What Does the Bible Say About the "Immortal Soul"?

Many people think the Bible says we have an immortal soul destined, at death, for heaven, hell or purgatory. What does the Bible say?

What happens to us after we die? Where are our loved ones who have passed on? Will we ever see them again?

Everyone needs to know that life has purpose, that death isn't the permanent end of our existence. The most common Christian belief regarding the afterlife is that people possess souls and at death their consciousness in the form of that soul departs from the body and heads for heaven or hell.

Most religions teach some form of life after death. The ancient Egyptians, for example, practiced elaborate ceremonies to prepare the pharaohs for their next life. They constructed massive pyramids and other elaborate tombs filled with luxuries the deceased were assumed to need in the hereafter.

In some civilizations when a ruler died others who had accompanied and served him in his life were put to death so they could immediately serve him in the afterlife. Wives and other relatives, servants, sometimes even household pets joined him in death and a supposed entrance into a new life on the other side.

Belief in the immortality of the soul was an important aspect of ancient thought espoused by the Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Plato, in Phaedo, presents Socrates' explanation of death: "Is it not the separation of soul and body? And to be dead is the completion of this; when the soul exists in herself, and is released from the body and body is released from the soul, what is this but death?" (Five Great Dialogues, Classics Club edition, 1969, p. 93).

Socrates explained that the immortal soul, once freed from the body, is rewarded according to good deeds or punished for evil. Socrates lived ca. 470-399 B.C., so his view of the soul predated Christianity.

Plato (ca. 428-348 B.C.) saw man's existence as divided into the material and spiritual, or "Ideal," realms. "Plato reasoned that the soul, being eternal, must have had a pre-existence in the ideal world where it learned about the eternal Ideals" (William S. Sahakian, History of Philosophy, 1968, p. 56). In Plato's reasoning, man is meant to attain goodness and return to the Ideal through the experiences of the transmigration of the soul. Thus secular philosophies sanction the idea of the immortal soul, even though the Bible does not. Believe it or not, God's Word teaches something entirely different.

History of a Controversial Teaching

The doctrine of the immortal soul caused much controversy in the early Catholic Church.

Origen (ca. 185-254) was the first person to attempt to organize Christian doctrine into a systematic theology. He was an admirer of Plato and believed in the immortality of the soul and that it would depart to an everlasting reward or everlasting punishment at death.

In Origen De Principiis he wrote: "... The soul, having a substance and life of its own, shall after its departure from the world, be rewarded according to its deserts, being destined to obtain either an inheritance of eternal life and blessedness, if its actions shall have procured this for it, or to be delivered up to eternal fire and punishments, if the guilt of its crimes shall have brought it down to this ..." (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 4, 1995, p. 240).

Origen taught that human souls existed before the body but are imprisoned in the physical world as a form of punishment. Physical life, he reasoned, is a purification process to return humans to a spiritual state.

Later Augustine (354-430) tackled the problem of the immortality of the soul and death. For Augustine death meant the destruction of the body, but the conscious soul would continue to live in either a blissful state with God or an agonizing state of separation from God.

In The City of God he wrote that the soul "is therefore called immortal, because in a sense, it does not cease to live and to feel; while the body is called mortal because it can be forsaken of all life, and cannot by itself live at all. The death, then, of the soul, takes place when God forsakes it, as the death of the body when the soul forsakes it" (Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 2, 1995, p. 245.)

The influences of pagan Platonic philosophy on Origen and Augustine are profound. Richard Tarnas, in his best-seller The Passion of the Western Mind, points to this influence: "... It was Augustine's formulation of Christian Platonism that was to permeate virtually all of medieval Christian thought in the West. So enthusiastic was the Christian integration of the Greek spirit that Socrates and Plato were frequently regarded as divinely inspired pre-Christian saints ..." (1991, p. 103).

Centuries later Thomas Aquinas (ca. 1225-1274) crystallized the doctrine of the immortal soul in The Summa Theologica. He taught that the soul is a conscious intellect and will and cannot be destroyed.

A few centuries later the leaders of the Protestant Reformation generally accepted these traditional views, so they became entrenched in traditional Protestant teaching.

The immortality of the soul is foundational in Western thought, both philosophical and religious. Belief in going to heaven or hell depends on it. But does the Bible teach that death is the separation of body and soul or that the soul is immortal?

Hebrew Understanding of the Soul

The Hebrew word translated "soul" in the Old Testament is nephesh, which simply means "a breathing creature." Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words defines nephesh as "the essence of life, the act of breathing, taking breath ... The problem with the English term 'soul' is that no actual equivalent of the term or the idea behind it is represented in the Hebrew language. The Hebrew system of thought does not include the combination or opposition of the 'body' and 'soul' which are really Greek and Latin in origin" (1985, p. 237-238, emphasis added).

The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible makes this comment on nephesh: "The word 'soul' in English, though it has to some extent naturalized the Hebrew idiom, frequently carries with it overtones, ultimately coming from philosophical Greek (Platonism) and from Orphism and Gnosticism which are absent in 'nephesh.' In the OT it never means the immortal soul, but it is essentially the life principle, or the living being, or the self as the subject of appetite, and emotion, occasionally of volition" (Vol. 4, 1962, "Soul," emphasis added).

That nephesh doesn't refer to an immortal soul can be seen in the way the word is used in the Old Testament. It is translated "soul" or "being" in reference to man in Genesis 2:7, but also to animals by being translated "creature" in Genesis 1:24. Nephesh is translated "body" in Leviticus 21:11 in reference to a human corpse.

The Hebrew Scriptures state plainly that, rather than possess immortality, the soul can and does die. "The soul [nephesh] who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4, 20).

The Old Testament describes the dead as going to sheol, translated into English as "hell," "pit" or "grave." Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 describes sheol as a place of unconsciousness: "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished ..."

King David laments that death extinguishes a relationship with God. "For in death there is no remembrance of You; in the grave who will give You thanks?" (Psalm 6:5).

The immortal-soul concept isn't part of the Old Testament, but it began to make inroads into Jewish thought as Jews came in contact with Greek culture. In the first century the Jewish philosopher Philo taught a Platonic concept: "... The death of a man is the separation of his soul from his body ..." (The Works of Philo, translated by C.D. Yonge, 1993, p. 37). Philo followed the Hellenistic view that the soul is freed upon death to an everlasting life of virtue or evil.

The Apostles' View

In the New Testament the Greek word translated "soul" is psuche, which is also translated "life."

In Psalm 16:10 David uses nephesh ("soul") to claim that the "Holy One," or Messiah, wouldn't be left in sheol, the grave. Peter quotes this verse in Acts 2:27, using the Greek psuche for the Hebrew nephesh (notice verses 25-31).

