The Knowledge of God, Ephesians 1:16-23

This post concerns the knowledge of God for Christians for which Paul prayed.

The Knowledge of God discusses the ramifications of Paul’s prayer, Ephesians 1:16-17. “I…give thanks for you… in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,”

Knowledge about God for us today comes from His word. Paul clarified the value of this knowledge, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Thus, the Bible supplies everything we need to know about God and enables us to do every good work.

Paul provides the three reasons that we want this knowledge: It provides knowledge about the hope we have when we serve God, the riches of this reward of an eternity with God, and the power God exerts in our lives, Ephesians 1:18-19. “… having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what …the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,”

All this came about due to the crucifixion, resurrection, and exaltation of the Christ to the right hand of God, Ephesians 1.20-21. “…according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name …not only in this age but also in the one to come.”

Thus, the Bible provides us with knowledge about what we hope for, the reward we will get, and the power of God who provides it, because He sent the Christ.

So, what did we learn?

1.God provides the wisdom we need through the scriptures.

2.We have hope due to Christ’s sacrifice.

3.God demonstrated this power in Jesus’ resurrection from death on the cross.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#hopeReward #gloryJesus #greatRiches #gloryGod

Praise the Lord, Psalm 148

This post covers what the Psalmist said about ‘praise the Lord.’

Praise the Lord describes glory for God from His creations. The Psalmist seems to consider God’s creative power from Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

First, look up. God made everything—the stars, the universe, the sun, the moon, and the earth as it exists today. He deserves praise.

Then, the psalmist explains how it happened. God spoke and creation occurred. Therefore, praise His name.

From the earth’s standpoint, God made the earth to withstand extreme weather and life as we know it on the land and sea. Thus, give glory to God.

He made the birds, the trees, and everything with life.

Lastly, consider people. God fashioned all nations and the kings that now rule. Further, He formed a horn of blessings to take care of His people, the Israelites. As a result, they bless God.

This psalm and all the others were written over three thousand years ago. God has caused much to happen since then. As He promised, He sent His Son to the earth as the Messiah. Although Jesus was put to death on a cross, God raised Him up, allowed people to see Him alive, and then transported Jesus to sit at His right hand. Deep thanks belong to God for the sending of this Son.

Subsequently, the Apostles, left behind when Jesus ascended, established an organization, the church. Also, a way, the plan of salvation, for people to be saved. Accordingly, it became possible for people to spend eternity with God. Thus, the close relationship between God and people, lost due to sin in the garden, became available again.

So, what did we learn?

1.God’s creation provides glory for Him.

2.People utter this praise and glory.

3.God provides a way of salvation for people.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#praiseGod #glorifyGod #creationProvidesGloryGod

My People, Acts 18:1-17

This post concerns the Corinthian church, the people God called ‘my people.’

My People discusses Paul’s work to form a church in Corinth.

Corinth, known as a sinful city, would seem a poor prospect for a church. But Paul left Athens and started preaching in Corinth. There, he aligned himself with two tentmakers, Aquila and Priscilla, forced by the Emperor to leave Rome, and worked with them at tentmaking. As usual, Paul preached in the synagogue to Jews on Saturday.

Finally, Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia. About that time, the Jews opposed and reviled him so much that he left the synagogue and moved his preaching to the house of Justus, next door.

This failure with the Jews must have been discouraging to Paul because God sent a vision, Acts 18:9-10. ““Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”

God prophesied that He had many people in Corinth.

This prophecy and encouragement helped Paul to work for a year and a half and establish a congregation in Corinth, Acts 18:8. “Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.”

Thus, many were converted.

However, the Jews united and thought a new proconsul would help them silence Paul, Acts 18:12-13. “But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man… persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.”

But Gallio would not hear them and judge a religious matter.

Then, they seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of Gallio. But Gallio paid no attention

Thus, as promised by God, Paul did not get hurt.

So, what did we learn?

1.Paul supported himself by tentmaking.

2.Paul established a mainly Gentile church in Corinth.

3.As promised, God protected Paul.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#GallioProCouncil #CorinthianCongregation

A Slur, 2 Chronicles 32

This post concerns a slur against God by Sennacherib, the king of the Assyrians.

