Growing in faith as a Christian means developing a deeper relationship with God through Jesus Christ and being transformed into His likeness by the power of the Holy Spirit. It involves trusting God more, obeying His Word, spending time in prayer and studying the Bible, being part of a church community, and serving others. Developing a Deeper Relationship with God At the core of growing in faith is having an intimate, personal relationship with God. Christianity is all about knowing God intimately, not just knowing about Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24). As we grow closer to God, we get to know His…
Author: Mike Solis
The practice of keeping idols and graven images is mentioned frequently throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. There are a few key reasons why some people kept idols and images used for worship and veneration, especially within families and households: 1. Idolatry was widespread in ancient cultures During Biblical times, the worship of idols and false gods was extremely commonplace. The cultures surrounding the Israelites such as the Canaanites, Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks all had complex polytheistic religions that incorporated idols into worship. Even when the Israelites entered the Promised Land, the Bible records that idolatry…
The Bible contains many metaphors that enrich its meaning and impact. Here are some notable examples of metaphor from both the Old and New Testaments: 1. God as a Fortress or Strong Tower Several verses use the metaphor of God being a fortress or strong tower, conveying the idea of God as a source of strength and protection: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2) “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the…
The question of whether belief in God is simply wish fulfillment is an important one that many people wrestle with. According to the Bible, faith in God is much more than just wishful thinking – it is based on compelling evidence and spiritual experience. Those who claim that faith in God is nothing but wish fulfillment often argue that people believe in God because they want there to be a loving, all-powerful being who will take care of them and make everything right in the end. While the desire for God to exist certainly motivates some people to believe, it…
James 1:17 states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” This verse teaches us that God is the ultimate source of all blessings in our lives. Let’s explore the meaning and implications of this passage: The Character of God James describes God as the “Father of lights.” This metaphor emphasizes God’s eternality, unchanging nature, and role as the Creator. As the source of all light, God exists outside of time and does not fluctuate like created things. He is…
The distinction between clean and unclean animals is first introduced in Genesis 7, when God commands Noah to take pairs of every kind of clean animal and seven pairs of every kind of unclean animal onto the ark. This distinction will carry throughout the Old Testament laws concerning food and sacrifice. Clean animals are those that God has designated as acceptable for eating and for sacrifice. Unclean animals are those that God has prohibited from being eaten or sacrificed. The criteria that determines whether an animal is clean or unclean is not fully explained in Genesis, but later passages provide…
Living for God’s glory means doing everything we do to honor and please Him. Colossians 3:17 reminds us that whatever we do in word or deed should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him. This verse gives us insight into how we can live our lives for God’s glory in practical ways. Understand What Brings Glory to God First, we need to understand what truly brings glory to God. God is glorified when His gracious and holy character is displayed. As we reflect God’s attributes like love, mercy, justice, wisdom and power,…
This is an important question that many Christians struggle with. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So if our sins are already forgiven through Christ’s death on the cross, why do we still need to confess them? Here are some key reasons: 1. Confession restores our fellowship with God When we sin, it damages our intimate relationship with God. Even though we are already forgiven through Christ, unconfessed sin can make us feel distant from God. Confession restores the joy…
This is a common question for many Christians who have strayed from their faith and fallen into sin. The good news is that the Bible offers hope and guidance on this issue. Let’s take a comprehensive look at what God’s Word says about sin, repentance, forgiveness, and baptism. The Nature of Sin First, we need to understand the serious nature of sin. When we knowingly go against God’s commands, we are rebelling against our Creator. Sin separates us from God and leads to spiritual death (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23). Every single one of us struggles with sinful desires and actions…
The Hail Mary is a traditional Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is based on two passages from the Bible – the greeting of the angel Gabriel to Mary in Luke 1:28, and the greeting of Elizabeth to Mary in Luke 1:42. The prayer is recited by Catholics repeatedly as a part of the rosary devotion, and also in other contexts. Here is a look at the origins, structure, and use of this iconic Catholic prayer. Origins of the Hail Mary Prayer The first part of the Hail Mary comes directly…