Monergism is a theological doctrine that teaches God alone brings about salvation through an internal calling and regeneration of an individual by the Holy Spirit. This contrasts with synergism, which teaches that salvation is a cooperative effort between God’s grace and man’s exercise of free will. The monergistic view of salvation is most commonly associated with Calvinism and Reformed theology. According to monergism, the natural state of man after the fall is unable to respond to the gospel. Man is dead in his sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1), so God must initiate salvation by awakening the sinner’s heart and renewing…
Author: Aaron Chin
The story of Peter walking on water is found in Matthew 14:22-33. This intriguing account offers several valuable lessons that are applicable to believers today. 1. Keep your eyes on Jesus, not your circumstances. After feeding the five thousand, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him by boat while he went to pray alone. As the disciples were crossing the sea, a strong wind arose and the waves grew very rough (Matthew 14:22-24). In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to the disciples walking on the sea. Understandably frightened, the disciples cried out, thinking he was a ghost.…
Sloth is often defined as laziness, idleness, or a reluctance to work and make an effort. The Bible has much to say about the dangers of slothfulness and the importance of diligence and hard work. Here are some key Bible verses about sloth: Proverbs 6:6-11 “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding…
Rebellion is a significant theme throughout the Bible. From the rebellion of Satan against God to human rebellion against authority, the Bible has much to say about this topic. Here are some key Bible verses about rebellion: Numbers 14:9 “Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” This verse comes as the Israelites are afraid to enter the Promised Land. God reminds them not to rebel against Him but to…
Exhortation is an important concept in the Bible. It refers to urging, advising, or cautioning someone to do what is right, good, and proper. Exhortation encourages people to have faith, hope, and love. It builds others up in their walk with God. The Bible contains many verses that teach about the importance of exhortation. Here are some key Bible verses about exhortation: Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” This verse emphasizes the need for daily exhortation to help prevent…
Jacob being called a worm in Isaiah 41:14 is a metaphor that highlights several spiritual truths about Jacob’s relationship with God. Here are 9000 words exploring the meaning and significance of this metaphor: The verse in question states, “Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 41:14 ESV) To understand why God would refer to Jacob in this way, we must first establish who Jacob was. Jacob was one of the patriarchs of the nation of Israel. He was the…
The Bible has a lot to say about burial practices and the significance of burial. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible passages that relate to burial: Old Testament Verses on Burial In the Old Testament, burial of the dead was an important practice. Some key verses include: Genesis 23:19 – “After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.” This verse describes Abraham burying his wife Sarah. Deuteronomy 34:6 – “And he buried him in the valley in the…
Seeking God and His truth is at the core of the Christian life. Here are some key Bible verses about seeking: Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. This verse reminds us that God loves when we seek Him, and promises that those who do will find Him. Seeking God requires diligence and devotion. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. We must seek God wholeheartedly, not half-heartedly. When we devote ourselves fully to pursuing God, we will find Him. Matthew…
Easter is the most important Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here is an in-depth look at the biblical meaning and significance of Easter: The Death of Jesus According to the Gospels, Jesus was crucified and died on the cross on Good Friday (Mark 15:37, Matthew 27:50, Luke 23:46, John 19:30). This was prophesied in the Old Testament that the Messiah would be “cut off” (Daniel 9:26). Jesus willingly laid down his life to pay for the sins of the world (John 10:15, Mark 10:45). He took upon himself the punishment that we deserved (Isaiah 53:5, 1…
The Ascension of Isaiah is an apocryphal text that likely originated in the 2nd century AD. It describes the prophet Isaiah’s visionary ascension through the seven heavens leading up to the highest heaven where he encounters the Lord on His throne. The text provides insight into early Jewish-Christian beliefs about the nature of the heavens, angelic beings, and future events surrounding the coming of the Messiah. Overview of the Ascension of Isaiah The Ascension of Isaiah consists of two sections known as the Martyrdom of Isaiah and the Vision of Isaiah that were later joined together. The Martyrdom details the…