Author: Administrador

172. When Was the First "Church" So Called? The word "church" is first applied by Luke the evangelist to the company of original disciples at Jeru salem at Pentecost (Act_2:47), and is afterwards applied in Acts, Epistles and Revelation to the whole Christian body or society, as well as the sanctified of God (Eph_5:3-7), and … Continue reading “172 – When Was the First "Church" So Called?”

170. What Is the Bible Definition of a Christian? A Christian is (1) one who believes in Jesus Christ the divine Son of God, and that through his life and atonement we have everlasting life; (2) the Christian through his fellowship with Christ receives the adoption of a child of God (see 1Jn_3:2 and 1Jn_5:1) … Continue reading “170 – What Is the Bible Definition of a Christian?”

171. Who Were the First Christians? See Act_11:26; Act_26:28 and 1Pe_4:16 which make the earliest mention of the term "Christian" being used to distinguish this from other religious sects. Thus, though the three Magi or Eastern princes, who came, led by the star, to worship the infant Christ (see Mat_2:1-5), and the shepherds who also … Continue reading “171 – Who Were the First Christians?”

168. In What Sense Is the Believer "In Christ"? The reference is exclusively to the relation of the believer to the risen Lord, and expresses a peculiar spiritual connection. Rev. David Smith, the distinguished theologian, defines it as a spiritual way of four connecting links, viz.: (1) Christ for us (see II Cor. 5 31), … Continue reading “168 – In What Sense Is the Believer "In Christ"?”

169. What Is It to Be "Risen with Christ"? Paul had described himself as having been crucified with Christ (Gal_2:20). He was dead to the world through the death of Christ, dead to sin, to worldly ambition, and to all the worldly principles and motives. But he might have been asked, "Was he really dead?*' … Continue reading “169 – What Is It to Be "Risen with Christ"?”

167. What Is Being "Baptized Unto Death"? The passage in Rom_6:3-5 implies that those who have gone through this experience have formally surrendered the whole state and life of sin, as being dead in Christ. Rom_6:4 is more accurately interpreted "by the same baptism which makes us sharers in his death we are made partakers … Continue reading “167 – What Is Being "Baptized Unto Death"?”

165. What Is Meant by "Casting Out Devils?" The question has been the subject of dispute for many generations. The plain meaning of the narrative, however, seems to us to be that Satan had gained absolute possession and control of the afflicted persons and that Christ evicted him by his superior power. It seems to … Continue reading “165 – What Is Meant by "Casting Out Devils?"”

166. What and Where Is the "Kingdom of God?" There are several senses in which the word "kingdom" is used. It may be taken in general terms as the kingdom which is set up in the heart (as Christ told the Pharisees, Luk_17:21, "The kingdom of God is within you") and the kingdom which is … Continue reading “166 – What and Where Is the "Kingdom of God?"”

163. How Was the Brazen Serpent a Type? "As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, so must the son of man be lifted up." These were the Saviour's words. Jesus' death on the cross was an uplifting, and in this sense it is compared to the uplifting of the brazen serpent. In both … Continue reading “163 – How Was the Brazen Serpent a Type?”

164. Were the Giants Mentioned in Gen_6:4 the Descendants of Angels, As Some Fanciful Interpreters Claim? This has been answered by a notable authority as follows: "Gen_6:1-4 forms the introduction to the story of the Flood. All races have preserved the tradition of a flood; whether it was universal or local is a moot point … Continue reading “164 – Were the Giants Mentioned in Gen_6:4 the Descendants of Angels”