The phrase “fall from grace” comes from Galatians 5:4, which says “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” This verse is referring to the false teaching that one must follow the Old Testament law in order to be saved. The book of Galatians was written because there were some in the Galatian church who were teaching that Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses in order to truly be part of God’s people. The apostle Paul wrote Galatians in order to…
Author: Richard Curi
The metaverse is a concept that refers to a future version of the internet that is based in virtual and augmented reality. It involves the convergence of physical, augmented, and virtual worlds. The metaverse promises immersive experiences where users can interact with digital objects and environments and with each other in a virtual world. While the metaverse is still largely conceptual at this point, many technology companies are investing heavily in developing the platforms, hardware, software, and applications to make it a reality. The idea is that the metaverse will allow people to work, play, and socialize together in real-time…
The strange act of the prophet Isaiah going naked and barefoot for three years is recorded in Isaiah 20:1-4. This bizarre behavior was meant to be a sign and symbol of God’s coming judgment on Egypt and Ethiopia through Assyria. Isaiah 20:1 says this took place “in the year that the commander in chief, who was sent by Sargon the king of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and captured it.” This places the event around 711 BC when the Assyrian king Sargon II conquered the Philistine city of Ashdod. Verse 2 states that “at that time the…
The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a loose network of churches, ministries, and individuals who believe that God is restoring the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of prophet and apostle. The movement emerged from the independent charismatic movement in the 1990s and has no formal organization or membership. Some key beliefs of NAR followers include: God is actively raising up modern day apostles and prophets. These apostles and prophets are meant to provide new revelations, teachings, and strategies to equip the church for the end times. The church must come together under the new apostles and prophets…
Atavism refers to the reappearance of a trait in an organism after several generations of absence. The word atavism comes from the Latin atavus, meaning “ancestor” or “forefather”. In evolutionary biology, an atavism is an evolutionary throwback resulting in the reemergence of a trait in an organism after a period of absence. Atavisms can occur when genes for previously existing phenotypic features are preserved in DNA, and these become expressed through a mutation that either knocks out the suppressing genes for the trait or makes the required genes for the trait over-express themselves. Examples of Atavism Some examples of atavisms…
What are some good ways to memorize Bible verses? Here are 9000 words on explaining good methods for memorizing Bible verses, with a focus on what the Bible itself says about memorization and related topics: The Bible encourages memorizing Scripture and provides many reasons why memorization is beneficial. Psalm 119:11 says “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” This verse indicates that memorizing God’s Word helps us resist temptation and sin. Other verses mention the importance of keeping God’s Word on our hearts and minds constantly (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Deuteronomy 11:18-21, Psalm…
The story of Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman is found in Matthew 15:21-28. Here is a brief summary: Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon, where a Canaanite woman came to him crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” At first Jesus did not respond, so his disciples urged him to send her away. Jesus replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him, pleading again for help. Jesus responded, “It is not right to take the children’s…
Manichaeism was a major Gnostic religion that was founded in the 3rd century AD by the Persian prophet Mani. Manichaeism taught an elaborate dualistic cosmology, describing the struggle between a good spiritual world of light and an evil material world of darkness. Origins and History Mani (c. 216–276 AD) was born in Babylon (modern Iraq) to a Jewish-Christian sect known as the Elcesaites. At age 12, he allegedly received a revelation from a heavenly twin who disclosed his divine mission. At age 24, Mani started preaching publicly, proclaiming himself to be the final prophet in a long line including Zoroaster,…
Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob and the fifth son of Leah in the Old Testament. His name means “reward” or “hire” in Hebrew. Issachar’s birth is recounted in Genesis 30:14-18: During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your…
The Bible records several miraculous resurrections from the dead. Studying these accounts can strengthen our faith and give us hope in God’s power over death. While an exact number is not given, we can examine the key resurrection stories in Scripture. Old Testament Resurrections The Old Testament records just two resurrection miracles: The prophet Elijah raised a boy from death (1 Kings 17:17-24). The prophet Elisha also brought a boy back to life (2 Kings 4:32-37). These dramatic resuscitations showed God’s power at work through His prophets, foreshadowing the coming victory over death through Christ. Resurrections in the Gospels Jesus…