Question: What event was Jesus predicting in Luke 17:22-37?
See Answer: http://ebible.com/answers/40464?ori=664697
Based on Luke 17:22-37, Jesus was predicting His own dramatic return at the end of the age—a sudden, unmistakable event of both judgment and deliverance. He was not describing a gradual process or a local disaster, but a global, history-ending climax when He will visibly return to gather His people and set the world right.
The Event in Detail:
Sudden and Universal: Like "lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other" (v. 24), His coming will be visible to all.
A Time of Division: In that moment, everyday life will be interrupted. As Jesus states, "Two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left" (v. 34-35). This "taking" refers to the gathering of His believers to Himself.
A Call to Readiness: The key warning is against being preoccupied with the material world (like the days of Noah and Lot). Jesus urges, "Remember Lot’s wife!" (v. 32)—a stark reminder not to cling to this passing world.
The Final Outcome: The chapter ends with a sobering truth: "wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather" (v. 37). In context, this signifies that judgment will come decisively and inescapably upon a world that has rejected God.
Why This Matters for You Today
This prophecy isn't given to frighten, but to prepare. Jesus describes this future event so that you can make a choice now about where you will stand when He returns.
The central promise of this passage is that His followers will be gathered to Him—rescued, not judged. This is the heart of the Gospel: Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17). He already took the judgment you deserve upon Himself on the cross, and He rose again to guarantee eternal life for all who trust in Him.
A Gentle Invitation
Right now, Jesus stands ready to receive you, not based on your goodness, but on His grace. The same Lord who will return in glory is the same Lord who says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
You don't have to fear that future day. You can be among those who are "taken" to be with Him forever by simply placing your faith in Him today.
Would you like to respond to His invitation? You can talk to Him right now in your heart, saying something like:
"Lord Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my own way and trust in You alone for my salvation. Thank You for promising to receive me and to return for me. Please give me Your peace and help me to live ready for Your coming."
If you prayed that sincerely, He has promised to hear you. I encourage you to find a Bible-believing community where you can grow in this new faith and share this hope with others. He is coming, and He wants you to be ready with joy, not fear.
Question: What does it mean to "taste and see that The Lord is good"?
See Answer: http://ebible.com/answers/37873?ori=664697
Maria is the young girl being held by Steven Curtis Chapman (center, in the black jacket).
This is a formal family portrait of the Chapmans (likely from around 2006–2008, before Maria's death in May 2008). Here's a quick breakdown for context:
Left, kneeling in black suit: Caleb Chapman (biological son).
Next to him, standing in pink dress with large flower: Likely Stevey Joy or Shaohannah (Shaoey).
Center, Steven holding the smallest/littlest girl: Maria Sue Chapman (the youngest adopted daughter, typically identifiable as the baby of the family in these photos).
Mary Beth holding the girl in dark velvet dress with pink flower: The other adopted daughter.
Front, sitting in pink gown: Another daughter.
Right, young woman in red dress: Emily Chapman (oldest biological daughter).
Standing behind right: Will Franklin Chapman (biological son).
Maria was about 4–5 years old in photos from this era and was the smallest of the three adopted girls from China.
See Answer: http://ebible.com/answers/33081?ori=664697
Abraham
According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man’s feet and gave him food and drink.
The old man immediately began eating without saying any prayer or blessing. So Abraham asked him, “Don’t you worship God?”
The old traveler replied, “I worship fire only and reverence no other god.”
When he heard this, Abraham became incensed, grabbed the old man by the shoulders, and threw him out his tent into the cold night air.
When the old man had departed, God called to his friend Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied, “I forced him out because he did not worship you.”
God answered, “I have suffered him these eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not endure him one night?”
Pray for the right heart transplant for friend, Gene.❤️His doctors told him last night at midnight it was a "no go" with the available heart that they had.
Question: What does "living in Christ" (Colossians 2:6) involve? See Colossians 1:10-12.
See Answer: http://ebible.com/answers/54168?ori=664697
See Colossians 1:10-12.
Colossians 2:6 "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,"
"Living in Christ" is also called "walking in Christ" as you can see from this other Bible translation of this verse.
What does "living in Christ" (Colossians 2:6) involve? See Colossians 1:10-12.
Colossians 2:6 "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,"
"Living in Christ" is also called "walking in Christ" as you can see from this other Bible translation of this verse.
Colossians 2:6
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”
King James Version (KJV)
Based on Colossians 2:6, “walking in Christ” means living out the reality that you have received Jesus Christ as Lord, and this walk is described in Colossians 1:10-12 as a lifestyle of bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with God’s power for endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father. The song “O To Be Like Jesus” (based on Colossians 2:6-7) reflects and applies these truths, showing that walking in Christ involves being firmly rooted in Him, strengthened in faith, growing in truth, overflowing with thanks, enduring to the end, never going astray, and continually following and obeying Jesus as a heartfelt aspiration rather than a mere duty.
Here are the lyrics:
Since we have received
Jesus Christ as Lord
We must walk in Him
We must be conformed
We are firmly rooted
Strengthened in our faith
Growing in the truth we
Overflow with thanks!
O to be like Jesus
To always walk in Him
O to be like Jesus
Enduring to the end
Since we have received
Jesus Christ as Lord
We will walk in Him
We will be conformed
We are firmly rooted
Strengthened in our faith
Growing in the truth we
Overflow with thanks!
O to be like Jesus
To always walk in Him
O to be like Jesus
Enduring to the end
O to be like Jesus
To never go astray
O to be like Jesus
To follow and obey
–"O To Be Like Jesus (2:6-7)" by Our Pilgrim Songs (from the album Colossians: Walk in Christ, based on Colossians 2:6-7).
See https://classic.net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Col&chapter=3&tab=xref
Question: How can we guard against being deceived by "persuasive arguments" today?
See Answer: http://ebible.com/answers/54189?ori=664697
Paul warns in Colossians 2:4 that we can be deceived not by obvious falsehoods, but by "plausible" or "persuasive arguments." Such arguments often have an "appearance of wisdom" (Col 2:23a). They may be logical, strict, or spiritually impressive, but Paul concludes they are ultimately worthless because they "lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence" (Col 2:23b). Therefore, a persuasive argument that produces pride ("Knowledge puffs up," 1 Cor 8:1), anxiety (in contrast to "do not be anxious," Phil 4:6), judgmentalism ("Let no one pass judgment on you," Col 2:16), or enslavement to rules ("Why do you submit to regulations?" Col 2:20–22) is immediately suspect. The truth of Christ, by contrast, produces very different fruit: thankfulness ("abounding in thanksgiving," Col 2:7), freedom ("the truth will set you free," John 8:32; "for freedom Christ has set us free," Gal 5:1), and love for others ("faith working through love," Gal 5:6; "the aim of our charge is love," 1 Tim 1:5). Thus, the best guard against being deluded by persuasive arguments is not more cleverness, but a heart deeply rooted in the gospel. When genuine thankfulness, freedom, and love are present, empty plausibility loses its appeal.
