Experiencing true intimacy with God begins with understanding who He is. God is holy, sovereign, all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, unchanging, and full of grace and truth (Isaiah 6:3, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 147:5, Jeremiah 32:17, Psalm 139:7-10, Malachi 3:6, John 1:14). As our Creator, He knows us better than we know ourselves and desires an intimate relationship with us (Psalm 139:13-16). However, our sin separates us from His holy presence (Isaiah 59:2). Thankfully, God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins so that we could be forgiven and reconciled to…
Author: Matt Primack
Perseverance is an important Christian virtue that involves continuing in our faith and obedience to God despite difficulties, trials, and temptations. Here are some key Bible verses about perseverance: Romans 5:3-5 “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” This passage highlights how trials and sufferings can build our perseverance and character if we rely on God. Suffering is…
Going to hell is a frightening prospect that many people want to avoid. The Bible provides guidance on how to escape eternal punishment and instead receive eternal life with God in heaven. Here are some key principles from Scripture on how to avoid hell: 1. Believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior The Bible teaches that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven and escape hell. Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). God’s free gift of salvation and eternal…
A Bible society is an organization dedicated to translating, publishing, and distributing the Bible around the world. The primary goals of Bible societies are to make the Bible available to people in their native language, ensure the Bible is affordable and accessible, and engage people with the teachings of the Bible. History of Bible Societies The first Bible society was the British and Foreign Bible Society, established in London in 1804. This society was founded to address the lack of affordable Bibles in Welsh for Welsh-speaking Christians. Soon after, Bible societies spread to other European countries and the United States.…
Humanity has grappled with profound questions about the meaning and purpose of life since the dawn of civilization. The Bible, as God’s revealed word, provides perspective on life’s deepest mysteries. Here are some of the biggest questions in life and how the Bible provides insight into them: Where did we come from? The Bible teaches that human beings are created by God in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). We are made for relationship with God and created with intrinsic value and dignity. Our origin is not chance or randomness but the loving intent of a Creator who formed us.…
Martha is a significant biblical figure who appears in the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of John. She lived in the village of Bethany with her sister Mary and brother Lazarus, and was a friend of Jesus Christ. Though her appearances in the Gospels are brief, they offer intriguing glimpses into Martha’s character and her evolving relationship with Jesus. We first meet Martha in Luke 10:38-42, when Jesus comes to visit her home. While Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening to his teaching, Martha busies herself with preparing an elaborate meal and serving their guests. Frustrated that Mary isn’t…
The Lord’s Supper, also known as Communion or the Eucharist, is one of two sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ himself for the church. It involves partaking of bread and wine (or grape juice) as symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Christians have differed on the meaning and significance of this sacrament throughout church history. The real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper – that is, whether the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ or remain symbols – has been particularly controversial. There are several key reasons why views on the real presence…
Abimelech is an important biblical figure who appears in several stories throughout the Old Testament. Though there are a few different men named Abimelech mentioned in Scripture, the most well-known Abimelech is found in the book of Genesis. He was a Philistine king who briefly ruled over the city of Gerar during the time of Abraham and Isaac. Here is an overview of the key facts and events related to Abimelech in the Bible: Abimelech’s Interactions with Abraham In Genesis 20, Abraham and Sarah travel to the region of Gerar, where a king named Abimelech rules. Abraham fears that the…
The cedars of Lebanon are mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible, both literally referring to the tall evergreen coniferous trees that grew in ancient Lebanon, as well as metaphorically referring to the nation of Lebanon itself. Here is a comprehensive look at the many references to the cedars of Lebanon in the Bible. Literal References to the Cedars of Lebanon The cedars of Lebanon grew tall and majestic, some reaching over 100 feet in height. Their wood was highly valued for construction due to its aromatic quality, durability, and resistance to both rot and insects. As such, the cedars of…
The Bible has a lot to say about friendship. Here is an overview of some key Bible verses that discuss friends and friendship. Proverbs on Friends The book of Proverbs contains many insightful verses about friends and friendship. Here are some key examples: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). This emphasizes the loyalty and commitment true friends show even in hard times. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6). Friends sometimes wound us with hard truths in love, whereas enemies pretend to…