Year: 2014

Bible Term: Intercession

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

Intercession is a prayer to God on behalf of others.

Also, intercession is done for us by Jesus (Hebrews 7:25) and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27). An example of Jesus interceding for us is in John 17:20-26.

[Read verses in the Bible about intercession and intercede.]

Key verse about Intercession: I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people (1 Timothy 2:1, NIV)

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Incarnation

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

Incarnation means to personify or take on bodily form.

The words incarnate and incarnation are not found in the Bible, but the concept is; it refers to Jesus. Jesus, as God, became human through his incarnation.

As such, Jesus is fully God and fully human (a difficult, but profound paradox to grasp).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Idolatry

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

Idolatry is literally the worship of an idol, a man-made image for a false god.

Figuratively, idolatry is a devotion to anything or anyone other than God. This can include the worship or idolizing of nature, people, material things, even leisure and a life of ease.

Key verse about Idolatry: Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry Colossians 3:5, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Idol

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

An idol is literally a man-made image that is worshiped or an object of excessive admiration or devotion. Often idols were crafted for false gods.

In a figurative sense, an idol is anything that replaces God as a priority or becomes preeminent in one’s life.

In today’s culture, that could mean money and the unwavering pursuit of it, possessions (such as homes, cars, and other toys), expensive clothes, prestige, amassing power, and even the accumulation of knowledge. These are but a few common idols.

The word idol appears over one hundred times in the Bible, while idols occurs hundreds more. The context is never positive.

Perhaps the most familiar mention is in the Ten Commandments, to not make or worship an idol (Exodus 20:4-5).

Key verse about Idol: They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt’ (Exodus 32:8, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: I Am

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

“I Am” is a name that God uses to describe himself (Exodus 3:14).

It was considered a sacred name by the Jewish people, so when Jesus cleverly used to to apply to himself, he caused quite an uproar (Mark 14:61-63).

Key verse about I Am: When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless (Genesis 17:1, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Hypocrite

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

A hypocrite is a person who says one thing but does another, as well as, a person who expects others to do things that he or she is unwilling to do.

Jesus often called the Jewish leaders (including the Pharisees and Sadducees) hypocrites, because of their inconsistent conduct and the heavy demands they placed on the Jewish people.

Hypocrites were a common target in Jesus’ teaching and one of the few groups he criticized.

Key verse about Hypocrite: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full (Matthew 6:5, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Hope

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

In the Bible, hope is a confident expectation that something will happen; it’s not merely a desire or wishful thinking. Followers of Jesus are often said to have a hope in him (Colossians 1:5).

Faith, hope, and love are a major triad in the Bible (1 Corinthians 13:13, Colossians 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, and 1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Key verse about Hope: “Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, (Job 6:8, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Holy Spirit

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

The Holy Spirit (sometimes called the Holy Ghost) is the third part of the Godhead (or Trinity), which is comprised of the Father, the Son (Jesus, the Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus came to earth, the Father gave him the Holy Spirit (John 3:34).

Later, the Holy Spirit was sent to guide and direct Jesus’ followers after he ascended into heaven (Luke 24:49 and Acts 2:1-4).

Now, the Holy Spirit works to draw people to Jesus and guide those who follow him.

Key verse about Holy Spirit: The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Holy of Holies

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

The Holy of Holies is the innermost part of the tabernacle and later in the temple. It was so sacred that only the high priest could enter it and then only once a year.

The Holy of Holies had a veil (which was very thick, more akin to a wall) separating it from the people. When Jesus died, this veil was torn in two — from top to bottom. This is significant for two reasons.

First, being torn from the top down, signifies it was God’s doing. Since it was thirty feet high, a person would only be able to tear it from the bottom up. In effect, God was saying, I’m changing the old way of doing things.

More importantly, this opened up the Holy of Holies, showing that everyone could now approach God, at any time — not just the high priest once a year.

Some translations refer to the Holy of Holies as “the Most Holy Place” or “the Holiest of all.”

Key verse about the Holy of Holies: “
Behind the second veil there was another tabernacle [the inner one or second section] known as the Holy of Holies” (Hebrews 9:3, AMP).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Holy Ghost

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

The Holy Ghost (usually called the Holy Spirit) is the third part of the Godhead (or Trinity).

The King James translation of the Bible (circa 1611) uses the phrase Holy Ghost, whereas most other translations use Holy Spirit.

Key verse about Holy Ghost: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26, KJV).

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