The verse 2 Timothy 3:16 states that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” This verse teaches an important truth about the purpose and value of Scripture. Specifically, it tells us four key things: 1. All Scripture is from God When Paul says “all Scripture is breathed out by God,” he is affirming the divine inspiration and authority of the Bible. This means that while human authors wrote the words, God is the ultimate author of Scripture. The Bible has its origin in God himself (2 Peter…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
Joshua and Caleb are two of the most well-known figures in the Old Testament. They were part of the 12 spies Moses sent into Canaan to explore the land God had promised to the Israelites. While 10 of the spies gave a bad report and discouraged the people from entering Canaan, Joshua and Caleb had faith in God and encouraged the people to move forward. Their story is one of courage, faithfulness, and steadfast trust in God’s promises. Joshua and Caleb’s Background Joshua and Caleb came from two different Israelite tribes. Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8),…
The G12 vision or movement refers to a discipleship and church growth model that originated within the Pentecostal church in Colombia in the 1990s. The “G12” stands for “Government of 12”, reflecting the goal of each leader discipling 12 people, who will then each disciple another 12 people, and so on. Here’s a more in-depth look at the key aspects and history of the G12 vision: Origins and Growth The G12 model was pioneered by César Castellanos, the founder and pastor of the International Charismatic Mission church in Bogotá, Colombia. In 1983, Pastor Castellanos started implementing a cell group system…
The Bible frequently makes reference to the “right hand” of God. This biblical imagery underscores certain attributes of God’s nature and work. By exploring the significance behind this metaphor, we can better appreciate the intended meaning and theological importance. First, the right hand is often associated with strength, power, and authority. To be at someone’s right hand was to occupy the place of honor and prominence. Kings would seat their most trusted advisors at their right side. And warriors would wield weapons in their dominant hand. So for God to work by His right hand conveys His supreme might and…
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity in Christian theology. Together with God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit makes up the triune Godhead. There has been some debate throughout church history about the role and status of the Holy Spirit in relation to the other persons of the Trinity. This article will examine what the Bible teaches about the divinity and personhood of the Holy Spirit and whether worship should be directed toward Him. The Divinity of the Holy Spirit Scripture clearly presents the Holy Spirit as fully divine, co-equal with the…
The words “The joy of the Lord is your strength” in Nehemiah 8:10 offer profound insight into an often overlooked source of strength for believers in Christ. This verse comes within the context of the people of Israel, having returned from exile in Babylon, gathering in Jerusalem and hearing the Law of Moses read to them. Their response was mourning and weeping as they became aware of how far they and their ancestors had strayed from obedience to God. But Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites who were teaching the people said to them, “This day is holy to the Lord…
What does the Bible say about illegal immigration? The issue of illegal immigration is complex, with reasonable arguments on both sides. A balanced Christian perspective seeks to uphold both justice and compassion. The Bible does not directly address the issue of illegal immigration, but it does provide principles that can guide believers in thinking about this issue. Laws Exist for a Reason The Bible makes clear that God instituted governing authorities for the purpose of order, justice and protection (Romans 13:1-7). While Christians may advocate for just changes in immigration policy, the Bible does not support open defiance of immigration…
Being spiritually dead is a state of separation from God. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humanity’s relationship with God was broken (Genesis 3). Since that time, every person has been born spiritually dead, alienated from the life of God (Ephesians 2:1-3). This spiritual death is the root cause of all other problems we face in life. Spiritual death means that our spirits are dead to the things of God. We are insensitive to His voice, His truth, and His presence. The prophet Isaiah described the spiritual blindness and deafness that accompany spiritual death (Isaiah 6:9-10).…
In What Ways is the Christian Life Like the Olympics? The Olympic Games are one of the greatest athletic competitions in the world, where athletes from many nations come together to compete and represent their countries. Though on the surface, the Christian life and the Olympics may seem very different, there are actually several important ways in which they are similar when examined more closely. Training and Discipline Like Olympic athletes, Christians must train and discipline themselves to grow spiritually and live according to God’s standards. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 compares the Christian life to running a race and emphasizes the…
The division of the Bible into chapters and verses facilitates ease of reference, study, and memorization. While the books of the Bible themselves are of divine inspiration, the chapter and verse divisions were added later by human editors. Let’s take a look at the history behind who divided the Bible into chapters and verses that we use today. The Old Testament The Hebrew Old Testament was divided into verses by the Masoretes between the 7th and 10th centuries AD. The Masoretes were Jewish scholars who added vowel points and punctuation to the consonantal Hebrew text to aid in pronunciation during…