“What a powerful message! Life changing for sure. It truly blessed me. Every believer should listen to this video! But God! Two little words that I missed. And found this phrase used at least 44 times in the KJB. Those little words takes the focus off us! If it wasn’t for God coming to save our wicked souls we would be doomed forever to burn in hell. Psalm 49:15 “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah.” We are saved by the grace of God and kept by the power and grace of God. To which none of us can boost! (Ephesians 2:8, 1 Peter 1:5).” Karen Cochran | Grounded in Grace [podcast]
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) : And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10
Satan continues to pick off people with the same exact law-keeping deception he snared the Galatians with. They become in unbelief about Christ’s perfect sacrifice and begin to add law to salvation’s equation. This is deadly. Having begun in faith, in the Spirit, they fall away from the faith by trying to help God save them through self-effort, law-keeping (Galatians 3:3; 5:4). Many of those snared are seduced into this by way of the sabbath keeping deception, foolishness.
Being established in the saving grace of God is the only defense against the many deceptions creeping in among God’s people.
When the self-righteous legalist hears someone preach that Christians are saved by grace and not under the old testament law, they react – because they are still trusting self and have not truly repented/surrendered and putting their whole faith in christ. Law and grace don’t mix! You MUST choose! (John 1:17) Either you are saved by Jesus or your own law keeping works. There’s no in-between! It’s time to get into God’s Word, asking Him to give you a NEW Testament clue!
Especially with the upsurge of Judaizers and the law-keeping doctrines they perpetrate, every true born-again believer should pray, seek out, and study to be grounded in God’s saving grace in Christ.
SAINTS, we are saved by the LORD Himself, by His grace and not our own works. People who are still self-righteous, thinking THEY are earning their own justification, get very uneasy when the saving grace of God is preached. They are not yet students of NEW Testament truth. WE MUST have an ever-deepening biblical revelation of God’s justification by grace and faith! Please begin by memorizing Romans 5:1-2. AND, please read Romans chapters 3-5 prayerfully and over and over, this week.
To the Galatians, when Paul said “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”, he was saying that trying to mix even “a little” law keeping into the equation of salvation Christ alone 100% earned for us, ruins your whole relationship with God (Galatians 5:9). In fact, you don’t have one if you don’t 100% trust Jesus Christ!
Remember when Jesus saved you? He found and saved our wretched soul alllll by Himself!!!!! Right? Please pause and let that soak in. …. In light of this reality, this sheer mercy, how is it that we still strive in the flesh, thinking we are going to earn divine forgiveness, merit His blessings, etc. – “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:4-5)
“But God”
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:4
After hanging the backdrop (vv. 1-3), reviewing our alienation, our past life of trespasses and sin, how we are now found and rescued—brought back to life from our dead state—by the LORD, the writer now transitions upward.
Of Ephesians 2:4, William MacDonald writes:
“The words, But God, form one of the most significant, eloquent, and inspiring transitions in all literature. They indicate that a stupendous (astonishing, stunning) change has taken place. It is a change from the doom and despair of the valley of death to the unspeakable delights of the kingdom of the Son of God’s love.
The Author of the change is God Himself. No one else could have done it, and no one else would have done it.
“One characteristic of this blessed One is that He is rich in mercy. He shows mercy to us by not treating us the way we deserved to be treated (Psalm 103:10). ‘Though it has been expended by Him for six millennia, and myriads and myriads have been partakers of it, it is still an unexhausted mine of wealth, as Eadie remarks.’
The reason for His intervention is given in the words, for his great love wherewith he loved us. His love is great because He is its source. Just as the greatness of a giver casts an aura of greatness on his gift, so the surpassing excellence of God adds superlative luster to His love. It is greater to be loved by the mighty Sovereign of the universe, for instance, than by a fellow human being. God’s love is great because of the price He paid. Love sent the Lord Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, to die for us in agony at Calvary. God’s love is great because of the unsearchable riches it showers on its object.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1917
Satan attempts to make God out to be an unloving Father. Only mankind is created in God’s image, and He loves us beyond words (Ephesians 2:4-9). He loves us so much so that He gave His only begotten Son to die a horrible yet redeeming death on the cross, raising Him from the dead three days later to fully, completely justify us (John 3:16). God still has a remnant who trust Him and not self (Romans 5:6-8).
