Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. Ezekiel 1:1 NASB Visons – We might have a deeper appreciation for Ezekiel’s experience of God if we realized that the verb rāʾâ…
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:16-17 NASB If – We critically examined the first part of Paul’s declaration, concluding that his loose language about spiritual confirmation…
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:16-17 NASB Testifies – Sometimes Paul is just obtuse. Peter thought so. I agree. Why can’t he just be plain and…
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 NASB Sword of the Spirit – When Paul explains that the sword of the Spirit is the word of God, do you think he meant the Bible? No, of course not. First because the Bible as we have…
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11 NIV Full armor – In my dream I’m covered with some kind of black plastic tarry substance. It tries to hold me down to the ground. I try to fight it off, but no matter what…
They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Psalm 14:3 NASB Not even one – Psalm 14:3. The corruption of men. If you thought that things changed after the Messiah, well, you’d be wrong. In Paul’s last letter he cites the same Davidic idea. “as it…
Thus says the Lord, “Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens although the nations are terrified by them;” Jeremiah 10:2 NASB Nations – Have you considered “the way of the nations”? I’m sure we’ve all assumed we know what Jeremiah meant. He must have…
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Psalm 51:6 NASB Innermost being/ hidden part – Psalm 51 is infamous for its most controversial verse, number 5. You probably know it from memory (“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived…
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11 NIV Full armor – Body armor. Every civilization has some form of personal physical protection. Paul uses a term that was quite familiar to his audience. After all, they observed the Roman legionnaire’s equipment daily. The…
In the beginning . . . let him go up! Genesis 1:1a – 2 Chronicles 36:23c NASB In the beginning/ go up – These are the first and the last words of the Tanakh: be-rēʾ šît; yāâl. In the beginning God assents to descend, voluntarily creating a universe with agents who are capable of resisting…
