Gospel

Melchizedek, the king – priest of Salem, is one of the Old Testament’s least – mentioned and most mysterious figures. However, he plays a crucial role in helping us understand how Jesus holds the dual positions of king and priest. This dual honor had very few, if any, precedents among Israelite kings. So, who exactly…

Among all the verses in the Hebrew Bible, Psalm 110:1 is the most frequently cited in the New Testament. Moreover, verse 4 of the same psalm receives nearly an entire chapter’s worth of commentary in the book of Hebrews (Heb. 7:11–28). Clearly, the apostles and prophets regarded this messianic psalm as extremely important for understanding…

In The Lord of the Rings, the Doors of Durin prevent entry into Moria beneath the Misty Mountains. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a mysterious wardrobe either allows or denies access to Narnia. And in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, a three – headed dog named Fluffy guards the way to the underground chambers….

The Apostles’ Creed affirms our belief that Christ “ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.” Even though this ancient statement of core Christian beliefs acknowledges the ascension, it often doesn’t receive the same level of attention in modern discussions about Christ’s work. We tend to focus more…

One morning, my 4 – year – old son was having a particularly tough time. Usually, he loves going to school, but that day, he sat in the car, in tears, and refused to enter the school building. The California heat had made the backseat hot and stuffy. I climbed back there to talk to…

Have you ever wished to be an answer to a prayer? What if it was an answer to Jesus’s own prayer? Well, your church has the potential to be just that. John 17 contains that very prayer. It concludes what is known as the “farewell discourse.” In this discourse, Jesus tells his followers what will…

Jesus intercedes for believers. This is a classic aspect of Christian theology, yet it’s often overlooked. Intercessory prayer was part of Christ’s ministry during his time on earth (John 17, Luke 22:32), and the Scriptures teach that he now intercedes for us from his exalted position on the throne in heaven (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25,…

Editors’ note: “Difficult but Beautiful Doctrines” is a long – form series that highlights the glory and necessity of theological truths that people in the post – Christian West often struggle to accept. “Thirty – one seconds before death.” This is how author Brandon Sanderson ominously foreshadows the inevitable, offering a peek into his characters’…

A study by Faith Communities Today indicates that 33 percent of the members in the surveyed churches are over 65 years old. The 2020 census also revealed that 10,000 baby boomers reach the age of 65 daily. Our world is growing older, and so are the congregations within it. When we look at the increasing…

A recent survey shows that around 73% of adults in the United States believe in heaven. Moreover, about 60% of them think the afterlife means a future without suffering, where we’ll have “perfectly healthy bodies.” However, I think most people haven’t given much thought to what they’ll actually do with these bodies throughout eternity. This…