The statement “Before Abraham was, I am” in John 8:58 is packed with deep theological meaning and significance regarding the divine identity of Jesus Christ. Here are 9000 words explaining what it means and why it matters: In John 8, Jesus was engaged in a heated debate with some hostile Jewish leaders. They denied that Jesus was the Messiah and claimed that His teachings were false. Jesus responded by asserting His authority and divine identity. In verse 58, Jesus makes the dramatic statement: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” This seems like an odd thing…
Author: Mike Solis
Conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy, refers to any practices or treatments that aim to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The premise of conversion therapy is that homosexuality and transgender identities are mental disorders that can be “cured” through counseling, psychotherapy, or other interventions. Those who advocate for conversion therapy typically believe that LGBTQ identities are unnatural, sinful, or the result of psychological trauma. The goal of conversion therapy is to make LGBTQ people heterosexual and cisgender (identifying with the sex they were assigned at birth). Conversion therapy emerged in the early 20th century as some mental…
In the Old Testament, God instituted the sacrificial system as a means for His people to atone for their sins and be forgiven. This system required the shedding of blood from an animal sacrifice to cover over the guilt incurred from sin (Leviticus 17:11). However, there are instances recorded in the Old Testament where God forgave people’s sins even though a sacrifice was not explicitly mentioned as being offered. One example is found in 2 Chronicles 30. King Hezekiah called the people to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem after years of neglect. Many responded, but some were ceremonially unclean and…
The verse in question, 1 Corinthians 3:17, states “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” This is a solemn warning against defiling or destroying the temple of God. But what exactly does it mean? The Temple of God In the Old Testament, the temple of God referred specifically to the tabernacle and later the temple built in Jerusalem. This was the dwelling place of God’s presence on earth. However, in the New Testament, the terminology changes. Rather than a physical building, God’s temple is now identified with believers…
The “bridal paradigm” refers to the biblical metaphor of the church as the bride of Christ. This metaphor is used in both the Old and New Testaments to illustrate the intimate relationship between God and His people. In the Old Testament, God is portrayed as the husband of Israel. Isaiah 54:5 says, “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name.” Hosea portrays Israel as an unfaithful wife who prostitutes herself with false gods. However, God remains faithful and continues to pursue Israel as her husband (Hosea 2:14-20). In the New Testament, the imagery shifts to…
Throughout Scripture, God often uses marriage imagery to illustrate His relationship with His people. This metaphorical language is especially prominent when describing Christ’s relationship with the church. Several Jewish wedding customs bear strong connections to New Testament teachings about salvation in Christ. The Betrothal In Jewish culture, a marriage began with a betrothal – a binding commitment made between the groom and the bride’s father. This betrothal was as legally binding as an actual marriage. Once the familial covenant was made, the couple was considered husband and wife, even though they did not yet live together. The groom would pay…
In Matthew 5, as part of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeats the phrase “but I say to you” several times. This is extremely significant, as Jesus is establishing His authority and setting His teaching above the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees. Let’s take a closer look at each occurrence of this phrase in Matthew 5: Matthew 5:21-22 – Murder “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be…
The Bible verse Ephesians 4:29 states “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” This verse encourages Christians to be careful and intentional with their speech, avoiding unwholesome talk and instead speaking in a way that builds others up. The Greek word translated as “unwholesome” or “corrupting” is sapros. This refers to talk that is rotten, worthless, bad, or corrupt. Unwholesome talk includes things like: Gossip Slander Lying Cursing Crude joking Spreading rumors Backbiting Belittling others Harsh…
The name “Jesus” is rich with meaning and significance when it comes to the mission and purpose of Christ’s coming to earth. Jesus’ name in Hebrew is Yeshua, which means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” This connects directly to the statement made by the angel speaking to Joseph in Matthew 1:21, that Jesus “will save his people from their sins.” His very name points to His identity and purpose as the one who came to provide the way of salvation. In the ancient world, a person’s name was closely tied to their identity, character, and mission in life. Names…
Feelings are a normal part of the human experience. As Christians, we know that God created us as emotional beings and that our feelings come from Him (Psalm 139:13-14). Though our feelings can sometimes lead us astray, they are also an important aspect of our relationship with God and others. Here is an overview of some key biblical perspectives on feelings: Feelings Are God-Given The Bible affirms that our capacity to feel emotions is a gift from God. When God created humans, He gave us the ability to experience the entire spectrum of feelings – joy, sadness, anger, peace, grief,…