A Slur discusses disbelief in the power of God.

Assyria invaded Judea, conquered the small cities, and set up their forces outside Jerusalem. Sennacherib then spoke a message to the people of Jerusalem, 2 Chronicles 32:10. “‘On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem? Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die…when he tells you, “The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria?”

Then Sennacherib bragged about his exploits and slurred God, 2 Chronicles 32:14. “Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction…deliver his people from my hand, that your God should…deliver you from my hand?”

Then, he continued the slur, 2 Chronicles 32:15. “…no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’ And his servants said still more against the LORD God and against his servant Hezekiah.”

He seemed to want to conquer Jerusalem by talking, 2 Chronicles 32:17. “…he wrote letters to cast contempt on the LORD, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.”

The Assyrians compared God to idols, 2 Chronicles 32:19. “…they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth…the work of men’s hands.”

Hezekiah took the letters before Isaiah and before God. Then, the Lord sent an angel that destroyed 186,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. The remaining Assyrians rapidly went home.

Today, God remains in control despite the slurs and insults of the world. The story of Hezekiah and the Assyrians should strengthen our faith and trust in God.

So, what did we learn?

1.The Assyrian king slurred God before Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem.

2.God sent an angel who destroyed 186,000 Assyrians in one night.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#AssyriansSlurGod #angeldestroys186,000AssyrianSoldiers

Marriage Infidelity, Genesis 2:24

This post concerns marriage infidelity.

Marriage Infidelity discusses an attitude to ensure faithfulness in our marriages.

Statistics show that about one in five marriages will have to deal with unfaithfulness or adultery. The Bible shows that this problem exists as a major violation of what God desires.

God directed how a marriage should function after giving Eve to Adam, Genesis 2:24. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

When Jesus discussed divorce, he added to this fundamental law of God, Matthew 19:6. “…they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

This shows how God designed marriage—one man and one woman for life. Some of the people follow this rule as designed by God. Others do not.

Including this in the ten commandments for the Israelites—God’s chosen people—shows its importance and how God felt about this pattern, Exodus 20:17. “… you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife…”

Thus, in the midst of prohibition to stealing, God said one should not steal someone else’s spouse. The violator would receive severe punishment, Leviticus 20:10. “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”

Proverbs 7 warns against the seductions offered by an adulteress, Proverbs 7:19; 21. “For my husband …not at home; he has gone on a long journey…

…With much seductive speech she persuades him…”

  Let us avoid similar speeches and someone else’s spouse.

A powerful key for us to avoid infidelity lies in our mental respect and obedience to God’s will for our marriages. This predisposition to fidelity should exist in our minds if we really want to please God and go to heaven.

The importance of this post lies in us learning how God wants our marriages to function.

So, what did we learn?

1.God designed marriage to be one man and one woman for life.

2.Determination to follow and obey God provides the key to avoiding infidelity in marriage.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#infidelityMarriage #GodDesignedMarriage

My Status: Saved or Lost? Acts 2:47

This post examines my status. Saved or lost?

My Status discusses how God dwells among His people.

After creation, God made a beautiful garden to dwell among His creation, Genesis 2:8; 15. “… the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed…

…God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Adam and Eve’s sin ruined this wonderful arrangement. God cast them out of the garden.

God chose Noah, Abraham, and then Moses to institute His long-range plan to again live among His people. Moses led in obeying God by forming a system whereby God lived among the Israelites. Moses built a tent of worship where God dwelled in the “holy of holiest” in the Ark of the covenant.

However, in disobedience, the Israelites often worshipped idols. God destroyed all but a fraction of them and then sent His Son to institute a new way for Him to dwell among His people.

The Jews rejected Jesus and killed Him on a cross. But God raised Him up and received Him into heaven. Thereafter, the establishment of the church again allowed God to dwell among His people. Ephesians 2:20-22. “Christ Jesus himself … the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure… joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also … built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

Thus, the church, serves as a spiritual home for the saved, Acts 2:47. “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

“In Christ” describes this state of salvation, Ephesians 3:17; 21. “…Christ … to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,”

Thus, ‘in Christ’ describes the saved group of people.

Therefore, only physical death and the resurrection separate the saved from heaven where God will dwell among His people throughout eternity.

