The concept of being “tested by fire” comes from 1 Peter 1:7, which says, “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” This verse uses the metaphor of gold being refined and purified by fire to describe how our faith is tested and refined through difficult circumstances. There are a few key things to understand about what it means to be tested by fire according to 1 Peter 1:7: It refers to trials…
Author: Mike Solis
The Jewish Bible, also known as the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible, is the canonical collection of Hebrew scriptures that make up the Bible used in Judaism. It consists of 24 books divided into three parts: the Torah (Law), the Nevi’im (Prophets), and the Ketuvim (Writings). The Torah consists of the first five books of the Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books are said to have been revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai and tell the story of God’s covenant with the Israelites from Creation to the death of Moses. The Torah provides the foundational narrative and…
Focus on the Family is a Christian ministry organization founded in 1977 by Dr. James Dobson and based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The ministry aims to provide biblical advice and counseling to help strengthen marriages and families through radio broadcasts, videos, magazines, books, and other resources grounded in evangelical Christian values. Some of the core beliefs and values of Focus on the Family include: Promoting the centrality of faith in Jesus Christ and upholding the authority of the Bible Advocating for the permanence and sacredness of marriage between one man and one woman Protecting the sanctity of human life including…
Living a holy life that honors God requires dedicating oneself to pursuing righteousness in every area of life. Here are some key principles from Scripture to guide us: 1. Seek God First “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV) Our relationship with God must be our top priority. Setting aside regular quiet time for Bible reading, prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers fuels our spiritual life. As we draw near to God, He transforms us and empowers us to live holy lives. 2. Renew…
Angels and humans are both created beings of God, but there are some key differences between them according to the Bible. Here are some of the main ways angels and humans are different: 1. Origin Angels were created directly by God, while humans were created by God from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). Angels seem to have been created sometime prior to the creation of the physical universe, while humans were created on the 6th day of creation. 2. Nature Angels are purely spiritual, non-physical beings (Hebrews 1:14). Humans have both a physical body and an immaterial spirit/soul…
Praising God is a central part of the Christian faith. At its core, praising God means expressing our awe, admiration, and gratitude for who God is and what He has done. Here is an overview of some key biblical themes related to praising God: Exalting God’s Character A major aspect of praise is exalting God for who He is – His character, attributes, and virtues. Throughout Scripture, we see God described as holy, righteous, faithful, loving, merciful, gracious, patient, all-knowing, all-powerful, and sovereign. When we praise God, we proclaim the excellence, beauty and perfection of His divine nature (Psalm 96:4,…
The book of Hebrews was written to encourage early Jewish Christians to remain faithful to Christ amid persecution and temptation to revert back to Judaism. In chapter 10 verse 24, the author urges believers to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works”. This verse highlights the important role that Christians play in stimulating spiritual growth within the body of Christ. Here are some key ways we can apply this biblical principle: Meet regularly for worship, prayer and Bible study The author of Hebrews instructs us not to neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:25). Regular corporate worship…
The statement “I and the Father are one” is one of the most significant statements made by Jesus in the Bible. It is packed with deep theological meaning about the relationship between Jesus and God the Father. Let’s explore this profound teaching by looking at the context, analyzing the key words, and seeing how this harmonizes with the rest of Scripture. The Context of “I and the Father are One” This statement is located in John chapter 10, where Jesus was responding to the Jews who demanded to know plainly if He was the Messiah. Jesus affirmed that His works…
The book of Proverbs in the Bible contains many wise sayings and practical advice for living a godly life. Proverbs 29:18 states: “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” This verse teaches an important truth – that without God’s revelation and vision, people will lose their way and cast off moral restraint. But what exactly does this mean, and what are the consequences when revelation from God is lacking? Meaning of Proverbs 29:18 To properly understand this verse, we need to examine a few key terms. First, “prophetic…
Servant evangelism refers to sharing the gospel message of Jesus Christ through acts of service and kindness. The goal is to demonstrate God’s love in practical ways, building relationships and earning the right to share the reason behind one’s actions. Servant evangelism seeks to avoid overt preaching, instead letting good deeds speak for themselves as a Christian testament. Some key aspects of servant evangelism include: Meeting felt needs Servant evangelists look for opportunities to assist people in tangible ways, such as: Paying for a stranger’s meal at a restaurant Washing windows of nearby businesses Raking leaves or shoveling snow for…
