For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. James 2:10 ESV Rodney Baker has contributed several TW’s on Religion while I am in South Africa. Whole – This is a favourite proof text for those who would claim that the Law is no longer applicable…
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. James 1:26 ESV Rodney Baker has contributed several TW’s on Religion while I am in South Africa. Religious – Now James provides the solution to the riddle. What is it to truly fear God?…
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. James 1:26 ESV Rodney Baker (Adelaide, Australia) has contributed several TW’s on Religion while I am in South Africa. Religious – threskos. What a loaded word! A word that occurs only once in the…
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! Psalm 32:1 NASB Forgiven – Martin Luther broke ranks with the Roman Catholic Church over the practice of selling indulgences; the offer of providing forgiveness for sinful actions to be committed in the future for a monetary payment now. Actually, it was a…
How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. Proverbs 28:14 NASB Fears always – It is quite popular to encourage believers with the thought that we do not need to be afraid. We are often reminded that Scripture tells us, “Do not fear” more than…
But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:25 ESV Looks – To look into the perfect law of liberty. Twice in his letter, James refers to the nomos eleutherias….
“I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the gates of the land;” Jeremiah 15:7 NASB Winnow – The Hebrew word is zarah. This verb captures a daily event in the life of the people. Just as they threw grain into the air to separate the good from the bad, God throws His people…
They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 1 Timothy 3:9 ESV Mystery – On my last trip to El Salvador, I received a lesson in theology at the local restaurant. Keith (who accompanied me on the trip) and I decided to have enchiladas. The menu offered three choices. Four enchiladas…
A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Galatians 5:9 ESV Leaven – When the Greek word zyme is used in Matthew 16:6 or 1 Corinthians 5:6, no one has any doubt about the application of the proverbial saying to the context. In both cases, the metaphor of leaven means some small thing that is introduced…
“In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NASB Take courage – In the Greek text, the word translated “take courage” is tharseite. This verb (tharreo) means, “be confident, take courage, be bold,” in one of its forms, and “to trust, to rely on” in another form. …
