Cosplay, short for “costume play”, is a performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear self-made costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture, and a broader use of the term “cosplay” applies to any costumed role-playing in venues apart from the stage. Any entity that lends itself to dramatic interpretation may be taken up as a subject and it is not unusual to see genders switched. Favorite sources include manga and anime, comic books and cartoons, video games, and live-action films and television series. The Bible does not directly address cosplay.…
Author: Kristal Wheatley
Ephesians 6:13 says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” This verse comes in the context of Paul’s teaching to the Ephesians on spiritual warfare. In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul describes the spiritual armor that God provides believers to be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. The phrase “having done all” refers to believers putting on and utilizing every piece of the spiritual armor that God provides. The armor includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of…
The phrase “God is no respecter of persons” comes from Acts 10:34 in the Bible. It means that God does not show favoritism or partiality based on external factors like race, nationality, social status, wealth, gender, etc. Instead, God judges people by their heart and character. He offers salvation to all who believe in Jesus Christ, regardless of background. Understanding this profound truth transforms how we view and treat others. 1. The Context of Acts 10:34 To fully grasp what it means that God shows no partiality, we must understand the context of Acts 10. Here, the apostle Peter has…
1 John 3:9 states “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” This is a verse that has caused much confusion and debate among Christians throughout history. At face value, it seems to suggest that true Christians will reach a state of sinless perfection in this life. However, Christians still struggle with sin every day, so what did John mean? Let’s take a deeper look at the context and meaning of this passage. The Broader Context First, it’s important…
The Bible teaches that God created three types of rational, spiritual beings: angels, humans, and God. Of these three, humans are unique in that we possess both a physical body and an immaterial spirit. Angels are purely spiritual beings, while God alone is the infinite, eternal Creator. While angels and humans share some attributes, the Bible is clear that we are separate creations. The term “angelic human” is not explicitly found in Scripture, but it seems to refer to humans who exhibit qualities often associated with angels, such as exceptional righteousness, spiritual insight, and closeness with God. The Bible does…
John 4:14 says, “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” This verse comes from Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. In their discussion, Jesus offered her “living water” – a spiritual sustenance that would fully satisfy her soul’s thirst in a way that physical water from the well could not. There are a few key things to understand about what Jesus meant when he said believers in him…
Justification by faith alone is a foundational doctrine of Christianity that traces its roots back to the Apostle Paul in the first century. In a nutshell, justification refers to God declaring a sinner righteous before Him on the basis of faith, rather than by merit or works. This doctrine emphasizes that we cannot earn salvation through our own efforts, but that it comes as an unearned gift of God’s grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ. The importance of this doctrine cannot be overstated, as it speaks to the very heart of the gospel message. There are several key reasons…
The verse 1 Corinthians 6:19 states: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” This verse teaches an important truth – as Christians, we do not belong to ourselves but to God. Let’s explore the meaning and implications of this verse. We Were Bought at a Price The context of 1 Corinthians 6 makes it clear that we were purchased by God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Verse 20 says “for you were bought with a price.” What…
The Torah, also known as the Five Books of Moses, refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books contain foundational narratives and laws that are sacred to Judaism. The Torah provides Jews with guidance on how to live an ethical life in covenant with God. The word “Torah” means “instruction” or “teaching” in Hebrew. The Torah is the central and most important document of Judaism and has been treasured by Jews for over 3,000 years. It is the foundation for Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and the Jewish understanding…
Road rage is a major problem in many societies today. The Bible does not specifically mention road rage, since cars did not exist in biblical times. However, the Bible does speak to the issues of anger, patience, revenge, loving others, and being slow to become angry. By applying these biblical principles, we can gain insight into how to deal with road rage from a Christian perspective. Anger and Patience The Bible has a lot to say about anger and patience. Anger itself is not necessarily sinful, but uncontrolled anger is warned against throughout Scripture. James 1:19-20 tells us to be…