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Parables of the Kingdom
[Bible]The parables of the kingdom are the parables in which Jesus described the reign of God with the words "The kingdom of heaven is like unto…"; in the narrower sense, the term refers to the seven parables of Matthew 13.
Natural Theology
[Doctrine & Theology]Natural theology is the branch of theology concerned with what can be known about God through the order of the natural world and through human reason and conscience, without relying on special revelation such as Scripture.
The Fear of the Lord
[Bible]The fear of the Lord is a central Old Testament expression for an attitude of reverence and awe toward God. It is presented especially in the wisdom literature, including Proverbs, Psalms, and Job, as the foundation of wisdom and knowledge.
Mediator
[Doctrine & Theology]A mediator is one who stands between two estranged parties and restores the relationship between them. Protestants confess Jesus Christ as the one Mediator between God and humanity.
Righteousness
[Bible]Righteousness is a central biblical concept referring to the character and acts of God and to a right relationship between God and human beings. In the New Testament, especially in the Pauline epistles, it develops into the teaching of righteousness received by faith, that is, justification.
Doxology
[Worship & Rites]A doxology is a short utterance or song of praise that gives glory to the triune God. The term refers both to the words of praise that close Scripture passages and prayers and to the brief hymns sung at the beginning or end of worship.
Romans 13:1
[Bible Verses]Romans 13:1 exhorts every person to "be subject unto the higher powers" and declares that all authority comes from God. It is a key text on the relationship between church and state, and how it should be applied under unjust regimes has long been debated.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10
[Bible Verses]1 Corinthians 6:9–10 lists a series of sins and declares that the unrighteous "shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Disputes over how to translate two Greek words in the list have made it a central text in the debate over homosexuality. The passage also figures in discussions of how assurance of salvation relates to the conduct of the Christian life.
Galatians 6:7
[Bible Verses]Galatians 6:7 reads, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The verse is widely known for the principle that one reaps what one sows, though its use as a formula for karma or material blessing has drawn criticism.
1 John 4:7–8
[Bible Verses]A passage of Scripture that begins "Beloved, let us love one another" and concludes "for God is love." Widely cherished as a rare expression that describes the nature of God in a single word, it has also prompted theological discussion about the relationship among God's love, justice, and judgment.
Romans 1:16–17
[Bible Verses]In this passage Paul declares that he is not ashamed of the gospel and states that in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." The passage expresses the theme of the entire Epistle to the Romans and is known for its decisive influence on Martin Luther's Reformation thought.
Romans 3:23–24
[Bible Verses]Romans 3:23–24 is a passage stating that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, yet are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Because it brings together universal human sinfulness and justification by grace, it is frequently used in evangelism.
Matthew 6:33
[Bible Verses]Matthew 6:33 is the promise that those who do not worry about what they will eat, drink, or wear, but "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," will have "all these things" added to them. It is one of the verses most frequently cited in discussions of priorities in the life of faith.
Exodus 20:3–5
[Bible Verses]The opening of the Ten Commandments, which forbids having other gods and making or bowing down to idols. Traditions differ in how they number the commandments, and the phrase "unto the third and fourth generation" is frequently cited in debates among Korean churches over the doctrine of generational curses.
1 Corinthians 3:16–17
[Bible Verses]A passage in which Paul tells the church in Corinth, "ye are the temple of God," and warns that God will destroy anyone who defiles that temple. It is frequently cited in discussions of the church as a community, the holiness of the body, and divisions within the church.
Colossians 3:3–4
[Bible Verses]A passage stating that Christians have already died, that their life is hidden with Christ in God, and that when Christ appears they will appear with him in glory. It is frequently cited in discussions of union with Christ, sanctification, and eschatological hope.
Romans 14:17
[Bible Verses]Romans 14:17 is the verse in which Paul tells believers who were quarreling over food that the kingdom of God consists not in eating and drinking but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. It is frequently cited to distinguish the essentials of the faith from nonessentials and to define the kingdom of God.
Luke 11:20
[Bible Verses]A verse in which Jesus attributes his exorcisms (the casting out of demons) to "the finger of God" and declares that they are a sign that the kingdom of God has already come. It is frequently cited as a key text on the present reality of the kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:24–34
[Bible Verses]Matthew 6:24–34 is the passage in the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus teaches that no one can serve both God and mammon and instructs his hearers not to be anxious about what they will eat or wear, but to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. It is frequently cited in discussions of spiritual priorities and anxiety.
Job 2:10
[Bible Verses]In this verse Job answers his wife, who has urged him in his suffering to curse God, with the words "shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" The verse is often cited in discussions of faith amid suffering. Interpreters debate how Job's wife should be assessed and what the phrase "with his lips" means.