Forgiveness is a central theme in the Bible. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God calls His people to forgive others just as He has forgiven them. The Bible makes it clear that forgiveness is not optional for the Christian, but rather it is a command and characteristic of the new life in Christ. Here is an overview of some of the key biblical teachings on forgiveness: 1. God Forgives Us A foundational truth about forgiveness in the Bible is that God is a God of forgiveness. Scripture testifies to God’s willingness to pardon sinners who repent and…
Author: Emma Price
R.C. Sproul was an influential American theologian, author, pastor and founder of Ligonier Ministries. His teaching and writing focused on the holiness of God, the authority of Scripture and the need for personal repentance and regeneration through faith in Christ. Robert Charles Sproul was born in 1939 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From an early age, he had a passion for theology and apologetics. He went on to earn degrees from Westminster College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the Free University of Amsterdam. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. In 1971, Sproul founded Ligonier Ministries with…
Slander is a serious sin that is warned against throughout Scripture. Here is an overview of some key Bible verses about slander: Exodus 20:16 – “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” This commandment forbids lying about or slandering others. Telling lies about someone is a form of false testimony. Leviticus 19:16 – “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.” This verse condemns gossiping and spreading slander. Slander harms others and goes against God’s command to love our…
Cyril of Jerusalem was an important early church father and bishop of Jerusalem in the 4th century AD. He is well known for his Catechetical Lectures, a series of talks given to catechumens in Jerusalem as they prepared for baptism. Cyril provides important insights into early church liturgy, theology, and biblical interpretation. Cyril was born around 315 AD in or near Jerusalem. We know little about his early life. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop Macarius of Jerusalem around 335. In 350, Cyril became Bishop of Jerusalem after Maximus died. However, in 357 he was exiled from Jerusalem due…
Witnessing to others about one’s faith in Christ is an important part of the Christian life. Here are some key Bible verses about witnessing and sharing the gospel with others: The Great Commission – Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This passage contains Jesus’ final words to his disciples before ascending to heaven. Known as the…
The book of Proverbs in the Bible contains many wise sayings and instructions for living a godly life. Some of these proverbs have similarities to an ancient Egyptian wisdom text called the Instruction of Amenemope. This has led some scholars to propose that the author of Proverbs copied or borrowed some content from Amenemope. The Instruction of Amenemope is an ancient Egyptian wisdom text that dates to around 1200-1000 BC. It contains 30 chapters of advice and observations about life, morality, and society. The text was well-known in ancient Egypt and the wider Near East. There are similarities in content…
The land that God promised to Israel refers to the land of Canaan, which God pledged to give to the descendants of Abraham in the Old Testament. This Promised Land was described as “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). Though the boundaries were not precisely defined, the Promised Land generally corresponded to the territories of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah, located in the Levant region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. God’s promise to give this land to Abraham and his offspring was first recorded in Genesis 12:1-3, when He called Abraham to…
Trinity Sunday is a Christian feast day that celebrates the Holy Trinity, meaning the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It falls on the Sunday after Pentecost, which is seven weeks after Easter Sunday. Trinity Sunday is an important day in the liturgical calendar as it is dedicated solely to honoring the Triune Godhead. The Trinity refers to the Christian doctrine that God exists as three distinct persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – who share the same substance, essence and godhood. This belief differentiates orthodox Christianity from other faiths. The Trinity is considered a core doctrine central…
Cleanliness is an important concept in the Bible. God calls His people to physical and spiritual cleanliness. Here are some key Bible verses about cleanliness: Old Testament Verses on Cleanliness In the Old Testament, God gave many laws regarding cleanliness to the Israelites. These laws helped separate the Israelites from neighboring peoples and taught them the importance of purity. Some key Old Testament verses include: – Leviticus 11-15 – These chapters contain many laws regarding clean and unclean foods, purification after childbirth, diagnosing and treating infectious skin diseases like leprosy, and bodily discharges. They emphasize the importance of keeping both…
Redirecting our lives and focus towards God is a key theme throughout the Bible. Redirecting involves changing the trajectory and aim of our hearts, minds, and actions to align with God’s will and purposes. Here is an overview of what the Bible teaches about redirecting our lives: The Need for Redirecting Humanity’s natural tendency is to stray from God’s perfect standards and pursue our own flawed paths (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23). Left unchecked, this leads to spiritual death and destruction (Proverbs 14:12; Matthew 7:13-14). We need to be redirected back to the narrow path of righteousness that leads to life…