The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and plays a vital role in the life of every Christian. Here is an overview of the main functions and activities of the Holy Spirit according to the Bible: 1. Convicts people of sin One of the primary works of the Holy Spirit is to convict people of sin and their need for a Savior. Jesus said that when He left, the Holy Spirit would come to “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit speaks to people’s hearts and shows them their sinfulness…
Author: Richard Curi
The story of Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac is one of the most well-known and challenging stories in the Bible. In Genesis 22, God tells Abraham to take Isaac to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering. Isaac was the long-awaited son of promise that God had given to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. Yet now God was asking Abraham to sacrifice this precious son. As they traveled to the place of sacrifice, Isaac noticed they did not have a lamb for the burnt offering and asked his father…
Passover is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, which is described in the Book of Exodus in the Bible. The name “Passover” comes from the fact that God “passed over” the houses of the Israelites and spared their firstborn sons when he killed the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about Passover: The Origins of Passover The origins of Passover are found in Exodus 12. God had sent nine plagues upon Egypt to try to convince Pharaoh…
Chreasters are people who only attend church on Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter. The term combines the words “Christmas” and “Easter” to refer to these once-a-year churchgoers. The Bible does not specifically mention the term “Chreaster,” but it does address the issue of commitment and devotion to the faith. Here are some key points the Bible makes about spiritual half-heartedness and being a true follower of Christ: 1. God desires wholehearted commitment, not lukewarm faith In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus rebukes the church in Laodicea for being lukewarm in their faith: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold…
Who was John Bunyan? John Bunyan was an English Christian writer and preacher who lived from 1628 to 1688. He is best known for writing The Pilgrim’s Progress, one of the most popular and influential works of religious English literature. Here is an overview of John Bunyan’s life and ministry: Early Life John Bunyan was born in November 1628 in the village of Elstow, near Bedford, England. His family was poor and he had little formal education. As a teenager, Bunyan joined the parliamentary army during the English Civil War. After the war, he returned to Elstow and took up…
Is there anything wrong with cartoon portrayals of biblical accounts? The Bible does not explicitly prohibit or condemn cartoon portrayals of biblical accounts. However, there are some important considerations when assessing the appropriateness of such portrayals from a biblical perspective: 1. Accuracy – Cartoons may oversimplify or misrepresent aspects of biblical stories. While some artistic license can be expected, cartoons should not promote clear factual errors about biblical content. Christians should be wary of cartoons that distort the meaning or details of Scripture. 2. Reverence – The Bible is the inspired word of God and deserves respect in how it…
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is one of the most significant events in human history. Christians believe that Jesus willing allowed Himself to be crucified as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of humanity. His crucifixion made salvation and eternal life possible for those who believe in Him. An intriguing question arises about Jesus’ resurrected body – will He retain the scars from His crucifixion after His ascension to heaven? This is an issue that theologians and Christians have pondered for centuries. While the Bible does not provide a definitive answer, there are scriptural clues that suggest Jesus will in…
Indeterminism is the philosophical belief that not all events are determined with absolute certainty. Specifically, indeterminism argues that some events occur randomly or by chance, such that the specific outcome is not pre-determined. This contrasts with determinism, which states that all events are the result of prior causes, leaving no room for chance. The debate between determinism and indeterminism has significant implications for questions of free will, moral responsibility, and theology. If determinism is true, then human actions are the result of prior causes outside of one’s control, which seems to preclude the possibility of free will. Indeterminism, on the…
The phrase “precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little” is found in Isaiah 28:13. This verse is part of a larger passage where Isaiah pronounces judgment on the northern kingdom of Israel for their lack of faith and distrust in God. The people of Israel had made an alliance with Egypt to protect themselves from Assyria instead of relying on God. Isaiah rebukes them for this and says they will be conquered and taken into exile by Assyria as judgment for their unbelief. In Isaiah 28:9-13, Isaiah mocks the…
The question of whether God punishes people for sin is an important theological issue. The Bible provides insight into how God relates to human sin and wrongdoing. Let’s take a comprehensive look at what the Scriptures teach about whether and how God punishes sin. God’s Holiness and Human Sin First, the Bible establishes that God is perfectly holy and cannot tolerate sin (Isaiah 6:3; Habakkuk 1:13). God’s eyes are too pure to look upon evil (Habakkuk 1:13). At the same time, the Bible teaches that all people are sinners who fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Sin represents a…