Like nephesh, psuche refers to human "souls" (Acts 2:41) and for animals (it is translated "life" in the King James Version of Revelation 8:9 and 16:3). Jesus declared that God can destroy man's psuche, or "soul" (Matthew 10:28).

If the Old Testament describes death as an unconscious state, how does the New Testament describe it?

No one wrote more about this subject than the apostle Paul. He describes death as "sleep" (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Many people are surprised to find that the term immortal soul appears nowhere in the Bible. However, though the Scriptures do not speak of the soul as being immortal, they have much to say about immortality. For example: "You know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15).

Paul told the members of the congregation in Rome to "seek" immortality (Romans 2:5-7). He taught Christians at Corinth that they must be changed and "put on" immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-55). Paul proclaimed that only God and His Son possess immortality (1 Timothy 6:12-16) and that eternal life is a "gift" from God (Romans 6:23).

The most powerful words come from Jesus Himself: "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).

True Origin of Immortal-soul Teaching

We've seen in this brief look at the supposedly immortal soul that the Bible teaches no such concept. The idea filtered into Western thought through Greek philosophy. Its origins are older than Athens, in fact as old as man.

The concept of the immortal soul was introduced into man's thinking at the earliest beginnings of human history. God told the first human beings, Adam and Eve, that if they sinned they would die and return to the dust from which He had created them (Genesis 2:17; 3:19). Satan, the embodiment of evil, the powerful entity who opposes God, assured them they wouldn't die (verses 1-5).

Satan slyly injected into Eve's consciousness the notion that God was lying and that she and her husband would not die, thus ingraining the unscriptural teaching of the immortality of the soul into human thought. Satan has since deceived the world on this important understanding as well as many other biblical truths (Revelation 12:9). Much of the world, including millions of people in religions outside of traditional Christianity, are convinced they have—or are—immortal souls and hope they will go to a happy place or state of being immediately after they die.

The Biblical Answer to Death

Yet the Bible plainly teaches that the dead lie in the grave and know nothing, think no thoughts, have no emotions, possess no consciousness. Does this mean death, the cessation of life, is final, the end of everything?

The Bible answers this question too. Although mankind is physical, subject to death, the good news is that God promises a resurrection to eternal life to everyone who repents, worships God and accepts Jesus as the Messiah and His sacrifice. The first resurrection to immortality will take place when Christ returns to establish God's Kingdom on this earth.

Later will come another resurrection—to physical life—for people who had never had a relationship with the Father and Jesus Christ. They, too, will gain the opportunity for immortality. The true final answer is not death but resurrection.

Limiting Freedom Out Of Love

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.1 Corinthians 8:9

In 1 Corinthians 8-9 and Romans 14, Paul compared two groups of people in the Church: the strong and the weak. They were both dedicated, sincere and tried to please God to the best of their abilities. The strong tended to regard anything that was not expressly prohibited in the Bible or against social norms as okay. They were more liberal in their beliefs. The weak had a tendency to live by rules, regulations and traditions. They had a conscience that was more sensitive to offenses.

In Romans 14, the strong believers would eat meat while the “weak in faith” would eat only vegetables (14:1-2). The Bible goes on to say that ultimately, it is not a case of who is right and who is wrong. It is a case of who is walking by faith and who is not. Whether it is meat or vegetable, as long as you are eating in doubt, you are condemned already. It is faith that commends us to God (14:22-23).

There are certain things we should never do. They are spelled out very explicitly in the Bible-lying, killing, stealing, adultery. But there are also many issues in life that are amoral. They fall under the categories of culture, style and taste. Things like the music you listen to, the fashion you wear, the food you eat, the car you drive, and the house you live in. They are often not issues of right or wrong, sin or righteousness. They are simply matters of personal preference.

It is often very difficult for a Christian who hasn’t matured in the Holy Spirit and in faith to be accepting of others who are more liberated. It is always easier to live by a set of strict rules imposed upon us by some authority. Yet, to Paul, Christians who need to live by prohibitions are considered “weak in the faith” (14:1-2). Strong faith allows for great liberty.

However, even though Paul was obviously siding with the strong, he refused to put down the weak. You need to show respect for people who are not as liberated as you are. Acceptance means treating people with respect even when you don’t agree with them. There are many things in life which are perfectly permissible. Yet, you shouldn’t do anything in someone’s presence if what you do is going to hurt their conscience and stumble them. This is limiting your liberty out of love (1 Cor. 8:9). Maturity is when you can limit your own freedom for the benefit of other people. Paul says, “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (8:13). This applies to every aspect of life.

Sexual Immorality

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18

When you love someone, you will respect that person. While you must love unconditionally and sacrificially, that doesn’t mean you don’t draw the line somewhere. And that is exactly what God does in 1 Corinthians 5-6. Explicitly referring to sexually immoral Christians, Paul says, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral … not even to eat with such a person” (5:11). Again referring to Christians who live unrighteous lives: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites … will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you …” (6:9-11). If a Christian is living in sexual immorality and you offer him your fellowship, not only do you profane God’s Word, you are excusing him from the responsibility to repent and forsake his sin.

There are varying degrees of sin. A sexual sin is not another “common sin.” We are exhorted to flee from sexual sins because no other sin affects the body as this one does. When you fall into sexual immorality, you harm your own body (6:18). Not only that, you damage your inward man-spirit and soul-which is the real you (6:16-17). Your spirit gets defiled. Remember Samson? For one night’s pleasure, he lost the supernatural strength that flowed out from his spirit.

Sometimes I hear of people blaming God when they cannot resist sexual temptation. But look at the very first case of sin in the Garden of Eden. God created Adam without the sinful nature. He put Adam in an ideal environment where there was no one to make his life difficult. God provided all of Adam’s daily needs. He endowed Adam with strong mental powers. God gave Adam a life-partner to meet his emotional and physical needs. He gave Adam duties that engaged his mind and body, so that he would not feel bored. God even warned Adam of the consequences of disobedience; so it wasn’t going to be a surprise test. God had a personal relationship with Adam and the latter understood God rather well. Yet, all that still didn’t stop Adam from sinning. Why? Because out of His love for man, God bestowed man with the power of free will. Love gives us a choice to choose.

Make a choice today to keep your body pure. Instead of using your body for immoral pleasures, use your body to serve the Lord (6:13). If you are a single man or woman, guard the glory of your virginity. If you have lost it already, the blood of Jesus Christ can restore the glory of a pure spirit back to you again.

