The imprecatory psalms are a group of psalms in the Book of Psalms that contain prayers for God’s judgment on enemies. The word “imprecatory” comes from the Latin “imprecor” meaning “to invoke evil upon.” These psalms express deep anguish and anger, calling on God to bring severe judgment and curses on enemies who are perceived as evil, defiant to God, or oppressors of the people of God. Some of the key imprecatory psalms include: Psalm 35 – Plea for deliverance from enemies who repay good with evil Psalm 55 – Prayer for the destruction of a treacherous friend Psalm 58…
Author: Tim Collings
The authority of the believer refers to the God-given authority and power that believers in Christ have through their faith in Him. As children of God, believers have access to the power and authority of Christ to overcome spiritual forces and walk in victory. Here is an overview of key principles regarding the authority of the believer according to the Bible: Believers have authority through their position in Christ When someone puts their faith in Christ, they become a new creation and are adopted into God’s family as His children (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 3:26). This new position and identity…
The breastplate of righteousness is mentioned in Ephesians 6:14 as part of the armor of God. In Ephesians, Paul instructs believers to “stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14 ESV). Here Paul uses the armor of a Roman soldier as a metaphor for the spiritual protection and weapons believers need in spiritual warfare against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). In a Roman soldier’s armor, the breastplate was a crucial piece that protected the soldier’s vital organs like the heart from injury in battle. Paul similarly compares…
The myth of Pandora’s box is an ancient Greek story that explains how evil came into the world. According to the myth, Pandora was the first woman on Earth. She was created by Hephaestus on the instructions of Zeus as a punishment for Prometheus, who had stolen fire from the gods and given it to humans. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to make Pandora as a beautiful, irresistible woman who would bring trouble to mankind. Zeus gave Pandora a jar (sometimes described as a box) and instructed her never to open it. However, Pandora’s curiosity got the better of her and she…
The Bible teaches that all people have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from God and leads to spiritual death (Romans 6:23). No matter how hard we try, we can never earn our way back to God. But God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place and pay the penalty for our sins (John 3:16). Jesus took the punishment that we deserve so that through faith in Him, we could be forgiven and have eternal life with God. Here is a…
Hearing and recognizing God’s voice is vital for every Christian. God still speaks today, just as He spoke to people throughout the Bible. God may speak to us in different ways, including through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, other believers, and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. Here is an overview of how we can tune our ears to hear and discern God’s voice: Through the Bible The Bible is the primary way God speaks to us today. As 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God.” When we read the Bible, we are hearing the very…
The “New Perspective on Paul” refers to a theological movement that has gained popularity in recent decades. It seeks to re-interpret the writings of the apostle Paul, particularly regarding his teachings on salvation, grace, works, and the law. The traditional Protestant view sees Paul rejecting any role for human works or merit in salvation, which is solely by God’s grace through faith in Christ. The New Perspective argues that Paul was not opposing “good works” but rather the Jewish identity markers of circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath observance as the basis for righteousness. This new view claims Paul’s writings have…
A lament in the Bible is a poetic song or poem that expresses grief, sorrow, or mourning. Laments are found throughout the Old Testament and contain passionate cries to God in times of distress, disaster, or despair. The purpose of biblical laments is to pour out raw emotions to God, protest suffering, plead for help, and seek God’s compassion. Laments give voice to human pain and remind believers of God’s sovereignty, justice, and steadfast love. Some key features of laments in Scripture include: Addressing God directly Describing the problem, suffering, or injustice Asking bold questions of God Requesting God’s intervention…
The “shield of faith” is mentioned in Ephesians 6:16 as part of the armor of God that believers are instructed to put on for spiritual protection. In Ephesians 6:10-18, the apostle Paul urges Christians to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” by putting on the full armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11). The various pieces of spiritual armor include the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the…
The doctrine of the Trinity states that God is one God who exists eternally in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This has been the orthodox teaching of the Christian church since the 4th century AD, but the foundations for this doctrine are found throughout the Bible. Old Testament Hints of Plurality in God While the Old Testament does not explicitly teach the doctrine of the Trinity, it contains hints that God exists in plurality. For example: Genesis 1:26 says “Let us make man in our image.” God speaks in the plural here.…