Month: July 2025
Jesus showed up in Prison.
Q & A.
QUESTION.
Is Jesus in every book of the Bible?
ANSWER.
The Bible is God’s Word to us (Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16). Studying God’s Word shows us who God is and what He has done. The Bible also reveals what matters to Him, how we are to live, and our purpose in His plan of redemption. Jesus is also called the Word (John 1:1), and He is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) in whom all God’s fulness dwells (Colossians 1:19). Jesus is the theme of the Bible. Jesus is in every book of the Bible because everything in the Bible ultimately points to Him (see John 5:39).
From the beginning pages of Genesis to the end of Revelation, Jesus is present and active. Although the Son of God did not come to earth until a specific point in history, He is integral in both the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament reveals our need for a Savior and predicts His coming, setting the stage for His entrance into the world. He appears in prophecy and in Christophanies—pre-incarnate appearances of the Son of God (Genesis 16:7–14; 22:11–18; Judges 5:23; 2 Kings 19:35; Daniel 3:25). The New Testament describes His coming, His work to bring salvation to our sinful world, and His ongoing work as we await God’s kingdom and the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21; Revelation 21:1). We can see Jesus in every book of the Bible in the following ways:
Genesis — Jesus is the Word of God, creating the heavens and the earth; He is the promised Seed of the woman
Exodus — Jesus is the Passover lamb
Leviticus — Jesus is the high priest and representative of the tabernacle; He is the lampstand, He is the showbread, and He is the sacrifice on the altar
Numbers — Jesus is the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night and the smitten rock that gives living water
Deuteronomy — Jesus is the prophet greater than Moses
Joshua — Jesus is the Commander of the Army of the Lord, leading His people into the Promised Land
Judges — Jesus is the true and final judge
Ruth — Jesus is the kinsman redeemer
1 & 2 Samuel — Jesus is the anointed shepherd king who slays the giant
1 & 2 Kings — Jesus is the righteous King of Kings and Lord of Lords
1 & 2 Chronicles — Jesus is the faithful restorer of the kingdom
Ezra — Jesus is the faithful restorer of the temple
Nehemiah — Jesus is the redeeming rebuilder of the walls
Esther — Jesus is the sovereign protector of His people
Job — Jesus is the living redeemer and our true comforter
Psalms — Jesus is the Good Shepherd who hears our cries
Proverbs — Jesus is wisdom
Ecclesiastes — Jesus is the meaning of life
Song of Solomon — Jesus is the loving bridegroom coming for His bride
Isaiah — Jesus is the promised Messiah; the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace; the Suffering Servant wounded for our transgression and bruised for our iniquities
Jeremiah — Jesus is the Potter and the Righteous Branch
Lamentations — Jesus is the weeping prophet
Ezekiel — Jesus is the river of life, bringing healing to the nations
Daniel — Jesus is the fourth man in the fiery furnace
Hosea — Jesus is the ever-faithful husband pursuing His unfaithful bride
Joel — Jesus is the restorer of what the locusts have eaten and the One who will pour His Spirit on His people
Amos — Jesus is the burden-bearer and the true restoration
Obadiah — Jesus is the judge of all the earth and mighty to save
Jonah — Jesus is the salvation of all lands and the prophet cast out in the storm who spent three days in the depths
Micah — Jesus is the promised Messiah born in Bethlehem
Nahum — Jesus is the avenger of God’s elect
Habakkuk — Jesus is the reason for rejoicing and our strength even when the fields are empty
Zephaniah — Jesus is the preserver and restorer of His remnant and kingdom
Haggai — Jesus is the desire of all nations
Zechariah — Jesus is the cleansing fountain and the pierced Son whom every eye on earth will one day behold
Malachi — Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness, rising with healing in His wings; He is the refiner’s fire
Matthew — Jesus is the King of the Jews
Mark — Jesus is the Servant King
Luke — Jesus is the Son of Man
John — Jesus is the Son of God, the Word made flesh who dwelt among us, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
Acts — Jesus is the risen Lord, bringing salvation to all nations
Romans — Jesus is our justification and the righteousness of God
1 Corinthians — Jesus is the Rock
2 Corinthians — Jesus is our triumph, sanctifying the church
Galatians — Jesus is the liberation that fulfills the law and sets us free
Ephesians — Jesus is the head of the church who gives us God’s armor
Philippians — Jesus is our joy
Colossians — Jesus is the firstborn of all creation and the head of the church
1 Thessalonians — Jesus is coming again with a trumpet and a shout to meet believers in the clouds
2 Thessalonians — Jesus is believers’ patience as they await His return
1 Timothy — Jesus is our mediator between God and man
2 Timothy — Jesus is the Seed of David, raised from the dead, and our salvation
Titus — Jesus is our blessed hope and our faithful pastor
Philemon — Jesus is our Redeemer, restoring us to effective service
Hebrews — Jesus is our High Priest and the author and finisher of our faith
James — Jesus is the One at work in our faith in action
1 Peter — Jesus is the Living Stone, the Chief Cornerstone, and the Rock of Offense
2 Peter — Jesus is the faithful, longsuffering Lord, not willing that any should perish but offering salvation to all
1 John — Jesus is love and the true and eternal God
2 John — Jesus is the truth by which we walk in love
3 John — Jesus is all that is good and a hospitable host
Jude — Jesus is the One who keeps us from stumbling and presents us blameless with great joy
Revelation — Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Q & A.
