Holiness is a central theme in the Bible. God calls His people to live holy lives, set apart for Him. Here are some key Bible verses about holiness: Leviticus 11:44-45 “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy… For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” This passage in Leviticus reminds the Israelites that God had set them apart from other nations to be His own special people. As God is…
Author: Nicole Sands
S. Michael Houdmann is a Christian author, Bible teacher, and founder of GotQuestions.org, a popular Christian Q&A website. Though not much is publicly known about his personal life, his work through GotQuestions has made a significant impact in helping Christians deepen their faith and find answers to their Bible questions. GotQuestions was launched in 2002 by Houdmann as a free online ministry aimed at providing well-researched, biblically-based answers to theologically-oriented questions. The site has grown tremendously over the years and now contains over 14,000 answers on a vast array of topics, with new content being added daily. GotQuestions also offers…
Letter from the President The Bible is a collection of writings that reveal God’s love, mercy, justice, and plan for humanity. As the inspired Word of God, the Bible speaks to every person in every age with wisdom, truth, and authority. In a world filled with confusion, the Bible provides clear guidance for life. As President, I want to share what the Bible has to offer on several important topics. On Leadership The Bible has much to say about leadership, offering timeless principles for anyone called to govern a country, community, or family. True leaders are servant-leaders who humbly steward…
Panendeism is the theological belief that God originated the universe but is now equivalent with it. The term combines the Greek words “pan” meaning all, “en” meaning in, and “deism” meaning belief in a God who created the universe but does not intervene in it. Panendeism posits that God created the universe but then became part of it or identical with it. This is in contrast to deism, which holds that God created the universe but remains separate and distinct from it. And panentheism, which believes God interpenetrates every part of nature but also transcends it. In panendeism, God is…
The Acts of Thomas is an early Christian text that recounts the apostolic ministry of Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. Along with the Acts of John, Acts of Peter, and Acts of Andrew, the Acts of Thomas is considered part of the New Testament apocrypha, writings relating to the apostles that were not included in the canon of the New Testament. The Acts of Thomas is thought to have been composed around 225-250 AD, likely in Edessa (located in modern day Turkey), and was originally written in Syriac. The text was later translated into Greek, Arabic, and…
The city of Gaza is mentioned multiple times in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. Located on the Mediterranean coast, Gaza was strategically situated between Egypt and lands to the north and east. Throughout its history, control of Gaza frequently changed hands between various powers in the region. In the Old Testament, Gaza is first mentioned during the time of Abraham as one of the cities whose king joined an alliance against the invading kings who had taken Lot captive (Genesis 14:1-2). At the time, Gaza was ruled by the Philistines. Later, when the Israelites returned to…
The National Baptist Convention of America (NBCA) is a predominantly African-American Baptist denomination in the United States. It was organized in 1915 following a split from the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. over several disagreements. The NBCA currently has an estimated membership of over 3.5 million people in over 8,500 churches. The NBCA adheres to Baptist doctrine and polity. This means they believe salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, baptism is for believers only by immersion, the Bible is the sole authority for faith and practice, and each local church is autonomous and led by…
The Thirty-nine Articles of Religion are the historically defining statements of doctrines and practices of the Church of England. The articles were initially published in 1563 and revised in 1571. Originally there were a total of forty-two articles, but some were eliminated in the 1563 revision, leaving us with the “Thirty-nine Articles” known today. The articles address many doctrinal and theological issues related to Protestantism and Catholicism. Let’s dive into what each of the articles covers: Article 1 – On Faith in the Holy Trinity This article affirms belief in the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son,…
Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is the day before Good Friday and commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion. It is a significant day in Holy Week during the Lenten season leading up to Easter. Here is an in-depth look at the meaning, significance, traditions, and practices associated with Maundy Thursday from a biblical perspective: The Origin and Meaning of “Maundy Thursday” The term “Maundy” comes from the Latin word “mandatum” which means “commandment.” During the Last Supper, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment to “love one another” as…
Annas and Caiaphas were two high priests who played significant roles during the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Here is an overview of their biblical accounts: Annas Annas served as high priest from AD 6-15 before being deposed by the Romans. However, he continued to wield considerable religious and political influence. Annas is mentioned in the Gospels during the arrest and trial of Jesus: Jesus was first brought to Annas after his arrest (John 18:13). Annas questioned Jesus about his disciples and teaching (John 18:19-23). Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas (John 18:24). As former high priest, he likely…