Reformed Blogging

One of the many things that I started to question was why God allowed man to eat meat after the flood. Were the pre-Flood people vegetarian? The Bible doesn't seem to say but some scholars believe that the pre-Flood times were vegetarian.  Apologetics Press addresses the issue in this way: To answer the question, “Were all men prior to the Flood vegetarians?,” one merely can conclude that the Bible reveals God giving instructions only regarding the eating of food made from vegetation prior to the Deluge. God’s Word is conspicuously silent regarding the eating of animals. However, just because God apparently did not authorize man to eat animal flesh before the Flood, does not mean that mankind abided by this regulation. It seems likely that there were some people who went beyond what God allowed, and ate various kinds of animals anyway . It is not difficult to imagine those living just prior to the Flood, whose every thought was evil continually (Genesis 6:5), leaning over a sacrifi...

Acts 2:42 in its context takes place during Peter's first sermon in Pentecost. After that, we read that the crowds were convicted, Peter tells them to repent and be baptized. In Acts 2:41, we read that they believed first before they were baptized. The logical order is simple - believing precedes baptism. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit had happened (Acts 2:17) and the apostles were given that power. The apostles were granted the ability to speak many languages without having to study them. In Luke 24:29, the apostles were told to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with the power from on high. This would be the Holy Spirit in granting them their power. It's no wonder lying to Peter caused the couple, Ananias and Sapphira, to be knocked down dead (Acts 5:1-5). We later read that they were breaking bread and in prayers. The believers continued steadfastly to hold in apostolic doctrine or the apostles' teachings. The Greek word for doctrine or teaching is didache. I r...

The KJV translation of Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13  says "the brother of" while other variants say "the son of". Although, one must notice the italics used in the KJV. The KJV translators used italics if they had to either emphasize something or to put what words they thought were missing from the manuscript they found.  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of James. Meanwhile, you may notice that other translations such as the NIV or ESV use "the son" instead of "the brother" of James in respect to Judas Thaddeus. Wait, the brother can't be the father? The Tecarta Bible footnote for the KJV says "the son of" which may say that Judas here is the son of another person named James and not James the brother of John. James the Lesser is the son of...

One of the many objections against the death penalty is the woman caught in adultery. They say that Jesus supposedly "abolished" the death penalty in the scenario of Jesus and the adulterous woman. We need to read the whole context and understand it before we can jump to conclusions: 8 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and He sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him . But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, [as though he heard them not]. 7 So when they continued asking him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is wi...

John 4 portrays the scene of the Lord Jesus and the Samaritan woman. The one thing that the Samaritans are known for is that the Jews despised them due to the intermarriage with Gentile people, hence they were no longer pure Jews. Another thing worth noting is that Samaria became the capital of the Northern Kingdom. A study of 1 Kings and 2 Kings will tell you that the kingdom was full of ungodly kings. Jehu was anointed to judge the Dynasty of Omri or the House of Ahab but he was not a godly man. The worst of the kings is Ahab. Ahab reigned as king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in Samaria . Much corruption had happened especially when Jezebel brought her own version of Baal worship for Phoenicia. We can tell it was a marriage matched in Hell. Eventually, Ahab and Jezebel along with their wicked clan were sent to Hell. Their idolatry and rejection of the one true God led to their wicked lifestyles. We can see the grace of God at work even with the Samaritans. Jesus was now having a...

I remembered years ago when I graduated high school, the graduation service message 20 years ago, the pastor talked about the parable of the ten pounds. This is not to be mistaken as the parable of the talents. Both parables had a worthless servant who didn't invest the money but laid it idle for some foolish reason. In Hebrew, a mina is worth three months of salary. The story can be found in Luke 19:11-17. 11 And as they heard these things, He added and spake a parable, because He was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdo...

Reading through Luke beyond Christmas and Holy Week reminds me that the Gospel truths are to be preached the entire year. Two doctrines I ran across Luke in the KJV Study Bible's doctrinal footnotes are the "Humanity of Christ" and "Holy Spirit in the Life of Christ". Both doctrines teach the fact that while Jesus is 100% God, He was also 100% man during His ministry. It's that unique paradox that would allow Jesus to be able to fulfill the Law to live as a sinless man before He would become the sin sacrifice of the world. Jesus learned obedience, was made perfect and became the Author of eternal salvation unto those who are His (Hebrews 5:8-9). The humanity of Christ is shown through the fact that He was God in the flesh during the earthly ministry. John 1:14 says that the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus left His throne from Heaven above and allowed Himself to pass through a normal childhood, learned obedience from His earthly parents (stepfat...

Mark 16:9-20 is often subject to scrutiny (as I've read) and why the modern versions still put the verses is still questionable. I was thinking about the 17 verses not found in the modern versions (though often found in footnotes) and this passage. Mark 16:18 is put into question because of what would be considered absurd to do for today's Christian: 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. The verse has been misapplied by crazy snake-handling Charismatic preachers. Yes, the Charismatic movement is full of crazy stuff such as a pastor making people do really hazardous stuff which I wouldn't elaborate on. Just reading reports of a pastor making people eat grass, drink dangerous waters, or fart on them to heal them makes me think that misapplication of the Bible happens. It's not because they don't read their Bible. It's also because they fail to take the v...

