The Bible in Context
“When Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord” (1 Sam. 8:21). When is the last time someone leaned over to speak in your ear? Has anyone ever been close enough to God to speak in his ears? The first biblical reference to God’s ears … Read more
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3). Our examination of God’s eyes begins with a strange detail: God has seven eyes. In one of his prophetic visions, Zechariah (c. 500 b.c.) saw seven lamps resting on a golden lampstand. The explanation followed: “These … Read more
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (Ps. 105:4 NIV) Does God have a nose? How about a hand, arm, or mouth? If you have read the Bible, you may have noticed frequent references to divine anatomy. For example, David spoke of God’s nostrils, mouth, and feet (Ps. 18:8–9), the prophet … Read more
I’m not a big fan of statements of faith, which attempt to summarize the Bible. It’s difficult to condense a one-thousand page book into a few propositions. What should be included? What should be excluded? And what arrangement should be used? I prefer to stick with statements of faith that come straight from the Bible. … Read more
If someone asked you, “What must I believe to be a Christian?” what would you say? Perhaps you would answer by referring to your church’s statement of faith. Perhaps you would take the questioner through one of the Christian creeds. Perhaps you would quote a popular Bible verse that sums up the Christian faith. Since … Read more