Let’s review some of the reasons why prayers may not be answered. These aren’t the only reasons, of course (i.e., God may simply say “No” to your prayer), but they are some of the warnings we find in Scripture. Also,…
April 20, 2025
We look here at another example from the Book of Daniel about how Daniel himself handled a severe test of his faith (see Dan 6). Before we start, I want to point out that Daniel is a great source of…
The story in the Book of Daniel about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace is hugely inspirational to me (see Dan 3), as they demonstrated calmness, courage, and rock-solid faith in the face of what surely looked to…
Another source of anxiety can be trying to force things to be done in our timing instead of the Lord’s. When there is a mismatch in that area, it creates tension and stress within our minds that can lead to…
Another source of tension is trying to force our will to be done instead of the Lord’s (Mat 6:10). If you are anything like me, you get up first thing in the morning, ready to get started on the day…
The “natural man,” which is still in us even after we are born again (1Co 2:14; Rom 7:23), tends to have much anxiety centered around care and concern for the material things “of this world.” , Notice that…
Not only has Christ “set you free” (see Joh 8:31–32; Eph 4:8; Rom 6:6; 8:2) from bondage under sin, Satan, and death, but He has also given you “a spirit of adoption” into His family (Rom 8:15; cf. 2Ti 1:7),…
One further aspect of living in the Spirit is having a correct priority between the things of this world and the things of God (and heaven). An untold amount of anxiety, stress, worry, and grief is caused by overly prioritizing…
This chapter effectively continues the prior chapter, “Understanding God,” because how well you “trust in” God is intimately tied to how well you understand Him.…
The next step on our journey toward overcoming anxiety, worry, doubt, and fear is to make sure we have a correct understanding of God—His nature, power, presence, might, intelligence (wisdom), love, majesty, holiness, and so on. This understanding is essential…
In this chapter, we journey through some of the names used for each Person of the Holy Trinity. Please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list of all His names found in the Bible.
In historical times and…
This section of the website contains a series of posts which explain the Gospel "message of truth" as it was "once for all [time] handed down to the saints" in NT Scripture. We will begin by offering some helpful notes…
In days and centuries past, men understood and acknowledged that there was a God, even if they chose not to obey Him (Act 17:23; Rom 1:20–22; cf. 2Co 4:4). But in today’s modern, so-called “enlightened” society dominated by public opinion…
We see it written, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (i.e., this universe; Gen 1:1; cf. Gen 1:1–2:25; Exo 20:11; 1Ch 16:26; Pro 3:19–20; 8:22–30; Psa 8:3–8; 33:6; 75:3; 102:25; 104:24; 115:15; 121:2; 124:8; 136:5; Isa…
Before we can continue further, we must deal with some of the false teachings of man that are masquerading as science. Many people are mistakenly under the impression that science has disproven the Bible simply because that is what they…
Man disobeyed God, and sin entered. God placed the first humans, Adam and Eve, in the “garden of Eden” and gave them a few simple rules to obey (Gen 2:8, 15). All they had to do was believe, trust,…
God will only allow Satan’s and humanity’s rebellion (sin) to continue for a while. “He has fixed a day” (Act 17:31; cf. Jud 14–15) still yet to come called “the day of judgment” (2Pe 2:9; 3:7; Mat 10:15; 11:22, 24;…
Scripture warns us explicitly and repeatedly to “be on the alert” (Mat 24:36–25:13; Mar 13:35–37; Act 20:31; 1Co 16:13; Eph 6:18; 1Th 5:2–4; Rev 3:3; 16:15) for Jesus’ return, as “the day of judgment” will arrive suddenly (i.e., “quickly,”…
