Jane Aubry - I remember one day in the 1970's playing my guitar, looking up to heaven, and saying, “If there is a God, I want to know Him.” When I met Roger, my husband to be, he told me he was “saved”.  I had never heard the word before.  I had thought we could only “hope” to go to heaven. He told me how he was saved and that was the end of talking about it for a time. more...

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Printable Nativity Scene

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Eric Walberer

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Don Panchito

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Dale Robbins

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What is the meaning of the text, “Thou has magnified Thy word above all Thy name” (Psalm 138:2)" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 138:2)?

Perhaps this statement will be more easily understood if we use an illustration. The Churches of Macedonia (i.e. the Philippians, etc.) had a good “name” with the Apostle Paul, as liberal givers from their very beginning (Philippians  4:10-16). Yet on an occasion when he sought their help for the supply of the need of poor saints in Juda, they did far beyond his highest expectation, as he tells us in 1 Corinthians 8:1-5." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 8:1-5. In effect, he says of them: “They have magnified their liberality above all their name for it.”
Now, God’s “Name” represents the sum of His manifestations of Himself. As has been said by others, it is the product of His deeds, and is according to His historically manifested glory. In plainer words, it is His reputation for lovingkindness to His people, faithfulness to His promise, etc., as may be seen by its use in such passages as Exodus 16" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 16 and Joshua 7:9." TARGET="_blank">Joshua 7:9. David, who according to its title is the author of Psalm 138," TARGET="_blank">Psalm 138, has already known much of the name and fame of the Lord, both from the history of His people, and from His previous dealings with himself. But on the occasion for which he gives praise so fervently in this psalm, he feels that God has shown His faithfulness in keeping His word, even beyond all that past experience would have led him to expect, and so he says, “I will . . . praise Thy name for Thy loving- kindness and Thy truth; for Thou has magnified Thy word above all Thy name.”
Possibly the occasion may be that which is referred to in 2 Samuel 7," TARGET="_blank">2 Samuel 7, where at least he is found speaking in a strain very similar. He says there, “Thou hast brought me hitherto; and this was yet a small thing in Thy sight, O Lord God; but Thou hast spoken of Thy servant’s house for a great while to come; . . . for Thy word’s sake . . . hast Thou done all these great things . . . to make Thee a name; . . . and let Thy name be magnified for ever” (2 Samuel 7:18-26)." TARGET="_blank">2 Samuel 7:18-26).
W.R.

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Should a Christian celebrate the Passover?

The Jewish holiday of Passover commemorates the Exodus of the children of Israel from their slavery in Egypt.  Moses commanded the people to choose a lamb, prepare it with bitter herbs and apply the blood to the doorposts and lintel of the doors of their houses.  Those Egyptians who chose not to participate in this ceremony, lost their first born sons at midnight.  Pharaoh then permitted the people of Israel to leave the country.  Jewish homes still celebrate the Passover today with some changes to the original details of the meal as recorded in Exodus 11" TARGET="_blank">Exodus 11 and12.
 

The New Testament says that Christ is the fulfillment of the Passover event (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 5:7-8) and that Christians should recognize the spiritual significance of the feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately precedes the Passover.

There are some Christians who not only see the spiritual lessons of Christ’s salvation prefigured in the Passover, they also wish to celebrate the Passover in all of its details.  They say that the Passover is a cultural event.  Continuing the supper allows Jewish believers to retain their cultural heritage and at the same time embrace Christ as their savior.  A second reason for a Christian to celebrate the Passover is to use the event as an evangelism tool to explain the gospel to Jewish friends.

A Christian may choose not to celebrate the Passover based on the teaching of the Epistle of Hebrews.  The whole point of the Book of Hebrews is that Christ is the fulfillment of the law.  All Old Testament rituals were mere shadows of the coming Promised Messiah.  We should leave all old practices now that they have become obsolete.  Hebrews 13:10-13" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:10-13


10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

 11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

 12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

 14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

 

The “Last Supper” of the Lord Jesus and his disciples was a commemoration of the Passover of Moses.  It was the last time to be practiced before Christ introduced the New Covenant.  (Matthew 26:28)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 26:28).  The epistles never command us to remember the Passover, but to break bread remembering the death of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-34)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 11:23-34).