Giving Your Ways Out Of Lack

And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.” 1 Kings 17:13

In the midst of a severe drought, Elijah was sent to a widow in Zarephath. God will never ask you to do anything that would hurt you in the long run. As you step out in faith to obey the rhema He has put into your spirit, you position yourself for a miraculous blessing. But first, the trial of faith. When Elijah met the widow, she was preparing the last meal for her son and herself. Elijah said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink” (1 Kin. 17:10). What is the most precious commodity in a drought? Water! Would this widow bring that which was most precious to her and give it to a complete stranger?

Elijah then upped the faith challenge: “Please bring me a morsel of bread too” (17:11). To the uninitiated, this sounds like an unreasonable request. If Elijah was thirsty and hungry, he could have gone to a rich man. Why “torment” a poor widow who was down to her last meal? God wanted to meet the needs of the widow and bring provision to her. But the principle of abundance states that you must first give before you can receive (Luke 6:38). To the world, that widow can’t afford to give. But to God, she can’t afford not to give. Her generous sacrifice is her lifeline to get herself out of debt.

The world’s philosophy about money is: (1) Get all you can. (2) Can all you get. (3) Guard the can. God’s philosophy is: Give as much away as possible and you will start getting more. Proverbs 11:24-25 says, “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.” In short, you can give and give and give your way out of poverty into prosperity!

Elijah encouraged the widow: “Don’t fear, just go and do it” (1 Kin. 17:13). True enough, as she did what Elijah said, she and her son continued to eat from her supply of fl our and oil. For no matter how much they used, there was always plenty left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised (17:15-16).

In God’s kingdom, there is no recession or lack. But faith is the currency of His kingdom. As you step out in faith by paying your tithes and giving your offerings, you will find yourself giving your way out of lack into God’s abundance. Try it. He won’t fail you.

Jesus Is Truth

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Jesus Christ is truth. What is truth? It is something that is actually real; it is the way things actually are; there is no falsehood or deception.

Unfortunately we live our lives sometimes believing lies, about ourselves and the world around us. When Jesus Christ came into the world, He brought truth to this earth. He said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.” You can 100% trust God because God Himself is truth; in Him there is no lie. Jesus said many times to His disciples, “I tell you the truth.”

Falsehood and lies are the opposite of truth. The devil is a liar. The devil may tell you, “God doesn’t love you. You can’t be forgiven. You aren’t worth anything.” But God says the truth to you — He says to you things like, “I love you. You can be forgiven. You are worth so much that I sent My Son to die for you. You can have the gift of eternal life by accepting Christ as Savior and Lord.”

You and I are to be vessels of God’s truth to others. The Bible says we are to “speak the truth in love.” Don’t be harsh or unkind when you speak truth to someone; speak it gently and in love. But as we receive God’s truth and as we speak His truth to others, the world will be a better place. Let us walk in God’s truth each and every day. Jesus Christ is God’s truth in our lives.

So, this week, let us pray and ask God to

• Help us to always tell the truth
• Pour out His Holy Spirit all over the world, that people everywhere would come to know Christ
• Give us His wisdom and protection as we seek to make disciples of all nations and help people grow in Christ

THANK YOU so much for your prayers. Your prayers are like a spiritual covering over us and we appreciate you so much!

May God bless you.

Your friends at Global Media Outreach

WWII War Correspondent Predicted the Dangers That Threaten America Today

Edward R. Murrow (April 25, 1908-April 27, 1965) was a stalwart member of that great generation that brought us through the perils of World War II. When Nazi Germany attacked Poland in September of 1939, he was stationed in London as director of CBS European Operations. During the height of the Blitz (the Nazi bombing of London in 1940) Ed Murrow remained in London to provide Americans with electrifying radio broadcasts that described its horrors. A nation came to attention when hearing his famous signature opening: "This is London..."

Librarian of Congress Archibald MacLeish commented on his powerful war-time dispatches from London: "You laid the dead at our doors and we knew the dead were our dead."

Eventually this long-time CBS reporter moved from radio broadcasting into television. At a time when TV programming was still rather tame in comparison to the often embarrassing standards that afflict us today, Ed Murrow saw the sobering handwriting on the wall well in advance of his contemporaries.

Pivotal speech

Back in 1958 he stated in a Chicago speech to the Radio and Television News Directors Association: "Our history will be what we make it... I invite your attention to the television schedules of all networks between the hours of 8 and 11 p.m., Eastern Time. Here you will find only fleeting and spasmodic references to the fact that this nation is in mortal danger...

"Television in the main insulates us from the realities of the world in which we live. If this state of affairs continues, we may alter an advertising slogan to read: Look Now, Pay Later. For surely we will pay for using this most powerful instrument of communication to insulate the citizenry from the hard and demanding realities which must be faced if we are to survive. I mean the word survive literally."

Later in this pivotal speech he said: "But this nation is now in competition with malignant forces of evil who are using every instrument at their command to empty the minds of their subjects."

"History will take its revenge"

Then Ed Murrow concluded with these sobering words of warning to those then responsible for the direction of TV news reporting. "I began by saying that our history will be what we make it. If we go on as we are, then history will take its revenge, and retribution will not limp in catching up with us" (Richard D. Heffner, A Documentary History of the United States, eighth edition, 2002, pp. 500-501, 506-507, emphasis added).

Mr. Murrow's words are proving far truer today than when he originally uttered them back in 1958. Thankfully, there now exists a TV program called Beyond Today that is frankly warning our citizenry of the acute global and domestic dangers that presently confront the American nation. The TV log of broadcast and cable stations is available online and is also published in The Good News magazine.

Can We Control Natural Disasters?

Will it ever be possible for humans to master the forces of nature?

Last week's eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano grounded transatlantic flights between North America and Europe and generally disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of people. The cost to airlines is in the multiple millions.

This particular volcano had not erupted since 1821, and modern aviation has not had to deal with such a major problem before. Experts say the volcano could erupt for months. If that happens, it could be a long summer full of inconvenience for not just the travel business, but for a large segment of the global commerce.

Iceland has 35 active volcanoes. In 1783 a series of eruptions killed off much of the livestock and agriculture on the island and a sizable portion of the people. Even in Europe thousands died as the ash clouds severely affected Europe's climate and agriculture. This disaster's continuing impact on Europe's economy has led some historians to speculate that it could have been a contributor to the French Revolution in 1789.

Clearly natural disasters of this magnitude severely impact a modern technologically based world. The sophisticated machines and computers at the heart of our world are vulnerable to forces beyond the control man. This points to the fact that events, natural and man-made, can create changes beyond anyone's imagination.