Consequently, now only two states exist: the saved and the lost.

I need to ask myself if I’m part of the saved.

So, what did we learn?

1.God built the church as His dwelling.

2.The saved in the church will dwell with God in eternity.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#GodDwellsHisPeople #GodDwellsChurchToday

The Unknown God, Acts 17:16-34

This post concerns the unknown God that Athenians worshipped.

The Unknown God discusses an altar in Athens, Acts 17:23. “…I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”

In Athens, Paul proclaimed the gospel even in the marketplace. There, he encountered the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers. They invited him to discuss his message in the Areopagus, a local hotspot for philosophy, Acts 17:19. “And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching… that you are presenting?”

Learning something new comprised a daily activity, Acts 17:21. “Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.”

So, Paul began by telling of the altar “to the unknown god” and saying that this was the God he preached about saying that this God created everything and did not accept worship from idol temples.

Then, Paul went on to say that this God gives life and everything, sets the limits of our habitation, and provides a longing in the soul of man, Acts 17:27. “…they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he… actually not far from each one of us,”

Even their poets had mentioned that we live in God, Acts 17:27. “In him we live and move and have our being”

Then, Paul pointed out that they should not think of God as an idol, and commands everyone to repent of such worship, Acts 17:30-31. “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

The preaching of a resurrection caused almost everyone to turn away. But a few believed and followed Paul.

So, what did we learn?

1.Although Paul preached the gospel, the resurrection, and judgment many would not accept it.

2.A few believed and followed Paul.

This represents the message we should proclaim to the world today.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#preachTeachAthens #GodRaisedJesus #GodAppointedJudgment

The Difference, 2 Chronicles 10:14

This post concerns the difference in Judaism and Samaritanism.

The Difference discusses how the Jews worshipped God and how the people of Samaria worshipped God.

This variation in worship traces back to a statement by Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, to the people when they ask if he would reduce their heavy yoke, 2 Chronicles 10:14. “King Rehoboam spoke to them according to the counsel  of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

Hearing that, the ten northern tribes revolted, 1 Kings 14:16. “And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So, Israel went to their tents.”

  The ten northern tribes turned to Jeroboam as their king.

Although both groups believed in the same God, Jeroboam soon instituted an addition to their worship by placing golden calves at Dan and Bethel. He did not want anyone to go to Jerusalem to worship. He felt they would ultimately return to the authority of Rehoboam.

In addition, he appointed priests of the regular people rather than from the tribe of Levy.

This worship of idols remained until the Assyrians conquered them and took them captives to foreign lands. The Assyrians populated the Northern kingdom with foreigners they had captured. But these foreigners did not worship God. So, lions appeared, 2 Kings 17:25. “Therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.”

The Assyrian king brought a priest from the exiles to instruct worship of God in the city of Samaria. But they also worshipped idols.

This post helps understand the difference in the Samaritans and the Jews as we read the New Testament.

So, what did we learn?

1.When Rehoboam alienated the ten northern tribes, they formed a separate kingdom with Jeroboam as king.

2.Jeroboam introduced idol worship.

3.The Samaritans worshipped in Samaria, not Jerusalem.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#JeroboamKing #Rehoboam King #idolWorship

Israelite Failures, Deuteronomy 20:16-18

This post concerns Israelite Failures as recorded in Judges 1 and 2.

Israelite Failures discusses what God wanted, and how His people failed to obey.

Before Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan, God gave them instructions, Deuteronomy 20:16-18. “… in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God… giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall devote them to complete destruction,  the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded, that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the LORD your God.”

However, they did not completely annihilate those nations. Then, God allowed the remnants of the nations conquered by Joshua to remain to test Israel in two possible ways:

1. to see if they would obey God’s commandments exactly.
2. to teach war to the children who did not know war.

So, after the death of Joshua, the Israelites turned to worshipping idols.

Then, Othniel, the first judge, liberated them from eight years of service to a Mesopotamian king. Forty years of peace followed.

But after his death, the people turned again to idol worship. Thereafter, the Moabites conquered them, and they served for eighteen years.

Then, Ehud, a left-handed judge, with a sword concealed on his right side, killed the fat Moabite king, and rallied the people to fight and win independence. His judgeship lasted eight years.

