John 1:9 states, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” This verse refers to Jesus Christ as the “true light” that came into the world. But what exactly does it mean that Jesus is the “true light”? Let’s explore this concept further. 1. Jesus reveals the truth about God Jesus came to reveal the truth about who God is. Throughout His ministry, Jesus taught extensively about God’s character and nature. He displayed God’s love, mercy, righteousness, and holiness through His words, actions, and miracles. Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father”…
Author: Mike Solis
The Common English Bible (CEB) is a relatively new English translation of the Bible, first published in 2011. It was created through a collaboration of over 100 biblical scholars from various denominations and backgrounds. The goal was to create an accurate, readable, and accessible translation for 21st century readers. Here is an overview of the CEB translation: Translation Philosophy The translators of the CEB aimed to balance scholarly accuracy with natural, idiomatic English that is easy to understand when read aloud. They wanted to create a translation suitable for personal devotion, worship, and memorization, not just an academic study Bible.…
Hebrews 11:3 states that “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” This verse speaks to the creation of the world and universe by God through His spoken word. Let’s explore the meaning and significance of this verse. The Creation of the World by God’s Word The verse establishes that it was by faith and not human reasoning or scientific observation that we understand the origin of the universe. God created the visible world out of nothing through His divine power. Genesis 1…
The Jews for Jesus are a Messianic Jewish organization that believes Jesus is the Messiah and seeks to evangelize Jewish people. They came into existence in the 1970s during the Jesus movement and have been spreading their message ever since. Here is an overview of their origins, beliefs, and practices: Origins of Jews for Jesus Jews for Jesus was founded in San Francisco in 1973 by Moishe Rosen, a Baptist minister who was the son of Jewish immigrants. Rosen had been involved in street evangelism and wanted to reach the Jewish community with the message of Jesus. He brought together…
The verse 1 Thessalonians 5:22 states “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (KJV). This verse is an important principle for Christians to follow in living their lives in a way that honors God and avoids sin. But what exactly does it mean to “abstain from all appearance of evil”? Let’s explore this verse in more depth. The Context of 1 Thessalonians 5:22 This verse comes within a broader section of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians where he is giving various exhortations about how they ought to live. In chapter 5 verses 12-22, Paul instructs them to: Respect and honor…
Trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not leaning on your own understanding is a key theme in the book of Proverbs. This verse encourages us to acknowledge God in all our ways and depend on Him rather than relying solely on our limited human wisdom and perspective. Here is an in-depth look at what it means to lean not on your own understanding: The Context of Proverbs 3:5 Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” This verse falls within the larger section of Proverbs 3:1-12…
The concept of offering a “sacrifice of praise” comes from Hebrews 13:15, which says “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” To understand what this means, we first need to explore the biblical background regarding sacrifices and praise in the Old Testament, and then see how the author of Hebrews is drawing on those ideas. Sacrifices in the Old Testament In the Old Testament, God instituted an elaborate system of animal sacrifices that were to be offered in the tabernacle and later in…
The Bible often describes God as “light” or associates light with God’s presence and glory. Understanding what it means that God is light can help us better comprehend God’s character and grow in our relationship with Him. God is the Source of Light Light is a fundamental part of God’s creation, and He is the original source of all light. Genesis 1:3 states, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” On the first day of creation, God called light into being. Just as nothing can exist physically without light, nothing can exist spiritually apart from the…
Walking in God’s ways means living our lives according to His will and commandments. Psalm 128:1 states “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!” This verse encourages us to follow the Lord’s ways so that we may be blessed and experience the abundant life God desires for us (John 10:10). Here are some key principles from Scripture on how we can walk in God’s ways: 1. Read, study and meditate on God’s Word God’s ways and teachings are revealed in the Bible, so reading, studying and thinking deeply on Scripture helps align our thinking and…
In Ephesians 1:18, the apostle Paul prays for the Ephesian believers “that the eyes of your hearts may be enlightened.” This is a profound prayer that highlights the importance of spiritual understanding and insight for followers of Christ. To understand this prayer, it’s helpful to first consider the context. In Ephesians 1, Paul has been describing the spiritual blessings that all believers have in Christ. These include election, adoption, redemption, and inheritance in Christ (Eph 1:3-14). Paul then notes that because of these incredible blessings, he hasn’t stopped giving thanks and praying for the Ephesians since he first heard of…