Justification
ARE YOU justified by sinful self or the Savior? Good luck flashing those “filthy rags” at the Throne of the Almighty who sent His only begotten Son to die for you! (Isaiah 64:6) You have called Him a liar! (Galatians 2:21) Righteousness comes from knowing and trusting the only One to ever keep the law perfectly and not from trying to keep the law (Galatians 2:16). Though the law be righteous, there is NO righteousness in the law other than repenting of your own efforts and putting your full trust in the only One who ever kept the law! (Romans 10:4) You deserve judgment and hell. You have nothing to offer God except a deeply repentant, honest, contrite, humble heart! (Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Matthew 5:3) You are a guilty sinner and must trash your stupid, ridiculous, laughable religious fig leaves which are a sham at best! True NEW Testament saints are dead to the law (Romans 7:1-4). Law keepers, do-gooders, and moralists are completely self-righteous antichrists who’ve put themselves in place of Jesus Christ as their own savior – denying Christ that place while vainly believing they can earn their own justification before a holy God and Judge of their eternal soul (James 2:10). Anti in the biblical word “antichrist” means “in place of.” Selah (meditate on that) God doesn’t want His children trying to keep the old law but rather to choose to worship, love, trust, and obey Him who is the only One to keep it and then nailed it to the cross and took it out of the way!
Revelation 2:8 “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”
Revelation 3:9 “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”
William MacDonald writes:
“His kindness toward us (2:7)
“His grace in His kindness toward us (2:7)
“The riches of His grace in His kindness toward us
“The exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us
“Now it follows that if God will be disclosing this throughout eternity, then we will be learning throughout eternity, then we will be learning forever and ever. Heaven will be our school. God will be our Teacher. His grace will be the subject. We will be the students. And the school term will be eternity.
“This should deliver us from the idea that we will know everything when we get to Heaven. Only God knows everything, and we will never be equal with Him.
“It also raises the interesting question: How much will we know when we get to Heaven? And it suggests the possibility that we can prepare for the heavenly university by majoring in the Bible right now.
“2:8 The next three verses present as clear a statement of the simple plan of salvation as we can find in the Bible.
“It all originates with the grace of God; He takes the initiative in providing it. Salvation is given to those who are utterly unworthy of it, on the basis of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“It is given as a present possession. Those who are saved can know it. Writing to the Ephesians, Paul said, ‘are ye saved.’ He knew it, and they knew it.
“The way we receive the gift of eternal life is through faith. Faith means that man takes his place as a lost, guilty sinner, and receives the Lord Jesus as his only hope of salvation. True saving faith is the commitment of a person to a Person (Christ).
“Any idea that man can earn or deserve salvation is forever exploded by the words, ‘and that not of yourselves.’ (2:9) Dead people can do nothing, and sinners deserve nothing but punishment.
“‘It is the gift of God.’ A gift, of course, is free …. The gift of God is salvation by grace and through faith. It is offered to all people everywhere.
“2:9 It is not of works, that is, it is not something a person can earn through supposedly meritorious deeds. It cannot be earned, for instance, by:
Confirmation
Baptism
Church membership
Church attendance
Holy communion
Trying to keep the Ten Commandments
Living by the Sermon on the Mount
Giving to charity
Being a good neighbor
Living a moral, respectable life
“People are not saved by works. And they are not saved by faith plus works. They are saved through faith alone. The minute you add works of any kind or in any amount as a means of gaining eternal life, salvation is no longer by grace (Rom. 11:6). One reason that works are positively excluded is to prevent human boasting. If anyone could be saved by his works, then he would have reason to boast before God. This is impossible (Rom 3:27).
“If anyone could be saved by his own good works, then the death of Christ was unnecessary (Gal 2:21). But we know that the reason He died was because there was no other way by which guilty sinners could be saved.
“If anyone could be saved by his own good works, then he would be his own savior, and could worship himself. But this would be idolatry, and God forbid it (Exod. 20:3).
“Even if someone could be saved through faith in Christ plus his own good works you would have the impossible situation of two saviors – Jesus and the sinner. Christ would then have to share the saviorhood with another, and this He will not do (Is. 42:8).
“Finally, if anyone could contribute to his salvation by works, then God would owe it to him. This, too, is impossible. God cannot be indebted to anyone (Rom 11:35).
“In contrast to works, faith excludes boasting (Rom 3:27), because it is non-meritorious. A man has no reason to be proud that he has trusted the Lord. Faith in Him is the most sane, rational, sensible thing a person can do. To trust one’s Creator and Redeemer is only logical and reasonable. If we cannot trust Him, whom can we trust?
