Bringing Scripture to Life

What does the Bible say about God the Father?  The Bible says that God the Father reigns over all creation with providential care (Psalm 103:19; Matthew 5:45: Acts 14:17), and is in control of every aspect of human life (Genesis 2:7), working all things out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). His knowledge is unsearchable (Romans 11:33) His power is unmatched (John 10:29) and His love is unchanging (Romans 8:39). He is full of endless compassion (Lamentations 3:22-23), and is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). He is also the God of hope, who desires us to experience His joy and peace, and abound in hope (Romans 15:13). He is also love (1 John 4:8), and He has demonstrated His love to us by sending His Son Jesus to rescue us from our sin (Romans 5:8). His love can also be seen in the way He provides for us (Genesis 22:18; Philippians 4:19), protects us (John 10:29), and works in our lives for His...

The Second Coming:   I believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 24:30; Acts 1:11).  The Bible teaches us that in the “twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52), the last trumpet will sound (1 Thessalonians 4:16), and “we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them (who have died) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The Second Coming of Christ is known as the "blessed hope" that all believers have in Jesus (Titus 2:13), and it has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of each believer (2 Corinthians 5:10-11). At His Second Coming (Matthew 24:30; 25:31: Revelation 19:11-21), He will separate His people known as "the sheep" (Matthew 25:31-40), from those who did not yield to His authority in this life, known as "the goats" (Matthew 25:41-46). It is at this point in time that believers wil...

What does the Bible say about Perseverance of the Saints?   The Bibles says that every true believer will persevere until the end (Ephesians 4:30b), when Christ returns (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10). The Bible tells us that Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25), because He has “perfected forever” those who are being sanctified, by laying down His life for us (Hebrews 10:14).  It was God who began the good work in our lives (Philippians 1:6), God who is continuing the work through our lives (Philippians 2:13), and God that will complete the good work in our lives, at the second coming of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6; 3:20-21). Jesus proclaimed that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us (Matthew 28:20), and that no one can take us away from Him (John 10:27-29). Paul was persuaded that Jesus would be able to keep him secure until the end (2 Timothy 1:12). Peter was also persuaded of this bi...

What does the Bible say about the Great Commission?  The Bible says that the primary focus of the Christian church is to proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ has come to rescue us (John 3:16). For those who turn to Jesus for salvation, the church is called to invest in them so that they too become fruitful followers themselves, and in turn these new believers are to repeat the process of reaching the lost and help those that are reached become disciples as well (Matthew 28:18-20).

What does the Bible say about Christian Growth? The Bible says that every believer should be in a growing relationship with Jesus (Philippians 2:1-5), which can best be evidenced through the inward transformation that takes place within our hearts and minds (Galatians 5:22-23), and leads to the outward demonstration of putting God first in our lives (Romans 12:1-2). Our faith should lead us to grow in our love for God (Matthew 22:37), grow in our love for one another (John 13:34-35), and inspire us to reach out to the world for Jesus in obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). This is an important process and journey for every believer if we want to be salt to the earth and lights in this world (Matthew 5:13-16). RELATED ARTICLES The Process of Sanctification

What does the Bible say about the Sacraments?   The Bible says that Jesus gave His church two ordinances that we are commanded to observe until His return. They are Baptism (Matthew 28:19-20) and the Lord's Supper (Lk 22:14-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26). These ordinances are sacred rituals that have been practiced throughout the history of the Orthodox Christian faith, by those who trust in Jesus alone for their salvation. Baptism is an act of obedience, where the believer is to be immersed under water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). This act symbolizes the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior; as well as the believers own symbolic death to sin, burial of the old life, and resurrection to walk in the newness of life in Jesus (Romans 6:3-5). The Lord’s Supper is also a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the Body of Christ, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the ...

What does the Bible say about Church Government?  The Bible says that Jesus  is the Head of the church (Eph. 1:9, 22–23; 4:15; 5:23), the one who builds the church (Matt. 16:18), and the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4) who ultimately leads and protects His flock (John 10:1-29). As the Chief Shepherd of the church, Jesus has called certain men to be “overseers” (Acts 20:28), who are the under-shepherds of Jesus to the flock (1 Peter 5:2), and are responsible in feeding, tending, protecting, and keeping watch over the sheep on behalf of the Chief Shepherd (John 21:15-17; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17). The Bible informs us that the official church title given to these shepherds who oversee the sheep is “elder”. The Bible indicates that there is supposed to be a plurality of godly elders operating in their particular giftedness who are “appointed at every church” (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Philippians 1:1), and who meet the biblical qualifications for the office (1 Timoth...