QUESTION.
What is God?
ANSWER.
A. W. Tozer wrote, “’What is God like?’ If by that question we mean ‘What is God like in Himself?’ there is no answer. If we mean ‘What has God disclosed about Himself that the reverent reason can comprehend?’ there is, I believe, an answer both full and satisfying.”
Tozer is right in that we cannot know what God is with respect to Himself. The book of Job declares, “Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?” (Job 11:7–8).
However, we can ask what God has revealed about Himself in His Word and in creation that “the reverent reason” can grasp.
When Moses was directed by God to go to the Egyptian Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites, Moses asked God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” (Exodus 3:13).
The answer God gave Moses was simple, yet very revealing: “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you”’” (Exodus 3:14). The Hebrew text in verse 14 literally says, “I be that I be.”
This name speaks to the fact that God is pure existence, or what some call pure actuality. Pure actuality is that which IS with no possibility to not exist. Put another way, many things can have existence (e.g., human beings, animals, plants), but only one thing can be existence. Other things have “being” but only God is Being.
The fact that God alone is Being leads to at least five truths about what God is – what type of being God is.
First, God alone is a self-existent being and the first cause of everything else that exists. John 5:26 simply says, “The Father has life in Himself.” Paul preached, “He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25).
Second, God is a necessary being. A necessary being is one whose nonexistence is impossible. Only God is a necessary being; all other things are contingent beings, meaning they could not exist. However, if God did not exist, then neither would anything else. He alone is the necessary being by which everything else currently exists – a fact that Job states: “If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust” (Job 34:14–15).
Third, God is a personal being. The word personal in this context does not describe personality (e.g., funny, outgoing, etc.); rather, it means “having intent.” God is a purposeful being who has a will, creates, and directs events to suit Him. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9–10).
Fourth, God is a triune being. This truth is a mystery, yet the whole of Scripture and life in general speaks to this fact. The Bible clearly articulates that there is but one God: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deut. 6:4). But the Bible also declares that there is a plurality to God. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He commanded His disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Notice the singular “name” in the verse; it does not say “names,” which would convey three gods. There is one name belonging to the three Persons who make up the Godhead.
Scripture in various places clearly calls the Father God, Jesus God, and the Holy Spirit God. For example, the fact that Jesus possesses self-existence and is the first cause of everything is stated in the first verses of John: “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life” (John 1:3–4). The Bible also says that Jesus is a necessary being: “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).
Fifth, God is a loving being. In the same way that many things can exist but only one thing can be existence, people and other living things can possess and experience love, but only one thing can be love. First John 4:8 makes the simple ontological statement, “God is love.”
What is God? God is the only one who can say, “I be that I be.” God is pure existence, self-existent, and the source of everything else that possesses existence. He is the only necessary being, is purposeful/personal, and possesses both unity and diversity.
God is also love. He invites you to seek Him and discover the love He has for you in His Word and in the life of His Son Jesus Christ, the one who died for your sins and made a way for you to live with Him for eternity.
Under the Dome of the Rock.
Amen.
