Text: James 1:19-27This is another passage about the importance of Scripture in the Christian’s transformed life. The writer, James (Jacob in the Greek language) was the physical brother of Jesus. James begins by encouraging his readers to receive God’s Word, humbly, because it is God’s Word that brings salvation. James then gives the necessary exhortation[…]
Text: Hebrews 8:1-13God and His law are outside of us. That is the nature of the relationship.Law is outside of us and speaks to us, telling us what to do or not to do, but it cannot force us to do anything. When we disobey, the Holy Spirit presses upon our conscience, and we sense[…]
Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 The Bible is a book, obviously, but there is no other book like it. The Bible is God’s only book, and He influenced particular men to write it, using their personal character traits, customs, etc. But the Bible is all God’s work, and every word is His. All other books are[…]
Text: 2 Timothy 2:14-26This is the last letter we have from Apostle Paul. He is writing to Timothy, who was one of Paul’s disciples. Paul left Timothy in the city of Ephesus to be the pastor. Pastoral work is not easy for any person, so Paul writes this letter to encourage Timothy to persevere in[…]
Text: Colossians 3:1-10.The theme for today’s passage is similar to the one of yesterday – union with Christ (vv.1, 3).Verse 1 states that we are raised with Christ, and verse 3 says our lives are hidden with Christ in God. Christians have a very intimate relationship of union with the Lord. Then in vv9-10 Paul[…]
Text: Philippians 2:1-18This short passage is very encouraging, but it has also caused a bit of confusion. We know Scripture teaches that salvation is entirely by God’s grace alone, accomplished by Jesus Christ alone, and received only by faith (Gen.15:6; Rom.3:22, 28; Eph.2:8-9). Today’s verses sound like Paul is teaching that a person must obey[…]
Text: Philippians 1:1-18Apostle Paul begins his letter to the Philippian Christians with a very encouraging thought: the work God began in them will be brought to completion by Him. One of the main reasons Paul writes to them is to thank them for their financial assistance to his ministry (4:14). That kind of support is[…]
Text: Ephesians 5:1-21At the end of the previous chapter Apostle Paul was being very practical with his readers, encouraging them to be kind, tender-hearted, and forgive, even as God forgave them. That explains why Paul begins chapter five by saying, be imitators of God. The way to live the transformed life is to live the[…]
Text: Galatians 5:22-26As we continue our studies about the transformed life, we return, again, to Galatians and read about the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Apostle Paul begins his exhortation by mentioning the works of the flesh. The “flesh” means the anti-God nature of all human beings (but not Jesus), and “the works of the[…]
Text: Galatians 5:16-21Again we look at Paul’s letter to the disciples in Galatia. Today’s passage is very practical, where we read of the familiar struggle in the Christian’s life – the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh is our original anti-God nature, and the Spirit is the Holy Spirit who dwells within[…]