Sermons and Biblical Studies

202. Who Are the "Witnesses" Who Surround the Believers? They are probably the worthies referred to in Heb_11:1-40, whose triumph through faith are recalled. The word "witnesses" (Heb_12:1) has two meanings and it is not certain which of the two the writer of the epistle had in his mind. A witness may be a spectator, … Continue reading “202 – Who Are the "Witnesses" Who Surround the Believers?”

201. What is It to Be "Unequally Yoked"? The passage in 2Co_6:14 may have a wide interpretation. "Unequally yoked" may mean bound together with one who is alien in spirit, although it might also mean that the disparity in culture or possessions, the difference in race, or in religious belief, are to be regarded as … Continue reading “201 – What is It to Be "Unequally Yoked"?”

200. What Is Known Concerning the "Tree of Life"? Gen_29:1-35 and Gen_3:22, Gen_3:24 tells practically all that we know of the "tree of life," although a vast amount of speculative literature has appeared on the subject. Various references to the "tree of life" elsewhere in Scripture show that it was regarded as the means provided … Continue reading “200 – What Is Known Concerning the "Tree of Life"?”

199. What Was the Purpose of the "Tree of Knowledge"? The tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen_2:8) was designed as a test of obedience by which our first parents were to be tried, whether they would be good or evil; whether they would chose to obey God or break his commandments, and the … Continue reading “199 – What Was the Purpose of the "Tree of Knowledge"?”

198. What Does the Word "Spiritual" Really Mean? The word is one which Christians ought to guard zealously in religious phraseology. There is a recent tendency to use the word in a loose sense, giving it merely its philosophical or scientific meaning rather than its real Bible and theological significance. In secular phraseology the word … Continue reading “198 – What Does the Word "Spiritual" Really Mean?”

197. Who Are We to Understand by the "Spirits in Prison"? The passage in 1Pe_3:19-20 is one which has been much discussed. It is generally interpreted as meaning that the preaching to the spirits "in prison" implies not the preaching of the Gospel, but the announcement of Christ's finished work. Nor does it imply a … Continue reading “197 – Who Are We to Understand by the "Spirits in Prison"?”

196. Who Were the "Sleeping Saints"? The "sleeping saints" (see 1Th_4:14 and Mat_27:52-53) are held to be Old Testament believers who, having served the Lord faithfully according to their lights, and who looked forward to the promise of the Messiah's coming, were quickened at the moment of Jesus' death, although they did not come out … Continue reading “196 – Who Were the "Sleeping Saints"?”

195. What Are We to Understand by the "Secret Place"? The "secret place" (see Psa_91:1) is interpreted as meaning "the covert" of his tabernacle'97"the beatitude of the inner circle, or secret shrine, to which that select company of the faithful have access, and where they may taste the hidden wisdom." One commentator writes that this … Continue reading “195 – What Are We to Understand by the "Secret Place"?”

194. What Is the Distinction between Sabbath, Sunday, and Lord's Day? The word "Sabbath" is derived from the Hebrew "Shabua," meaning "seven," or a heptad of seven days. It was employed to designate the seventh day of the Jewish week (from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday). Under the Christian dispensation the day of … Continue reading “194 – What Is the Distinction between Sabbath, Sunday, and Lord's Day?”

193. When Was the Sabbath Changed from the Seventh to the First Day of the Week? The New Testament indicates that the Jewish Christians held both days holy. Paul evidently preached in the synagogues on the Sabbath, but it was on the first day of the week that the Gentile Christians met to break bread … Continue reading “193 – When Was the Sabbath Changed from the Seventh to the First Day of the Week?”