In the May issue of World News and Prophecy we will have an article about recent earthquakes. The two this year in Haiti and Chile highlight the fragility of life and society. Both poor and rich are subject to these forces. There are key lessons to learn from these events as God's Word tells us.

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:13-14).

Major disruptions like an earthquake or a volcano remind us of the fragility of life and how little control we do have at times. What it should do is point us to God, the Creator of life, and add a measure of realistic humility to our thinking.

We humans begin to think we can master the forces of nature in all their forms. It can't be done. We have limited control over our own lives. We can, and should, choose wisely in the matters we can control. But as we all learn, there are many aspects of everyday life we don't always control. We cope and adapt to these challenges. But these larger challenges, like a natural occurrence of an earthquake, hurricane or volcano, can teach us to look to God and His will above our own. It is meant to humble us.

James goes on to say, "Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil" (James 4:15-16).

Modern science is committed to figuring out where natural disasters come from, with the goal of eventually mastering them. I wonder how you master a massive volcano with all its forces unleashed from far beneath earth's surface? How do you turn the course of a hurricane bearing down on a major city? Could such ideas border on arrogance? I wonder.

This same book of James reminds us we cannot master our tongues, one of the smaller parts of our body. That for most of us is a lifetime work. The larger lesson for us is to master our own nature with the help of God. We cannot control natural disasters, but we have a chance to control some of our own human "disasters." God help us do that.

Is the laying on of hands necessary to receive the Holy Spirit?

What does the laying on of hands signify?

The Bible gives us a clear answer. Paul came upon some believers in Ephesus who had been baptized by no less than John the Baptist. Yet they had not received the Holy Spirit for two reasons. One is that they did not have the laying on of hands. The other was that they apparently did not fully understand the Christian way of life, the covenant into which one enters through baptism.

What did their baptism by John accomplish? Undoubtedly, it helped prepare them for conversion, for he preached repentance. And it likely strengthened their resolve to obey God. But the baptism didn't bring about their conversion or result in their receiving the Holy Spirit. Clearly, many factors have to be in order for that to take place, including knowledge of sin (the transgression of God's law, 1 John 3:4), an awareness of the need for forgiveness, true repentance (turning from sin to obedience) and a clear understanding of the obligations of Christianity. In addition, the baptism should, under normal circumstances, be done by a minister of God's true Church, followed by the laying on of hands and prayer to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

You can read this encounter in Acts 19:1-6, where you will see that Paul—after counseling the believers—baptized them again and laid hands on them.

Like baptism, the practice of laying on of hands has its historical roots in the Old Testament. In ancient times this practice, often accompanied by anointing with oil, was used to set men apart to serve God in the offices of king or priest. It was also sometimes invoked in setting apart sacrifices or other things for holy use. Similarly, laying on of hands after baptism signifies that the newly baptized person has now been set apart for God.

Since the days of the apostles, the laying on of hands after baptism has signified the actual moment of the receiving of the Holy Spirit and the setting apart of a convert as a child of God. It is only through the gift of God's Spirit that we can develop the godly attitude of obedience and faith. The practice of laying on of hands for the receiving of God's Spirit is mentioned in Acts 8:17; 19:6; and 2 Timothy 1:6.

What spiritual gifts does God give?

How can we discover our individual spiritual gifts? How can we use our God-given gifts?

The Bible indicates that God gives Christians special help through His Spirit to serve His Church and to accomplish His work. The New Testament mentions numerous gifts, some that helped the ministry in their tasks and some that helped the lay members of the Church in their Christian service. One of many helpful scriptures on the subject is 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

The Bible addresses the gift of "tongues" (the ability to speak in different known languages of the day) in the books of Acts and 1 Corinthians. What many churches call "speaking in tongues" today is nothing like what the Bible records. The miracle that occurred on the Day of Pentecost in A.D. 31 (Acts 2:4-8) was one of communication—apparently both in the speaking and the hearing. The Greek word translated "tongues" is glossa and means "languages." The miracle of speaking in tongues meant that every member of the audience could hear in his or her native tongue (language, see verses 9-11).

Also, some in the early Church, particularly in Corinth, had the ability to speak in different languages. In that case, it seems that people were showing off their abilities, speaking every language they could, regardless of whether the people who heard them could understand. They were caught up in their vanity, having lost sight of the fact that one should always use spiritual gifts to serve others. Paul wrote chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians specifically to deal with this problem. He pointed out that the proper use of the gift of languages would be to speak the language or languages that the congregation could understand. It would be like speaking Spanish to a Spanish-speaking audience or French to a French-speaking audience.

Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth that speaking different languages was of no real value if an audience could not understand the words. He admonished them to concentrate more on understandable communication than on their linguistic abilities.

All biblical examples of speaking in tongues stand in stark contrast to the type of "speaking in tongues" done in some churches today, where the speaker utters a "language" that sounds like gibberish, not an actual human language.

We see that spiritual gifts did not control the person who had them, forcing themselves to the fore. Rather, every individual was responsible for how he or she used those gifts (1 Corinthians 14:32).

A genuine spiritual gift aids a Christian in the service of the Church.

A lesson we learn from the mistakes of the Corinthians is that Christians should be on guard against becoming vain over their individual abilities. Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 that godly love must inspire the person using a gift. That is, an authentic spiritual gift is not for the sake of enhancing one's personal standing or reputation.

How can we know and use what gifts we have? Most should be self-evident. Others may become apparent by looking into our natural abilities. Matthew 25:15 indicates that God enhances our innate abilities with His power. The principal point is that, as we become aware of our gifts, we should seek God's help to use those talents to serve others.

Have You Ever Been Afraid?

“(God speaking) Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to abey all the law My servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1: 7 - 9

Have you ever been afraid? Almost 2,000 years ago, when Jesus had been crucified, His followers were afraid. The Apostle Peter even denied three times that he knew Jesus.

Yet only a few weeks later, Peter was bold enough to preach the gospel publicly in front of thousands of people and not be afraid. What had changed? What had changed was that Peter had been filled with God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God Himself, invisible, here on earth. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit. When we ask to be filled and controlled and empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, God Himself in our lives can give us the power to overcome our fears.

Over and over in the Bible, God tells us to fear not. We can overcome through being filled with His Holy Spirit and by the Word of God. The Bible has supernatural authority. You do not need to bow down to fears, and to worries, and to anxiety. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit and stand strong in His Word. You can have power over fear and anxiety because Jesus Christ is Lord.

So, this week, let us pray that

• God will help you — and each of us — to be bold and strong in His Holy Spirit
• God will help us at Global Media Outreach to preach the gospel to millions of people
• God will protect your family and our families in His great love and power

Who are the Laodiceans?