The Berisheet Prophesy.
Words.
38 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know: A Glossary
Glossary of Hebrew Words for Every Christian
There are some essential Hebrew words every Christian should know, if going deeper in knowing and understanding the Bible is your goal. The Old Testament was written entirely in Hebrew, thus exploring the Hebrew language could enhance our understanding of Scripture. And although the New Testament was written in Greek, the context remains very Hebraic.
Over the past several years, we have been introducing you to some of the most fascinating Hebrew words in the Bible. Here, you will find brief descriptions of what they are, and some links to the articles that will help you dig deeper.
As a Christian, you should not hesitate to study Hebrew words – after all, even Jesus used them!
Download your FREE 7 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know PDF:
- יהוה – Yahweh or Yehovah
- ישוע – Yeshua – Salvation
- רוח – Ruach – Spirit, Wind and Breath
- משיח – Messiah – Christ, the Anointed One
- עמנואל – Immanuel – God with Us
- אלוהים – Elohim – another name of God
- אדוני – Adonai – Lord
YAHWEH or YEHOVAH (JEHOVAH)
The tetragrammaton, YHVH, is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible.
In English translations, it is often translated as “the LORD” – in capital letters. When the Jewish people read their Hebrew Scriptures, they usually say “Adonai” when the name יַהְוֶה appears. They consider themselves unworthy to utter God’s name.
YESHUA – SALVATION
Jesus’ disciples wouldn’t have called Him anything other than Yeshua. In Luke 1, the archangel Gabriel tells Mary (or Miriam) to name her son Yeshua – meaning “salvation.” An angel also tells Joseph, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matt 1:21-22)
RUACH – SPIRIT, WIND, BREATH
The Hebrew word Ruach is translated in the Bible as “spirit,” “wind,” or “breath.” In the Bible, the word describes the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God. The first mention of Ruach is in the very first chapter of Genesis: “And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness… and the Spirit (Ruach) of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.” (Gen 1:2)
MESSIAH – CHRIST, THE ANOINTED ONE
Many Christians refer to Yeshua by His Greek name – Jesus Christ. But have you ever wondered what Christ means? It is nothing else but the Greek equivalent of the word Messiah! This Hebrew word refers to the promised deliverer or savior, and literally means “the Anointed One.”
IMMANUEL – GOD WITH US
This prophetic name of Jesus appears both in the Old and in the New Testament. First, in the book of Isaiah, the prophet foretells that a virgin will birth a son, who will be called Immanuel.
In Matthew 1:23, an Angel quotes the prophet Isaiah to Joseph, using this Hebrew name (important to mention, since the Gospel was written in Greek). He translates it to mean “God with us.”
ELOHIM, ADONAI – More Names of GOD
Many of us may be familiar with various names of God. But do we know how they are different and what they mean? Elohim appears in the Bible quite often, but in two different ways – as a common noun (to signify divinity, a ghost) and a proper noun – name for the one and only God.
Then, there’s Adonai, which also takes on different functions. Like mentioned before, the Jewish people say “Adonai” where YHVH appears in Scriptures. But Adonai also translates to, simply, “my Lord.” As such, it often describes just a person with authority or an angelic being.
7 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know: Foundations
- קדוש – Kadosh – Holy
- ברוך – Baruch – Blessed
- חסד – Hesed – Love, Lovingkindness
- אהבה – Ahava – Another Word for Love
- רחם – Racham – Another Word for Love
- דוד – Dod – Beloved
- כבוד – Kavod – Glory
KADOSH – HOLY
The dictionary defines holy as a “religious or morally good… perfect in goodness and righteousness”. There are times when aspects of moral righteousness are connected to the meaning of “holy”. Nevertheless, the Biblical term holiness does not in fact refer to piety.
The Hebrew word for “holy” is kadosh. And when the Bible calls something holy, it rather points to it being “set apart” from everything else.
BARUCH – BLESSED
To bless and be blessed is a fundamental part of our relationship with God, as well as relationships with other people. Blessings, whether given or received, help us recognize God in our lives and draw closer to Him – because we are not self-sufficient. We do not control or dictate the power of blessing – it is all God’s.
