Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” This verse teaches that as Christians, we were created by God to do good works that fulfill His purposes. Let’s explore the meaning and implications of this important passage: Created by God for Good Works The first key phrase is “we are his workmanship.” The Greek word for “workmanship” is poiema, which refers to something made or produced. As Christians, we are God’s poiema – His work of art, His masterpiece. God created us and…
Author: Erin Weitzman
The verse in Hebrews 10:31 states, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” This verse points to the seriousness and weightiness of the judgment of God that awaits those who reject Christ’s sacrifice for sins. Here are some key reasons why it is so fearful to fall into God’s hands without trusting in Christ: 1. God’s holiness and justice demand punishment for sin As a holy and just God, He cannot overlook or excuse sin. His righteousness requires that He punish sinners and transgressors of His law (Deuteronomy 32:4; Exodus 34:7). Even the…
Being “missional” means living out the mission that God has given to all believers. The mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ by proclaiming the gospel message and exemplifying the character of Christ. The missional movement emphasizes that all Christians are missionaries called to spread the good news of Jesus wherever we are. It’s a mindset shift away from expecting people to come to church events and activities. Instead, every follower of Christ is encouraged to live on mission daily in their families, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and third spaces. The Biblical Basis for Being Missional The missional lifestyle for…
The Bible has much to say about why people can be irrational at times. Though created in God’s image and possessing reason and intellect, all people are affected by sin in a fallen world. This contributes to flawed thinking, emotions overriding logic, selective bias, and more. By turning to God’s Word, we can gain insight into the root causes of irrationalities and learn to overcome them by His grace. One key reason people can act irrationally is that human judgment is imperfect and limited in perspective. As Isaiah 55:8-9 explains, God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. We lack…
The Bible has a lot to say about how Christians should handle confrontation and conflict. Confrontation is an inevitable part of life, but the Bible provides wisdom on how to deal with challenging situations and disagreements in a godly manner. Speak the truth in love Ephesians 4:15 says we should “speak the truth in love.” Even when we need to confront or correct someone, we should do it from a place of love and concern, not from a place of pride or arrogance. We should have the person’s best interests in mind. Proverbs 27:5-6 says, “Better is open rebuke than…
Determining Noah’s age when he died requires some careful analysis of information provided in the Bible. The Bible does not directly state Noah’s age at death, but it provides enough clues to arrive at a reasonable estimate. Key facts about Noah’s life Here are some key facts from Genesis that help establish a timeline for Noah’s life: Noah was 500 years old when he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came on the earth (Genesis 7:6). The flood lasted for a total of 370 days (Genesis 7:11; 8:13-14).…
Adoni-Bezek was a Canaanite king who ruled from Bezek during the time of the judges in Israel. Though the Bible does not provide many details about his life and reign, what it does reveal paints a picture of a ruthless warrior-king who eventually faced divine justice for his cruel actions. His Conquests and Cruelty The first time Adoni-Bezek is mentioned in Scripture is in Judges 1, which records his battle against the armies of Judah and Simeon. Verse 4 states that “Judah went up, and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they defeated ten…
The phrase “the wicked one” appears in 1 John 5:19, which says “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” This verse gives us insight into who “the wicked one” or “the evil one” is referring to. Based on the context of 1 John and other passages in the Bible, “the wicked one” or “the evil one” is referring to Satan or the devil. He is called the wicked/evil one because he stands in opposition to God and promotes wickedness and evil in the world. Here are some key…
The Bible does not directly mention dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is a powerful psychedelic compound that induces intense, short-lived hallucinogenic experiences when consumed. DMT is produced naturally in small amounts in the human body and is also found in many plants. Some people refer to DMT as the “spirit molecule” or “God molecule” because of the mystical experiences it can produce, which has led to controversial speculation about its relationship to spiritual states or divine encounters. However, the Bible warns against sorcery, witchcraft, and illicit drug use. Passages such as Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 21:8, and Revelation 22:15 condemn sorcery and drug…
Breastfeeding is a natural part of God’s design for mothers and babies. The Bible has a positive view of breastfeeding and emphasizes the importance of mothers nourishing their children. Here are some key points about what the Bible says about breastfeeding: 1. Breastfeeding is God’s plan for mothers and babies The Bible shows that God designed mothers’ bodies to produce milk to feed their babies. When Eve gave birth to Cain, it is implied she nursed him: “Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord”…