The Bible contains a substantial amount of evidence pointing to the existence of a spiritual realm beyond our physical world. This spiritual realm is inhabited by God, angels, demons, and the souls/spirits of people who have died. Here is an overview of biblical evidence for the spiritual realm: 1. The Existence of God The Bible clearly presents God as a spiritual being who exists outside of the physical universe. For example, John 4:24 states, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Throughout Scripture, God is described as eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and transcendent above…
Author: Erin Weitzman
The phrase “wisdom is justified by her children” comes from Matthew 11:19, where Jesus says: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” To understand what Jesus means here, we need to look at the context. In Matthew 11, John the Baptist, who is in prison, sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is truly the Messiah. Jesus responds by pointing to the miracles he has performed as evidence that he is the Messiah.…
Rejoicing in hope is an important part of the Christian life. Romans 12:12 says “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” This verse gives us three keys to living a life filled with joy and hope even in the midst of trials and difficulties. What does “rejoicing in hope” mean? To rejoice in hope means to have a confident expectation and delight in what God has promised to us for the future. As Christians, our hope is rooted in Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers us. Some of the hopes we can rejoice in include:…
The question of whether mono-ethnic churches, meaning churches that predominantly consist of and cater to one particular racial or ethnic group, are biblical has been debated by Christians. There are arguments on both sides of this issue. Some claim that mono-ethnic churches go against the unity and diversity that should characterize the body of Christ. They point to verses such as Galatians 3:28 which says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This verse teaches that earthly distinctions and divisions are…
Pietism is a movement within Protestant Christianity that originated in the late 17th century and emphasizes personal faith and holiness over doctrinal correctness or ritual. The Pietist movement was a reaction against the overly intellectual and ritualistic nature of Lutheran orthodoxy. Pietists advocated for a faith that was heartfelt and experiential rather than one focused on creeds and theological details. Some key characteristics of Pietism include: Emphasis on personal Bible study and devotions rather than reliance on clergy or formal liturgy Stress on the importance of being born again through conversion and having a personal relationship with Jesus Focus on…
The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of honor and how we can honor God and honor others. Here is an overview of some of the key teachings on honor found throughout Scripture: Honoring God We are called to honor and glorify God above all else. 1 Chronicles 16:29 states, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.” Ultimately, the highest form of honor is loving, worshipping and obeying God. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”…
The Bible has a great deal to say about God the Father. Here is an overview of some of the key things the Bible teaches about the Father: God is the eternal Father God has eternally existed as the Father. He did not become a Father when He created people or saved people – He has eternally existed as Father, Son and Spirit in perfect loving relationship (Ephesians 1:3-6). This means God’s fatherhood is essential to who He is. God is the Father of all humanity God is the Father and Creator of all people. Every human being is His…
Peter’s denial of Jesus is a key event recounted in the Gospels that took place in the hours leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. Though Peter was one of Jesus’ closest disciples, he denied knowing Jesus three times when confronted by people accusing him of being associated with Jesus. This article will examine the biblical accounts of Peter’s denials to understand the reasons and motivations behind his actions. All four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – recount the denials taking place after Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. After Jesus was taken into custody, Peter followed the group…
The phrase “delight yourself in the Lord” comes from Psalm 37:4, which says “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” To understand what this verse means, we need to examine it in the context of the whole psalm. Psalm 37 is attributed to David, and it’s an exhortation to trust in the Lord rather than being envious of evildoers who seem to prosper. The central theme is that the righteous should hope in the Lord, delight in Him, commit their way to Him, trust in Him, and wait patiently for Him (Psalms…
The phrase “what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” in Colossians 1:24 is a difficult one that has been interpreted in different ways by Bible scholars. Here is an overview of some of the main interpretations of this verse: Paul’s Sufferings for the Church One common interpretation is that Paul is referring to his own sufferings as an apostle on behalf of the church. In this view, Paul is saying that there are afflictions still to be endured for the sake of the church, and he is helping to fill up what is lacking by enduring sufferings for the sake of…