“2:10 The result of salvation is that we are His workmanship – the handiwork of God, not of ourselves. A born again believer is a masterpiece of God. When we think of the raw materials He has to work with, His achievement is all the more remarkable. Indeed, this masterpiece is nothing less than an new creation through union with Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passes away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17).
“And the object of this new creation is found in the phrase, for good works. While it is true that we are not saved by good works, it is equally true that we are saved for good works. Good works are not the root but the fruit. We do not work in order to be saved, but because we are saved.
“This is the aspect of the truth that is emphasized in James 2:14-26. When James says that ‘faith without works is dead,’ he does not mean that we are saved by faith plus works, but by the kind of faith that results in a life of good works. Works prove the reality of our faith. Paul heartedly agrees: ‘we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’ (2:10)
“God’s order then is this:
“Faith->Salvation->Good Works->Reward
“Faith leads to salvation. Salvation results in good works. Good works will be rewarded by Him.
“But the question arises: What kind of good works am I expected to do? Paul answers, Good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. In other words, God has a blueprint for every life. Before our conversion He mapped out a spiritual career for us. Our responsibility is to find His will for us and then obey it. We do not have to work out a plan for our lives, but only accept the plan which He has drawn up for us. This delivers us from fret and frenzy, and insures that our lives will be of maximum glory to Him, of most blessing to others, and of greatest reward to ourselves.
“In order to find out the good works He has planned for our individual lives, we should: (1) Confess and forsake sin as soon as we are conscious of it in our lives; (2) be continually and unconditionally yielded to him; (3) study the Word of God to discern His will, and then do whatever He tells us to do; (4) spend time in prayer each day; (5) seize opportunities of service as they arise; (6) cultivate the fellowship and counsel of other Christians. God prepares us for good works. He prepares good works for us to perform. Then He rewards us when we perform them. Such is His grace!” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1918
“Riches” appears five times in Ephesians
Ephesians 1:7 – “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Ephesians 1:18 – “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”
Ephesians 2:7 – “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 3:8 – “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”
Ephesians 3:16 – “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”
Ephesians 2:1-10
WHAT GRACE HAS DONE by FB Meyer
“Evidently dead men may walk; that is, they may be dead to the eternal world but alive to this world, which is moving past like the films of a moving picture. The death of the spirit is compatible with much active interest in the course of this world. Behind the shifting scenes of the material is the great enemy of souls. As the Spirit of God works in the obedient, so does the evil spirit work in the disobedient. Note this trinity of evil-the course of this world, the lusts of our flesh, and the prince of the power of the air. If we desire to save men, we must be in living union with the all-conquering Spirit of Christ.
Notice, also, the past tense which describes the finality of Christ’s work, Eph_2:5-6. In the purpose of God we have been raised from the grave of sin and are seated with the risen Lord in the place of acceptance and victory. We were one with Christ when He lay in the grave and arose. In God’s thought we have already taken our seat with the glorified Christ upon the throne; only the pity is that we do not believe this or act as if we had done so. All this is the gift of God’s unmerited love. By grace have we been brought into this position, and by grace are we maintained in it. We are of God’s “making;” such is the Greek word for workmanship, Eph_2:10. We have been created for good works; they have been planned for us and we have only to walk in them.”
Articles
The Highest Form of His Creation
“What is man”? Psalms 8:4
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28
“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Genesis 1:28
The LORD created mankind, exclusively, in His own image and everything else in His creation He created to serve Him by supporting His prize creation, mankind.
THINK: CREATIVE DESIGN
EVER wonder why God attached the most pleasurable experience to what? – To Being fruitful and multiplying the highest form of His creation?
Read afresh and it’s fresh, what Genesis 1:27-28 says.
The LORD wants more babies!
Selah beloved of God.
Connect the dots please.
Get married, “be fruitful, and multiply!”
Boom.
Knowing that his time is short, Satan has come down with great wrath upon God’s creation, especially the highest form of His creation, mankind (Revelation 12:12). Man, created in the image of God, is under evil, denigrating assault by Satan and his human agents and agencies (1 Peter 5:8).
One example would be: Animals have been exalted over mankind. One bumper sticker captures the reality of animals, beasts, being made more important than mankind:
“Be a hero save a whale. Save a baby, go to jail.”
