GAMBLING
God’s plan for man was to work for his living (Genesis 3:17–19). Gambling by its very nature is trying to get someone else’s money without working for it. When you gamble, you either hurt someone by getting their money, or they hurt you by getting yours. It is a bad testimony. Gambling can be compulsive, and many have lost their entire life savings trying to get rich quick.
GAP THEORY
There is a belief that was popularized a couple of centuries ago when people started to believe in the old age of the earth. There are different variations of this belief, but basically, they believe that before the creation account in Genesis, God created other animals and even another race of people that died by a great judgment before the six days of creation in Genesis Chapter 1. People who hold to this belief will put between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 all the fossil records and any “evidence” for an old earth that could be explained as having happened before the creation of Adam. Today this belief has few adherents. These people often defend the Scriptures and normally do not hold to evolution, but they use this to explain away the supposed great age of the earth.
But today there are many good books and websites about the young earth that give reasons why evolution is not possible (see CREATION—this has websites for a young earth). As to the clear teaching of the Scriptures, the Bible says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin…” (Romans 5:12). There was no sin before Adam and thus no death before Adam. “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:21–22; see ADAM). The Bible only records two judgments for the earth: the flood of Noah and the coming judgment of fire (2 Peter 3:7, 12). God did not destroy an old earth and remake it for man. This is still the first one, and there will not be another until the end of the age. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away” (Revelation 21:1). Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” And the Ten Commandments tell us, “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth…” (Exodus 20:11). Therefore the creation of heaven and earth in Genesis 1:1 was part of the six days of creation.
GENTILES
In the Bible, Gentiles most often refers to non-Israelites. And though most Christians come from the Gentiles, in God’s eyes we are considered a new person in Christ. “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh…for to make in himself of twain [Jews and Gentiles] one new man, so making peace” (Ephesians 2:11–15). Both Jews and Gentiles who trust Christ are now Christians. “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Corinthians 10:32).
GIVING, or offerings (see TITHE)
God’s plan for man was to work for his living (Genesis 3:17–19). Gambling by its very nature is trying to get someone else’s money without working for it. When you gamble, you either hurt someone by getting their money, or they hurt you by getting yours. It is a bad testimony. Gambling can be compulsive, and many have lost their entire life savings trying to get rich quick.
GAP THEORY
There is a belief that was popularized a couple of centuries ago when people started to believe in the old age of the earth. There are different variations of this belief, but basically, they believe that before the creation account in Genesis, God created other animals and even another race of people that died by a great judgment before the six days of creation in Genesis Chapter 1. People who hold to this belief will put between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 all the fossil records and any “evidence” for an old earth that could be explained as having happened before the creation of Adam. Today this belief has few adherents. These people often defend the Scriptures and normally do not hold to evolution, but they use this to explain away the supposed great age of the earth.
But today there are many good books and websites about the young earth that give reasons why evolution is not possible (see CREATION—this has websites for a young earth). As to the clear teaching of the Scriptures, the Bible says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin…” (Romans 5:12). There was no sin before Adam and thus no death before Adam. “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:21–22; see ADAM). The Bible only records two judgments for the earth: the flood of Noah and the coming judgment of fire (2 Peter 3:7, 12). God did not destroy an old earth and remake it for man. This is still the first one, and there will not be another until the end of the age. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away” (Revelation 21:1). Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” And the Ten Commandments tell us, “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth…” (Exodus 20:11). Therefore the creation of heaven and earth in Genesis 1:1 was part of the six days of creation.
GENTILES
In the Bible, Gentiles most often refers to non-Israelites. And though most Christians come from the Gentiles, in God’s eyes we are considered a new person in Christ. “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh…for to make in himself of twain [Jews and Gentiles] one new man, so making peace” (Ephesians 2:11–15). Both Jews and Gentiles who trust Christ are now Christians. “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Corinthians 10:32).
GIVING, or offerings (see TITHE)
