What does it mean to repent? Does it mean we suddenly become religious or decide to join a church? No. Or does it mean you vow to never sin again? Hardly. But then what is it? Is it a once and for all act? And is it essential for a relationship with God? Because repentance is such an important word in the Christian faith, we need to know the answers to these questions.
People today are subject to such a quickly changing spiritual climate and theological landscape. Popular beliefs, music, worship styles, and even theology seem to change every year. What should we rely on for guidance? To rise above the confusion, we need to receive the new wine of Christ’s gospel and hold firmly to his teaching found in Scripture.
Are miracles of God possible? Many people in our society are skeptical. In this age of science, can we believe that God can really break into this physical world and supersede the laws of nature? And if so, why would he want to? Many also ask: “If miracles are possible, then why doesn’t God do them for me?”
What is God’s mercy and why do we need it? According to the Bible, God loves all people, without conditions. He also offers his grace to all. This is who he is — he is kind, gracious, and loving. He is merciful to the helpless and broken. But God’s mercy, as it relates to forgiveness, is conditional. If that is true, then conditional upon what?
There are those who say that God is a God of love, but he is also a God of wrath—or anger. Some Bible teachers think they can support this view because of the many Bible passages that mention God’s anger. On the surface it appears to be true, but in taking a closer look at Scripture, we can see this is not.
Grace is such an important Christian word. Books have been written about it, and countless sermons have been preached about it. It permeates the Christian faith. And it’s meaning greatly affects how we perceive God. God’s grace, his goodness, and his kindness are closely related. But what is grace, and why is it important to our faith?
In these troubling and confusing times, we need direction and guidance, especially in how we relate to others. There are countless voices trying to persuade us in different directions. Where can we find an authoritative voice that we can trust? We again turn to Jesus, the Son of God, whose teachings to love our neighbor and observe the Golden Rule stand out among all others. What do these mean and how do we apply them in our lives?
All people everywhere need forgiveness. We have all sinned against others and against God, and fallen short of his expectations of us. Is there hope for us, and can God forgive us? No one has lived a life free of sin. Even those we consider “good” fall far below God’s standards. The Bible talks about both forgiveness and atonement. What is atonement and what does it mean to us?
What is God like? What are his characteristics? If we believe that there is a Creator, then this Creator must have certain attributes. The following lists give God’s most prominent eternal, character, and personal attributes with a brief explanation and Scripture for each. These attributes are referenced extensively in Christ in Scripture blog posts.
The Bible tells us that God is sovereign. This is one of his eternal or infinite attributes. God is referred to by the term Sovereign Lord countless times in the Bible. But what exactly is sovereignty? And if God is sovereign over everyone, how do we reconcile it with human free will?