On TV we see very few commercials to save or help the humans, the innocent babies being murdered in cold blood via abortion. Yet we are bombarded with emotional pleas to save the forsaken or endangered animals. Be not deceived. We must hold to the priorities set forth by our Maker to whom we shall give account (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10, etc.).
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1
All of God’s creation matters and has a purpose for which He ordained it and yet He establishes that He made only one part of His creation in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Everything else He made revolves around that part of His creation – mankind. See Psalm 8.
The fact that mankind is the highest form of creation is a divinely stated and self-evident fact. Ever had a two-way conversation with an animal? No. Why?
We should keep in mind that Jesus Christ came to the earth to die for mankind, not animals. All else in His creation exists to serve Him by serving the highest form of His creation, exclusively created in His very image, mankind (Genesis 1:26-28).
Godless parents allow their children to watch the cartoons which indoctrinate their children to believe that animals are higher than mankind, that animals can talk and reason just as men and women can. We know this to be completely false, yet in the mind of the young child, this becomes their reality. So, instead of growing up to be saved and seek to help others be saved (the Great Commission), we have a whole generation of young people who in great disproportion spend their time tending to peripheral parts of creations like animals and trees. We have very few who give their life to serve God by serving mankind’s need for God.
Believers in particular are to care for human beings created in God’s image more than any other part of His creation.
A quick look at the billions of dollars being raised on crowd funding sites today for causes not related to helping reach mankind for salvation in Christ, testifies to this complete disparity, this gross imbalance.
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” Proverbs 11:1
Personally, I only give into and support the cause of Christ – which involves the salvation of the eternal souls of men! Anything else is waste!
Cancer, endangered animals, cats, dogs, horses, houses, etc. do NOT matter in the eyes of God as much as do the eternal souls of men for which Jesus came and died. The LORD only made mankind in His own image and likeness. All of the rest of His creation revolves around serving mankind, for the blessing of the highest order of His creation. Prove it wrong with Scripture. Can’t be done.
Anyone who has a problem with mankind being the highest form of creation and worthy to be aggrandized as such, has a problem with their Maker.
The relationship between God and man was lost when Adam sinned and thus Jesus came to earth as a man to die for mankind.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
There is no inference in this post that these other things don’t matter (animals, trees, etc). They do. Yet they are not the highest ranking in the order of divine priorities. All of the LORD’s delight are in His people.
“But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.” Psalms 16:3
Is our delight in the LORD and in people? Do we put people, made in God’s image, at the top of our priorities, just under God Himself? If not our priority system is broken and should be immediately repaired to line up with God’s Word. We must repent, confess our sins to God, and change our ways (Hosea 10:12; Joel 2:12; James 4:6-10, etc.).
The highest form of creation are those made in the image and likeness of the Creator – mankind (Genesis 1-2).
So, with this biblical priority in mind, where should we be giving our time, our energies, and our resources? What does Jesus mean by commanding us to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”? (Matthew 6:19-21)
All of God’s creation matters and yet He establishes that He made only one part of His creation in His own image (Genesis 1:27). Everything else that He made revolves around that part of His creation – mankind. See Psalm 8.
Hearkening back to Genesis, the psalmist pens the words of Psalms 8.
Psalms 8
1 A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Of this Psalm, one noted:
“Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands. An evident reference to Gen_1:28, ‘Have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.’ By these words man’s right of dominion was established. His actual dominion only came, and still comes, by degrees. Thou hast put all things under his feet. In their fulness, the words are only true of the God-Man, Jesus Christ (Mat_28:18).” The Pulpit Commentary
Of this glorious Psalm, Donald Stamps writes:
“8:4-6 THE SON OF MAN. The N.T. quotes these verses from the Septuagint (The Greek translation of the Hebrew O.T.) and applies them to Jesus (Heb. 2:6-8; cf. Eph. 1:19-22). It is only in Him that these truths are perfectly realized. He is the One who, as a representative of the human race, will be given the full dominion over all creation (v6-8; cf. Phil. 2:10).
