The following articles are related to the topic of FASTING

Is Fasting for Christians Today?

What does the Bible teach about fasting? Is it for Christians today? Fasting, in the biblical sense, is the abstaining from food and drink for a spiritual reason. In the Old Testament era, the Jews fasted frequently, though there was only one fast prescribed by the law. Once each year, on the Day of Atonement, the Hebrews were to "afflict" ... read more »

1 Peter – The True Grace of God

When Peter concluded his first epistle, he summarized the basic purpose of the narrative. "I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God; stand ye fast therein" (5:12). The thrust of the book is thus threefold. It contains certain exhortations to godliness.It sets forth the nature of true grace.It urges fidelity to ... read more »

The Temptations of Christ

After Jesus was immersed by John, he was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matt. 4:1; Mk. 1:12; Lk. 4:1). The exact location of the temptation scene is unknown. What is significant is that the Lord was alone, fasting, tempted, and tested. Jesus' total submission to the will of God was tried from the very beginning ... read more »

Matthew 13:8 – Seed Sown in “Good Ground”

In his parable about the man who sowed seed, Jesus said that some of the seed "fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Mt. 13:8). Later, in explaining the parable to his disciples, the Lord told what he meant by "good" soil.This type of ground represented a certain quality of person-the one ... read more »

Esther 4:14 & 6:1 – Esther and Divine Providence

There may be no clearer example of divine providence in the Bible than the case of the Jewish girl, Esther, who became queen of Persia and was God's instrument in the preservation of her nation. Esther was one of the Jews who lived in Babylon (then under the control of Persia) as a part of the remnant who remained in ... read more »

Hebrews 2:1 – Giving Heed to the Gospel

The writer of Hebrews contends that Christians ought to earnestly give heed to the things that were spoken (i.e., gospel principles), lest they drift away from them (Hebrews 2:1). Of special interest in this passage is the verb "give heed" (Grk. prosecho), which derives from pros (facing, towards) and echo (to have, hold). The etymology thus suggests turning one's attention ... read more »

A Simple Study of the Particle “If”

Some of the most profound truths come in small word packages. One of these little packages, of merely two letters, is the term "if." Grammatically speaking, "if" is identified as a conditional particle. That is, it mentions conditions or circumstances upon which certain consequences follow. "If" has a great variety of applications; they may involve blessings, punishments, opportunities, etc. "If" ... read more »

Internet Etiquette

I generally attempt to address some important current issue in this weekly column, relating to it such principles from the Bible that may apply. This week I'm departing from that format for some personal observations about internet etiquette Relatively speaking, I am a novice to the internet, e-mail, and all that stuff. But now that I have been introduced to ... read more »

John Tetzel’s Indulgences

During the era of the Protestant Reformation, certain Roman Catholic clerics employed the practice of "auricular confession" (confessing sins into the ear of a priest) to enhance their own financial welfare and that of the Church. It was commonly taught (and still is) that through the "confessional," relief from guilt, and release from eternal punishment, may be obtained. At the ... read more »

Is a Church Obligated to Support Mission Work?

"A missionary was recently passing through our area. He called to ask a local preacher whether he might be able to make a presentation regarding his work to the congregation. The preacher told him that at this time they were not taking on any mission work. The missionary asked if he could simply inform the congregation of his mission work ... read more »