In Matthew 22, Jesus faces the Pharisees’ cunning questions, following his confounding of the Sadducees. The Pharisees aim to ensnare him, selecting a lawyer to probe his understanding of the law. Jesus, however, cuts through their legalistic approach, declaring the greatest commandment: to love the Lord with all one’s being. This emphasis on wholehearted devotion to God simplifies their complex disputes, emphasizing the essence of…
Story Category: Days of Unleavened Bread
It’s a Dark World – Brian Orchard leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
2 months ago in Sin
In a world shaped by personal perspectives and influenced by darkness, King David’s insights from Psalm 36 resonate with the current state of affairs. Describing the unconverted mind, he captures the pervasive wickedness that lacks a fear of God. Our era, marked by a moral decline and a post-Christian narrative, reflects this darkness. God’s warning in Deuteronomy 28 about the consequences of disobedience seems prophetic…
Solving Our Conflict with God – Gary Petty churchofgodnetwork.org
Ryan Welsh
9 months ago in Repentance
The notion that God accepts us as we are and allows us to remain unchanged is false. Our inherent hostility towards God and our inability to submit to His ways ultimately prevent true inner peace without reconciliation. Our hostile nature is often translated in The Old Testament as “abomination,” which means behaviors and attitudes detestable to God. Behaviors described as such include idolatry, homosexuality, witchcraft,…
“We’re Coming for Your Children!” – Scott Ashley ucg.org
Ryan Welsh
9 months ago in Sin
In the summer of 2022, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus faced criticism for an online music video in which members sang about indoctrinating children. The controversial lines spoke of converting children subtly; “You think that we’ll corrupt your kids if our agenda goes unchecked. Funny, just this once, you’re correct.”. After the fact, the group claimed it was satire, but the intent behind the…
The Problem With Abortion Is Bigger Than Abortion – Jeremy Lallier lifehopeandtruth.com
Ryan Welsh
1 year ago in Sin
For most Christians, the contentious subject of abortion has been approached with myopic fervor. The ending of abortion is seen as an end all good on its own. As highlighted by this article and the study it quotes, abortion is just a piece of the puzzle and is the result of a much deeper problem. A published study, that produced ire on both sides of…
A Realistic Approach to Growth – Jeremy Lallier sabbaththoughts.com
Ryan Welsh
2 years ago in Repentance
Within the book of Hebrews, Christians are called to “go on to perfection” (Hebrews 6:1). For many this one command encompasses in their mind the futility in trying to keep the law. Why? because achieving the goal seems hopelessly unachievable and therefore not worth the effort. What are we to make of this command? How do we, imperfect beings, go on to perfection? This article…
A Lesson From the Coal Mines – Donald Winchester, Isla Veal vision.org
Ryan Welsh
2 years ago in Law
One glaring issue within humanity has been that of selfishness. On a corporate or industry level, self-interest tends to materialize as profit over safety. This article highlights one industry that personified this tendency – mining. The coal mine industry was an extremely hazardous and deadly occupation from the onset. In 1907 for example, more than 3,000 miners lost their lives on the job. Those that…
Abortion: A Crisis of Global Proportions – Joshua Lyons youtube.com
Following the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe vs Wade, abortion proves to be one of the most contentious and polarizing of topics. The passion and emotion on both sides has been pushed to the brink. Laying out the mere statistics this video demonstrates the reality of abortion on a global scale. Abortion: the death and termination of a fetus or embryo. Scientifically speaking a human…
Five Words To Change The World… – Tomorrow’s World youtube.com
Our world is overcome with corruption, murder, theft, disease, hunger, abuse, greed, pollution, poverty, broken marriages and families – simply put, we live in a world of pain and suffering. Five simple words would completely transform life as we know it – “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 22:37-40) This simple command encompasses and addresses what so many desire – true peace. It’s not a…
Symbolism of Second Holy Day of Unleavened Bread Festival youtu.be
This is a 30 minute podcast group discussion about why there are two Holy Days in the Days of Unleavened Bread. The day maps to the Israelite’s crossing of the Red Sea. A greater symbolic meaning is addressed in Hebrews 12:2, where Paul said that we look “to Christ as the author and finisher of our faith”. He is the beginning or originator. He starts…