What does the Bible say about the Church?   The Bible says that the true Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and repentance towards God (Acts 2:38), have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-6), and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head (Ephesians 4:15-16). The true basis of Christian fellowship is His Love for us (John 15:13), and our love for one another (John 13:34-35), which is greater than any differences we possess (Ephesians 4:3). Each member of the Body of Christ is called to be active members within the church (1 Corinthians 12:7, 27). The Bible describes all Christians as a part of the priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:9). As such all believers are called to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). RELATED ARTICLES Church Government Priesthood of Believers Sacraments of the Church

What does the Bible say about Grace?   The Bible says that Grace is a gift from God that no one can earn by their own good actions (Ephesians 2:8-9). The key to activating God's grace in one's life is through faith in Jesus (Titus 2:11-14),  when they believe the gospel (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). Grace is defined as “God`s unmerited favor”. Unmerited means “not deserved” as opposed to merited meaning “the quality of being particularly good or worthy”. Therefore, this gracious act of God in saving those who believe in Jesus removes any and all boasting on man’s behalf. No one will be able to say, “I earned God’s favor by being a good person” (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). Furthermore it is the grace of God that inspires the believer to do the good works that God has created us for (cf. Ephesians 2:10), so that God will be glorified in our lives (Colossians 3:17).

What does the Bible say about Salvation?   The Bible says that Salvation is offered freely to all men, who in faith turn to Jesus (John 3:16). There is no salvation apart from faith in Jesus (Acts 4:12). The shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification (Romans 5:9), and salvation for all who believe (Romans 10:9-10). Only those who receive Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5), and, thus become children of God (Galatians 3:26). The way a person receives Jesus Christ is through faith in Jesus and repentance towards God. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin, and turning to God. Faith involves believing in Jesus Christ. What we are to believe about Jesus is that He is the Son of God (John 3:16), who died upon the cross to remove our sins, and rose again on the third day (Romans 10:9). Finally, our salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and this includes regeneration, justifi...

What does the Bible say about Humanity? The Bible says that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), but fell into sin (Genesis 3:1-7), and is, therefore, completely and totally lost (Romans 3:10-23). Because we have been marred by sin, we naturally live with an attitude of disobedience towards God (Romans 8:5). Yet, God in His great mercy wants to restore our relationship with Him, by reconciling us back to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21).

What does the Bible say about the Holy Spirit? The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead and is co-equal to God (Romans 8:9-11; Matthew 28:19).  The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14), convict men of sin (John 16:8), regenerate (John 3:8), and baptize the believing sinner into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:18), so that He can indwell (1 Corinthians 3:16), guide (Romans 8:14), instruct (John 13:16), empower (Acts 1:8), and cultivate Christ-like character (Galatians 5:22-23), and fruitful service to the Lord  (Ephesians 4:11-16). The Practical implications of the Holy Spirit in our lives: The Holy Spirit is the Promised Comforter (John 14:16), Guide (John 14:26), and Protector of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14), who enables us to live as Christ (Galatians 5:22-23), and who empowers us to serve God in supernatural ways (Acts 1:8).  The Bibl...

What does the Bible say about the Son of God? The Bible tells us that Jesus is the eternal Son of God (John 1:1, 14; John 3:16), who is co-equal to God (Philippians 2:6). He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35). Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God (John 17:1-4), by taking upon Himself human nature with all of its demands and necessities (Philippians 2:5-11), identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures because of God’s love for us (Romans 5:8). Furthermore, He arose bodily from the dead (Romans 10:9-10), ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9), where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High (Colossians 3:1), He is now our High Priest and Advocate (1 John 2:1-2).  RELATED ARTICLES: Which Jesus do you Believe in? Who is Jesus to you ? The Passion Week

What does the Bible say about GOD?  The Bible tells us that He is the only true God (John 17:3), who eternally exists and has expressed Himself in three distinct and co-equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). All three persons are fully God and together make up the one true Godhead (Colossians 2:9). He is the Omnipotent (John 10:29), Omniscient (Romans 11:33-34), and Omnipresent (Psalms 139:7), Creator of all things in heaven, and on earth (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3).  God has created us to be in a relationship with Him (Genesis 1:26-17), and it is only by trusting in Jesus Christ, that we can experience that relationship (1 Timothy 2:5), and become His children (Galatians 3:26).  It is in Him that we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). RELATED TOPICS The Trinity

What does the Bible say about itself?   The Entire Bible is inspired by God without error and is the authority on which we should base our faith, conduct and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible is the complete revelation of God's will for the salvation of men and supplies each person with the insight and wisdom to live a life that is pleasing to God (2 Peter 1:3). The Bible is not open for any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20-21), and should be studied diligently by God’s people (2 Timothy 2:15), so that we can know and understand what the will of the Lord is for our lives (Colossians 1:9-10; Romans 12:2).

As Christians the Bible exhorts each of us to, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). We are called to be like the Berean's whom the Bible says, "... were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things (that the Apostle Paul was saying) were true" (Acts 17:11). As Christians we are called to know and correctly understand God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15), because God’s word answers the question of how to have peace with God (Romans 5:1) and find purpose in life (Ephesians 1:4; 2:10). It is God’s word alone that is the authoritative source of truth for the Christian belief (John 17:17), practice (John 14:21, 23), and helps us navigate through all areas of life (2 Peter 1:3).  It is God’s word alone that is able to effectively work in the ...