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Why do bad things happen to 'good' people?

...er in the Gospels we find that there were others who had a similar question for Jesus too in Luke 13:1-5, as they also wonder how can God let such bad things happen to righteous and good people (and possibly to try and trap Jesus with a tricky question): At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do...

Was there death before the Fall?

...he in the Gospels, it is made clear that eternal life is a gift which we are given through faith in Christ, and something we attain - not something we are born or created with (see: John 5:24; John 3:14-16; Romans 2:6-7; Romans 6:22-23; Titus 3:7; 1 Jn 2:25; Jude 1:21). In Revelation 2:7,  Jesus speaks of the Tree of Life as a reward and as a way in which eternal life is given as he promised: To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God. Is this how we attain our immortality? Jesus came to restore creation back to what was originally intended, and if eternal life was the plan (as it appe...

The Coming of Jesus: Coming on the clouds

...the other Gospels) alongside Revelation and seeing how, and if, history shows us that what Jesus prophesied as the signs of his coming were fulfilled.  If you enjoyed this, leave a comment below.   Further Reading: http://www.gotquestions.org/biblical-symbolism.html http://www.ligonier.org/blog/some-standing-here-will-not-taste-death-unfolding-biblical-eschatology/ http://livingthequestion.org/coming-of-god/...

What was so good about Good Friday?

...nd Luke's Gospels only; Mark skips it and John only alludes to it in John 1:14 ("And the Word became flesh and lived among us..."); and Paul too, only mentions Jesus's birth very briefly in Galatians 4:4-5 and Romans 1:3. Basically, the early Christians didn't care about this event in the same way we do today. And history would tell us this as well, as celebrating birthdays were a pagan/Roman tradition, the Christians had nothing to do with it. It wasn't until around the 4th Century when Pope Julius declared December 25th as the date in order to corresponded with the Roman feast of Saturnalia. But the real celebration, and the main thrust and focus in the...

Lent: Day 13 - Justin Martyr: First Apology, Chaps. 12-23

...from the Gospels, from his teachings on looking at a women with lust, to divorce, to praying for your enemies to not worrying about life. It’s a nice summary of Jesus’ moral teachings on the way in which we should strive to live, which Justin then follows on from with more of Jesus’ teaching on responding to violence and in swearing oaths saying, “[Jesus] has exhorted us to lead all men, by patience and gentleness, from shame and the love of evil” by which it is proved because many men who were like the Emperor “have changed their violent and tyrannical disposition” because of the examples of Christians. After all of this, Justin then seeks to cl...

Lent Day 23: Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 21-30

...ce in the Gospels we see that Legion begged Jesus to release them into the herd of pigs (Matt 8:31)! "But if they had power not even against swine, much less have they any over men formed in the image of God." And so, with all of this in mind, we ought to have only fear of God, and not of demons. Even if they come at us from all sides and intensify their attacks, all the more should we intensify our dedication to God and prayer to combat the evil one, reminding ourselves of the words of our Saviour in Luke 10:19 – “Behold I have given to you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy!” Amen!...