Christian Doctrines

The New Testament contains roughly 250–283 direct quotations from the Old Testament, but if indirect references and allusions are included , the number rises dramatically—well over 1,000, with some scholarly counts exceeding 4,000. This shows how deeply NT authors relied on the OT to frame, validate, and explain their message. NT authors consistently show that Jesus fulfills OT promises. Direct quotations : About 250 (Holman Bible Dictionary) 283 (Wikipedia summary) 224–295 depending on counting method (Roger Nicole) Indirect quotations/allusions : Over 1,000 (Holman) 613–1640 (Toy, Dittmar) Up to 4105 passages reminiscent of OT (Huehn) At least 278 distinct OT verses are cited in the NT, spanning the Law, Prophets, and Writings. (StudyLight.org) Section of OT Approx. NT Citations Pentateuch (Law) ~94 Prophets ~99 Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, etc.) ~85 Books not explicitly cited Judges–Ruth, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Ezra–Nehemiah, Chronicles Books like Revelat...

The church is not comprised with those who are worthy, only one that is worthy, Jesus  We cannot expect highly for our church and family, else we will be disappointed. The church is the hospital for the sinners.   In Ephesians 5,  1. Husband loves the wife like Jesus loves the church.  2. Children honor your parents  3. Slaves summit to authority  This may be difficult to do, unless we submit to Christ.  We should avoid legalism. We shld not just "do" what is commanded, as no one can do all the commandment of God. (eg David)  St Augustine was rebellious but accepted Jesus just a few weeks after his mother died. Her mother's name was Monica (Santa Monica in California is named after her). She submits to her unbelieving husband and prayed for Augustin all her life.  We are not to be fishers of men, but to follow Jesus then he will make us fishers of men.  We need to surrender to Jesus in order to be successful in following the scriptural ...

Yesterday, I was studying Numbers 19. In that chapter, God spoke about the cleansing of Israelites who touched dead bodies or in an enclosed room with corpse. In order to cleanse them, they need to put the ashes of a red heifer into the water, and sprinkle on the unclean person. What amazes me in this chapter foreshadows what Christ had done for us. Here is the list of similarities:  1. The heifer was sacrificed outside the camp (v3). Jesus was crucified outside the city (Heb 13:12) 2. The heifer must be perfect, without a single blemish (v2). Jesus is without sin, a perfect sacrifice (1 Pet 1:19) 3. Heifer’s blood sprinkled in the sanctuary; Jesus blood cleanses us from sin (Heb 9:13-14) 4. Heifer’s ashes mixed with water for purification; Water represents the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, who sanctifies us. (Isa 44:3; Rom 8:9-11) 5. Heifer purifies from corpse (physical death) defilement (v11-13); Jesus cleanses us from sin and death. (Rom 6:23; 2Tim 1:10) 6. The “clean...

The Ark of the Covenant has a covering called "the mercy seat." It is a lid that has 2 cherubim facing each other on top of it. In Exodus 25:22 , God said “ There I will meet with you , and from above the mercy seat , from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.” In 1 Sam 6:19 , seventy Bethshemesh people (most likely Levites) died, as they looked into the Ark Covenant. "And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD" (KJV). Why did God smite the men? It's because they open the seat of mercy and looked inside the ark, where the tablets of the ten commandments are.  God told them that he will meet them on top of the mercy seat; but instead, they remove the mercy seat and looked inside, and they were judged and died according to the law.   If God had said we meet at the law tablets, then all of us would have d...

Introduction There are many different names in both the Old and New Testament rendered to God. Recognizing these distinctions helps us read Scripture with greater sensitivity to its rhetorical and theological layers. For example, when Hosea says “they have forgotten their Maker” (Hos 8:14), the emphasis is on Elohim as Creator, contrasting with their rejection of YHWH as covenant Lord. Each name is not just a label but a theological statement: Elohim → power and majesty. YHWH → covenant faithfulness. Adonai → authority. Father/Abba → intimacy and relationship. Immanuel → presence with His people. Common Names and Titles in Hebrew Scripture Elohim – “God” (Gen 1:1). Emphasizes His power as Creator and supreme deity. YHWH – "LORD". God's personal c ovenant name revealed to Moses (Exod 3:14). “I AM WHO I AM”.  Stresses His eternal, self-existent nature.  Used to stress God’s personal relationship with Israel. YHWH Elohim  -  " LORD God" - Combines ...

  Introduction There are two views of the types or numbers of Covenants between God and man. Reformed (Covenant Theology) sees Scripture structured around three overarching covenants (Redemption, Works, Grace), emphasizing God’s unified plan of salvation. Dispensational Theology sees multiple biblical covenants tied to distinct dispensations (periods of God’s administration), such as Edenic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenants, often distinguishing between Israel and the Church.  The difference between the Reformed (Covenant Theology) and Dispensational Theology 1. Core Idea: One unified redemptive plan vs Multiple distinct administration 2. Key Questions: How does God save? vs How does God govern history?  3. Israel & Church: One people of God (continuity) vs Distinct Peoples (discontinuity)  4. Eternal Focus: Very Explicit vs. Implicit but less systematized.  Reformed (Covenant Theology) Definition: Reformed theology interprets ...