HESED – LOVE
One of the Hebrew words for ‘love’ is hesed, but in fact, it has a range of meanings. Described as an undeserved kindness and generosity, it is one of the most fundamental characteristics of God, covenantal in nature. Throughout the Hebrew Bible, it is translated in a number of different ways: steadfast love, mercy, kindness, and goodness.
AHAVA, RACHAM, DOD – More Words for LOVE
The word love is powerful but also broad – so it’s not surprising that in Hebrew, there are multiple words for it. In the Bible, ahava often points to an intense emotional bond. Then, David used the word racham to express His devoutness to God. And also, a unique word dod appears frequently in a romantic context, usually translated into “beloved”.
KAVOD – GLORY
Kavod is a term with both social and moral implications, and stems from the root word for weight. It can mean glory, honor, respect, distinction, and importance. Most often translated into glory, it indicates worth and value, and results in praise. Glory in Hebrew should be seen as abounding in reverence, almost to a degree that it is terrifying.
6 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know: Receiving Blessing
- שלום – Shalom – Peace
- תקווה – Tikvah – Hope
- אמונה – Emunah – Faith
- חן – Hen – Grace
- חיים – Chava, Chaim, Chaya – Life
- חוכמה – Chokhma – Wisdom
SHALOM – PEACE
Many are familiar with the Hebrew word shalom. Generally speaking, it means “peace” in English. The common western definition of peace is the absence of conflict or war. But in Hebrew it means so much more! It conveys a broader sense of wholeness, well-being, and harmony.
TIKVAH – HOPE
In the Hebrew context, hope – tikvah – is more than just a dream. It is an expectation, and a strong expression of faith. The Bible teaches that hope is like a rock you can rely on. You can hold fast to it, and it strengthens you. God promised Israel that His plans are not meant for evil, but to give them “a future and a hope.” (Jer 29:11)
EMUNAH – FAITH
The Hebrew word Emunah may not sound familiar at first, but how about the word AMEN? Emunah is the Hebrew word for faith, and Amen derives from it! Emunah is faith that results in faithfulness, implying action. It set apart the biblical saints described in Hebrews 11, the Biblical “hall of heroes”: Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, and more.
HEN – GRACE
The most common Hebrew word for “grace” is hen. However, sometimes it is translated into ‘precious’ or ‘valuable’. At the same time, if we look for ‘grace’ in an English Bible, we will quickly discover that the Hebrew original does not always use hen in defining grace. So, how do we make sense out of that?
CHAVAH / CHAIM / CHAYA – LIFE
The first woman on earth was named Chavah – this is the Hebrew equivalent of the English name Eve or Eva. In the very beginning, the first woman received the name that meant “to live, to give life, or to breathe”. God commanded Adam and Eve to be fruitful and increase in number. God first created them and then invited them – His creation – to also create life.
CHOKHMA – WISDOM
The Hebrew word for wisdom is chokhma, and the Bible tells us to acquire it at every cost. The Hebrew and Biblical understanding of wisdom shows how powerful it can be in our lives. In fact, the Word of God states that wisdom of God protects us and guards us from evil and sin.
6 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know: Life of a Believer
- תפילה – Tefilah – Prayer
- יראה – Yirah – Fear, Awe
- תשובה – Teshuva – Repentance
- הללויה – Hallelujah – Praise God
- הנני – Hineni – Here Am I!
- הושענא – Hosanna – Save Us
TEFILLAH – PRAYER
Although tefillah – prayer – expresses the deepest wishes and desires of our heart, it is much more than a wish. Prayer is supplication and petition, but it also means something more. Tefillah comes from the Hebrew word l’hitpalel, which stands for the process of accounting or contemplation, as well as “to judge oneself”.
YIRAH – FEAR, AWE
The Hebrew word translated into ‘awe’ in the Bible is yirah. It often directly translates into fear, like “fear of the Lord,” and it can also mean respect, reverence, and worship. Moses was filled with yirah when he begged God to see His glory and could not behold it lest he should die.
TESHUVA – REPENTANCE
The instruction ‘to repent’ has a very heavy connotation for most people. Defined as ‘regret’ or ‘being remorseful’, it sounds uncomfortable. But the Hebrew word we translate as ‘repentance’ is teshuva and it is a lot more than a feeling of guilt or regret. In fact, it derives from the verb ‘to return’!