Matthew 9:9-13 tells us of the story of Matthew (also called Levi) in his calling to be one of the twelve. Just remember that Judas Iscariot was only chosen to fulfill prophecy but not chosen for salvation. I was thinking about the command that Jesus gave to Matthew in Matthew 9:9 that says the following: And as Jesus passed forth from thence, He saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom (tax booth, emphasis mine): and He saith unto him, "Follow Me." And he arose, and followed Him. (KJV) The calling of Matthew would be a grand example of two doctrines of grace shown. The first doctrine is unconditional election. The other is irresistible grace. Matthew was so deeply stained in the sin as a tax collector that it looks impossible for him to be chosen. The tax collectors were reputed to be cheaters. The Jews regarded them as the lowest of sinners. I doubt Matthew had an honest profession nor was he honest. Yet, Jesus chose him for salvation. Matthew was simply t...

Malachi is the book that often brings my thoughts on the tithes and offerings. However, we're not under the age of tithing but cheerful giving. The Jewish priests in Malachi were getting condemned with Malachi in the following verses: Malach 1:6-14 6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. 8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. 9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? sait...

The study of facts and figures will point to the Bible. History, mathematics, and science are all essential to understanding life itself. A study of geography and Zechariah 14:4 would help understand how one day, the prophecy set in Zechariah 14:4 will eventually come true at the Battle of Armageddon towards the End of the World. It was said that a resort was once planned to be opened on the Mount of Olives until they discovered that a fault line was there in 1964. It wouldn't be an ideal place to build a resort on top of a faultline!  The Jerusalem Post also shares the following information that reveals how dangerous it is to have earthquakes near the Mount of Olives: Reports indicate that about 300 homes were destroyed including one on the Mount of Olives that killed four small children . Nablus was the most heavily hit area, having the highest death toll of over 150 and 250 injured. The quake destroyed some 300 buildings in the city including the Mosque of Victory. Matthew 24:7...

If there's any truth about Christian righteousness is that this righteousness is not inherent but God-given righteousness. The righteousness of the Christian is done by imputation, which in turn makes the Christian righteous even if it's not instantaneous. One of the biggest mistakes I've made in the Christian life was to receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and fail to ask for His grace to do the task of God. Trying to think that God saves then leaves the Christian alone to struggle in one's sanctification is a foolish idea. I also tend to think that I should do my own sanctification outside the Spirit of God which in itself is an insult towards the Savior from sin. Zechariah 3 talks about the account of Satan and Joshua the High Priest. Joshua the High Priest and Zerubbabel are both types of Jesus. Joshua the High Priest was dressed in filthy clothes. Satan was there falsely accusing Joshua the High Priest. The remedy was that Joshua the High Priest's filthy...

The Book of Haggai has a very stinging introduction that the Jews needed to hear. The very condemnation  can be taken in Haggai 1:4-9 which says: 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. 9 Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of Mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. This is really the problem of the restoration. People were too focused on t...

It's really a problem when one talks about the major prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel while forgetting minor ones like Zephaniah at times. However, every prophet, major and minor, all do their share in the furtherance and the expansion of the Kingdom of God. Every prophet of God is a spokesperson and should be treated with the utmost respect in the study of the Word of God. The setting of Zephaniah is a prophet from the line of David since his lineage goes all the way back to Hezekiah, another descendant of David. Zephaniah's father is Cushi, his grandfather is Gedaliah, who is a son of Amariah, who is a son of Hezekiah. Hezekiah would be the great-great-grandfather of Zephaniah and the great-grandfather of Josiah. Having a prophet from the royal lineage would make him a type of Christ. This was during the days of Josiah to which (and sadly), Josiah's sons were wicked, and his grandson Jehoiachin was also wicked and was shipped off to Babylon. However,...

The COVID-19 crisis really had me thinking about how times have been bad. I even think COVID-19 is a sign of the times. I'm not saying that quarantine passes and the COVID-19 vaccine are linked to the Mark of the Beast. Quarantine passes are required in order to keep social distancing measures and to help control the spread of the virus. However, they could be signs that the Mark of the Beast could just be waiting but that wouldn't be implemented until the Rapture. Though, I don't suggest endorsing the debunked video "Plandemic" or getting into conspiracy theories such as saying that the COVID-19 is a Jesuit-engineered or Illuminati-engineered virus. That's why I decided to stop researching on such and focus on the Word of God instead. Doing some research on COVID-19 and other epidemics made me think of epidemics far worse than it such as the Black Plague and Smallpox. Last year's COVID-19 epidemic has been so bad that it put a test on my faith. I wanted t...