“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). Unashamed Paul concludes his introduction by setting out the main theme of the epistle—the gospel. Although the message is one of glad tidings, it reminds us…
Fishers of People Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19 NKJV). The great hymn “Where He Leads Me I Will Follow” says: I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, “Take Thy cross and follow follow…
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17 NKJV). This is the biography of every Christian. In this verse, Paul sets forth five important truths: First, the redeemed individual is in Christ, in other words, he or she is joined to Him in…
And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25). Here is a summons to a life of loving community. It mandates that…
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)….
Power in Prayer If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you (John 15:7). Genuine disciples do more than just believe what Jesus says. They let Jesus’ words remain in them. Jesus’ words had cleansed them: you are already clean because of…
Meditating on God’s Word This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do (Joshua 1:8). At the center of our faith, we should have the…
The Inspired, Infallible, and Inerrant Word All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16). Our primary and final safeguard against false teaching is the Word of God….
Loving Christ The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him (John 14:21). But believing is not simply a matter of mental assent. Being related to Jesus…
A Living Sacrifice I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Rom.12:1 NKJV). In the last four chapters of Romans Paul takes up the matter of our duty as children of God. He kicks this chapter off by dealing with the…