The Bible said, “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) The Bible in 1 John 4:19 declares, “We love because God first loved us”.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
One clear principle we learned from Christ Jesus and His call to His apostles is that it involves individuals, not the entire family. While some of the disciples were siblings, each chose to follow Jesus Christ by their own volition. Christ even warned His disciples, saying, “And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” (Matthew 10:36) As we can see, even His own human family was not supportive of His work at the onset of Christ’s ministry (see Mark 3:20-21; John 7:2-5).
In our modern times, we witness couples who actively partner in ministry, each having made a conscious decision to serve Christ Jesus. Another notable example is when children later follows in the footsteps of their pastor-father. This is commendable if they have received proper guidance and have embraced God’s calling. However, it is crucial to emphasize that coercing children into joining our ministry is not advisable. They should serve Christ Jesus willingly, not because we pastor-fathers have imposed it upon them. As Christ reminds us, “Come, follow Me.” It is Jesus who calls, not through coercion of men.
Scripture proclaims, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). God’s methodology for ministry remains unchanged; it’s Christians who have reinvented new concepts of ministry work.
Jesus Christ commanded, “You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold, silver, or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And wherever you enter a town or village, find out who is worthy and stay there until you leave” (Matthew 10:8-11).
Have you noticed the phrase “the laborer deserves his food”? This principle was emphasized in Paul’s letters, particularly in 1 Corinthians 9:4-14, Galatians 6:6-7, and 1 Timothy 5:17-18. Christians who understand the Lord’s ministry support God’s servants willingly. As servants of the Word, we should uphold the same principles and procedures. Go forth and perform God’s work with confidence in His unwavering truthfulness to His Word. Just as God demonstrated His faithfulness through acts like providing for Elijah during the famine, offering Abraham a sacrifice to spare Isaac’s life, and countless other acts, we too can trust in God’s provision.
If servants of the Word cannot trust God’s Word for sustenance, how can we effectively teach people about faith?
So, I challenge God’s workers who are struggling to embark on God’s ministry, because they fear the lack of provision. In Joshua 3, the Israelites carrying God’s ark of the covenant reached the Jordan River. The water receded, allowing the priest and all of Israel to cross over. However, before the water receded, God’s people ought to trust His Word that it would happen. As He had stipulated, they should take – that step of faith – so as soon as they stepped into the water, and it immediately receded. See Joshua 3:7-17.
“The LORD said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, “When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.” And Joshua said to the people of Israel, ‘Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.’ And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.”
Remember this from the moment you start serving God: “It is God who calls, and He alone provides.” Therefore, instead of asking for pledges for ministry support, trust in God’s timely provision.
You might wonder, “How can people support my ministry if they do not know who I am or what I do?” Christ Jesus teaches His disciples by saying, “Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest upon them; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves their wages. Do not move from house to house. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat whatever is set before you.” (Luke 10:5-8)
Let me be clear: Christ does not teach us, pastors, to take advantage of gracious Christians. Instead, Jesus imparts His principles of serving and giving. Paul articulates this clearly in Galatians 6:6-7: “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”
It’s important to express gratitude to those who support our ministry. However, we must remember that it is God who inspires them to give. Just as we are called to be God’s servants, they are also fulfilling their role in the act of grace. Ultimately, all good things come from Him!
As evident in John’s letter to the church, “Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church here of your loving friendship. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.” (3 John 1:5-8 NLT)
If you read the entirety of 3 John, it is clear that those who hinders Christians from extending aids to God’s workers were deemed evil workers (3 John 9-12).
Paul taught Christian about giving, which he referred to as the act of grace (2 Corinthians 8:1-7). We should likewise teach this to others, but I want to emphasize that we should teach, not demand or worse, scare them into giving.
Christ Jesus Himself did not always multiply bread and fish. In fact, He never did it for His own sustenance, even during the 40 days of temptation by the devil. Instead, He demonstrated unwavering trust in God. Jesus Christ exemplified His principle on serving God and giving, as He had taught, as seen in Luke 8:1-3.
“Soon afterward Jesus went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”
Hence, Paul teaches the same, saying, “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:5-8)
As the body of Christ, Christians are called to endure and work together for the advancement of the Gospel. Each of us should faithfully fulfill our calling, gift, or role. We are all in this together, as the Bible teaches us about the ministry of partnerships.
According to the Bible, God not only calls individuals to the ministry but He also inspires others to give, making them partners in His work—fellow workers for the truth (3 John 5-8). Therefore, responding to God’s calling and the act of grace or giving both require trust in Him.