What lesson can we learn from the Laodiceans? Is there a modern-day Laodicean group?

Laodicea was a city in Asia Minor in the first century. It was one of seven cities mentioned in the prophecy of Revelation 2 and 3; there was a congregation of the Church of God in each city. Jesus used unique characteristics about not only the congregations, but also about the cities in which they were located, to teach Christians important lessons.

Laodicea was well known in the ancient world for its wealth. "For example, in 62 B.C. Flaccus seized the annual contribution of the Jews of Laodicea for Jerusalem amounting to 20 pounds of gold" (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986, "Laodicea").

"The extent of its wealth is illustrated by the fact that Laodicea was rebuilt without the financial help of Rome after the disastrous earthquake of A.D. 60. Laodicea earned its wealth in the textile industry in the production of black wool and in the banking industry. Laodicea was also known for its medical school [school of ophthalmology] which concocted a spice nard for the treatment of the ears and an eyesalve. The major weakness of Laodicea was its lack of a water supply. This need was met by bringing water six miles north from Denizli through a system of stone pipes [water conveyed to Laodicea through these pipes was lukewarm by the time it reached the city]" (Holman Bible Dictionary, 1994, "Laodicea").

The eye salve was called "collyrium," probably a reference to how it was applied—that is, in the form of plaster or a poultice.

Christ, always the quintessential teacher, integrated these well-known facts about Laodicea into His spiritual message about them. He warned against a lukewarm, self-sufficient and self-satisfied attitude:

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:15-19).

Then Jesus said the same thing about the spiritual lessons He drew from Laodicea that He said about each of the seven churches: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 3:22).

It is entirely possible that Jesus also intended to embed a chronological prophecy of successive eras, each characterized by the predominant strengths and weaknesses of the seven churches and the cities in which they were located. In recent years, some Christians seem to focus more on that possibility than on what we can know with certainty—that we need to apply all of the messages to all of the churches to ourselves. Is there anything helpful or godly in one person or group pointing a finger of judgment, declaring another person or group to be "Laodiceans"? But, on the other hand, it is wise for each of us to be on guard against the Laodicean weaknesses in ourselves.

Has the World Gone a Little Less MAD?

The fateful day of Aug. 6, 1945, began like most others. The sun rose while countless men, women and children set about their usual routines.

And then, at 8:15 a.m., the last thing 80,000 of them saw was the blinding flash of the first atomic bomb to be deployed in warfare. In an instant, almost seven tenths of the city of Hiroshima was leveled. Three days later, a second nuclear attack on Nagasaki claimed the lives of another 40,000. In the years that followed, hundreds of thousands more would die of cancer and other radiation-induced illnesses.

Since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the devastating effects of a nuclear weapon have never again found their way to the battlefield. However, the development and production of such weapons has continued. As the United States and Russia entered a nuclear arms race, a new concept appeared: Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD).

In other words: If one country with nuclear weapons attacks another country with nuclear weapons, there's a disturbingly high chance that when the dust settles, the people of both countries will be dead.

That's the main reason we haven't seen anyone push the "big red button" and launch a nuclear assault—because there are now a number of other countries with fingers poised over their own big red buttons. As you can imagine, there aren't many people who are terribly comfortable with that concept, especially as more unstable countries try to develop the bomb. Of course we would prefer to see the buttons taken out of the picture entirely.

That's what prompted the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between Russia and the United States. It limits both countries to only 1,550 deployed warheads, which is a 30 percent smaller cap than allowed for in the previous treaty.

Only 1,550 warheads. Should that inspire confidence? The amount of damage an arsenal like that could inflict is astronomical. The LGM-118 Peacekeeper, for instance, was an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) that carried a payload capable of destroying roughly 230 Hiroshimas.

Even more frightening is the fact that such a missile was built with technology available over 20 years ago. In the two decades since then, our technology, along with our weapons, have grown far more advanced—and far more deadly.

The recent Nuclear Security Summit, held on April 12 and 13 in Washington, D.C., aimed to address such issues. Forty-six countries were represented at the summit by their respective heads of state or other officials as the world's leaders gathered to decide what to do about all the enriched uranium and plutonium floating around our planet.

China agreed to uphold sanctions against Iran's budding nuclear program, and Ukraine made plans to give up its own 200-pound store of highly enriched uranium.

Those sound like promising statistics until you consider the words of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who noted at the conference, "Just 50 pounds of high purity uranium, smaller than a soccer ball, could destroy the downtown of all our capital cities and kill tens, if not hundreds of thousands of individuals."

Conservative estimates put the world's total fissile material (usable in nuclear bombs) at around 4 million pounds.

Four million pounds. That's 80,000 times the amount Joe Biden was talking about.

This means that humanity possesses the ability to obliterate itself many times over. At any moment, given the right provocation, a total nuclear holocaust could be only minutes away. In spite of all the nuclear security summits and the most recent Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, world leaders will still retain the potential to eliminate the entirety of life on earth. And terrorists are trying hard to obtain the same power.

Mankind has only one hope. There is only one leader capable of disarming the whole world and guaranteeing security and peace for all who live in it.

That leader is none other than the soon-returning Jesus Christ—the future ruler over the whole earth.

The Bible prophesies that at His return, "He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths… He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (Isaiah 2:3-4).

A world without war. Without nuclear weapons. Without any weapons at all. The impossible dream? Not even close. Christ's return to this world is promised, sure and fast-approaching, as is the Kingdom He will bring with Him.

Polish President's Plane Crash—Déjà vu for Global System

Shaking Poland to its religious core, the fiery plane crash April 10 that killed Poland's President Lech Kaczynski, along with his wife and much of his nation's political and military leadership, was as weird as it was tragic. The president of Eastern Europe's leading economy and many dozens of Poland's elite, including the head of the central bank, were suddenly obliterated in a plane crash through the astonishingly poor judgment of pilots in attempting to land their Russian-made jet.

Without visual contact and with no auto landing navigation system operating, it appears the pilot decided to land while flying completely blind in dense fog. Slamming into a forest of trees at well over 150 miles an hour and crashing more than a thousand feet short of the runway, the crew had defied the direction of Russian air traffic controllers to land in Minsk or Moscow.

Skeptics and cynics have speculated that the Polish plane crash tragedy was a Russian plot, Russian equipment failure or the result of "VIP passenger syndrome." This describes the psychological pressure on a pilot to get his VIP passengers to their destination no matter what.

