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Lent: Day 5 - Ignatius to the Ephesians

...fested in human form for the renewal of eternal life. Considering the date of this letter, this in itself is a good apologetic against more recent false claims that Jesus was only “made” divine at the Council of Nicea, when the gathered bishops and Emperor Constantine decided to alter centuries of Church doctrine and make Jesus into more than he supposedly was. This is, of course, total nonsense and even a cursory reading of Church History would dispel this notion, but the internet being what it is makes these heresies survive. Towards the end of the letter, Ignatius also gives us an overview of the gospel, and from what I understand, one of the earliest e...

How was Jesus a sacrifice?

...asn’t a human sacrifice to God, but by God so that we can be set free from the slavery of sin and be raised to new life where “death will be no more” (Revelation 21:4)! John 8:36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. Further Reading: https://hellochristian.com/3189-12-amazing-comparisons-between-jesus-and-the-passover-lamb https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/39619/was-jesus-christ-crucified-on-the-14th-of-nisan-april-3-33-or-the-15th-april https://www.theopedia.com/atonement-of-christ https://preachersinstitute.com/2013/05/07/about-the-paschal-lamb/ https://bible.org/article/another-look-%E2%80%9Clamb-god%E2%80%9...

From Paradise to Presents: The Christian Story Behind the Christmas Tree

...cted both humanity’s fall into sin and God’s redemptive plan through Christ. The Paradise Tree served as a visual catechism of sorts, teaching the story of salvation from the Fall to the Redemption. In a later tradition the wafers were replaced by cookies of various shapes, and candles, symbolic of Jesus as the light of the world, were often added to the trees. Pre-Christian Traditions and the Evergreen Evergreens have long been associated with life and resilience in the darkest days of winter. In pre-Christian European traditions, evergreen boughs were used during festivals like the Roman Saturnalia and the Germanic Yule. These practices celebrated the en...

The Neuroscience Of Resisting Temptation

...brain and human behaviour, and in one episode the main character capped off the episode by talking about how resisting temptations benefits your mental health. This piqued my interest, as it made me think of the obvious Scriptural connections, so I looked it up to see if the episode was accurate. And it was! A 2017 neuroscience research study highlights how beneficial self-control and resisting temptation are for your brain and mental health. These findings echo the timeless truths of Scripture, showing us that God’s design for self-control is not just a moral obligation but a pathway to wholeness and flourishing as a healthy person. The Science Behind Res...

From Dust to Redemption: The Meaning of Ash Wednesday

...minder of human mortality and the need for repentance. The ashes, often made by burning the palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday, symbolise both death and the hope of renewal in Christ. The day is also marked by fasting and abstinence in many traditions, such as within Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, the faithful are required to fast and to abstain from meat and dairy on various days. Many other denominations encourage similar practices or personal acts of self-denial as a way of focusing on spiritual growth. Churches hold special services where worshippers receive the imposition of ashes. The act is not merely ritualistic but is meant...