Pastor Marc Bertrand

The Bible and Marriage Equality As a Pastor and Father,I want it to be known that " The Bible Teaches the Equal Standing of Man and Woman" "Are men and women equal in God’s eyes?" Yes, men and women are equal in God’s eyes in that both men and women are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). Men and women are also equally sinners in need of grace and salvation. Redeemed men and women are equally forgiven, equally indwelt by the Holy Spirit, equally invited before the throne of grace, and equally heirs of God (Galatians 3:28). In Genesis 2:18 the Lord says, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” After God creates the woman from Adam’s rib (Genesis 2:21–22), Adam proclaims, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man” (Genesis 2:23). We then read the first description of marriage: “That is why a man leaves hi...

"What does the Bible say about giving to the poor?" In both the Old and New Testaments, we see God’s desire for His children to show compassion to the poor and needy. Jesus said that the poor would always be with us (Matthew 26:11; Mark 14:7). He also said that those who show mercy to the poor, the sick, and the needy are in effect ministering to Him personally (Matthew 25:35–40) and will be rew arded accordingly. There is no doubt that poverty’s reach is both widespread and devastating. God’s people cannot be indifferent toward those in need, because His expectations for us in regard to taking care of the poor are woven throughout the entirety of Scripture. For example, look at the Lord’s words about the goodness of King Josiah in Jeremiah 22:16: “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me, declares the LORD?” And Moses instructed his people how to treat the poor and needy: “Give generously to [them] and do so wit...

I thought Mary and Elizabeth were cousins — if they were, why didn’t John the Baptist seem to know who Jesus was when John was in prison and asked his disciples to go and ask Jesus if he was the Messiah? The evangelist Luke wrote of a biological relationship between the mothers of Jesus and John the Baptist. Reportedly, the Angel Gabriel told Mary, “Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son.” (Luke 1:36). Mary conceived Jesus when her cousin, Elisabeth, was six months pregnant with John. If Mary and Elisabeth were first cousins, John and Jesus would be second cousins. But more interestingly, we know when John was born. His father Zacharias served as priest during the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5), which was June 13 to 19, and John was conceived shortly after that. So he would have been born in late March or early April. Which, even more interestingly, means that Jesus would have been born six months later in late September or early ...

King James Bible Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.Galatians 3:16. 3:15-18 The covenant God made with Abraham, was not done away by the giving the law to Moses. The covenant was made with Abraham and his Seed. It is still in force; Christ abideth for ever in his person, and his spiritual seed , who are his by faith. By this we learn the difference between the promises of the law and those of the gospel. The promises of the law are made to the person of every man; the promises of the gospel are first made to Christ, then by him to those who are by faith ingrafted into Christ. Rightly to divide the word of truth, a great difference must be put between the promise and the law, as to the inward affections, and the whole practice of life. When the promise is mingled with the law, it is made nothing but the law. Let Christ be always before our eyes, as a sure argument for the defence of ...

God’s Promises to Abraham In Genesis 12:2-3 God made a promise to Abraham that continued far beyond this patriarch’s lifetime. What was this promise? Do the promises to Abraham still apply today? When God began working with Abram (his name was later changed to Abraham), God gave him a command and an amazing promise. The command was, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father ’s house, to a land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Explaining the promise He would give Abraham in exchange for his obedience, God continued: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (verses 2-3). This promise had multiple components, including the promise of multiple descendants, fame, divine protection and that Abraham through his descendants would be a blessing to all people. Abraham’s son Isa...

The Promised Seed, Jesus Christ Galatians 3:16  Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. The apostle Paul highlights the spiritual promises given to Abraham, the father of the faithful. God had given Abraham wonderful physical promises of land and a multitude of descendants, as well as the even more amazing spiritual blessings that would come through our loving Savior. Jesus Christ’s death made it possible for our sins to be forgiven so we could be offered salvation and eternal life in God’s Kingdom. In Genesis 22:18, after Abraham had shown he was willing to trust God with the life of his son, God said, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” This will have its ultimate fulfillment after Jesus Christ’s second coming when all nations will begin to have the opportunity for both physical blessings and, more importantly, the spiritual blessings of conversion...

"Why did David choose five smooth stones before going to fight Goliath? Was David doubting God? Was it because Goliath had five brothers? Or, was David simply being prepared?" Some presume that David took five smooth stones instead of just one because he had some doubt. However, there is no indication in the story of David and Goliath that by picking up five smooth stones instead of one that David was doubting God. Rather, David was simply being prepared. What if the Philistines attacked him after he killed Goliath? How would he have defended himself? David was simply being prepared when he took the four additional stones. Also, he couldn’t have known that one stone would be enough to kill the giant. God had not promised that David would kill Goliath with the first stone. David had experience in defending the sheep he guarded with his sling and stones. It would seem that the animals David had faced were far braver than the men with Goliath, because they all turned a...