But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:17-18 Freed – Sha’ul echoes Yeshua. How is a man set free? By becoming a…
“If you abide in My word, you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32 Free – Which man is free – the one who exercises liberty to act as he wishes or the one who submits to moral precepts? The question is…
“As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15:19 Out Of The World – The words of Yeshua confirm His divinity. So do His actions. But if we think that those actions are only the miracles,…
And, behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward with Me, to render to each as his work is. Revelation 22:12 Render – If you really think about this verse, doesn’t it seem just a bit odd? After all, are we really expecting a reward for our faithfulness? And aren’t we rescued by grace? Do…
Little children, let no one lead you astray: The one practicing righteousness is righteous. 1 John 3:7 Astray – Who should you follow? Who should you choose as your leader? How do you know you’re walking with the right person? John has a very simple test. Follow the one who is practicing righteousness. It seems…
“for the word of YHWH has been to me a reproach and derision all the day.” Jeremiah 20:8 Reproach – Jeremiah tells us that he desperately tried not to speak God’s words. He tried to shut them up within his heart. But it was no use. They became a burning fire that had to be…
“Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day.” Luke 16:19 Gaily Living – “Reading the Bible in a translation is like kissing your new bride through a veil.”[1] Kenneth Bailey underlines Bialik’s point in this parable.[2] The translation “living gaily” disguises…
“Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My commandments, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:5-6 Own Possession – What is the value of Israel…
For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 14:18 Approved – Who is acceptable to God and approved by men? To answer this question, we need to look at the Greek word dokimos. It means, “to be certified as completely real.” It is not about tolerance. …
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. Romans 14:1 Weak – If I called you “weak in faith” in Rome in the first century, who would you be? That’s a rather odd question, but it is crucial to understanding what Paul is…
