The verse Hebrews 12:14 states “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” This verse emphasizes the importance of pursuing holiness in the Christian life. Here are some key points to understand what this verse means: 1. Holiness is essential to see God The second half of Hebrews 12:14 makes it clear – without holiness, no one will see God. The implication is that those who are not holy will be shut out from God’s presence. Becoming like Christ and being made holy is not an option for believers, it is…
Author: Richard Curi
Experientialism is the view that experience is the primary or exclusive source of knowledge. According to experientialism, truths about reality can only be discovered through direct experience rather than through reasoning, intellect, or revelation. At its core, experientialism emphasizes the role of experience in forming beliefs, values, and perceptions. Experientialists argue that abstract reasoning alone cannot lead to meaningful knowledge without being informed by experience. For the experientialist, experience through the five senses takes primacy in shaping our understanding of the world. Experientialism has roots in empiricism, the philosophical tradition stemming from thinkers like John Locke and David Hume who…
The Gospel of Luke states that Jesus was born in Bethlehem during a time when a census was being conducted while Quirinius was governor of Syria (Luke 2:1-7). However, some have questioned whether Luke’s account aligns with the historical record regarding when Quirinius governed and when the census took place. Here is a summary of the key details in Luke’s account: Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the time when Herod was king (Luke 1:5, 2:4-7) Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world (Luke 2:1) This was the first…
In Matthew 6:22, Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” This statement comes in the midst of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He teaches on various topics including prayer, fasting, worry, judgments, and money. Let’s break down this verse to understand the full meaning. The Function of the Eye First, Jesus compares the eye to…
Animism is the belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls. Animism is likely one of the oldest forms of religious belief. It originated in primitive tribal societies where indigenous people believed that souls or spirits existed not only in humans but also in animals, plants, rocks, geographical features such as mountains or rivers, or other entities of the natural environment like thunder, wind, shadows. Animism is found in Earliest prehistoric religions, early polytheistic religions, and in various New Age religions. In June 2019, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief referred…
The “Suffering Servant” passage in Isaiah 53 is one of the most well-known and controversial passages in the Old Testament. Many Christians believe this passage is a prophecy about Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death on the cross. However, some Jewish interpretations dispute this and argue the passage refers to the nation of Israel or another historical figure. So what does the passage actually say, and how should we understand it? Isaiah 53 occurs near the end of the Book of Isaiah, in what is known as the “Suffering Servant” passages (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). These verses speak poetically of a mysterious…
The concept of the Jews being God’s chosen people originates in the Old Testament, where God chooses Abraham and his descendants to be His special people. This has several important implications: 1. God’s Promise to Abraham In Genesis 12:1-3, God calls Abram (later named Abraham) and promises to make him into a great nation, bless him, and make his name great. In Genesis 15:18-21, God makes a covenant with Abraham promising him the land of Canaan for his offspring. In Genesis 17:7-8, this covenant is made eternal and everlasting. So God uniquely chose Abraham and his descendants as His covenant…
In Romans 13:8, the apostle Paul writes, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” This verse teaches an important truth about God’s law and how love fulfills its requirements. In this article, we will examine the meaning of this verse and how love satisfies what God desires from us. The Context of Romans 13:8 To properly understand any verse, it is crucial to read it in its surrounding context. Romans 13 comes after the theological sections of Romans and begins the practical instruction of how Christians should live.…
The Bible has a lot to say about who God is and what He is like. Here is an overview of some of the key things the Bible teaches about God: God is eternal God has no beginning or end. He has always existed and will always exist (Psalm 90:2). He is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13). God is self-existent God depends on nothing and no one for life. He is self-sufficient, self-sustaining, and self-existent (Exodus 3:14). God has life in and of Himself. God is omnipotent God is all-powerful. Nothing is too hard…
The term “tribulation saints” refers to people who come to faith in Jesus Christ during the future time period known as the Tribulation. The Tribulation is a 7-year period of great suffering and turmoil on the earth, described by Jesus in Matthew 24:21 as a time of “great tribulation, such has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” It is also referred to in Revelation 7:14, which describes the tribulation saints as “the ones coming out of the great tribulation.” The Tribulation period is part of end times events and follows the…