Could not overcome history

The weirdness of it all is compounded by the déjà vu memorial that Kaczynski's plane was racing toward in Russia's Katyn forest. The delegation was commemorating the massacre of more than 20,000 of Poland's elite military officers exactly 70 years ago this month in 1940 during the beginning phase of World War II. Stalin's Soviet death squads were ordered to slaughter them in an attempt to eliminate Poland's brightest, contributing to Hitler's evil vision to eventually exterminate all Slavic peoples.

Last Saturday, it appears that neither a geopolitical enemy nor an act of God caused the death of Poland's leadership. It was apparently caused by human error. Instead of memorializing this most violent period in European history, they in a way repeated it.

"This is so very much like Katyn, where our head was cut off," former Polish President Lech Walesa said to the Associated Press.

Weird world then, weird world now

All this brings to my mind the global system now racing forward into a fog of political, economic and religious ferment and technological change. World leaders are piloting civilization with no clear destination. Even the best among them often cannot see the runway. Their overarching concern is to avoid a crash repeat of the 1930s that plunged the world into depression, political upheaval, genocide and history's greatest war, which ended with using weapons that incinerated entire cities in an instant.

Poland's tragedy strikes at the center of one of the crowning achievements of the new Europe, which began with the Polish anti-Soviet movement aided by a vigorous Catholic Church. It so successfully broke communist control in Poland that it propelled the complete destruction of Soviet domination of Eastern Europe over 20 years ago.

Post-Soviet Poland is the most religiously conservative, vigorously democratic state in the old eastern bloc—and it's prospering. It was the only EU member state with positive GDP growth in 2009. Poland has a higher proportion of entrepreneurs than any other European state.

Poland's now dead president was one of the greatest champions of NATO, of capitalist economic principles and of tight relations with the United States. He asserted fierce independence from Russian domination and German hegemony.

Like the wicked sequence of global events of the 1930s, Poland's plane crash killing its top leadership demonstrates the sobering reality that today's world can change in an instant.

Lucy Wiciel, a Polish immigrant now living in Windham, New Hampshire, said the crash should "serve as a global lesson because no country should put all of its leaders in one plane."

Unfortunately, world leaders today are all on the same plane. They are on a jet hurtling forward into a future with no common vision in a confused fog of expectations and competitive impulses toward a destruction they can't escape.

What's next? Phase 2 of the Great Depression 2.0? An Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear program? A terrorist attack killing millions?

Carefully watch where you are piloting your plane. The prophecies of the Bible are happening like clockwork.

"Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled"

There is a lot to fear in today's world.

Every morning I check in with the news and survey my local scene, the national picture and the global status. It seems everywhere I look there is uncertainty about the future. Unemployment remains high, especially among the young. I was struck this morning by an article saying that in America, 20 percent of youth are jobless and the prospects for this year's graduating class are not good.

People are holding the line on debt but not ready to spend a great deal of money. Some say another round of home foreclosures is coming. This would threaten another round of problems for financial institutions whose plans and strategies are tied to these loans.

This morning President Obama signed a nuclear arms reduction agreement with Russia. It is hoped this will lessen the prospect of nuclear war. Yet rogue states like Iran push forward with their plans to develop nuclear weapons. Everyone knows what this would do for the stability of the Middle East.

But then you have fears as well. You know what they are, as they are much closer to your everyday life than the news items I mentioned above. We all have fears we live with daily and try to manage as we go about our everyday lives. This week's newsletter is not so much about world news and prophecy as it is about what might happen in your life or mine today, tomorrow or next week. Sometimes that is what's on our mind and matters the most.

Christ understood fear. On the night before His death He gathered with His disciples and gave them encouragement to go on with life and the mission of the Church. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

Christ's promise of peace comes from the power of the Holy Spirit. It comes from a deep abiding contact with God. That is the best and most rewarding source of strength for any of us in fighting back the challenges that life throws our way. We can read a lot of good material from insightful authors and teachers. But in the end it is the lifeline to the Creator God that matters most of all.

The Bible is full of many examples of men and women who conquered fear and met their challenges. One of my favorites is that of King Hezekiah of Judah when he was confronted by an invading Assyrian army bent on destroying his nation. When he received a hostile letter from the Assyrian leader full of threats, Hezekiah did something quite different from what a modern statesman might do. He took the letter and went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. He then asked God to save the people and the nation (Isaiah 37:14-20).

God did answer Hezekiah's prayer. Judah was spared. What I find encouraging here is the contrast between the hostile, discouraging words of the Assyrian and the uplifting words of Hezekiah's prayer. Words can cause fear and words can strengthen and empower. Prayer to God is a way forward through the fear of the moment. Remember Christ said He would give His peace. The way to achieve that peace is through contact with Him as the living Word of God.

The news headlines and the challenges of our lives can cause us fear. The key to mastering fear lies in the words and teachings of God from the Bible. Make sure you are using that source of strength, and you can face down any of the giants that dominate your path. It is God's promise to you.

Ask If You Want to Know

Teachers ought to rejoice when students ask questions. Asking indicates a student’s desire to gain knowledge and informs the teacher what the individual student doesn’t understand. All too often it seems that teachers feel their methods are somehow challenged when questions are asked. Many students have had their desire to learn quenched by the attitude of a teacher.

But the Greatest Teacher is different. God tells us to ask and we will receive (1 John 5:14; James 1:5). We need to ask according to His will and with the intent of learning and wanting to understand and change. If we do not ask, we will not learn.

In school, our questions may not always be addressed because teachers do not have all of the answers. Our questions may not always be answered right away when we pray either, but for a much different reason. God does have all the answers, but He has reserved areas in which He does not give out all of the information yet. He has a greater plan that we are a part of. Even though we may only be able to learn parts of God’s plan now, we will know exactly what is in store for us in time. Don’t lose the desire to search out the true answers.

10 Things You Should Know About God

"Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight" (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

A famous British judge, known for his strong belief in God, sometimes encountered people who said they didn't believe in God. He always asked them to describe the god they didn't believe in. After listening to their reply, he would tell them that he did not believe in the god they had just described either.

How few truly know and understand God today! In the words of one theologian, "Modern men often search for God in vain."

The main reason is that most people receive their concepts of God from other people rather than from God's inspired Word, the Bible. That is why their view of God almost never accurately matches the biblical revelation of what God is like.

Another reason is that many religious teachers have never accessed the real key that opens up the knowledge of God. That key is the gift of God's Holy Spirit—accessible to all those the Creator calls and who are willing to acknowledge who and what we are in relation to Him (Isaiah 66:1-2). And that gift of God's Spirit is only "given to those who obey Him" (Acts 5:32)—a biblical requirement ignored by far too many theologians.

