For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NASB Sin– Last week we looked at Wyschogrod’s work on the idea of sin. What we discovered is that sin in nota moral or ethical category. Sin exists as…
For the wages of sin is death, . . .Romans 6:23 NASB Sin– Perhaps we’ve made a terrible mistake. We have assumed (and been taught) that sin is a breach of the law, in particular, God’s law. We’ve been taught that sin is doing wrong when we know what is right. We’ve been taught that sin is…
So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 NASB Free – Janis Joplin sang the theme song of an entire generation: “Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose.” Some days I think she was right. John uses a Greek verb with particularly dense meanings. Eleutheróō in the Greek world had…
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 NASB Wisdom/ understanding– The verse is so familiar that we fail to recognize it is not about our definitions of wisdom and understanding. In fact, we might go so far as to say that none of the ancient Hebrew Bible…
for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— 2 Corinthians 6:2 NASB Now– This citation in Paul’s letter is often used to underscore the immediacy of the salvation message. “Turn back to God now,…
“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13 NASB Comfort– The needs of the world press upon us. Who will answer? You and I, of course. We who have been blessed must respond to the great agony of life, the teeming masses whose worlds are confined to…
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” Genesis 41:51 NASB Forget– Do you appreciate how self-contradictory Joseph’s action is? Joseph wants to forget all the troubles of his past, particularly those troubles with his family (including his father) that led to his slavery in Egypt. So…
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NASB All things– I opened a box of keepsakes. I’d had them for a long time. Too precious to discard but no space to display, so they stayed, carefully wrapped, in storage, not quite forgotten, gentle reminders whenever I came to look at things that mattered…
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Colossians 3:13 NASB Bearing– Paul says what we all want to hear—applied to someone else! Yes, you need to bear my burdens! Lord knows I need someone to talk to, to understand my struggles, to…
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5 NASB You shall love – “To be commanded to love God at all, let alone in the wilderness, is like being commanded to be well when we are sick, to sing for joy when we are dying of…
