The Fruit of the Holy Spirit – What is Goodness? Goodness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. It refers to moral excellence, virtue, and genuine inner righteousness that comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Definition of Goodness The Greek word translated as “goodness” in Galatians 5:22 is agathosune. It means uprightness of heart and life. Vines Expository Dictionary defines goodness as “uprightness of heart and life.” It is goodness motivated by God’s divine love. Goodness is the quality of being morally good or virtuous. It is associated with kindness, generosity, and…
Author: Nicole Sands
Eleazar was an important figure in the Old Testament, mentioned over 60 times across several books of the Bible. He was the son of Aaron and played a vital role as a priest and leader of the Levites. Here is an overview of who Eleazar was and his significance according to the Bible: Lineage and Family Eleazar was the son of Aaron and Elisheba (Exodus 6:23). He had three brothers – Nadab, Abihu, and Ithamar. After Nadab and Abihu were killed for offering unauthorized fire before God (Leviticus 10:1-2), Eleazar and Ithamar were appointed to take their place and serve…
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit – What is Peace? Peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. It is an inner calm and tranquility that comes from being reconciled with God through faith in Jesus Christ. The peace of God surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7). As followers of Christ, we are called to live in peace with others and strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3). What is Biblical Peace? Biblical peace (Hebrew: shalom, Greek: eirene) refers to completeness, soundness, and well-being. It encompasses…
The ten plagues of Egypt recorded in Exodus chapters 7-12 were ten catastrophic judgments God unleashed against Egypt to accomplish His purposes in delivering Israel from bondage. The plagues were part of God’s plan to judge Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt, free the Israelites, and demonstrate His power before Egypt and the world. Here is a brief overview of the ten plagues: Water Turned to Blood (Exodus 7:14-25) Frogs (Exodus 8:1-15) Lice (Exodus 8:16-19) Flies (Exodus 8:20-32) Livestock Diseased (Exodus 9:1-7) Boils (Exodus 9:8-12) Hail (Exodus 9:13-35) Locusts (Exodus 10:1-20) Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29) Death of the Firstborn (Exodus 11:1-10)…
This is a fascinating question that many people have wondered about. To answer it, we need to look at what the Bible says about Jesus and what it means to be a Christian. Jesus’ Identity According to the Bible The Bible presents Jesus as the divine Son of God who took on human form. He is the second person of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit (John 1:1-14). Jesus existed eternally with the Father and the Spirit. At a point in time, He took on human flesh and was born into…
The concept of “white privilege” has become a contentious topic in recent years. From a biblical perspective, how should Christians understand issues of racial privilege and disadvantage? At the outset, it is important to state clearly that the Bible condemns prejudice and injustice based on race or ethnicity. Scripture teaches that all people are made in God’s image and have equal dignity and worth (Genesis 1:27). Followers of Jesus are called to love their neighbor as themselves (Matthew 22:39), regardless of ethnic differences. However, the Bible does not specifically use the term “white privilege.” This is a modern sociological concept…
This is a complex question that arises when someone from a culture that allows polygamy converts to Christianity. The Bible does not provide a direct command on what to do in this situation, so Christians have interpreted the Scriptures in different ways. There are a few key factors to consider: 1. The Bible affirms monogamy as the standard for marriage Although polygamy was practiced and tolerated in Old Testament times, the creation account in Genesis establishes God’s ideal as monogamy: “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one…
The Parable of the Fig Tree is a parable told by Jesus in the New Testament. It is found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The parable has significance and meaning in relation to Jesus’ predictions about the end times and his second coming. The Parable The Parable of the Fig Tree is as follows: “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.”…
The Medo-Persian Empire was one of the great world empires of ancient history. It played a major role in biblical events during the time of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, and other prophets. Understanding the Medo-Persian Empire provides important historical context for properly interpreting these portions of Scripture. Origins of the Medo-Persian Empire The Medo-Persian Empire was formed through the unification of two groups: the Medes and the Persians. The Medes were an ancient Iranian people group who inhabited the mountainous region of northwestern Iran. They established a strong kingdom centered around Ecbatana (modern Hamadan) that lasted from the 7th to…
The way of salvation according to the Bible is through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that all people have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). As a result, we are separated from God and deserving of eternal death (Romans 6:23). But God in His love sent His Son Jesus to provide the way of salvation for us. Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again defeating sin and death. The way of salvation is believing and trusting in what Jesus did for us on the…