Verse of the Day: John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This verse, written by the Apostle John, sums up Christianity. Just as Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to God (Genesis 22), God gave up his son as a propitiation, or sacrifice of atonement, so that any man (or woman) could seek forgiveness for sin(s), merely by asking. 

Who do we believe in to get everlasting life? Jesus, God's only begotten son--meaning a son who was not created, but actually came from God.

What is everlasting life? It is the continuance of our existence, for all eternity. This implies that those that do not believe in Christ will not continue on forever. Rather, when they are cast into the lake of eternal fire (Revelation Chapter 20) they suffer a second, permanent death. 

Word of the Day: Propitiation

From the late 14th Century, the word propitiation means an atonement, and is derived from propitiate, a 1580s word taken from the Latin propitiatus, the past tense of propitiare--to appease.

The word appears in Romans Chapter 3:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Christ's death was a propitiation for the sins of mankind--an atonement, offered to God in much the same way that previously lamb's blood was offered. 

Prior to the crucifixion, to atone for one's sins, a blood sacrifice was made to God, the sinner apologizing not just by word, but by action, as discussed in Leviticus 17:11

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Christ's death on the cross allows us to seek forgiveness from God for sinning without making a sacrifice--Christ already was the sacrifice.

Romans 3 illiustrates that we are not born forgiven for sins not yet committed. Rather, Christ's sacrifice allows us merely to ask for forgiveness when we sin, without waiting to make any propitiation. 

We are the church

Don't feel guilty about missing church service today. A "Church" is building or structure (used to worship). Today, the word has also come to mean a group of followers. We are the Church. We don't need a building or even a tent to worship in, nor do we have to wait for a specific day or time to give thanks, give praise, or apologize for our sins. We can do that anywhere, any time.

Just as soldiers on the battlefield, sailors at sea, or pioneers in distant, untamed lands found times to worship without a fancy, air conditioned building, so too can we give proper praise and thanks at home, work, or in nature.

We do need other Christians--none of us is going to get it all correct, all the time. By joining with other Christians and learning together, we can understand the Bible better. We can join a group of fellow Christians online or in person. Our family can be our church. 

Remember that filling pews is not as important as making prayers.

Understanding the Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us that we need to "put on the armor of God"; 

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

The Armor of God isn't body armor, it's not invisible chainmail. You can't pray pieces of protection. God is your protection. HE is your armor, when you trust in Him.

In olden times, "putting on armor" meant to prepare for battle--you donned protective gear. God doesn't hammer away on some enormous anvil, forging shiny breastplates for us. We don't need physical or mental armor to protect us. God will protect us, if we just trust in Him.

Word of the Day: Giants

In the Bible, giants occur in many section, most notably in the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). 

Genesis 6:4 tells us where giants come from: 

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

In the Hebrew text, the word Nephilim is used, and is generally accepted to mean that Angels took human women as wives, producing a hybrid race that existed before the Great Flood. After the flood, giants existed in several different tribes/races: Anakim (Deuteronomy 2), Emim, Zamzummim, Amorites, and Rephaim.

Some people have suggested that the demon is actually the spirits of the Nephilim killed by the Great Flood.

Word of the Day: Dragon

As used in the bible, "dragon" refers to the fallen angel we call Satan. He is also called a serpent in Genesis 3:1;

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

In Job 41 there is further description of the leviathan, which includes the following:

(41:15-17 ) His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. One so near to another, that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

(41:19-21) Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

Isaiah 27:1 identifies the leviathan as the serpent:

“In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

In Revelation 12:9 we further learn that the serpent is none other than the devil;

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 20:2 again reinforces that devil, serpent and dragon are the same:

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

In non-believer circles, it is sometimes suggested that what we think of today as dinosaurs were formerly called dragons. The word dinosaur wasn't created until 1841, by Sir Richard Owen, combining the Greek word deinos (terrible) with sauros (lizard).

Word of the Day: The Bride of Christ

 A particularly confusing expression, for non-, new-, and even established-believers, "the Bride of Christ" refers to the followers of Christ, who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

Christians will not literally be marrying Jesus, nor will Jesus have any wife in the future. Rather. Christ likened his return to Earth to the events of a Jewish wedding--something the Jews he spoke to. For example, in Matthew 25, Jesus specifically states:

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Today, preachers might use terms, phrases, or practices from sports, popculture, or even military service to explain Biblical lessons.