Why Memorize Scripture?

Scripture memory should be a part of every Christian’s regular disciplines, but it seems to have fallen out of practice with far too many believers.  There are many good reasons to memorize verses from the Bible.  Here are a few.

  • It makes you less likely to sin.  “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)  See also the example of Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11. Continue reading

The Beginning

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

I thought it would be good to start off the beginning New Year with a verse on the beginning.  This foundational verse reveals much to us about our world and God.

First, God exists.  The Bible does not try to prove God’s existence, but rather assumes His existence as evidenced by His creation (Psalm 19:1) and revelation of Himself (Colossians 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 3:16).

Second, God existed before the universe was created.  He was there before the beginning.  He is eternal in His very nature and is separate from His creation (transcendent).

Third, God created all that exists, including the celestial bodies and life on Earth.  As is shown in the remainder of Genesis 1, macro-evolution is untrue.  God created the different kinds of living creatures; they did not evolve from lower forms of life.  The biological processes which are observed today are those which were there in the beginning.  Living creatures reproduce after their own kind (Genesis 1:11, 12, 21, 24, 25).

Fourth, there was a beginning.  God set everything in order.  Although mankind chose sin rather than obedience, God had a plan of salvation through Jesus Christ to deliver us from our sin and renew all things to their original perfection.

Romans 8:21-25 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

This is the ending that God has in store for us started with His beginning in Genesis 1:1.

Doing What’s Right in the Eyes of God

Often it seems as though few in our culture know right from wrong anymore.  I’m not speaking of knowing what is legal, but rather abiding by an absolute moral code, specifically the Bible.

When the United States was founded, the Bible was revered, church-going was normative, and nearly all of the people (including the vast majority of the founders) were Christian.  It is no wonder that many of our founding documents contain principles from the Scriptures.  Even those who would debate these facts would have to admit that the founding generation would be shocked at some of the behavior that is tolerated today.  To them, most of us would be rude, crude, and socially unacceptable.  We’re not totally devoid of our morals, but we are far from where we should be.  Without a moral code, a people will drift aimlessly as the Jews did in the book of Judges.

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Continue reading

Featured Resource – Week of 05/13/2012

The New Answers Book 1, Ken Ham (General Editor)

Master Books, 2006
384 pages
ISBN-10: 0890515093

Did you ever want solid answers to questions about the Bible and how it relates to science?  Look no further. The New Answers Book 1 is the first in a series of books which addresses many common questions.  This volume covers 27 questions including these:

Is there really a God?

Doesn’t Carbon-14 Dating Disprove the Bible?

Cain’s Wife—Who Was She?

What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs?

Is Natural Selection the Same Thing as Evolution?

This is a great resource and a fun read.  I highly recommend it.


The NEW Answers Book 1

To Bless or Not To Bless

Romans 12:14

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Nobody said that living the Christian life would be easy.  This verse is a case in point.

One of the more difficult things that believers will practice is doing good to those who do them evil.  To put this in perspective, remember that Paul wrote these words to 1st century Romans, most likely during the reign of Nero.  Continue reading