Traditional Legal Model Most sources will mention one or both of two ways to understand God is just: “For God to be just means that he is consistent, virtuous, innocent, and right.” (https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/what-does-it-mean-that-god-is-just.html) “… if God is fully just, He must punish our sins fully without holding back …” (http://www.thefellowship.site/blog/2016/11/18/god-of-paradox-merciful-and-just) The emphasis between the two concepts […]
Meaning of Exodus 20:5 Visiting the Iniquity God was often said to visit the iniquity upon people. We want to understand its use in the meaning of Exodus 20:5 and other places. Traditional Legal Model: In the Old Testament, the common phrase “to visit the iniquity” is understood in the sense of “to punish.” Biblical […]
Punishment in the Bible Punishment by God is badly misunderstood. The Bible does say He punishes. The important question about punishment in the Bible is: “how does God punish?” Traditional Legal Model – Pain or some other penalty (including temporal and eternal death) actively imposed by God as just retribution for sins committed. Biblical Healing […]
Matthew 25:46 Meaning “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:46) Note: this page is a supplement to the Character of God and the Gospel Glossary definition for “punishment” which explains the meaning of that concept. Here we are looking at the two words in the New […]
Traditional legal Model – a sinner is someone who commits a sin as in “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4) However, many people would call someone a sinner only if they were particularly bad and significantly worse (in terms of visible acts) than […]
What is the meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:21? (Note: this page provides more detail on the information at the page Made to be Sin – definition.) “Made him to be sin” is a strange-sounding concept. Which sin was He made to be? Can a person become an action? Jesus did not commit any sins or […]
“Made Him to be sin” sounds like a strange concept. Here is the key scripture verse: “For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor 5:21) This page includes the term “sinful flesh.” Traditional Legal Model – […]
(Part 23 of the Cleansing of the Sanctuary Series) “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt 6:10) In this last section of the Cleansing of the Sanctuary series we will take a look from another angle and consider whether that cleansing might go as far as to […]
(Part 22 of the Cleansing of the Sanctuary Series) “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God (often understood to be synonymous with the kingdom of heaven) is commonly thought of as heaven itself – the physical place where […]
James 4:8 Meaning – The Benefits of Cleansing (Part 21 of the Cleansing of the Sanctuary Series) James speaks of the need to cleanse ourselves: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:8) The fact that James 4:8 […]
