Tag: Bible

God’s promise and Israel’s future

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JEFF TURNER

Some people today speak with strong views about what God plans to do with Israel. A key place in the Bible for this discussion is Romans chapters nine through eleven. In these chapters, Paul explains that God keeps His promises and does not turn away from what He has said before. Near the end of chapter eleven, Paul writes that all Israel will be saved. This line has often caused confusion.

The Bible is clear that there is only one way to receive salvation. A person is saved by faith in Jesus Christ. This rule does not change for any group of people. When Paul speaks about Israel being saved, I believe he is pointing to a future time when Israel as a nation will turn to Christ.

The book of Revelation gives more detail about this future. It describes one hundred forty-four thousand Jewish believers, made up of twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes. These believers will come to faith in Jesus and will share the gospel with both Jews and Gentiles across the world. Revelation speaks about them more than once.

Revelation chapter eleven also speaks of a strong spiritual turning in Jerusalem. When two witnesses preach there, the city responds by giving glory to God. The Old Testament prophets add that during Israel’s salvation, two-thirds will face judgment, while one-third will remain. That group will receive the blessings of Christ’s kingdom.

True Freedom in Christ

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RICHARD CORDER

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul speaks about the freedom believers have through faith in Jesus Christ. He uses the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar as an illustration to show the difference between living under the law and living under God’s promise. This story helps us understand that our salvation is not earned by human effort or religious rules but comes from trusting in Christ alone.

Paul was writing to Christians in Galatia who were being influenced by teachers known as Judaizers. These men insisted that believers had to follow the laws of Moses, such as circumcision, to be truly saved. Paul strongly opposed this message. He reminded the Galatians that salvation is through faith, not through the works of the law. Good works are the fruit of salvation, not the cause of it. They are evidence that someone truly belongs to Christ, but they do not earn a person’s place with God.

Paul explained that this false teaching was dangerous because it took away from what Jesus had already done on the cross. If salvation could be gained through the law, then Christ’s death would have been unnecessary. The apostle spoke clearly, “Yet we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” The law shows us our sin and our need for a saviour, but only Jesus brings freedom from sin and death.

To illustrate his point, Paul reminded the Galatians of Abraham’s two sons. Ishmael was born from Hagar, the servant, as a result of human planning. Isaac was born to Sarah, the free woman, as the fulfilment of God’s promise. Paul used this as a picture of two covenants. Hagar represents Mount Sinai, where the law was given, and this covenant leads to bondage because no one can perfectly keep the law. Sarah represents God’s promise, which leads to freedom through faith. Those who trust in Christ are like Isaac. They are children of promise, born not of human effort but by the Spirit of God.

Paul told the Galatians that believers must “cast out the bondwoman,” meaning they must turn away from the idea that human effort can bring salvation. Only those who rely on the promise of God through faith in Jesus are heirs of eternal life. Trying to earn salvation through good deeds is like returning to slavery after being set free.

Even today, many people believe that doing good works or following certain traditions will make them right with God. But scripture teaches that eternal life is a gift, not a payment for good behaviour. Paul wrote in Romans that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This truth reminds us that no human effort can remove sin. Only God, through His mercy and grace, offers forgiveness and freedom in Christ.

Paul urged the Galatians to stand firm in that freedom. To be free in Christ does not mean living carelessly, but living gratefully and obediently because of what Jesus has done. Obedience is no longer a way to earn salvation, it is a response of love. When we follow God’s ways, we do it not out of fear of punishment, but out of joy in belonging to Him.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

A call to pursue holiness in the new year

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JEFF TURNER

When a new year begins, people take time off work to celebrate. They gather with loved ones for meals and write down goals that most will forget about later. For Christians wanting to focus their hearts on what matters most in the coming year, there is an important question to consider. What does God want for His people?

I believe God desires holiness for those who follow Him. He wants His people to grow in purity and become more like Christ. This is not just one priority among many. It is the central reason God gave believers the Holy Spirit.

Church leaders are given their role to feed and nurture God’s people toward this same goal. The apostle Paul wrote with deep emotion about his longing to see believers mature in their faith. He told one church he wanted to present them to Christ as a pure bride. He told another group that he felt like he was in labor pains, waiting for Christ to be fully formed in them. These were not casual wishes. They came from the core of his spiritual concern.

Shouldn’t every Christian pray for holiness in their own life and in the lives of other believers?

