Forerunner: Preparing Christians for the Kingdom of God



The Sin of Hypocrisy (March-April 2015)

March-April 2015
Volume 24, Number 2


No one wants to be called "two-faced," but we cannot deny that we have all played the hypocrite from time to time. Whether we have professed one thing and done another or pretended to be something we are not, hypocrisy is a serious spiritual sin that springs from pride and fear, and corrupts good character. Well does Scripture exhort us to beware hypocrisy. (iStockphoto)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Twelve):
Paradox, Conclusion

The paradox that Solomon mentions in Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 is not in itself a difficult concept. The problem is that Solomon provides little in terms of an answer to the spiritual dangers that can arise from it. John Ritenbaugh reveals that a Christian's peril lies in his possible reactions to the paradox—the most serious of which is an impulsive lurch into super-righteousness.

Ready Answer
Why Was Jesus Not Crucified as Passover Began? (Part Two)

by David C. Grabbe

Many Bible students scratch their heads over the timing of Christ's crucifixion, believing that it should have coincided with the Passover events in Exodus 12. David Grabbe explains that the timing of our Savior's death reaches even further back, into the life of Abraham, the father of the faithful, and the covenant God made with him.

Prophecy Watch
What Is Joel 2 Really About?

by Mike Fuhrer

The prophecies of the Minor Prophets are frequently overlooked, and Joel's prophecy—a slim three-chapter book—is no exception. Mike Fuhrer contends that church members are likely to misunderstand the literal meaning of the prophecy of Joel 2, in which God's mighty army sweeps across the countryside and into the city without serious opposition.

Bible Study
Beware of Hypocrisy

by Martin G. Collins

In the gospel accounts, the Pharisees receive the lion's share of Christ's correction for their blatant hypocrisy, and they have become a byword for that sin. Martin Collins explores the extent of this sin, which can reach to the point of the unpardonable sin, and suggests how we can overcome it.