The apostle Paul explains the only way that limitation in human understanding can be overcome: "But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' But God has revealed them to us [Christ's true followers] through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, emphasis added throughout).

Without God's Holy Spirit, human beings are helpless in seeking to comprehend the things of God: "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (verse 14).

So how do we go about discovering the things of God? Becoming better acquainted with the marvels of the creation and our awesome universe itself is one helpful key. "The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship," declared King David (Psalm 19:1, New Living Translation).

Yet the Bible itself is the one overriding key to knowing and understanding God. As it states, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16).

Let's briefly look at 10 major attributes and qualities of God that His Word teaches (realizing, of course, that there are many more).

1. God is our Creator

God is the Supreme Creator of everything. Yet in the last century and a half the theory of evolution has become a big barrier to belief in God as Creator. This atheistic line of thought dominates the thinking of the world's intelligentsia. In fact, much of modern higher education is based on an irrational belief in a series of lucky accidents—mindless evolution. (To see the falsity of this widely accepted theory, request or download our free booklet Creation or Evolution: Does It Really Matter What You Believe?)

God the Father accomplished the creation by and through His Son Jesus Christ. Notice what the apostle Paul tells us: "God . . . created all things through Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:9). He expanded this wondrous truth to the church at Colosse: "For by Him [Jesus Christ] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16).

Christ is the Creator! The book of Hebrews confirms this truth: "God . . . has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:1-2).

The awesome creation account in Genesis 1 is confirmed and complemented by the opening verses of John's Gospel: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:1-3). Verse 14 tells us that "the Word" through whom God created all things is Jesus Christ.

2. God is supreme Lawgiver

The apostle James, the Lord's brother, reminds us that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17). One of the greatest gifts God has given mankind is His spiritual law. This apostle then refers to it as "the perfect law of liberty" (verse 25). He also calls it "the royal law" (James 2:8).

One noted British professor of law wrote: "Law is all-pervasive. It exists in every cell of life. It affects everyone virtually all of the time. It governs everything in life and even what happens to us after life . . . It governs the air we breathe, the food and drink that we consume, our travel, sexuality, family relationships and our property" (Gary Slapper, How the Law Works, 2007, p. 1).

Why, then, do so many religionists believe and teach that God's law is a yoke of bondage? How they have distorted God's Word! The entire universe operates under the laws of physics. We can absolutely count on Halley's Comet appearing in the sky at a specific time. Our civilized world suffers enormous harm when the forces of anarchy gain the upper hand. Without law, human civilization could not long endure.

The prophet Isaiah tells us that "the Lord is our Lawgiver" (Isaiah 33:22). James states that "there is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy" (James 4:12).

Jesus Christ summed up the Ten Commandments in two broad principles: love of God, "the first and great commandment," and love of neighbor (Matthew 22:36-39). The Ten Commandments constitute a law of love. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3).

3. God is love

The word love is probably the most misused, misapplied term in the English language. Lustful desire to possess another person most certainly is not real love. Love is so often confused with lust in the TV and movie world. Many are misled into sin by countless fantasy films promoting illicit eroticism. (Stories of how wholesome relationships develop into true romantic love are rare in the entertainment media.)

The New Testament was originally written in Greek, which has the distinct advantage of having different words for different kinds of love. Agape is the term that best describes God Himself. It generally expresses altruistic, outgoing concern for others.

The apostle John explains, "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God—for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8, New Living Translation). Our Creator continually teaches human beings to love both God and neighbor.

Love is the first and foremost expression of God's Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is the first gift of God that every Christian should seek.

The apostle Paul tells us how love should function in a spiritually transformed person: "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity [sin], but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

What is the ultimate, perfect expression of God the Father's love for human beings trapped in their sins? The Bible gives us the answer: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

4. God is full of justice and mercy

God's love embraces both justice and mercy. He is a God of justice as well as abundant mercy. It is because of the divine attribute of justice that the penalty for our sins—our transgressions of God's law (see 1 John 3:4)—had to be paid. But it is through divine mercy that Christ died for our sins. Since "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), the sinless Christ suffered a cruel death in our place so that the God of justice could also show us His great mercy—thereby freely forgiving our sins so He could give us everlasting life.

The Bible takes sin seriously! Sin constitutes rebellion against God, who opposes all forms of evil. Cheap grace has never been part of the Father's plan and is absolutely contrary to His divine character. We have all broken His spiritual law, and true repentance is the first step on our way back to Him.

Yet reconciliation to God the Father could only be made possible by the steepest price imaginable—the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ. As the apostle Peter expressed it, "You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).

When Jesus returns to reign on the earth, He will bring order to the whole world—"and establish it with judgment and justice" (Isaiah 9:7). Also notice that "with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth" (Isaiah 11:4).

We should never overlook God's justice and His judgments, which are generously tempered by great mercy. James wrote that "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). Paul wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3).

5. God is eternal

Jesus Christ prayed shortly before His agonizing suffering that would end in His death, "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was" (John 17:5). The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to Titus about the "hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began" (Titus 1:2). God existed before everything!

Remember that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). The glorified Christ stated, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, . . . who is and who was and who is to come" (Revelation 1:8). "The Alpha and the Omega" is an idiomatic Greek expression denoting "the eternal creative existence of God" (The New Bible Dictionary, 1974, p. 26).

Hebrews 7:3 speaks of One who has "neither beginning of days nor end of life." This is the High Priest Melchizedek (verse 1), the One who later became Jesus Christ. (For the biblical evidence, see our free booklet Who Is God? ) Indeed, Christ's existence is "from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).

The prophet Isaiah recorded this awesome truth about God: "For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy . . ." (Isaiah 57:15). God the Father and Jesus Christ (the Word) have always existed. They are divine spirit beings (John 4:24). No one created Them. They were present before the beginning of the creation — before time began. They are eternal!

6. God is a family

The apostle Paul exclaimed, "I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named" (Ephesians 3:14-15).

God is not a closed Trinity, but an expanding family. Concerning the Trinity doctrine, The Oxford Companion to the Bible 's opening words under the article "Trinity" are enlightening:

"Because the Trinity is such an important part of later Christian doctrine, it is striking that the term does not appear in the New Testament. Likewise, the developed concept of three coequal partners in the Godhead found in later creedal formulations cannot be clearly detected within the confines of the [New Testament] canon" (Bruce Metzger and Michael Coogan, editors, 1993, p. 782, emphasis added).

The word later here is a vital key in understanding why general Christian belief became burdened with the Trinity doctrine. It wasn't until long after the Bible was written that theologians originally came up with the doctrine, and others added to and elaborated on it down through the centuries.