Indian court rules Bible distribution and preaching not illegal without coercion

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JEFF TURNER AND RAMESH SINGH

The Allahabad High Court ruled this month that distributing Bibles and preaching religious doctrine are not crimes under Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law when there is no coercion or inducement involved. The decision was delivered by a Division Bench comprising Justices Abdul Moin and Babita Rani, who found serious flaws in how police had handled the case.

The case began when police registered an FIR based on a complaint alleging that the accused had hosted religious gatherings at his residence. The complaint described the use of an LED screen, the delivery of sermons, and the distribution of Bibles during these gatherings.

However, the court found that these activities alone do not violate the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. The judges noted that the FIR failed to identify any individual who had been subjected to coercion, inducement, or threats. At the time the complaint was filed, there was no identifiable victim in the case. The court emphasized that coercion, inducement, or fraudulent means are essential elements required to invoke the 2021 Act. The absence of any allegation of actual or attempted conversion was a central reason for the court’s intervention.

The bench was particularly critical of the Uttar Pradesh Police for their handling of the matter. The court faulted officers for registering an FIR without identifying any victim and for acting in haste in a case where no person had claimed to have been converted.

As a result of its findings, the court granted bail to the accused and issued notice to the complainant in the case. The ruling clarified that simply distributing Bibles or preaching does not automatically trigger the anti-conversion law. More broadly, the judgment reaffirmed constitutional protections for lawful religious expression in India.

Christmas in the Shadows: Millions of Christians Celebrate in Secret

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JEFF TURNER

For millions of Canadians, Christmas is a public and joyful time. Streets are filled with lights, churches welcome everyone to services, and families gather freely. Around the world, however, there are Christians who experience Christmas very differently. In many countries, celebrating the birth of Jesus can lead to arrest, prison, or even death. As a result, countless believers are forced to celebrate Christmas in secret, if they can celebrate at all.

Those living in high-persecution areas often keep their Christmas joy hidden. Singing carols, decorating a tree, or attending church can be dangerous. For these believers, faith is something practiced quietly, behind closed doors, where safety comes before celebration.

In some countries, Christmas is completely banned. North Korea is one of the harshest examples. The government sees Christianity as a direct threat to its leadership. All Christmas worship and holiday displays are illegal, and even owning a Bible is considered a serious crime. Since 2016, citizens have been ordered to honour Kim Jong-suk, the dictator’s grandmother, who was born on December 24, instead of celebrating Christmas. Any attempt to recognize the birth of Jesus can result in severe punishment, including forced labour or worse.

In Somalia, public Christmas celebrations have been illegal since 2015. The country’s ministry of religion has instructed police and national security forces to actively stop Christmas events. Christians who attempt to gather openly face danger not only from authorities but also from extremist violence, making Christmas a time of fear rather than joy.

Other countries allow Christmas only under strict legal limits. In Brunei, public Christmas displays have been banned since 2014. The government says the ban is meant to protect Muslims from being influenced away from Islam. Christians are allowed to celebrate privately in homes or churches, but public celebrations are forbidden. Muslims who take part in Christmas activities, such as wearing Santa hats or joining festivities, can face up to five years in prison. It is also illegal for Christians to share their faith with Muslims.

In some places, Christmas is permitted only if the government tightly controls it. In China, celebrations are limited to government-approved churches and groups, and the rules vary by region. People under the age of 18 are legally banned from attending church services, including those held at Christmas. Churches are also pressured to include communist ideology in sermons and worship, reshaping religious messages to match state values.

In Iran, Christmas gatherings are allowed only in registered churches and approved areas. Unregistered house churches, especially those made up of converts from Islam, are often raided. In November 2025, two Christian converts were sentenced to two years in prison after authorities broke up a Christmas planning meeting. Church services are not allowed to be held in Farsi, the country’s main language. Instead, they must use minority languages such as Armenian or Assyrian, a rule designed to limit the spread of Christianity.

In other regions, the main threat comes not from laws but from violence. In northern Nigeria, Christian communities are frequently targeted by ISWAP, an extremist group linked to the Islamic State. Kidnappings and executions are common, especially around major Christian holidays. These attacks create constant fear and make public Christmas worship extremely dangerous.

Despite all of this, many Christians continue to mark Christmas in quiet and personal ways. Some meet secretly in small groups. Others pray alone in their homes. Many remember the meaning of Christmas without decorations, music, or public worship.

For Canadians, these stories are a reminder that freedoms often taken for granted. For millions around the world, Christmas still comes, but it arrives quietly, behind closed doors, and at great personal cost.