We now start to turn away from death and toward “eternal life” (Mat 19:16, 29; 25:46; Mar 10:29–30; Luk 18:30; Joh 3:14–17, 36; 4:13–14; 5:24; 6:27, 35–40, 47; 10:28; 17:1–3; Act 13:48; Rom 2:7; 5:21; 6:22–23; Gal 6:8; 1Ti 1:16;…
The Bible contains over three hundred prophecies about Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection, which were recorded (written down in Scripture) long before Christ was born—in some cases, many hundreds of years prior. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled every single…
In this chapter, we will look at a critical aspect of Christian faith: Was (and is) Jesus really God? While some skeptics, agnostics, and atheists try to deny that Jesus of Nazareth (the man) ever lived (despite overwhelming historical evidence…
Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection had been foretold (prophesied) way back in Genesis 3, written thousands of years before His birth, where we are told that Satan would “bruise him [Jesus] on the heel” but that Jesus would “bruise you…
When you see (read about) Jesus, you are seeing (reading about) God (Col 1:15; Joh 10:30; 12:45; Heb 1:3). Therefore, what you see Jesus is like from reading Scripture is also exactly what God is like: “kind,” “compassionate,” “patient,” healing,…
Why did God have to send His Son to die on the cross for us? Simply put, it is because humanity could not (and cannot) save itself—we cannot pay the penalty (make atonement) for our sins because we are all…
Salvation (forgiveness of sins and “eternal life” ) is open to “everyone” (Mat 7:8, 26; Luk 6:47; 12:8; Act 2:21; Rom 1:16; Gal 3:22; cf. Mat 24:14; 25:32; 28:19; Mar 13:10; Luk 2:30–32; 24:47; Joh 6:37; Act 1:8; 10:35; 13:47;…
The “New Covenant” (see Luk 22:20; 1Co 11:25; 2Co 3:6; Heb 8:8, 13; 9:15; 12:24; cf. Jer 31:31–34) is the Law of Grace (Joh 1:17; Rom 5:21; 6:14; Eph 2:8; Act 20:24) and the “good news” (Luk 1:19; 2:10;…
Let’s review what happens at your baptism. It is at baptism that your sins are forgiven, as Scripture clearly states: “Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Act 2:38; “wash away your sins,”…
When you are “born again,” you are an “infant in Christ” (see 1Co 3:1–2; cf. “little ones,” Mat 10:42; 18:3–10), a new baby Christian, if you will, and immature in the faith. You must continually “grow in the grace…
It is important to understand the nature of salvation. Some think that the Gospel, salvation, and eternal life are just about being “born again” (Joh 3:3–8; 1Pe 1:3, 23). But being born again is only the first (but by far…
As Christians, we are called to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7) and to “walk [live] by the Spirit” (see Gal 5:16, 25). To “walk” means to live, obey, practice, progress, and advance daily in “the Way”…
The life of a Christian is one of continuous repentance (1Jn 1:5–10; 2:1, 28; 1Co 9:27; cf. Jas 5:16; Heb 4:16; 7:25) and avoidance of deliberate, willful, and repeated sin. The child of God must still confront and prevail over…
This chapter explains that “obedience” (see Joh 3:36; Act 5:29, 32; 6:7; Rom 1:5; 15:18; 16:26; Heb 5:9; 1Pe 1:2, 22; cf. Mat 7:21–27; 12:50; 28:20; Mar 3:35; Luk 6:46–49; Act 7:39; Joh 8:31, 51; 14:23–24; Rom 2:13; 5:19; 6:16;…
This chapter continues the study of obedience by examining the role that “works” (“bearing fruit”) play in the plan of salvation. This is a lengthy chapter, for we must confront and clear away the rampant and widespread false teachings…
While Jesus has already done His part, we must also do our part and “persevere” in faith until the end. This is a lengthy chapter, as we must review several topics so you don’t “come short of” (Heb 4:1) your…
While God speaks to us through His Word, prayer is how we speak with our “heavenly Father” (Mat 5:48; 6:14, 26, 32; 15:13; 18:35; Luk 11:13). Prayer is the central element (the glue, if you will) that ties together the…
There are three types of peace for a Christian: 1) Peace with God: This is a heavenly peace (Rom 5:1–2; 8:6; Psa 119:11, 165; cf. Rom 5:10; Eph 2:13; Col 1:20–22). We enter this peace when we are born again…