HALLELUJAH – PRAISE GOD
Hallelujah is a Hebrew expression meaning “praise the LORD,” commonly used in worship and celebration. But there is more than one Hebrew word in the Bible used to describe an act of praise. For example, Zamar is the kind of praise implies the use of string instruments, and David was able to move the spiritual realm with just a few plucks of strings. Hallel (הלל)on its own means “praise.”
HINENI – HERE AM I!
The phrase “Here am I!” has a heroic ring to it. This phrase became famous thanks to a passage from the Book of Isaiah. It was the prophet’s courageous response to God’s calling: And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Hineni (here am I)! Send me.’ (Is 6:8)
HOSANNA – SAVE US
The people yelled out Hosanna, or more accurately “Hoshi’ana”, when they welcomed Jesus in Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday. Was that praise? Not exactly – they were in fact crying out for help! The Hebrew expression Hoshi’ana means “Save us”. The Hebrews who raised their voices that day recognized their helpless state.
6 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know: The Hebrew People
- תורה – Torah – Law
- שמע – Shema – Hear, Listen (a Jewish Prayer)
- שמות – Sh’mot – Names / Book of Exodus
- צדקה – Tzedakah – Righteousness (also: Generosity)
- נפש – Nephesh – Soul
- עלייה – Aliyah – Ascend / Immigration to Israel
TORAH – LAW
Most often, we understand the Torah to be “the law”, and most Christians tend to react to that law, or the Torah, with reservation. But in Psalm 119:18, David writes “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.” How can “wonderful” and “law” go together. What did David understand that we don’t?
SHEMA – HEAR, LISTEN
The most important prayer and declaration in the Jewish life is the Shema Prayer. Found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, it affirms the oneness of God and commands our love and devotion to Him. In Hebrew, the word “shema” means hearing but also the effect of it. Which is taking heed, being obedient, and moreover doing what is asked.
SH’MOT – NAMES / BOOK OF EXODUS
Do you know the names of the first five books of the Bible – the Books of Moses or the Torah? Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy is a mix between English and Greek. But weren’t they written in Hebrew? In the original, Genesis is called Bereshit (“In the beginning…”) and Exodus is the book of Sh’mot, which means “names.”
TZEDAKAH – RIGHTEOUSNESS / GENEROSITY
The concept known as tzedakah finds its origins in the Torah. This Hebrew word literally means righteousness, but Hebrew speakers use it in reference to giving and charity. God is specifically commanding the Israelites to consider the poor among them. It is all about the posture and condition of our heart.
NEPHESH – SOUL
The Hebrew word nephesh generally translates to “soul”. But in the Bible, nephesh is also translated into living being, life, creature, mind, heart, appetite, person. We get the sense that nephesh is the inner, living being of a man. What is more, nefeshreveals the immeasurable value and significance God places on human life.
ALIYAH – ASCEND / IMMIGRATION
The term the Israeli government uses to describe Jewish immigration to Israel is to ‘make aliyah’.
In Hebrew, “aliyah” means “to go up” or “climb up.” When God is calling His people to make aliyah, He calls them to ascend and meet with Him. The return to the land is the most repeated promise in the Old Testament. Today, we are watching these ancient biblical prophecies being fulfilled before our eyes.
6 More Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know
- מלאך – Malach – Angel, Messenger
- משפחה – Mishpacha – Family
- בראשית – Bereshit – In the beginning / Book of Genesis
- שנא – Sane – Hate
- לחם – Lechem – Bread
- ערב – Erev – Evening, Night Before
MALACH – ANGEL, MESSENGER
What do we typically think of when we think of angels? I hope it’s not the chubby babies commonly depicted in Renaissance art. The Bible has detailed descriptions of who the angels are (and are not). They are spiritual beings, with supernatural abilities and gifts. But angels are not divine beings that we should worship.
MISHPACHA – FAMILY
The Hebrew word for family, both in the Bible and in modern Hebrew, is mishpacha. God created marriage and family so that, as a family, we would bring glory to Him. How? The first mishpacha in the Bible is a great reminder of that. They had a relationship with each other but were still dependent on God. And growing their family meant obeying God!