Fulfillment of the Law – Tim Vail leadingtolife.org
Ryan Welsh
2 years ago in Law
One modern accepted belief by mainstream Christianity is that the entirety of the Old Testament points to Jesus and therefore was nullified at His death. This approach misses the purpose of the law, seeing it as just legal requirements. What is lost is that, like Christ, the law pointed to the very mind and character of God the Father. The law is not opposed to…
Christ Our Passover cgi.org
Steven Orchard
2 years ago in Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread
This article explains why Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are relevant to modern-day Christians, and gives helpful guidance on how to observe them. God (the Word who would become Christ) instituted the Old Testament Passover when Israel was enslaved in Egypt. The blood of lambs was the symbol by which the Israelites were protected when the angel of death “passed over”. Thus, the…
“Not Everyone Who Says to Me ‘Lord, Lord’ …” – Erik Jones lifehopeandtruth.com
Ryan Welsh
2 years ago in Law
It may surprise many to learn that most of the teachings of Christ are not taught, in most cases, and are ignored by modern Christianity. Summarized by this article Christ taught that in order to be a genuine follower of Him (a Christian), one must believe and practice exactly what He taught. In addition, a church, a religious leader, or an individual can profess the name…
Are People Lost Because of Adam’s Sin? – Herbert Armstrong hwalibrary.com
Steven Orchard
3 years ago in Sin, Human Beings, Creation
Christian teachings concerning the “fall of man” hold that God made man complete, perfect, with an immortal spirit soul. Further, that this creation was then corrupted by Satan, forever condemning humanity to hell, and that God has ever since been trying to “save” men in a contest with Satan for these fallen souls. That’s not what the Bible says. Man is mortal. He does not…
Did Paul Do Away With the Law? thebiblesaysthat.com
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Law
Did Paul do away with the law? Many believe that he did just that…though scripture, and specifically Paul’s words do not support this belief. The Ten commandments are the foundation of the law of God and Paul speaks of each law specifically. (1 Cor 6:9-10) “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators,…
Original Sin – Sam Sweat ucg.org
Steven Orchard
3 years ago in Sin, Human Beings, Creation
Original Sin is a cornerstone of popular Christianity that claims human beings are born evil; i.e. Adam transmitted guilt for his sin to each of us by virtue of simple heredity. This is a fundamentally wrong premise with far reaching bad consequences throughout modern history for both Christians and non-Christians. The doctrine was championed by St. Augustine, who was a Gnostic blending paganism and Greek…
Lying vs. Telling the Truth – Dave Myers lifehopeandtruth.com
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Law
Are there ever moral grounds to lie? Do the ends of a lie ever justify the means? The short answer is “No”. Why? Because telling the truth is foundational within our relationships. The apostle Paul says to “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor”. Lying is destructive to us and others, destabilizing relationships whereas telling the truth creates stability. Again, this is…
Fulfillment of the Law – Tim Vail thefatherscall.org
Brian Orchard
3 years ago in Law, Days of Unleavened Bread, Law Done Away
Do all the laws of the Old Testament end with Christ’s death? Many believe that the 10 commandments as well as the statutes based on those laws are not binding on man today. This belief is supported by Jesus’ role as High Priest fulfilling many of the rituals observed by the ancient Israelites, such as animal sacrifices. So indeed, some Old Testament practices did end…
The Feast of Unleavened Bread: Pursuing a Life of Righteousness – Mike Bennett lifehopeandtruth.com
Brian Orchard
3 years ago in Days of Unleavened Bread
Immediately following the Passover, is the first day of Unleavened Bread. This day is a Holy Day and is the first of 7 annual Holy Days. There are 7 days of Unleavened Bread with the first and seventh being Holy Days. These days show us what we are to do once Christ’s sacrifice has been applied on our behalf. Through Christ and His death, we…
Unleavened Bread ucg.org
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Days of Unleavened Bread
There is a festival observance that modern Christians might think odd. Just following the Passover, for seven days, is the Feast of Unleavened Bread; days in which, after removing leavening from your home, you limit your consumption of bread to only unleavened bread (bread made without any leavening agent). Does this Old Testament observance have any relevance for modern Christianity? The apostle Paul indicates that…