Why did God choose Israel? Have you ever thought about that? Throughout the biblical record, we see an emphasis on God's choosing a people group. In the Hebrew Bible, his choice was Israel. In the New Testament, it is those who become the believing body---the church....
It is generally indisputable that there are two primary "ordinances" the church has been given: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Each of these has a particular spiritual significance; they are highly symbolic acts the believer participates in, in order to demonstrate...
I’ve recently been in a discussion with a friend of mine (and faithful reader of the blog!) about the divine council worldview. Among other things, we discussed concerns about the “gods” of Psalm 82. Just who are they, anyway?
One thing I’ve learned (and love!) is how, when you begin seriously studying the Bible and bringing in new information, you also begin to see how things work—or don’t work—with other things you believe.
“The name of the Lord” is a phrase used throughout Scripture by multiple different authors. I wonder if we truly grasp what it really means, though, to call upon his name? I get the sense that this is one of those ideas that has been cliché in Christian culture, such that its true meaning and/or significance is actually lost among those who are familiar with it.
The gods of Israel’s ancient Near Eastern neighbors were not literally made of stone, gold, or any other material. Rather, they were real spiritual beings that had a dramatic—and demonic—influence in the lives of their worshippers.