BERESHIT – BEGINNING
The word bereshit, which opens the Scripture, points to the start of something. “In the beginning…” – God gave us this word so we would understand that He is at the beginning of all things, and He already was prior to the start of anything. Thus, these first words of the Bible are an indictment against our human self-sufficiency.
SANE – HATE
How can we reconcile a God who says He is love when He also says He hated someone?
In Malachi, God mentions Jacob and Esau, two brothers, sons of Isaac. God’s feelings for these two brothers seem vastly different: “Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated.” (Mal 1:3) The thing is, the ancient Hebrew view of hate – sa’ne – was not about hostility, but about a hurt or wound that resulted because love was involved.
LECHEM – BREAD
The Hebrew word for bread is “lechem.” Moses wrote, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” The first bread is simple enough to understand, but how do we interpret this second lechem? Jesus said He is “the bread of life” – He sustains our lives! He is the Word of God that we need to live.
EREV – EVENING, NIGHT BEFORE
English most often translates the Hebrew word “erev” as “evening.” But that only captures a small aspect of its rich meaning and significance in Hebrew. In the Bible, “erev” is often used to describe significant moments of transition. Time cycles begin at “erev” in Hebrew understanding. The eve creates space for anticipation and preparation for what is to come.
What Other Hebrew Words Should a Christian Know?
Understanding these Hebrew words can deepen one’s appreciation of the biblical text and its cultural and historical context, enriching one’s spiritual journey and understanding of the Christian faith.
7 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know: Free PDF Download
With the use of the Hebrew language God revealed Himself to mankind. This ancient tongue held the greatest spiritual truths that guided our lives through the ages. And in each generation, they are discovered anew.
We know the Bible can be hard to understand and you want to get more out of it. Which is why we want to teach you seven Hebrew words that will transform the way you read the Bible.
Articles by Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know: A Glossary
Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
Billy Graham.
10 Guidelines for Christian Living.
January 10, 2014
Over the last seven decades, Billy Graham has written 32 books which are an extension of his continued ministry and burden to reach as many people as possible with the Good News of the Gospel. In “Peace with God,” Mr. Graham outlines ten guidelines for Christian living. This classic volume by Billy Graham points to the fact that God is the only way to find authentic personal peace in a world in crisis.
Whether we are playing a game, driving a car, or baking a cake, there are certain rules that must be followed for our safety as well as our success.
The Bible teaches that the Christian life is one of constant growth. When you were born again, you were born into God’s family. It is God’s purpose that you will grow into fill stature and become mature in Christ. It would be against the law of God and nature if you were to remain a baby and thus become a spiritual dwarf. In 2 Peter 3:18, the Bible says that we are to grow. It implies steady development, constant enlargement, increasing wisdom.
For one to grow properly certain rules must be observed for good spiritual health.
- Read your Bible daily. Do not be content to skim through a chapter merely to satisfy your conscience. Hide the Word of God in your heart. It comforts, guides, corrects, encourages – all we need is there.
- Learn the secret of prayer. Prayer is communicating. Every prayer that you pray will be answered. Sometimes that answer may be “Yes” and sometimes “No,” and sometimes it is “Wait,” but nevertheless it will be answered.
- Rely constantly on the Holy Spirit. We know that the Holy Spirit prays for us (Romans 8), and what a comfort that should be to the weakest of us. Stand aside and let Him take over all the choices and decisions of your life.
- Attend church regularly. The visible church is Christ’s organization upon earth. Christians need one another, we need to gather together to worship God and nothing can take the place of church attendance.
- Be a witnessing Christian. We witness in two ways: by life and by word – and the two, where possible, should go hand in hand.
- Let love be the ruling principle of your life. Jesus said to those who followed Him, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). The greatest demonstration of the fact that we are Christians is that we love one another.
- Be an obedient Christian. Let Christ have first place in all the choices of your life.
- Learn how to meet temptation. Temptation is not sin. It is yielding that is sin. Let Christ through the Holy Spirit do the fighting for you.
- Be a wholesome Christian. Our lives and appearance should commend the Gospel and make it attractive to others.
- Live above your circumstances. Don’t let your circumstances get you down. Learn to live graciously within them, realizing the Lord Himself is with you.
Guidelines for Christian Living is excerpted from “Peace with God” by Billy Graham, published in 1953, revised and expanded in 1984.