So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NASB Hearing – When we first examined this verse (August 17, 2011), we noted that this is Paul’s shema. Although written in Greek, Paul clearly has the Hebrew verb shama in mind. And as we know, shama means both “to hear”…
And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:2 ESV Take heart – (Rodney Baker provides this insight) The very first time the word “believe” occurs in the Bible is…
By faith Sarah herself received the power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Hebrews 11:11 ESV Power to conceive – The inclusion of Sarah in the heroes of the faith hall of fame has always seemed a bit strange. When we read the story…
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, Ephesians 4:1 NASB Calling – Have you been called? Most Christians will hesitate before answering because too often they think “calling” is about some assignment to the ministry. If God “calls”…
In our culture we often hear the motto “Time is money,” but in my world just the opposite is true. For me, money is time because when YOU, all of you as a community, support me, then I have the time needed to continue the writing, the research and the teaching. And YOU have given…
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, Ephesians 4:1 NASB To walk – There is little doubt about Paul’s Hebrew idiom behind this Greek word, peripatesai (from the verb paripateo). “To walk” is the common metaphor for “living…
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, Ephesians 4:1 NASB Entreat – What’s the first thing Paul says when it comes to walking in a way that honors the Lord? Get a lawyer! At least that’s how we…