Regrettably, the Trinity doctrine has been a major barrier to clear comprehension of the biblical truth that God is a divine family. (To understand much more, request or download our free booklet Who Is God?)

The God family is headed by the Father and presently consists of God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ. Their plan and desire is fully focused on "bringing many sons [and daughters] to glory" (Hebrews 2:10). This has been planned from the beginning.

Jesus Christ is "the firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18)—"the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29). These passages mean that many more are going to join the family as divine spirit beings like the Father and Christ at the first resurrection, when the righteous are raised to everlasting life (see 1 Corinthians 15:49-54; 1 John 3:1-2; Revelation 20:6).

Those who are truly converted and have received God's Holy Spirit are already reckoned to be a part of the family (again, see Ephesians 3:14-15). They await the final step at the second coming.

At that time Jesus "will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body" (Philippians 3:21). Then it can be said in its fullest sense, "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Even this supremely important step involves only the firstfruits of God's salvation, as He will eventually add countless others to His family.

7. God is the great Healer

In spite of all the wondrous achievements and advancements in medical science, mankind is still plagued by diabetes, cancer, heart disease, AIDS, a host of harmful addictions and unending chronic ailments. Certain medicines can aid the healing process, though sometimes with serious side effects. Human beings still desperately need divine healing.

Over time our Creator has made it possible for doctors and researchers to gain marvellous insights into how our bodies function. Jesus Christ never spoke against the physicians of His day. On the contrary He said on one occasion, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick" (Matthew 9:12). Luke, who travelled extensively with the apostle Paul and wrote a large portion of the New Testament, was called "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14).

All that properly said, most Christians do not realize that the Bible describes God as our healer. "I am the LORD who heals you," He says (Exodus 15:26). Yet His miracle-working power does not always find much favor in our largely secular society. Even in a local area of the Holy Land some 2,000 years ago, the Bible states that Jesus "could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief" (Mark 6:5-6).

Nonetheless, He healed many during His earthly ministry: "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people" (Matthew 9:35). Still, many today are suspicious of divine healing, with even religious people assuming the day of miracles has passed into history.

A noted British theologian rightly contradicted this common assessment: "To deny even the possibility of miracles, whether from theological prejudice or scientific secularism, borders on the absurd. Since we believe that God is the sovereign Creator of the universe, he is certainly able to intrude into his own world. We have no liberty either to lock him up into one of our neat little boxes or to dictate to him what he is permitted to do" (John Stott, Evangelical Truth, 2003, p. 124).

Many Christians are not even aware of the Bible's instruction when they become ill: "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14). What is expected to happen? "And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up" (verse 15). But we should leave the way and the time to God's determination, as verse 16 indicates.

Jesus said, "According to your faith, let it be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29).

8. God is the ultimate planner

All human beings are important in God's eyes. The first man and woman were the crown of His physical creation. After all, He made them in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27), and we are their offspring.

Jesus Christ said, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth [referring to His crucifixion that would soon take place], will draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32). The first step in God's plan for humankind was the sacrifice of His Son so our sins could be forgiven. But His divine plan doesn't stop there.

Notice what Paul told the Christians of Ephesus: "He made known to us his secret purpose, in accordance with the plan which he determined beforehand in Christ, to be put into effect when the time was ripe: namely that the universe, everything in heaven and earth, might be brought into a unity with Christ" (Ephesians 1:9-10, Revised English Bible).

In this present age, much remains in chaos and confusion. "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now" (Romans 8:22). But it won't always be this way. Read the next verse: "Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption [or full rights of sonship], the redemption of our body [at the time of the resurrection]" (verse 23).

A little earlier Paul had written that "the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God" (verse 19). God is going to straighten everything out with the help of His resurrected saints. That is why He is calling the firstfruits of His family during this age of man. Many more will be called to salvation in due time.

God will complete His great purpose in the step-by-step order revealed in the Bible. Our Creator has revealed all seven steps of His majestic divine plan through the observance of the annual biblical festivals.

9. God reveals the future

No human seer or prophet could have accurately predicted the remarkable rise and fall of nations, leaders and people foretold in the Bible. God counsels us all to "remember the former things of old [the things He has already accomplished], for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done" (Isaiah 46:9-10).

Our Creator "calls those things which do not [yet] exist as though they [already] did" (Romans 4:17). He has the power, foresight and wisdom to bring things to pass according to His great plan and purpose for mankind. "Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will do it" (Isaiah 46:11).

God not only foretells a wondrous future world of prosperity, peace and plenty, but also a time of horrifying catastrophes that man will first bring on himself. Although our expanding modern technology, growing exponentially, lavishes on us many labor-saving devices our forefathers could only dream of, it has also produced incalculable means of self-destruction threatening our security.

Meanwhile crime and violence, sickness and disease, famine and starvation, poverty and unhappiness are accelerating just as God prophesied in His Word long ago. He is a living God of love and mercy, justice and compassion—and He will intervene to save humanity from itself (Matthew 24:21-22).

If God did not exist, truly our fate would be tragically sealed and all human life doomed. But He is our living, intervening God. He is quite aware of present world trends and is deeply concerned about our own self-inflicted plight. Humanity is caught in a destructive trap of rebellion against our Creator—and we are completely helpless to deliver ourselves out of it.

That is why God the Father will send His Son Jesus Christ back to earth to save us from ourselves (Revelation 11:15).

10. God cares for you

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997), brought caring and compassion into the forefront of the public mind. Noted British historian and journalist Paul Johnson wrote, "She had the most princely gift of making the most insignificant person feel important to her, the recipient of her undivided attention, no longer excluded and ignored but brought into the warm circle, welcomed, cherished, made much of."

Caring and compassion is one divine attribute that people sometimes overlook in considering our Creator. But King David didn't. He exclaimed: "But You, O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth . . . You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me" (Psalm 86:15-17).

In the Gospels we read that "when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick" (Matthew 14:14). The apostle James later wrote that "the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (James 5:11).

This sinning world in which we live inevitably creates much anxious worry in many people. But the apostle Peter tells us to exhibit true humility and trust in God in "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6-7). God is the ultimate caregiver!

David beautifully expressed our Creator's care and concern for you: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies" (Psalm 103:2-4).

Summing up

One passage in the book of Ephesians sums up what God wants His people to know and understand about Him. Paul told the Christians he wrote to that he prayed for them with this in mind: "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power" (Ephesians 1:17-19).

Our prayer likewise is that you will seek understanding of your Creator, receive what He reveals and experience the power of Him working in your life!