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”…
1. We are generally (perhaps deliberately) unaware of the giant chasm created by the smallest of sins and the demands of God because the Church has taught us that we are under grace and therefore the tiny sins don’t really matter. They are simply errors in judgment. If my greatest sins can be easily forgiven…
But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? James 2:20 NASB You foolish fellow – Oswald Chambers’ devotional for October 28 makes an astounding statement. “I am not saved by believing; I realize that I am saved by believing. It is not repentance that saves me, repentance is…
What say we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may increase? Romans 6:1 NASB To continue – Who is Paul writing to in this letter? You must answer this question before you can interpret his words. There are several possibilities. Is he writing to Jews in the Roman synagogue? Unlikely. They…
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is not really another, only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Galatians 1:6-7 Gospel – What if we have it all wrong? What…
For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 4 Crept in unnoticed – Now how is this possible? How can it be that some slip…
So, then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Romans 7:12 NASB Law – I live on Thoroughbred Lane, but the only horses I have ever had are the ones packed into the back of fine examples of human engineering like this Ferrari 512TR that used to grace my…
“Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.” Acts 15:19-20 NASB Abstain – (This is going to be…
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 NASB Grace – Grace is a very familiar word to readers of the New Testament. What may not be so apparent is the fact that this word comes from the same group as…
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:8 NASB Found favor – Now this is important, so pay close attention. We have examined the Hebrew word hesed, discovering that it isn’t accurately portrayed by the single idea of “lovingkindness” or “mercy.” That’s because hesed presupposes obligation established by mutual relationship. Hesed,…
