Looking at this verse, we must not only see what John means, and what the Spirit wishes to teach us, but also what the apostle isn’t saying. Many times, a good definition includes what something is not. God is love. Which also means he’s not hate or indifference.

The hypostatic union is a theological term for the dual and unified nature of Jesus Christ as God and human in the same person. Christ possessed these two natures, completely and without division or separation. He didn’t become less God by becoming man, nor was he less human by being God.

The mysterious truth of the hypostatic union sits as the foundation of Christian belief. As both God and man, Jesus could reveal the Father completely, live a sinless human life, be the perfect sacrifice on the cross, and rise again victorious, all to bring salvation, reconciliation, and purpose to those who would believe. To weaken the hypostatic union weakens the salvific work of God through Christ. 

Like any idea, this doctrine has been challenged by Jews and Gentiles. For Jews, the idea a holy God could become a corrupt man seemed blasphemous, as we see in the Gospels. Jesus’ life and reality made it difficult for first century Jews (and many today) to understand the incarnation and Messianic fulfillment. 

For Gentiles, especially Greek dualists, divinity and humanity were opposites. The idea that a real god would become human, live humbly, and suffer on a cross (to them, an image of failure) seemed foolish. 

The early church fought for this truth and orthodox Christianity maintains it. The New Testament affirms and declares these ideas, helping modern believers to see how crucial the dual nature of God is. 

Here then are seven verses declaring the hypostatic union.

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God gave us intellect and emotion as gifts. Made in his image, we have access to thought and feeling. Most people, however, err on one side or the other, depending on their personality. We all operate in both, but relying solely upon our intellect or emotion leads to godlessness and deception. 

The proper place for our thoughts and feelings is to be submitted to God and his revelation. Neither intellect nor emotion was meant to bear the choices for life but to serve truth. 

Moments and temporary situations easily sway our emotions – negative and positive – and in our own strength, we try to bring relief in various ways to change or feed our emotions. However, we quickly learn how making choices based on emotions leads to anxiety and a lack of security, not an increase of stability. For that, we need God’s truth. 

God never dismisses our emotions. He understands and affirms our happiness and grief. He also loves us enough to guide us to base decisions on his truth and not on how we feel in the moment. Emotions change. God’s Word will not. The Father mercifully provides revelation for a sure foundation. 

Here are seven biblical truths to anchor your emotions.

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The Bible asks us a fundamental question: where do you place your trust? And truly, there are only two options: God or something else. One day, our lives will be judged on this point, and we can’t blindly trust something or someone and expect an excuse upon that day.

Our hope keeps us anchored when the world shakes and wants us to freak out. We don’t. Instead, we lift our vision to God and the Kingdom. Christ’s resurrection declares that death won’t win and suffering won’t last forever, despite how we might feel in the moment. God’s truth and plan prevails.

When I was a young kid, we were at church one Sunday night, and I had a headache. I used to get bad headaches in elementary school. At the end of the service, my mom took me to the front and asked the pastors to pray for me. They brought out a flask of olive oil, put a drop on my forehead, and put their hands on my head to pray for my healing. I remember it feeling a bit better, but not completely. 

This scenario happened often in my church growing up. Several times, the pastors would quote from James 5 and follow it like a formula, believing the Bible and trying to live in obedience and love to see people healed. 

The tradition might seem odd to many today in many modern American churches, but James 5 clearly teaches us to practice it. Did James come up with this? Or did he refer to a larger history and tradition regarding God’s healing? Let's explore more about what the Bible has to say about laying hands on the sick. 

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The whole Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi, speaks forward to the coming of a King and a Kingdom, from narrative to prophecy. But which book points the most clearly to Jesus?

As people begin to engage with the Scripture, they might have to combat a modern assumption (sometimes explicitly expressed) that a bunch of old European guys sat in a room and wrote the Bible, making it up for religious control or some other corrupt reason. But this could not be further from the truth.

The Bible is full of people who wrestled with God, in every way, and instead of rejecting them, he met them there. The father of a demon-possessed boy in Mark 9 said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Jesus didn’t reject him but answered his request. None of our questions are too big or small for God. He isn’t surprised or intimidated by our struggles.

While the old covenant wasn't based on faith and grace, God gave the Law and it revealed his character. We are no longer subject to the Law, but it taught eternal truth. Specifically, the Ten Commandments show us how to love God first and love others second.

Burn out. 

Every person on every level of ministry has experienced it. From the head pastor to the greeters on Sunday morning, we get exhausted in the work. It’s human nature to get tired, but we shouldn’t dismiss the signs of burn out. When we neglect them or try to push through, burn out can lead to dangerous consequences: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The Devil gets involved, manipulating and twisting our exhaustion with false expectations and offenses. On an extreme level, results include failed marriages and turning away from the faith. 

To begin with, we must be self-aware when we begin to feel the frustrations and tiredness, just going through the motions and losing our joy and love in serving others. Once we recognize we’re experiencing burn out when serving, here are 8 things we can do.

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Many Christians know that Psalm 119 is the longest book in the Bible, and while not stated in Scripture, Jewish tradition holds that King David is the author of the psalm. Just a couple psalms earlier, Psalm 117 is the shortest. Also, interestingly, these two psalms sit at the center of the whole biblical canon, at the halfway point. 

Many modern readers avoid long passages, and hearing how Psalm 119 is the longest in the whole Bible might cause some to skip it. However, this psalm is full of popular and inspiring quotes, and it is worth taking a step back to gain more understanding about this epic song and its unique poetic format. Greater understanding about purpose and message helps us better engage the psalm. 

Here are 7 things to know about Psalm 119, the longest book in the Bible. 

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Early in the Old Testament, in a foundational moment, God doesn’t define himself with anger or wrath but compassion, graciousness, and love. He does get angry (also seen in the New Testament), but his path to anger is slow and longsuffering because of his love.

As the Messiah, Jesus revealed the Father’s love and announced this new kingdom by healing people. In one account, he spoke to a dead girl, saying, “Talitha koum,” and she was raised from the dead.