In Isaiah 9:6, Jesus is prophesied as the coming Messiah and referred to as “Wonderful Counselor.” This name reveals an important aspect of who Jesus is and what He came to do. As our Wonderful Counselor, Jesus serves as an excellent advisor and guide for all who put their faith in Him. The prophecy of the coming Messiah Isaiah 9:6 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This passage points…
Author: Nicole Sands
The Bible has a lot to say about God’s ability to turn curses into blessings for His people. One key verse on this topic is Deuteronomy 23:5, which says “But the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you.” This article will provide an in-depth look at what the Bible teaches about God transforming curses, sufferings, trials, and hardships into blessings and positive outcomes for those who love and follow Him. The Curse into Blessing Principle The principle of God turning curses into blessings is seen throughout Scripture. God takes…
Protestantism is a form of Christianity that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The term “Protestant” comes from the Latin word protestari meaning “to publicly declare or testify.” Protestants were called Protestants because they protested against doctrines and practices in the Roman Catholic Church, which they believed contradicted the Bible. Some key beliefs that distinguish Protestants from Catholics include: The Bible alone is the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice, not tradition or church leadership. Salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone, not by good works. All believers have direct access to God through Christ, not requiring…
The story of Achan taking the accursed things from Jericho during the conquest of Canaan is found in Joshua 7. Here is a brief summary: After the Israelites had miraculously defeated Jericho, Joshua sent men to spy out the city of Ai. Confident after their previous victory, the Israelites attacked Ai but were soundly defeated. Joshua and the elders of Israel mourned and prayed, wondering why God had allowed them to be defeated. God revealed that someone had transgressed His commandment and taken spoils from Jericho, which had been set apart for destruction. God instructed them to sanctify themselves and…
The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by over 40 different human authors over a period of 1500 years. Yet, it tells one unified story about God’s plan to redeem humanity from sin and death. The Bible is divided into two main sections – the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament The Old Testament contains 39 books written before the time of Jesus Christ. It was written originally in Hebrew and Aramaic. The Old Testament begins by describing God’s creation of the universe and humanity’s fall into sin. It then traces God’s dealings with the…
Having an “us vs. them” mentality as a Christian can be very dangerous and goes against many of Jesus’ teachings. Here is a 9,000 word article exploring this topic: The “us vs. them” mentality creates divisions between people and leads to prejudice, judgment, and conflict. As Christians, we are called to love others, even those different from us or who we may disagree with (Matthew 5:43-48). When we label people as “them” we can more easily dismiss, dehumanize, and even hate them. This breaks Jesus’ command to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31). An us vs. them mindset leads…
Throughout the Gospels, there are several instances where Jesus encounters demon-possessed individuals and commands the demons to be silent about His identity. This pattern has intrigued Bible scholars for centuries and raises an important question: Why did Jesus order the demons to keep quiet about who He was? There are a few key reasons scholars propose for Jesus’ insistence on the demons’ silence: 1. To avoid premature conflict with religious authorities In several instances, Jesus tells demons to be silent after they recognize Him as the Son of God or Messiah (Mark 1:34, Luke 4:41). Scholars suggest that Jesus wanted…
The reference to the “ten days of tribulation” is found in Revelation 2:10, which says “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” This verse was part of Jesus’ letter to the church in Smyrna. Smyrna was a city in Asia Minor that was an important commercial center at the time Revelation was written. The church there was suffering persecution and…
The verse Acts 5:29 states “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.'” This verse comes from a passage where the apostles were brought before the Jewish high council and ordered to stop preaching about Jesus. However, Peter responded that they must obey God rather than human commands. This principle has profound implications for Christians today. First, it establishes the supremacy of God’s commands over any human authority. As Creator, God has the right to dictate how we should live and act. No human leader, government, or institution has the right to override God’s moral…
The metaphor of God as a rock is used throughout the Bible to describe His strength, faithfulness, and reliability. Psalm 18:2 says “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” This verse paints a vivid picture of the protective and unshakable nature of God. Let’s explore the meaning behind this metaphor in more detail: 1. God is a strong foundation and anchor Calling God our “rock” means He provides a firm foundation for life. Just as a large…
