Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Matthew 5:13)

This saying puzzles modern Bible readers because when they think of salt, they think of that pure table salt in the cupboard which never seems to go stale.

This saying might also confuse the more scientific-minded Christian since they know that Sodium Chloride (NaCl) is a chemically stable compound.

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Question: What did Jesus mean when he told us not to judge others in Matthew 7:1?

The first portion of these verses is one of those passages of Scripture, which we must be careful not to strain beyond its proper meaning. It is frequently abused and misapplied, by the enemies of true religion. It is possible to press the words of the Bible so far that they yield not medicine, but poison.

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Question: What is your church’s position on abortion?

Answer: This statement was adopted by our denomination:

Believing that unborn children are living creatures in the image of God, given by God as a blessing to their parents, we therefore affirm that voluntary abortion, except possibly to save the physical life of the mother, is in violation of the Sixth Commandment (Exodus 20:13). We state the following reasons:

1. The Bible treats human personhood as beginning at conception (Psalm 139:13-16; 51:5; Jeremiah 1:4,5; Luke 1:14-44; 1:29-38; Exodus 21:22-25).

2. The Bible considers the human person to be a complete person (Genesis 2:7; Numbers 23:10; Deuteronomy 6:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). This unity is severed only by death and then only temporarily until the natural, intended union is restored at the resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

3. The Bible forbids murder because man is created in the image of God (Genesis 9:5, 6). The Bible further says that succeeding generations of men are conceived in the image of God (Genesis 5:1-3).

We call upon society and the church to show compassion toward unwed mothers and mothers of unwanted children. To this end, not only sympathetic counsel, but also concrete help should be extended (1 John 3:16-18; James 2:14-17).

But we also call upon our society to return to the law of God, recognizing the Word of God that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

Adopted by the 39th General Assembly of the OPC (Minutes, May 15-20, 1972, pp. 17-18, 149)

Question: How do I know if I am ready to consider marriage?

Answer: Here are some questions you need to consider (regarding your motives, level of maturity, and prospective spouse). If you can answer these affirmatively, then it would seem that you are ready to consider marriage.

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The evangelical Arminian acknowledges that God has foreknowledge, and that He therefore is able to predict future events. But if God foreknows any future event, then that event is as fixed and certain as if foreordained. For foreknowledge implies certainty, and certainly implies foreordination. (more…)