What is Justifying Grace? Justifying grace refers to the grace of God that brings justification and forgiveness of sins to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. It is the act of God declaring a sinner righteous through their faith in Christ. Here is an explanation of this important biblical doctrine: Justification Means Being Declared Righteous To be justified means to be declared righteous in God’s sight (Romans 3:20-24). Even though we are all sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory and standard of perfection (Romans 3:23), God declares those who put their faith in Christ to be…
Author: Kerry Baysinger
The Bible provides abundant evidence that Moses was a real historical figure who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Law from God. While some skeptics have questioned Moses’ existence, the biblical testimony about him is quite substantial. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about Moses and the historical clues supporting his life. Moses in the Pentateuch The first five books of the Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy – are known as the Pentateuch or the Torah. These books provide the most direct testimony about Moses, spanning his birth, calling by God,…
The phrase “doctrines of demons” comes from 1 Timothy 4:1, which says “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” This verse is a warning from the apostle Paul against false teachings that will arise in the last days before Christ’s return. Here is an examination of what these “doctrines of demons” may refer to: Distorting the Nature and Person of God One way demons seek to deceive is by spreading false doctrines about who God is. For example, presenting God as an…
The Bible has much to say about the existence and nature of angels. Angels are mentioned hundreds of times in the Old and New Testaments, confirming that they are real beings created by God. Here is an overview of what the Bible teaches about angels: Angels Were Created by God The Bible says that God created the heavens and the earth, including the angelic realm. Angels are spiritual beings made by God: “Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts…For he spoke, and they were made; he commanded, and they were created” (Psalm 148:2, 5). The book…
The folded napkin in Christ’s tomb after the resurrection holds great symbolic significance for Christians. Here is a 9,000 word exploration of what the Bible reveals about this remarkable detail. The Gospels tell us that when Mary Magdalene came to Jesus’ tomb early Sunday morning after the Sabbath, she found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty except for the burial linens. John 20:6-7 says, “Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths…
A benediction is a short blessing or prayer invoking divine favor and protection. In the Bible, benedictions are often used at the end of letters, sermons, or gatherings as a way to impart a final blessing or encouragement. The word “benediction” comes from the Latin word benedictio, meaning “to speak well” or “to bless.” There are many examples of benedictions throughout the Bible. Here are some of the key things to know about benedictions in the Bible: Types of Biblical Benedictions There are two main types of benedictions in the Bible: Priestly Blessing – These were blessings spoken over the…
Visualization is the practice of forming mental images or scenarios as a way to realize goals or desires. It involves picturing in the mind a desired outcome or result. Some common examples are visualizing success before a job interview, visualizing wealth and abundance to manifest financial prosperity, or visualizing good health to aid in healing. But what does the Bible have to say about visualization? Here is an overview of key biblical principles regarding visualization: Visualization Requires Faith, But Faith in God, Not Faith in Visualization The concept behind visualization is that mentally picturing something can help bring it into…
James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” This verse speaks to the importance of enduring struggles and temptations in the Christian life with the promise of an eternal reward for those who do. Here is an explanation of this significant verse: The Context of James 1:12 To fully understand James 1:12, it’s important to see it in light of the surrounding passage. James 1:2-12 discusses how Christians should respond to trials and temptations.…
The rebellion of Korah is an important event recorded in Numbers 16 of the Old Testament. Korah, along with Dathan, Abiram and 250 Israelite leaders, rebelled against the authority of Moses and Aaron. This rebellion had serious consequences and teaches us important lessons even today. To provide context, the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after being freed from slavery in Egypt. God had appointed Moses as their leader and Aaron as high priest. However, Korah and his companions became envious of the positions and authority held by Moses and Aaron. Numbers 16:3 tells us that Korah and his followers…
The Peshitta is the standard version of the Bible used in the Syriac churches. Syriac is a dialect of Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus and his disciples. Aramaic was the main language of Jews and early Christians in the Holy Land and Mesopotamia during the 1st century AD. The Peshitta contains the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. The name ‘Peshitta’ comes from the Syriac mappaqtâ pšîṭtâ which means ‘simple version’. This distinguishes it from the Septuagint or Greek translation of the Old Testament. The Peshitta was translated directly from the…