8:5 WITH GLORY AND HONOUR. This psalm expresses the amazing honor that God has bestowed upon humankind. It affirms that we as humans were created by God for a glorious purpose; we are not just animals, the product of natural evolution and chance (v. 5-6). So valuable are we to God that we are special objects of His concern and favor (v4). He has honored us by choosing us to rule over His creation (v 6-8; cf. Gen. 1:28; 2:15, 19). Yet the consciousness of our favored position is no reason for praising ourselves, but a reason for giving thanks and glory to the Creator (v. 9).” Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible, p. 813
Of this wonderful chapter, Psalms 8, William MacDonald writes:
“8:4 God is interested in every individual! He has a personal, intimate concern for every human being.
8:5 God made man in His own image and after His own likeness. Though lower than God, man shares with Him some faculties that are not shared by any other order of creation on earth. Everything God made was pronounced to be good, but the verdict on the Creation of man was ‘very good.’
8:6-8 As God’s representatives on earth, man was given dominion over all kinds of animals, birds, fish, and reptiles. There was nothing that was not put under him.
But the writer to the Hebrews reminds us that we do not see man enjoying this undisputed sway at the present time (Heb. 2:5-9). Dogs bark at man, snakes bite him, birds and fish elude him. The explanation is that when sin entered the world through Adam, man lost his unqualified sovereignty over the lower creation.
Yet God’s purpose still stands. He has decreed that man shall indeed have dominion, and nothing can block God’s purposes. So while we do not see all things subject to man right now, we do see Jesus–the one Person by whom man’s dominion will eventually be restored. When Christ came to earth, He become temporarily lower than the angels so that as Man He could die for the human race. Now He is crowned with glory and honor at God’s right hand. Someday Christ the Son of man will return to earth to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. In the Millennium, the dominion that was forfeited by the first Adam will be restored by the Last Adam.
8:9 Then God’s redeemed people will join to sing with new appreciation, “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 557-58
With this in mind – that mankind is the LORD’s highest form of creation for whom He died, was buried, and raised again, let us live and give and act accordingly with our affections and actions.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Apostasy
Direction in God’s Word? [podcast]
Nourished Up in God’s Word [podcast]
“Great podcast. Thank you. If you want to really fall in love with the scriptures, read Psalm 119. I spent probably a year reading, studying, and memorizing it. This Psalm was written for us, to begin to love God’s Word as much as the Psalmist did, which is what happened to me. My heart was truly transformed. The beloved David’s whole heart was dedicated to studying, obeying, meditating and learning all of the Word of God, so he could live a righteous and holy life, fully devoted to the Lord. We should live and breath the Scriptures and meditate on them day and night (Psalm 1:2).” Karen Cochran
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6
Remaining “nourished up” in the Word of God is essential to enduring to the end. God’s Word is the divine fuel for all of His beloved saints.
Ingesting, devouring God’s words daily is invigorating to our spirits and essential to our lives in Christ!
Biblical Topics Sampling:
- Love/Charity: 1 Corinthians 13 “The love chapter”
- Origin of all Life/Civilization: Genesis 1-11
- 10 Commandments: Exodus 20:1-17
- Revelation 2-3: Christ addresses the 7 churches of Asia. There are many all-important truths and rebukes completely applicable to us now in being ready for Christ’s return.
- Fearing the LORD: Josh. 24:14; Ps. 2:11-12; 86:11; Prov. 1:7, 29; 8:13; 14:26-27; 22:4: Eccl. 12:13; Matt. 10:28; Lk. 12:4-5
- Sin: man’s core problem and dilemma: Gen. 3; 6:5; Jer. 17:5, 9; Rom. 3; 1 Jn. 1:7-2:2
- Proverbs: There are 31 chapters in Proverbs. 1 per day for a month complete the book.
- Prayer: Matt. 6:6, 26:41; Mk. 1:35; Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2,12
- Overcoming Sin: Romans 6; 13:14
- The 7 Abominations: Prov. 6:16-19
- Forgiveness: Matt. 18:21-35; Mk 11:25-26
- The Crucified life: Lk. 9:23-24; 2 Cor. 4:10-12; Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:3
- Humility: Prov. 22:4; Matt. 20:20-28; James 4:6-10
- Spiritual Maturity: Heb. 5:11-14, 6:1-3
- Marriage/Dating/Divorce/ReMarriage: Deut. 24; 1 Corinthians 7
- The Written Word: Psalms 119; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21
- Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5-7
- 6 Principle (foundational) Doctrines of Christ: Heb. 6:1-3
- Correction/Rebuke: Gal. 6:1-2; Prov. 25:9; Matt. 18:15-17; 2 Tim. 3:16
- Sin/Grace Righteousness: Romans 1-5
- Abstaining From Fornication: 1 Thess. 4:1-8; 1 Cor. 6:13-19
- False Prophets/Teachers: Jer. 23; Ezek. 34; Matt. 23; Jude 1; 2 Pet. 2
- Spiritual Gifts: 1 Corinthians 12, 14
- Love/Truth/Light: 1 John 1-5 First John Is Called ‘The Book of Certainties’
- Return of Christ: Luke 12:40; 21:34-36; 1 Thess. 4:16-18, etc.
