In the Gospel of John, the specific phrase “eternal life” (and equivalent expressions translated that way) occurs about 17 times. That’s the commonly cited count across biblical scholarship and concordance data more than in any other Gospel. Here’s how that number works out in many English translations: Eternal Life in the Gospel of John John 3:15 “That everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only S

Key Verse: “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 What Does “Context” Mean? Context refers to the surrounding information that helps us understand the true meaning of a passage. This includes: The verses before and after the passage The chapter and the entire book The author and audience The historical setting The purpose of the writing The overall teaching of Scripture Wh

THE WHOLE MAN! Spirit, Soul, Body, and the Heart I think it is interesting that when God made man, He created us in His image. Genesis 1:26 We know God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—the three are one God. Here is the interesting part: man is spirit, soul, and body—the three make up one man. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jes

Sometimes we repeat clichés because they sound spiritual, wise, and even biblical. We hear them so often that we begin to accept them without ever stopping to ask: “Is this actually what the Bible teaches?” A saying can sound good and still not be Scripture. It may even contain some truth, but no cliché should ever be given the same authority as the Word of God. One expression I have heard many times, especially when people are considering listening to an unfamiliar preacher

The difference in being baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit 1. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit The baptism of the Holy Spirit is usually understood as the initial work of the Spirit that places a believer into Christ and into His body (the church). 1 Corinthians 12:13“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.” What this means is at salvation: The Holy Spirit unites the believer w

Many Christians quote “you will know them by their fruit,” but few stop to define what fruit actually is. The Bible does that for us in Galatians 5:22-23. If someone is going to make a judgment about another person’s fruit, it is reasonable to ask: “Which fruit are you referring to—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control?” That question brings the discussion back to Scripture instead of opinions. It can also be helpful to poin

Do you often hear yourself saying things like: “What about me?” “Where’s mine?” “I don’t want…” “I don’t like…” “You hurt my feelings…” “I’m afraid…” “I’m bored…” I, me, my, mine. When everything continually comes back to you—your feelings, your wants, your comfort, your needs—it may be time to examine whether self-centeredness has taken root. A self-centered person is primarily concerned with his or her own interests, needs, desires, and welfare. Self-centeredness says, “As

“Knowing God Changes the Way We Face Fear.” When Fear Tries to Take the Lead Fear is something every one of us will face at some point in our lives. We fear what might happen. We fear what might not happen. We fear losing what we have, making the wrong decision, being rejected, getting hurt, failing, or simply not knowing what tomorrow holds. Sometimes fear is obvious. Other times, it hides behind words like, “I’m just being careful,” “I have a bad feeling about this,” or “Wh

I am very big on Christians knowing the difference between heart knowledge and head knowledge! There is a difference between knowing about God and knowing God. Head knowledge is information. Heart knowledge is conviction. Head knowledge can be argued with, challenged, or replaced by another opinion. But when God reveals truth to your heart through His Word and Spirit, it becomes a settled conviction that no one can easily take away. A person may know the facts of Scripture a

1 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV) “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” Peter tells believers to “desire the pure milk of the word” so they can grow. Sadly, many Christians remain spiritual infants for years. They may have been saved for 5, 10, 20 years, or more, yet never mature in their walk with God. Time