The Bible uses the term “perversion” to refer to something that deviates from God’s intended design and purpose. When something is called a perversion in Scripture, it means it is a corruption or distortion of something God created to be good. There are several key areas where the Bible speaks about perversion: Sexual Perversion One common usage of “perversion” in Scripture relates to sexual sins that go against God’s design for intimacy between a husband and wife. Several verses address sexual perversion: – Romans 1:26-27 refers to homosexuality as “dishonorable passions” and “contrary to nature.” It is a perversion of…
Author: Erin Weitzman
God’s perfect will is His ideal plan for each of our lives. It encompasses every decision, goal, relationship and circumstance. God desires an intimate relationship with us and for us to glorify Him with our lives. As we seek to align our will with His perfect will, we experience the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10). The Bible teaches that God has a specific plan for each of our lives. In Jeremiah 29:11, God says, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”…
God’s mercy and justice are both integral aspects of His nature that are perfectly balanced in His plan for salvation. God’s mercy refers to His compassion, grace, and willingness to forgive sinners. His justice refers to His fairness, righteousness, and need to punish sin. At first glance, they may seem incompatible – how can a just God simply forgive sin? Yet God beautifully resolves this dilemma through Christ’s atonement on the cross. The Bible teaches that all people are sinful by nature (Romans 3:23) and deserving of death and judgment before a holy God (Romans 6:23). But God in His…
The Bible has a lot to say about scoffers and scoffing. A scoffer is someone who treats something or someone with contempt or ridicule. Scoffing often involves mocking, jeering, scorn, or irreverence. Several verses in Scripture address the problem of scoffing and provide insight into how God views scoffers. Old Testament warnings about scoffers In the Old Testament, there are several verses that warn against scoffing and mockery. Proverbs 3:34 says, “Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.” This indicates that God oppose scoffers. Proverbs 9:7-8 also says, “Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself…
The phrase “blessed are those who mourn” comes from the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:4, where Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” This verse can seem puzzling at first – why would those who are mourning and sorrowful be considered blessed or happy? A closer look at the meaning provides insight into God’s care and purposes for those experiencing grief and loss. The Context of the Beatitudes The Beatitudes come during the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches vital principles of the kingdom of heaven. He contrasts the values of God’s kingdom with the…
The verse “by strength shall no man prevail” is found in 1 Samuel 2:9, which says “He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.” This verse points to a profound spiritual truth – that ultimately, real power and victory do not come through human strength or effort, but from God. There are a few key things we can understand from this verse: 1. True and lasting victory comes from God, not man. The verse makes it clear that “by strength shall no man prevail.” No…
The question of whether Jesus was a prophet is an important one for both Christians and non-Christians alike. According to the Bible, Jesus was much more than just a prophet – He was the Son of God and the Messiah who came to save humanity from sin. That said, there are several reasons why Jesus can also be considered a prophet based on the biblical accounts of His life and ministry: 1. Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecies Throughout the Old Testament, there are over 300 prophecies about the coming Messiah, many of which Jesus fulfilled. These include prophecies about His birthplace…
The Bible does not explicitly state exactly how long Jesus was on the cross before he died. However, based on the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, scholars have estimated that the total time was most likely between 6-9 hours. The Gospels tell us that Jesus was crucified at the third hour (Mark 15:25), which equates to 9 AM according to the Jewish method of reckoning time. The Gospel of Mark then states that darkness came over the whole land from the sixth hour to the ninth hour (Mark 15:33), which would be from around noon to 3 PM.…
The book of Hebrews was written to encourage early Jewish Christians to remain faithful to Christ amid persecution and hardship. In chapter 3, the author warns against developing an unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God (v. 12). As an antidote to unbelief, he urges his readers to “exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’” (v. 13). What does it mean to exhort one another daily, and why is this important? The Meaning of “Exhort” The Greek word translated “exhort” is parakaleo. It means to call near, to invite, appeal to, urge, encourage,…
Sin is a major theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures make it clear that all people have sinned and fall short of God’s perfect standard (Romans 3:23). As a result of sin, humanity’s relationship with God has been broken. Thankfully, God did not leave humanity in this state of separation. Through Jesus Christ, God made a way for people to be freed from the penalty and power of sin. So what does it mean to be free from sin? At its most basic level, it means a person has been forgiven of their sins and declared…