Jude 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude’s day is quite similar to ours. Our churches, like his, had people who wanted to be known as Christian, yet they had their own brand of the gospel. Some people claim, “God is love, therefore, no one…
Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment. Here Paul prays for those in Philippi and for us as well. He asks that as we grow older in Christ Jesus, our brotherly love, goodwill, and benevolence will grow. As Christ reigns supreme in our hearts, our goodwill and affection need to multiply and excel to overflowing. As our knowledge increases, it will become more precise and correct…
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. In God’s eyes, no one person is above another, no matter their station or nationality. Gender holds no superiority over another. The only distinction to Him is if you are in Christ or not. There is no in-between—no sort-of Christian. Gray doesn’t count. It’s only black or white. In or out….
Joel 2:13 (The Lord says) “And rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil.” God is telling us here to do a 180 degree turn. To examine our will, heart, soul, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, conscience, and heart to obtain moral character. This is internal where only God sees; not external where people see. He urges us to…
Matthew 22:37 And He said to them, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Jesus is telling us here that we are to love God completely with every part, every fiber of our being. If we love Him in that way, He will fill and color our thoughts, our desires, our appetites, affections and purposes. The way we think and know things will have Him at…
I John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. One test to know that we are truly born again is how we love people. Not just the ones who are easy to love, but those who are difficult. If we are not truly born again we’re walking in darkness. That darkness will only be multiplied after our soul is separated from our…
John 6:37 (Jesus said) “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” Once we come to Jesus, He will never banish us from God’s family. He will never deprive us of His power and influence in the world. We are His forever and ever. The enemy might try to tell us differently, but we must remember this. Jesus knows him well. He called him a…
I John 3:14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. One test to know that we are truly born again is how we love people. Not just the ones who are easy to love, but those who are difficult. If we are not truly born again we’re walking in darkness. That darkness will only be multiplied after our soul is separated from our…
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement. In order for God to forgive sin, He required a life of an animal to be lost in substitution for the person asking forgiveness. This allowed the repentant person to be in unity and harmony with God. In the…
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. Have you ever thought of God exulting over you with love? He comes and lives inside of us—He overcomes all our enemies. He saves us through our troubles. He wants to celebrate what He has done with us. Rest in His victorious joy. His…