New Heaven and New Earth Take a minute and imagine a time when there will be no more sorrow and tears. As believers, we won’t experience pain, and sin will be no more. “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, […]
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22 – 23. It’s important to remember that as believers, all of the fruit produced is through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Once we surrender our lives […]
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness….. Galatian 5:22-23 “Gentleness-kindness, consideration, a spirit of fairness and compassion. The apostle Paul declared that Christians should have a spirit of gentleness toward all people.” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary) “Gentleness, also translated “meekness,” does not mean weakness. Rather, it involves humility […]
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness……. Galatians 5:22 The next fruit that is listed is faithfulness. What does it mean to be faithful? Here are two definitions. “Faithfulness-dependability, loyalty, an stability, particularly as it describes God in His relationship to human believers.” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary) “Faithfulness […]
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness……Galatians 5:22 The fifth fruit of the Spirit is kindness. It should be a trait exhibited in the life of a believer. “The Greek word for “kindness” is chrēstotēs. It means “benignity, tender concern, uprightness.” It is kindness of heart and kindness of act.” […]
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness……Galatians 5:22 One of God’s attributes is that He is good. He is the standard for what is good, which is where our idea of good originates. He is the highest good, the best good. There is nothing that can compare with Him. […]
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience……Galatians 5:22 “The disciples of a patient Saviour should be patient themselves.” Charles Spurgeon I have to say patience is definitely something that has to come from the Holy Spirit. It is a trait that does not come naturally to many of us. We live […]
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…..Galatians 5:22 As believers, the first peace we are given is with God. In our sinful state, before surrendering our lives to Christ, we were at war against God’s truth. Until we are given the faith and sight to see the goodness and love of God […]
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy……. Galatians 5:22 Joy is the next “fruit” we see in Galatians 5:22, produced by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In his commentary on this passage, Warren Wiersbe likens joy to “holy optimism.” Living in a world of hardships and struggles makes it often difficult to […]
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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love,….” Galatians 5:22 Love is first. It’s the starting point because love is the outflowing of all of the other fruit. We get our example of love from our heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus. God’s love for us is what we have even before we know it. […]
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Living by the Spirit Nothing else is needed. As a people, God offers us salvation through Jesus Christ. We are made right before God because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. There is no work one can do to earn their way into the kingdom of God. It is only through Christ. This is the […]
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“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers […]
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“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” Ephesians 6:18 ESV At the end of Ephesians 6, Paul tells believers to pray. Prayer is one of our greatest weapons because it is our direct line to God. […]
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“and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:17b A Roman soldier’s sword was essential for fighting. It was short and sharp, so the soldier could use it to stab and cut during battles. It was easy to handle with one hand, which made it perfect for close combat. Soldiers […]
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“and take the helmet of salvation,” Ephesians 6:17a ESV Birthdays, Christmas…..and gifts are always great. You will never see me turn down a gift! Needless to say, everyone likes gifts, especially if it is something they want. As believers we have been given a gift. Salvation! “For by grace you have been saved through faith. […]
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“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Ephesians 6:16 ESV A Roman soldier’s shield was very important for keeping them safe. It was big and made of wood covered with leather, and sometimes it had metal edges. The shield helped protect […]
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What do you think of when you hear the word peace? I think of a quiet day at home, sitting alone on the porch: a place or a time where it is calm and serene. Peace is something that we can have with God and with others. Nelson’s Bible dictionary tells us that peace has […]
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Standards have a purpose. They are like a guide for how something is to be done. Without standards, we would never know if we have completed the task or reached the goal. We are to put on righteousness “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,” […]
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When we look at Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul talks about putting on the armor of God. As we dive into each part of the armor, we must remember that Paul is speaking metaphorically. Remember, Paul was in prison when he wrote Ephesians, so he had constant encounters with Roman soldiers with which many people, including believers, […]
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My relatives and friends have served in our country’s military, and I am grateful for their service. America has been involved in a number of wars throughout our history. Soldiers have fought and died for the freedoms that we as Americans enjoy today. They went to battle to protect our country. As believers, we are […]
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As a person, it is comforting to have that friend or group of people you know in your life. As individuals, it’s not healthy for us to be alone all the time. Even in the Garden of Eden, in Genesis 2:18 & 21-22….“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to […]
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Yes, I know it’s February, and technically, the year is no longer new, but reflection is essential. When we look at life, we can see the ups and downs we face. If we have built our foundation on the Word of God, when the storms come in our lives we have a firm place to […]
