What is Sin? What is Diving Command Theory? Who Killed Saul? (1 Samuel 31 vs. 2 Samuel 1 Accounts)

What is sin? How do I know I’m saved? And did Saul die by suicide or murder? In this episode of the Ask A Christian Podcast, host Nate and the team tackle some of the most-searched theological questions on the internet—plus a healthy dose of hilariously bad AI-generated intro songs. We kick off with “What is sin?”—apparently the most Googled Christian question in its category. Chris delivers a masterclass in under 3 minutes: sin is lawlessness, a violation of God’s holy character. We walk through Romans, Acts 16:30-31, and the Gospel in the simplest terms possible—because if you can’t explain salvation clearly, you’re doing it wrong. Next, we dive into divine command theory vs. moral objectivity. Does God command things because they’re good, or are they good because God commands them? We tackle Old Testament controversies like slavery, genocide, the Amalekites, and whether God can be held accountable for the existence of evil. (Spoiler: primary vs. secondary causes matter, and no, Christianity doesn’t hold to arbitrary divine commands.) Then things get textually interesting: Did Saul commit suicide, or was he killed by an Amalekite? Steph brings a genuine Old Testament contradiction to the table—1 Samuel 31 vs. 2 Samuel 1—and we work through three plausible explanations involving lying Amalekites, failed suicide attempts, and the literary theme of deception in the books of Samuel. Rabbinical sources, the Hebrew word ger (sojourner/convert), and textual criticism all make an appearance. And because we can’t help ourselves, we preview multiple AI-generated intro songs that range from pop-punk to reggae to bluegrass. They’re terrible. You’re welcome. Whether you’re exploring Christianity for the first time, wrestling with hard Old Testament passages, or just here for the chaos, this episode has something for you—plus a reminder that Google doesn’t work fine for theology, no matter what the song says. For more content, visit: https://www.askachristianpodcast.com TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro & hilariously bad AI-generated podcast theme songs 05:03 – What is sin? The most-searched Christian question explained 11:14 – How do I get saved? Acts 16:30-31 & the Gospel in 3 minutes 21:15 – Divine command theory vs. moral objectivity: does God’s character define good? 42:50 – Old Testament controversies: slavery, genocide & the Amalekites 1:02:02 – Did Saul die by suicide or was he killed? 1 Samuel 31 vs. 2 Samuel 1 contradiction 1:17:17 – Examining rabbinical sources, the word ger, and lying as a literary theme in Samuel 1:30:05 – 2 Samuel 4: another lying assassin—David’s response to Ish-bosheth’s murder 1:37:06 – More terrible AI intro songs: reggae, bluegrass & “bucking bronco.” HASHTAGS #AskAChristianPodcast #WhatIsSin #HowToGetSaved #Christianity #BibleStudy #DivineCommandTheory #OldTestament #1Samuel #2Samuel #BiblicalContradictions #ChristianApologetics #Gospel #Salvation #Theology #SaulsDeath #BibleQuestions