In Scripture, giving to God’s workers is intended to be a direct act rather than a process where funds are collected and then distributed, a concept that has emerged only in modern Christianity. Unfortunately, this contemporary approach can sometimes be exploited to control and manipulate pastors for coercive or political purposes. It’s also not a secret that some organizations that collect funds for mission work have been associated with irregularities. The Bible teaches us to give directly to God’s workers (Galatians 6:6-7; 1 Corinthians 9:14; 3 John 5-8; 2 Corinthians 8:23-24).
In the book of Philippians, Paul expressed his gratitude to the Philippians for the gift they sent him. At the time, he was imprisoned in Rome, and their support was delivered by an emissary. Paul described their contributions as a fragrant offering to God and, in response, offered them a prayer for God’s blessings. ( see Philippians 4:10-20)
Therefore, everything should be done with confidence in God, in accordance with the Scriptures’ teachings. Christian workers respond to God’s call to glorify Him. Those who participate in the act of grace do so to glorify God’s work. So borrowing from Paul’s words, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1Co 10:31)
Christians, let us all adhere to the principles taught in Scripture. God’s ministry is sacred, and the sanctity of His work is of utmost importance to Him and to us as well.
This is the first and only article I wrote that deals with the act of grace. Take it as a teaching on God’s call and giving, and not for the purpose of solicitation, but for God’s glory. Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines, and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 26, section 2 states that “saints, by profession, are obligated to maintain a holy fellowship and communion in worshiping God and performing other spiritual services that contribute to their mutual edification. They are also encouraged to assist each other in practical matters, according to their abilities and needs. This communion, as God provides the opportunity, should be extended to all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, regardless of location.” (For reference, click on this link: WCF 26.2, search the table of contents, then go to chapter 26, section 2, and look also for the annotation to Hebrews 10:24-25.)
The doctrine presented here is not exclusive to Reformed Christians. Many Christians and preachers have misinterpreted and wrongly applied the text in Scripture, believing that Hebrews 10:24-25 emphasizes the significance of Christian gatherings, particularly Sunday gatherings. However, this is not the intended teaching of Hebrews 10:24-25. Let’s read the passage here: “And let us consider how to encourage one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as some do, but rather encouraging one another, especially as the Day approaches.”
The phrase “meet together” (Greek: episunagōgē, G1997) appears only twice in the New Testament. It specifically refers to the gathering that will occur upon the return of Christ Jesus. The other instance is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, where Paul states, “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together—which is the same in Greek as ‘meet together’ in Hebrews 10:25—to him, we ask you, brothers.” Here, Paul urges Christians of his day to recognize the truth that Christ’s return is imminent within their generation. Note that Hebrews 10:25 emphasizes, “especially as you see the Day—i.e., the Day of gathering together—approaching or drawing near.”
The term “Day” in verse 25 specifically refers to the Day of the Lord, as evidenced by various biblical passages such as Acts 2:20, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:2, and 2 Peter 3:10. Contrary to popular belief, it does not denote Sunday but rather Christ’s Day of Judgment, more commonly known as the Second Coming of Jesus, and the gathering of the church to be with Him(refer to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Another misinterpretation arises from the Lord’s Day mentioned in Revelation 1:10. The context of Revelation 1:10 reveals that John was already enduring tribulation (Revelation 1:9). This aligns with Christ’s prophecy regarding the tribulation of His apostles, which ultimately resulted in the destruction of the Jerusalem temple, as described in Matthew 24:9-15.
“Then they will deliver you (i.e. the apostles) up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ‘So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.’” (Matthew 24:9-16)
If you’re uncertain whether Jesus in Matthew 24:15 was referring to the destruction of the Jewish temple, consider Luke 21:20-22, which provides a clear and direct statement that it pertains to the destruction of Jerusalem.
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.” (Luke 21:20-22)
The Lord’s Day of Revelation, therefore, is not a reference to a Sunday, as supposed by Christian traditions, but a reference to the Day of the Lord, Christ’s day of judgment. Further evidence may be seen in Revelation 1:19. John was told, “Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.” (Revelation 1:19) Take note that the things that John has seen were as follows: “those that are” and “those that are to take place after this”.
Revelation 2-3 addresses “those that are,” referring to the spiritual states of the existing churches in Asia Minor at the time of John’s writing. These churches are listed as Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11) Christ’s deliberate selection of the seven churches in Asia Minor was based on the symbolic number “seven,” which signifies completeness, as in God’s creation was completed on the Seventh day. Therefore, His commendations and rebukes apply to all churches, urging them to conduct self-assessment and improvement in preparation for His imminent arrival. So, to each church, Jesus states, “He who has an ear, let him hear.”