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For the last couple of years, I have been taking to heart and applying 1 Thessalonians 5:17: Never stop praying. We think of prayer as something we practice in the morning during our quiet time, over a meal, or before we retire for the night. We keep prayer journals to keep track of our prayers. […]
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Is God a moral monster, in the Old Testament? Some say that the God of the Old Testament differs from the “one” we read about in the New Testament. Some critics argue that the portrayal of God in the Old Testament is inconsistent with the loving and just God presented in the New Testament. They […]
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Looking at the world today, we see a lot of pain and suffering, not in our own lives but in those around us. I think we have all wondered why evil is allowed to continue if God is good. Why can’t He stop it? It’s a reasonable question. As believers, we should think through why […]
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As believers, we have come to know and accept God. We believe He exists and has existed for eternity, past and future. Yet, so many people struggle with where God truly exists. Whether God exists has been a philosophical, theological, and scientific debate for centuries. Believers affirm the existence of a divine being, while skeptics […]
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According to the “State of Theology survey conducted by Ligonier Ministries and LifeWay Research. Six in 10 Americans say religious belief is about opinion rather than objective truth. In 2022, 31% of evangelicals strongly agree religious belief is a matter of personal opinion; it is not about objective truth. (State of Theology,2022) In recent years, […]
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“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though […]
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Davidic covenant “Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for […]
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The Mosaic Covenant “Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings […]
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The Abrahamic Covenant “So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt[a] to the great Euphrates River— the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.” Genesis 15:18-21 […]
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The Noahic Covenant “Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth.” Genesis 9:12-13 NLT The Noahic Covenant […]
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Overview of the Covenants The Bible, God’s written Word, contains a rich tapestry of stories, teachings, and promises. Do you keep the promises that you make? Are you surrounded by trustworthy people? The Bible gives us many examples of God being faithful and true. Among these promises, the concept of covenants plays a pivotal role […]
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What is Soli Deo Gloria? Soli Deo Gloria: “To the glory of God alone. God is the supreme being over everything. He is the creator of heaven and earth. Because He is great, he deserves all praise and glory. Nothing is in existence without Him. “The Bible is at base a true story of a […]
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What is Sola Christo? In Latin, Solo Christo means “Christ alone”. This is important when understanding our salvation, the Person, and the Work of Christ. As sinners, we cannot pay the penalty needed for our sins. We can do nothing to work to pay this debt we owe God. Our sins render us guilty before […]
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It is through faith alone we can be made right with God. “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This […]
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“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.” by John Newton. Grace. We cannot earn it. What is Sola Gratia?Sola gratia is one of the five solas. In essence, it means grace alone. Salvation, the gift of […]
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“The foundation of our religion is the written word, the scriptures of God” Huldrych Zwingli. What is Sola scriptura?Sola scriptura is Latin for Scripture alone. The Bible is a God-breath, truthful, and trustworthy Word of God. “Sola scriptura means that only Scripture, because it is God’s inspired Word, is our inerrant sufficient, and final authority […]
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History is important. I have always loved learning about the past. History tells us where we have been and how we have progressed. This progression can be for the good or bad. Looking back, we see the mistakes made but also how truth has stood the test of time. One of those times in history […]
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There are multiple methods in which to study the Bible. One I have found to be helpful is the Thirty-Day Bible Study Method. This method is not original to me. Reading the Bible is an essential part of knowing God’s word better. Studying the Bible is where we get to know the text well. The […]
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Which part of the Bible do you like the most? The Old Testament or the New Testament? Most would say they like the New Testament better because they can understand it better. Why is it important to know and love the Old Testament as much as the New Testament? The Bible is about God, His […]
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The Bible is a book with many stories. All of these stories are connected. The Bible is one continuous story about Jesus Christ. God. The Old Testament prepares and foretells the story of Christ. The New Testament announces and fulfills what was promised in the Old Testament. There are patterns in the Bible that help […]
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Reading and studying the Bible is an integral part of our growth and development as Christ’s followers. Learning how to read and understand the Bible, God’s Word, is an area where we continue to grow. At least, I know I am! One aspect of reading and studying the Bible I have learned is to understand […]
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What do you believe about God, salvation, ethics, and the Bible? Does what you believe align with historic Christianity? As believers, we have a purpose to glorify God in all we do and make Him known to the world around us. In a nutshell, we should strive to live for Christ faithfully in our daily […]
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Just As I Am: A Story of Grace and Surrender Just As I Am is a beautiful hymn about surrender, about God’s grace meeting us right where we are, with no conditions or requirements. It was written by Charlotte Elliott, a woman who knew well the struggle of feeling unworthy and burdened, yet ultimately found […]
