The mourning period referred to in Deuteronomy 34:8 relates to the death of Moses. Moses was the leader of the Israelites and had led them out of slavery in Egypt. His death marked the end of an era for the Israelites. Deuteronomy 34:8 states: “The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.” This verse gives us some insight into the mourning practices of the Israelites at that time. Here are some key things we can gather about what the Israelites did during this mourning period: The mourning…
Author: Mike Solis
The concept of being “redeemed from the curse of the law” comes from Galatians 3:13, which says “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.'” To properly understand what this means, we must look at the broader context of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. In Galatians, Paul is writing to churches in Galatia that were being influenced by some false teachers known as “Judaizers.” These Judaizers were teaching that in order to be saved, Gentile believers needed to adhere to…
Godly sorrow is a deep remorse and regret over sin that leads to repentance and salvation. It is contrasted with worldly sorrow, which is sorrow over the consequences of sin rather than over the offense against God. Godly sorrow is produced by the Holy Spirit and brings life, while worldly sorrow leads to death (2 Corinthians 7:10). The Bible refers to godly sorrow in several key passages: 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about the sorrow they felt after he rebuked them for tolerating sexual immorality in their midst. He says: “Even if I made you sorrowful…
Who are the people of God? The Bible refers to the “people of God” in several places, pointing to those who belong to and follow God. Here is an overview of what the Bible teaches about the people of God: The Israelites as the people of God In the Old Testament, the Israelites are called the people of God. God chose Abraham and his descendants to be his special people: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the…
The term “Dark Ages” refers to the Early Middle Ages in Europe, from around the 5th to 10th centuries AD. This period is characterized by a relative scarcity of historical records compared to earlier and later times. Some key things to know about the Dark Ages from a biblical perspective: The fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD marked the end of ancient history and the beginning of the Middle Ages. This led to instability and disruption in Europe. The centralization of power under the Roman Empire was lost, leading to the rise of smaller kingdoms and decentralized…
The Focolare Movement is an international organization that originated within the Catholic Church in the 1940s in Italy. It was founded by Chiara Lubich with the goal of promoting unity and universal brotherhood. The name “Focolare” comes from the Italian word for “hearth” or “family fireside.” The basic principles of the Focolare Movement are living the Gospel life, unity, and universal brotherhood. Members try to live the teachings of Jesus Christ as set forth in the Gospels. They emphasize Jesus’ prayer “that they all may be one” (John 17:21). The movement promotes dialogue and collaboration among people of different faiths…
The Bible teaches that God created human beings with a specific purpose in mind. Here is an overview of the key biblical teachings on the purpose of human life: To have a relationship with God The Bible makes it clear that human beings were created first and foremost to be in relationship with God. Genesis 1:27 says that God created mankind “in his own image.” Being made in the image of God means that humans are relational beings, just as God is relational within the Trinity. We are made to connect with God intimately and experience His love (1 John…
The Trinity refers to the Christian doctrine that God exists as three persons – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit – yet there is only one God. This central mystery of the Christian faith has its basis in several key passages of Scripture. In the Old Testament, there are hints that God exists in plurality. At creation, God refers to Himself in the plural: “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26). The Angel of the Lord is a visible manifestation of God who speaks as God. There are also passages that…
The Bible addresses homosexuality in several passages that range across both the Old and New Testaments. The most well known passages are found in the books of Leviticus, Romans, 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy. While the topic is directly mentioned only a handful of times, it relates to broader biblical principles regarding sexuality and God’s design for marriage and romantic relationships. Here is an overview of some of the main verses: Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 These two verses are found in the Old Testament book of Leviticus, which contains many of the laws and regulations for the nation of Israel.…