To Ephesus, Christ admonished, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7) The “tree of life” was mentioned as well towards the end of Revelation, when all things have been made new (Revelation 21:5); see Revelation 22:2 and 22:14.
To Smyrna, Christ’s commendation, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:11) The “second death” was mentioned in Revelation 20:6; 20:14, both of which have to do with the time of judgment. Revelation 21:8 states, the cowardly, the faithless, etc., have no place in the New Jerusalem, but of the lake of fire, which is the second death.
To Pergamum, Christ’s admonished, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, inscribed with a new name that no one except the one who receives it knows.” (Revelation 2:17) The “hidden manna” and “a new name” refer to Christ Jesus, the Bread of life (John 6:48-58), and the Word of God (Revelation 19:11-13).
To Thyatira, Christ admonished, “Hold fast to what you have until I come. The one who conquers and preserves my works until the end will receive authority over the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron, just as when earthen pots are broken into pieces. Even so, I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:25-29) Christ is the one who rules with a rod of iron. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:13-16) This fulfills Christ’s declaration in Matthew 8:11, “I tell you, many will come from the east and west and will recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” (See also Psalms 2:7-9) This is about the Messianic Reign of Jesus Christ.
To Sardis, Christ warned, “The one who conquers will be clothed in white garments, and I will never erase his name from the book of life. I will proclaim his name before my Father and before his angels. Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:5-6) The “white garment” mentioned here is the same as the “white robe” described in Revelation 6:11. It was bestowed upon Christian martyrs and symbolizes the wedding garment of those invited to the Messianic wedding feast of the King’s Son and His Bride. (Matthew 22:11-12 and Revelation 21:2) The “Book of Life” mentioned in Revelation 13:8; 17:8; 20:12; 20:15; 21:27; 22:19; and Philippians 4:3 refers to those who have been marked for redemption by Christ Jesus.
To Philadelphia, Christ’s commendation reads, “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God. Never shall he leave it, and I will write on him the name of My God, the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from My God out of heaven, and My own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:11-13) This passage is about the “new heaven and the new earth”, the Bride adorned for Her Husband, the holy city and the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2), and the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb (Revelation 21:22).
To Laodicea, Christ addressed, saying, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him the privilege of sitting with Me on My throne, just as I also conquered and took My seat with My Father on His throne. Those who have an ear, let them heed what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:20-22) This message is essentially the same as Christ’s words to Thyatira, emphasizing the Messianic Reign of Jesus Christ.
Another significant aspect we should have noticed is that Christ spoke to each churches in Messianic languages, such as “tree of life,” “second death,” “hidden manna and white stone,” “rule with a rod of iron,” “white garments,” “book of life,” “I am coming soon,” “the new Jerusalem,” and “I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne, as I conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne.” These all refer to the time of judgment and deliverance.
Finally, the statement “those that are to take place after this”, covers Revelation 4-22. In Revelation 4:1, John heard and he wrote, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Towards the end of Revelation, Jesus states, first, “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7) Then, again, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing My recompense with Me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12-13) In other words, twice, Christ Jesus mentioned His return.
Without a doubt, therefore, “the Lord’s Day” mentioned in Revelation 1:10 is not merely a reference to a Sunday. John was witnessing the events of the “Day of the Lord,” the day of Christ’s judgment. Consequently, Revelation begins with the declaration “Behold, Jesus is coming with the clouds” and concludes with Christ’s declaring twice, “Behold, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7, 12). Furthermore, the opening statements of Revelation are crystal clear.