- God of Restoration: Luke 15, 19:10
- Disciple’s Prayer Model: Matt. 6:9-12
- Riches: Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 12, 16; 1 Timothy 6:5-19
- The Divinity of Jesus Christ: Gospel of John (Hi-Lite & cross-reference every reference to Christ’s divinity); Jn. 1:1-2, 14; 8:58; 20:28; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16-17; 1 Tim. 3:16; 6:15-16; Rev. 1:8
- Wisdom: Prov. 8; James 1:5; 1:13-17
Putting God first in your day is a deliberate decision and act. It’s non-negotiable to the truth disciple. Such will never happen by accident. Take control of your time for Jesus or your time will continue to take control of you. Memorize 2 Timothy 2:15 and obey the LORD.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
“Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail …” Isaiah 34:16
Read God’s Word itself, yourself (KJB). THAT is God speaking. Every time you read His Word, God is speaking to you.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Becoming familiar with these texts will help you in your own walk with the LORD and in helping others (being able to teach and refer to these passages). You will be well on your way to a rich and full life of Bible literacy & usefulness in God’s kingdom as you begin to learn the above listed topics of truth. Hi-Lite, underline, cross-reference.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
The KEY to understanding the mind of Christ being communicated in any book of the Bible: First, read that book 10-20 straight through to gain a knowledge of it, to begin to grasp the divine transmission. Then, go back and study it verse by verse in a more in-depth break down of the text.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15
Let’s not come up empty handed any longer! Make the quality decision to learn God’s Word for yourself and stop depending on others. Embarking upon diligent topical and systematic Bible study is the answer.
“Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:20-21
The Word of God is learned, one truth at a time, “But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 28:13)
YOU cannot possibly be flourishing in Christ if you are not dwelling “richly” (abundantly) in His Word – both in your own personal, daily life and concerning Christ’s true body! (Colossians 3:16) If you are not surrounded with people you can have BIBLICAL conversations with, you have surrounded yourself with counterfeits!
“Presently, I am in 1 Kings, reading all the way through the Bible again, and also reading through Revelation backwards. Personally I like to read several chapters every morning to begin the day and like to include Old Testament, Poetic books, and New Testament chapter readings….. along with pouring over passages like 1 Cor 13; Phil 2:3-5; Col. 3:1-4, 12-14;” T.
“In 1 Thessalonians reading through the Bible.” Jason
“I am reading Mark.” Michele
“Philippians—Paul’s letter in prison—and joy.” Joe
“I’ve been Reading James And 1st and 2nd Peter This Week.” Connie
“Working my way through 1 Sam (ch 14 finished now) Psalms 77 and John chapter 4 finished. Trying to read through in 6 months. I enjoy listening (KJB on YouTube) while I read also.” Nathan
LET’S LEARN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER – ONE TRUTH AT A TIME: This message was sent out to each person who is on our Moments For My Master email devotional list. We would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:6). Sign up here.
