Last week, we discussed that God exercises an extensive, ongoing, sovereign control over all aspects of his creation. With this understanding we can build on this knowledge and approach the question of miracles. We will define a miracle as follows: A miracle is a less common kind of God’s activity in which he arouses people’s …
Author Archives: krsaathoff
If God controls all things, how can our actions have real meaning?
After spending the last two weeks discussing that God is the all-powerful Creator, it seems logical to conclude that he also preserves and governs everything in the universe as well. Even though the word providence is not found in Scripture, it has been traditionally used to summarize God’s ongoing relationship in his creation. When we …
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Creation: Why, how and when? Part 2 of 2
At various time in history, Christians have found themselves dissenting from the accepted findings of contemporary science. In the vast majority of cases, sincere Christian faith and strong trust in the Bible have led scientists to the discovery of new facts about God’s universe, and these discoveries have changed scientific opinion for all subsequent history. …
Creation: Why, how and when? Part 1
How did God create the world? Did God create every different kind of plant and animal directly, or did he use some kind of evolutionary process, guiding the development of living things from the simplest to the most complex? How quickly did God bring about creation? Was it all completed within six twenty-four hour days, or …
Blessed are the persecuted (Matthew 5:10)
An aspect of the Beatitudes is found in the start and finish of these declarations, like a pair of book ends. They start and finish with the same promise, that the seeker of Jesus will possess the kingdom of heaven. It is interesting that Jesus links the membership of the kingdom of heaven primarily with …
Continue reading “Blessed are the persecuted (Matthew 5:10)”
Blessed are the persecuted (Matthew 5:10)
An aspect of the Beatitudes is found in the start and finish of these declarations, like a pair of book ends. They start and finish with the same promise, that the seeker of Jesus will possess the kingdom of heaven. It is interesting that Jesus links the membership of the kingdom of heaven primarily with …
Continue reading “Blessed are the persecuted (Matthew 5:10)”
Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)
Peace is something that everyone longs for. For too many it is a longing for peace instead of war or political and religious conflict. Others long for a peace that enables them to transcend the strife and pain that surrounds them in their daily lives. Others struggle with guilt, un-forgiveness, anger, confusion and so many …
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Blessed are the pure in heart (Matthew 5:8)
I know a number of people who profess Jesus, and openly claim to know Him as Saviour. However, they are determined to enjoy life to the full, knowing that the type of enjoyment they seek does not comply to God’s known standards of holiness. They do not actually argue that what they are doing is …
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Blessed are the merciful (Matthew 5:7)
Before moving directly into the second half of the Beatitudes it is important that we reflect on a number of things that will prepare our hearts to better receive the teachings found in these Beatitudes. We have learned that the first four Beatitudes take us through a step-by-step process to receive salvation and consciously live …
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst (Matthew 5:6)
One of the main barriers to understanding the Beatitudes is the tendency to view each one individually rather than seeing them as a whole. Although each Beatitude contains truth and can lead to much blessing as well open its treasures, there is an inter-relatedness and unity that can lead us to even greater blessings. This …
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