If a believer chooses to celebrate the Passover, he should be fully aware that there is no sanction for it in the Bible.  However, it would be wrong for another believer to condemn him for doing so.  Colossians 2:16-17" TARGET="_blank">Colossians 2:16-17 and Romans 14:5" TARGET="_blank">Romans 14:5 say that believers are free to conduct celebrations of Sabbaths and other holidays.

Shad David Sluiter

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Why do some versions of the Bible not include the name Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 14:12?

This page was adapted from an answer at Truth and Tidings Magazine by David Oliver.

Lucifer is a name that means the "shining one, light-bearer, morning star" (Brown-Driver-Briggs). In the English language, we capitalize names, but in Hebrew this is not the case; without using capitals in the Hebrew text, translators must sometimes make an intelligent guess as to whether a word is a general noun or a name. This is a case in which the translators of various Bible versions have come to different conclusions.

If John Nelson Darby’s French translation of this verse (cited by the person who sent in these questions) were translated back into English, the Hebrew word would be the "brilliant star." However, in Darby’s English Bible translation, the text says, "How art thou fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the morning!" A Bible translator may choose whether to translate a word as a general noun (as in Darby’s French translation) or a proper name or title (as in his English translation).  This is done based on the context of the words. This involves some degree of interpretation in translating. Because there is a variety of opinion on how the translation should be done, perhaps some translators (ESV, NASB, YLT, and others) gave a neutral translation.  That is, they did not interpret the text, but simply translated the words exactly.

The problem with translating this verse is determining where the quote from "all the kings of the nations" (v 9) stops. The words of their mourning for the fallen king of Babylon (v 4) continue at least to the end of verse 11. The passage likely contains a reference to Canaanite and Syrian mythology (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, TWOT).  The son of one of the gods attempted to, but was unable, to hold the throne. He "attempted to climb to the highest point of heaven and as the dawn star [emphasis added] was ever condemned to be cast down into Hades." If the heathen kings are still speaking in verse 12, they may be citing this mythology when "the dawn star" was thrown down. Even if this is the reference, the Spirit of God moves from this to the more profound incident of which this is a reminder (perhaps elements of the myths were actually perversions of truth revealed long before). Only one truly aspired to superiority above other angelic creatures ("upon the mount of assembly" with a throne above "the stars of God" in v 13, also see Job 1:6; 2:1;" TARGET="_blank">Job 1:6; 2:1; and 38:7) and to be "like the Most High." The pride of the king of Babylon was like Satan’s pride, and the fall of the king is similar to Satan’s condemnation to be in the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:10)." TARGET="_blank">Rev 20:10). The "light-bearer" or "morning star" in this passage is Lucifer, Satan himself, whether the word is translated "morning star," "light-bearer," or "day star" rather than "Lucifer."

D. Oliver

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THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT
What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

Our Lord’s words about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit arose from the ascription by the Jewish leaders of His works to “Beelzebub,” implying that “He had an unclean spirit.” Whether they KNEW intelligently He was actually working by the Holy Spirit is not said, but they were no doubt speaking deliberately against the Lord, and that was a very heinous sin, leading on to His cruel death at Calvary. Could a more dreadful sin be imagined? Yes, there was one greater. That could be forgiven, and many of His murderers were indeed forgiven on repentance (Acts 2:38)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:38), through the testimony of the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. What, then, is this more grievous sin, for which there is no forgiveness? It is the deliberate rejection of the testimony of the Holy Spirit; it is the sin of apostacy. When this sin has been reached, “It is impossible to renew again to repentance” (Hebrews 6:6)." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 6:6). It is not that those guilty want to repent and are refused, but it is impossible to get them to want to repent. They become adversaries (see Hebrews 10:27)." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 10:27). One thing seems certain, that no one who desires forgiveness has committed the unpardonable sin. Where there is the desire, confession is still available, with immediate forgiveness and cleansing for the Lord’s sake (see 1 John 1:9;" TARGET="_blank">1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:1, 2)." TARGET="_blank">1 John 2:1, 2).

W.H.

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