Victory is a major theme throughout the Bible. God grants victory to His people over enemies, difficulties, trials, and temptations. There are many verses in Scripture that discuss the concept of victory from a spiritual perspective. Old Testament Verses About Victory In the Old Testament, victory often involved God enabling His people to defeat their enemies in battle. For example: “The Lord your God will give you victory over the enemies who rise up against you to destroy you.” (Deuteronomy 20:4) “The Lord your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy…
Author: Richard Curi
Having a personal relationship with God means developing an intimate connection with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. It involves communication, trust, and love as we would with a close friend. Though God is infinite and all-powerful, He desires for us to know Him personally. Knowing God Personally Begins with Faith in Christ A relationship with God only comes through trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Bible says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ESV). When we…
Jesus of Nazareth is a phrase commonly used to refer to Jesus Christ throughout the New Testament Gospels and the Book of Acts. The name connects Jesus to the city of Nazareth, where he was raised according to the Gospels. Understanding why Jesus is associated with Nazareth can provide insight into Jesus’ upbringing, ministry, and identity as the Messiah. Nazareth was Jesus’ childhood home The Gospels record that Jesus was raised in the town of Nazareth in Galilee (Matthew 2:23, Luke 2:39-40). Nazareth was a small, obscure village at the time with a population of only a few hundred people.…
The Palestinian Covenant refers to God’s promises to Israel regarding their land and blessings, as detailed in the Bible. This covenant is unconditional, meaning God will fulfill these promises regardless of Israel’s obedience or disobedience. The Palestinian Covenant is summarized in Deuteronomy 30:1-10. The key aspects of the Palestinian Covenant include: Israel will repent and return to the land – God promises that Israel will eventually repent of their sins and return to Him. He will then restore them to the land of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:2). Israel’s enemies will be judged – God will judge the enemies of Israel who…
The books of 1 Esdras and 2 Esdras are books found in some Bibles, but are not considered canonical by most major Christian traditions. They are sometimes called the apocryphal books of Esdras or the pseudepigraphical books of Esdras. Let’s take a look at each one: 1 Esdras 1 Esdras is found in Bibles used by Eastern Orthodox churches and some Eastern Catholic churches. It is considered canonical Scripture by these traditions. 1 Esdras covers part of the same historical time period as the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Old Testament. There is significant overlap in content and…
Dowsing, also known as water witching or divining, is the practice of using a forked stick, rod, pendulum, or other tool to locate underground water, minerals, or other hidden or lost substances. This practice has been around for centuries, but what does the Bible have to say about it? The Bible does not directly mention the practice of dowsing. However, there are some principles and examples in Scripture that can give insight into God’s view on this practice. The Bible warns against occult practices Dowsing has historically been associated with the occult and divination. Occult practices such as witchcraft, fortune…
The flood described in Genesis 6-9 is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. This catastrophic global flood wiped out life on earth except for Noah, his family, and the animals on the ark. But did this flood really happen? Can it be proven scientifically or archaeologically? Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says about the Genesis flood and evaluate various flood models and evidence. The Biblical Account of the Genesis Flood According to Genesis 6-9, God was grieved by the wickedness of mankind and decided to send a global flood to wipe out all…
Are Israel and the Church the Same Thing? This is a complex theological question that has been debated for centuries. At the heart of the matter is how we understand God’s redemptive plan for humanity revealed in Scripture, and specifically how the people of Israel relate to the later Christian church. In summary, while there is some overlap and continuity between Israel and the church, the biblical evidence suggests they are distinct entities with different roles in God’s plan. Israel is God’s chosen national people in the Old Testament, while the church is the multiethnic spiritual body of Christ that…
The Bible speaks of the concept of a “spiritual body” in several passages, most notably in 1 Corinthians 15. This chapter discusses the resurrection of the dead and the nature of our resurrected bodies. Let’s take a closer look at what the Bible says about spiritual bodies: Our Current Earthly Bodies are Not Eternal The Bible makes it clear that our current earthly bodies are not intended to last forever. In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, the apostle Paul contrasts our current natural bodies with the spiritual bodies we will receive in the resurrection: “So is it with the resurrection of the…
A prayer closet is a private, quiet place where someone goes to pray and commune with God. The concept comes from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:6, where He says, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” The actual Greek word translated “room” here refers to a storeroom or secret chamber. So Jesus was describing setting apart a private space for prayer. Throughout Christian history, many believers have followed Jesus’ example by designating a certain room…