MORE TOPICS
Adultery Matthew 5:27-28, 32
Adversity Romans 8:28
Afraid Psalms 34:4, 56:3
Alcohol Ephesians 5:18
Anger Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32
Anxiety Philippians 4:4-7
Apprehension Matthew 6:31-33
Astrology Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Backbiting Hebrews 12:14-15
Backsliding Psalms 51
Bereaved 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Burdens 1 Peter 5:6-11
Conceit Luke 18:9-14
Contention Proverbs 13:10. 22:10
Confusion 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Covetousness Exodus 20:17, Romans 7:7
Crisis Psalms 121
Criticism Romans 12
Cursing James 3:10
Daydreaming 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Deceit Colossians 2:8
Defeated Romans 8:31-39
Depression Isaiah 61:1-3. Psalms 34
Despair 2 Corinthians 4:8
Destruction Psalms 103; Proverbs 18:12
Disaster Threatens Psalms 91
Discouragement Isaiah 42; Psalms 23
Disobedience John 15:14
Divorce Mark 10:2-12
Doubt Proverbs 3:5-6; Hebrews 11
Drugs 2 Corinthians 7:1
Drunkenness Luke 21:34-36
Envy Proverbs 14:30
Excuses Luke 14:15-24
Faith Falls Psalms 42:5
Fantasy 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Fatigue Isaiah 40:31
Fault finding Matthew 7:1-5
Fear 2 Timothy 1:7; Luke 12:5
Fear of Rejection Ephesians 1
Fornication 1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Friends Fail 2 Timothy 4:16-18
Gluttony Proverbs 23:2
Gossip Proverbs 13:3
Greed Matthew 19:24
Grief Isaiah 53:3-4
Guilt Romans 8:1
Hatred 1 John 2:11
Heartbreak Psalms 147:3
Heaviness Isaiah 61:1-3
Hurting John 14
Idleness Proverbs 19:15
Idolatry 1 John 5:21
Inadequacy Philippians 4:13
Incest Leviticus 20:11,12,14
Inferiority Philippians 4:13
Impure Thought 2 Peter 2:10
Insomnia Proverbs 3:24
Intolerance 1 Corinthians 13
Irritability 1 Corinthians 13
Jealousy Proverbs 6:34
Judging Romans 14:10-13
Laziness Hebrews 6:12, Proverbs 19:15
Legalism Galatians 3
Lethargy Proverbs 21:24-26
Loneliness John 14; Psalms 23
Lying Revelation 21:8
Lust Matthew 5:28
Manipulation 2 Peter 2
Masturbation Romans 1:24-28
Materialistic 1 John 2:15-17
Mocking Proverbs 17:5
Murder Exodus 20:13
Negativism 2 Corinthians 1:20
Nervousness Philippians 4:6
Obsessive Behavior Galatians 5:16-25
Occult Deuteronomy 18
Overly Sensitive 1 Corinthians 13
Passivity Matthew 10:33
Pouting Matthew 6: 14-15
Prejudice James 2: 1-13
Pressure Proverbs 3:25-26
Pride Proverbs 16:18
Profane 1 Timothy 1:9
Protection Psalms 27
Quarreling Ephesians 4:25-32
Rape 2 Corinthians 7:1
Rebellion 1 Samuel 15:23
Rejection John 14
Resentment Hebrews 12
Restlessness Psalms 46:10
Retaliation Romans 12
Revenge Matthew 5:43-48
Sadness Nehemiah 8:10
Scorning Proverbs 22:10
Selfishness 2 Corinthians 9:1-14
Self-pity Philippians 4:8-9
Self-righteousness Luke 18:9-14
Self-rejection Psalms 139:14
Self-will Isaiah 53:6
Sensuality Galatians 5:16-26
Sexual Impurity Proverbs 6:24-35
Sin Psalms 66:18; 1 John 1:9; John 8:34-36
Slow to Forgive Matthew 18:21-35
Sorrow Isaiah 53
Spite Isaiah 50:6
Stealing Exodus 20:15
Strife James 3
Stubbornness 1 Samuel 15:23
Submission 1 Peter 2:13-17
Suicide Exodus 20:13
Suspicion Exodus 20:16
Swearing Colossians 3:8
Temper 2 Peter 1:5-8
Tempted Matthew 26:41
Too Quick to Speak James 3:1-13
Unbelief Hebrews 3:12-13
Unforgiveness Matthew 18:21-35
Vanity Galatians 5:26
Violence Ezekiel 45:9
Weariness Hebrews 12:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:13
Witchcraft Galatians 5:20
Workaholic Romans 10:3; Ephesians 2:8-9
Worldliness 1 John 2: 15-17
Worry Isaiah 35:3-5; 26:3-4
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The Name and Witness of Jesus Christ [podcast]
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
“Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8-9
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” 1 John 5:10
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15
YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, please sanctify my life unto Thee. Make me holy as You are holy. Please separate me and use me for Your eternal glory LORD Jesus. May Your life shine greater in and through this vessel dear LORD. I love You Jesus and right this instant commend, submit my spirit, my whole being into Thy holy hands. In Jesus’ name.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Consider Your Ways [podcast] | Consider and Build [podcast] | Holes in Your Money Bags? [podcast] | Dollar Dialogue | Jesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast] | Escaping Sodom! | Waste | Stewardship | Giving | Fellowship
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