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:1-3)
Consequently, Hebrews 10:25 cautioned Christians against neglecting the imminent arrival of Jesus Christ and the gathering with Him. This warning was raised by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, decades before the writing of Hebrews. It stemmed from the claims that “the Day of the Lord” had come even while the temple was still standing. If true, it would imply that Old Covenant Israel had been restored and spared from God’s judgment. However, this contradicts Christ’s declaration in Matthew 24, where He explained that the end of the Old Covenant Israel would be evident when the temple was desecrated. Moreover, in Matthew 24, following Christ’s repeated declaration of the temple’s desolation (Matthew 24:2; Matthew 23:37-38), the disciples understood Christ’s words and asked, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). Christ then recounted the events leading up to His coming and the conclusion of the Old Covenant era. See Luke 21:20-28, Jesus Christ states:
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. ‘And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’” (Luke 21:20-28)
Clearly, as stated by Christ Jesus, salvation in its completed state and His Second Coming are not two separate fulfillments, as many Christians believe, but are intertwined together. This is also evident in Hebrews 9:28, which states, “so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.” (Hebrews 9:28)
Hence, there isn’t a major doctrine—salvation—and the latter a minor one, eschatology— Christ’s Second Coming— after all. Redemption, which means “to be set free for a ransom”, is synonymous with salvation. It means we are no longer in bondage to death, but have eternal life. Consequently, Paul declared, “For our sake, God made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Again, Paul states, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
Ironically, Hebrews 10:25 has been misinterpreted to refer solely to a Sunday gathering of Christians. However, it goes beyond a Sunday observance and specifically refers to the “Day of the Lord,” as mentioned in Revelation 1:10. There is indeed a pressing need to unlearn outdated traditions and rediscover the teachings of Scripture. I implore God-fearing Christians, those who hold the Word of God in high regard, to make concerted efforts to restore authentic Christian teachings. Christ Jesus is truly honored when we uphold the truths of His Word.
P.S. Sunday holds no significance in the Scriptures. It was introduced only during the reign of Emperor Constantine, a follower of “Sol Invictus,” the sun god. Below is a Youtube documentary that delves into Constantine’s beliefs.
The notion that Jesus resurrected on a Sunday contradicts the Scriptures. The phrase “first day of the week” mentioned in Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1, John 20:1, 19, Acts 20:7, and 1 Corinthians 16:2, was a modern translation from “one Sabbath” in Greek, which refers to a regular Sabbath day in a week, distinct from the high or special Sabbath, the 15th of Nissan, during the annual Leviticus 23 festal week of the Passover.
Which Sabbath was God referring to? During the Passover week, there were two Sabbaths: a regular Sabbath and a special Sabbath. The instruction was to wave the offerings on the day after the special Sabbath, which means it’s the regular Sabbath of the week. How do we know it should be a regular Sabbath and not just any day after the 15th of Nisan? The 15th of Nisan can be any day of the week as long as it falls on that day.
If it’s not a regular Sabbath, the next festival, Leviticus 23:16, would not align with God’s instruction. Scripture states, “You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, starting from the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering (i.e. the feast of firstfruits, the resurrection day of Jesus). Then, count fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath. On that day, present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD.” (Leviticus 23:15-16) Next, “The priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the LORD, along with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. On the same day, proclaim a holy convocation. Hold a holy assembly and refrain from any ordinary work. This is a statute that shall remain in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.” (Leviticus 23:20-21)
Clearly, except for the special Sabbath on the 15th of Nissan, which was also the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:7-8), all regular Sabbaths during the festival week were referred to as the day for holy convocation. As mentioned in Leviticus 23:2-4, no work should be done on this day. So Christ resurrected on a regular Sabbath, and counting seven full weeks onto the 50th day brings us to Pentecost. Yes, the day of Pentecost is always a Sabbath. All Sabbath, including the special Sabbath (15th of Nisan), were regulated by God, that no work should be done. This explains why the Jews rejected Christ because He performed His signs (healing or miracles) on a Sabbath. However, Jesus responded, “For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”” (Matthew 12:8)
On a parallel account to Matthew 12’s story, Mark added, “And Jesus said to the Pharisees, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.’” (Mark 2:27-28) Jesus points out that He was the One who commands the Sabbath regulation. Hence, being Lord of the Sabbath, He is not subordinate to its regulations. Consequently, in Matthew’s account on the same story, Jesus declared, “I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.” (Matthew 12:6)
It’s worth noting that in 321 A.D., Constantine issued an edict declaring that on the revered day of the Sun, magistrates and city dwellers should rest, and all workshops should be closed. (Codex Justinianus lib. 3, tit. 12, 3; trans. in Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p. 380, note 1)1. Many Christians believed that this edict by Constantine played a significant role in the adoption of Sunday as the official day of worship for Christianity during that era. If this is true, could these traditions that have been passed down through the millennia have influenced the translation of “one Sabbath” from Greek to “First Day of the week,” which is commonly understood as Sunday? Consequently, the resurrection of Jesus was believed to have occurred on a Sunday.
The YouTube video below refutes the belief that Constantine was genuinely converted to Christianity. It presents evidence that Constantine continued to worship Sol Invictus, the Roman Sun God. If this is the case, Christianity under Constantine was likely legalized for convenience or as a political maneuver. Therefore, while Christianity under Constantine appeared to be advancing, it was also compromised.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Take note, click on underlines and highlights for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
