Heb. 8:6 - "based on better promises"The Old Testament was based on earthly promises that pertained to this life (prosperity, posterity, longevity, etc). The New Testament, however, is based on better heavenly promises that pertain to a life eternal that never grows old, to an inheritance that never fades (Heb.8:6). It is very important for a Christian to understand the difference of life under the Old Covenant and life in the New Covenant. The New Covenant comes with the promise of the Holy Spirit, of eternal life, of eternal inheritance, of eternal...
Do Not Quench the Spirit
"Do not quench the Spirit." (1Thess.5:19)The Spirit is quenched by: 1. Ignoring the voice of the Spirit (Heb.4:7)2. By careless talk (Eph.4:29)3. By lovelessness, bitterness, anger, and lack of forgiveness (Eph.4:30,31)4. By willful sinning and not esteeming highly the value of Christ's blood (Heb.10:29)5. By opposing the work of the Spirit (Matt.12:31,32).When one hardens his heart against the voice of the Spirit, the Spirit will stop striving with...
Acts 3:6 Christ didn't leave with us silver and gold
"Silver and gold have I none..." (Acts 3:6)How often the things that we seek after are not what Christ left for us when He ascended to heaven! How attractive is a religion that promises silver, gold, good job, land, house, prosperity, and all worldly things! Jesus didn't leave any of such things for His disciples. But, these are what the modern Judas Iscariots are trying to sell Jesus off for; for filthy lucre that is good for none. And, no wonder...
The Wheat Must Die To Bear Fruit (Jn.12:24)
"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." (Jn.12:24)There comes a time when you have to stop being fruit and start bearing fruit; but, that only comes by dying to the compulsions that hinder us from falling into the bosom of God, the Ground of our so...
God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ (2Cor.1:3)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2Co.1:3)~The New Testament, after the Cross, no longer addresses God as the "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob", since that term applied only to those under the Old Covenant. Through the Seed, the Son of Promise, Jesus, we are brought into a New Covenant that He made with His own blood. Now, God is known to us as the "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." His sonship is according to the Spirit; His priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek. Therefore, we no longer have confidence...
God is Our Father
God is our Father.1. A Caring Father (Mat.6:32)2. A Chastening Father (Heb.12:6)3. A Comforting Father (2Cor.1:3)....
Vedic Worship
Satapatha Brahmana Part II (SBE26), Julius Eggeling tr. [1885], at sacred-texts.comThere is no indication of temples in the Vedic period. Also, there is no record of idol worship in the Vedas. However, there is mention of altars. The altar (vedi) was considered to be earth’s extremest limit; and sacrifice, the navel of the world (RV.1.164.35). One of the altars was made to sit on the earth, was considered to be eye-shaped, and the sacrifice was directed...
Vedic Theology
Max Mueller (1823-1900)There have been various interpretations of Vedic theology throughout history. But, one of the most original was suggested by Max Muller (1823-1900), an authority on the Sanskrit language and translator of several ancient scriptures, which helped him compare religions not only theologically but also linguistically. In his Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion as Illustrated by the Religions of India (1878), Max Muller...
The Vedas
Rig Veda Manuscript“Veda” means “knowledge.” The chief scriptures of the Vedic age were the four Vedas: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda. These were chiefly books of hymns that were sung or chanted during the sacrifices. They were composed in Vedic Sanskrit. Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanisads were attached to each of these Vedas later on. In the original format, the four Vedas are referred to as the Samhitas (or Collection). The...
Vedic Society (C.1750-600 BC)
The Vedic Age begins with the supposed arrival of the Aryans and the composition of the Rig Veda. Again, there are differences of opinion regarding whether the Aryans really arrived or they were the original inhabitants of the land. For instance, in his History of India, Mountstuart Elphistone wrote, “There is no reason whatever for thinking that the Hindus ever inhabited any country but their present one; and as little for denying that they may...
Religion in the Pre-Vedic Age (c3000-1700 BC)
The earliest traces of some form of religion in the Indian sub-continent were discovered at the excavated sites of the Harappan Civilization (also known as the Indus-Valley Civilization) that is dated to have flourished between c3000-1700BC.Modern scholarship seems to be more in favor of the theory that the Harappan Civilization was closer to Dravidian than to Aryan. This is concluded on the basis of meticulous study especially of the Indus script...
