The saying “In God We Trust” has profound significance for Christians. It encapsulates the biblical teaching that our ultimate faith and dependence should be on God rather than any earthly power or institution. Throughout Scripture, God calls His people to place their complete trust in Him alone. The phrase first appears in the Bible in Psalm 56:4, where David declares his trust in God in the midst of great adversity: “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” Despite being surrounded by enemies, David affirms that his…
Author: Nicole Sands
Grace is a fundamental concept in Christianity that refers to the unmerited favor and mercy that God shows to humanity. Special grace is a theological term that describes the grace that God gives for salvation. It enables people to respond to the gospel message in faith and repentance. The doctrine of special grace has its roots in the Bible and has been developed by key theologians over the centuries. At its core, special grace teaches that due to the effects of the fall and human sinfulness, people are unable to seeks God or respond positively to the gospel message on…
The phrase “we have beheld his glory” in John 1:14 refers to Jesus Christ, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. This verse comes at the culmination of John’s poetic prologue about the divinity of Christ, and serves as a transition into the narrative story of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The “we” in this phrase likely refers to the apostles and early disciples who physically witnessed and experienced Jesus firsthand. John, the author of this gospel, was among the inner circle of disciples who spent three years following Jesus, listening to his teaching, and witnessing his miracles and glory.…
This is an important question that goes to the heart of Christian beliefs about Jesus. According to the Bible, Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born to the virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-35). This miraculous conception meant that Jesus did not have a human biological father. He was still fully human, but He was also fully God. This allowed Jesus to live a sinless life, which was necessary for Him to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. The Bible affirms that Jesus was indeed the biological son of Mary. He is called…
The city called “The Lord Is There” is mentioned in Ezekiel 48:35, which says “And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.” This refers to a vision Ezekiel had of a future city that would represent God’s presence among His people. To understand the significance of this city, we need to look at the context of Ezekiel’s vision in chapters 40-48. In these chapters, Ezekiel sees a vision of a new temple, a new division of the land of Israel, and a new city called Jerusalem. This vision is looking forward to…
This is a question that many Christians have wondered about. What exactly happens after we die? Do we immediately go to heaven or do we wait in some intermediate state first? The Bible does not give us a completely detailed account, but it does provide some helpful insights that can begin to answer this question. The Intermediate State Several passages indicate that after death, believers enter into an intermediate state that is not the final heaven, but also not the final hell. Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me…
The Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament is a scholarly edition of the original Greek text of the New Testament. It is one of the major critical editions used by scholars, Bible translators, and students today. The Nestle-Aland text, along with the United Bible Societies edition, is the base text for nearly all modern Bible translations. The Nestle-Aland text represents the combined work of many leading scholars on the Greek New Testament over the past century. It aims to reconstruct the original Greek text of the New Testament books as closely as possible. The text is periodically revised and updated as new…
The famous saying “to err is human; to forgive, divine” conveys the idea that making mistakes is part of human nature, while having the willingness to forgive others is a godly quality. But does this popular maxim have any biblical basis? Let’s explore what the Bible has to say about human fallibility, divine forgiveness, and the relationship between the two. The Fallibility of Humanity The Bible makes it abundantly clear that all people are fallible and prone to error. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the human race (Genesis 3). The apostle…
The concept of the “fullness of the Gentiles” comes from Romans 11:25, which says “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” To understand this verse, we need to look at the broader context of Romans 11. In this chapter, Paul is grappling with the relationship between the church (composed largely of Gentile believers at the time) and ethnic Israel. He affirms that God has not rejected his people Israel (v.1-2), even…
The doctrine of biblical inerrancy holds that the Bible is without error in everything it affirms. This doctrine is central to the Christian faith, as the truth and authority of Scripture stands or falls on its inerrancy. Here are some key Bible verses that teach the inerrancy of Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. This famous verse teaches that because all Scripture comes from God, it is true and…