This cycle of worshipping idols, being conquered by the remnant of the idol worshipping nations, and then God sending a judge to free them occurred again and again.

Let these cycles teach us to be faithful and not turn from serving God.

So, what did we learn?

1.God told Israel to utterly destroy the remnants of the defeated peoples of the land to keep them from tempting Israel to worship idols—but they did not.

2.When the remaining remnants lured the Israelites into worshipping idols, the Israelites suffered. So, God sent judges to liberate them and turn them back to true worship.

3.But when a judge died, Israel turned back to idols.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#OthnielFirstJudge #EhudSecondJudge #idolWorship #GodSentJudges

Macedonia and Achaia, Acts 17:1-15

This post concerns preaching in Macedonia and Achaia.

Macedonia and Achaia discusses what happened to Paul as he continued to preach in Europe.

When Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Philippi, they traveled westward to Thessalonica, Acts 17:1-3. “…where… a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving… necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you…the Christ.”

Many were converted to Christianity. However, the jealous Jews formed a mob, Acts 17:6-7. “…These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

When they could not find Paul, they seized several new converts and dragged them into court. The disturbed, local authorities extracted security from Jason and then let them go.

So, at night, the brethren sent Paul, Silas, and Timothy further west to Berea, Acts 17:10-11. “…when they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

The result: many were baptized into Christ.

However, the Thessalonian Jews came and caused trouble.

This trouble caused Paul to leave Silas and Timothy behind in Berea and move by sea to Athens, Greece.

This post shows the difficulties that Paul experienced in preaching the gospel in Europe.

Also, these verses encourage us to continue to teach and preach despite any difficulty the Devil may bring our way.

So, what did we learn?

1.Paul faithfully preached despite fierce opposition.

2.The Bereans were more noble, because they examined the scriptures to determine truthfulness.

3.We should duplicate such faithful teachings today.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#preachThessalonica #preachBerea #leaveTimothySilasBerea

The Good Portion, Luke 10:38-42

This post explores the meaning of ‘the good portion’ mentioned by Jesus.

The Good Portion discusses what Jesus said about Mary’s choice. Luke 10:38-42. “…Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house…she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching…Martha …  distracted with much serving…she…said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me… the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha…anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing…necessary…Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Firstly, note that Jesus did not denounce Martha for her work of serving. Instead, He just says Mary had chosen a higher plane of service— listening to Him.

The good portion equals listening to Jesus. Regular attendance in worship becomes an excellent way to listen to Jesus. (Also note that an additional benefit arises from worship attendance, Hebrews 10:24-25.) “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

So, we not only benefit by listening to Jesus, but we also encourage others to do the same. Thus, if Martha would stop and think, Mary’s example should have influenced her to listen to Jesus.

Personal Bible reading and study also represents a powerful method of listening to Jesus. A specific time and place each day functions as a habit that duplicates Mary’s listening. Like Mary, we get to decide how to spend our time. Dedicating some time to listen to Jesus represents a proper choice.

Finally, Jesus adds a wonderful blessing that happens when we listen to Him: It will remain with us and not slip away.

What we hear from Jesus and incorporate into our lives shows itself in a permanent effect of hearing and doing what Jesus wants.

So, what did we learn?

1.Listening to Jesus makes up a better way to spend time.

2.Listening to Jesus equals valuable knowledge that does not get lost in life’s busy ways.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#MaryMartha #ListeningJesus #NotTakenAway.

The Role of Baptism, Acts 2:37-38

This post concerns the role of baptism in the formative days of the New Testament church.

The Role of Baptism discusses the importance of baptism in salvation.

The church began on Pentecost following the preaching of Peter. In his first gospel sermon, Peter stressed the prophecy of Joel about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then, he stated that the Jews had killed Jesus. But God had resurrected Him.

After that, Peter told the audience how to obtain forgiveness for their sins, especially the sin of crucifying Jesus, Acts 2:37-38. “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,”

Afterwards, all through the book of Acts whenever conversions and forgiveness of sins took place, baptism was mandatory. When Philip went down to the Samaritans, he preached baptism, Acts 8. Soon thereafter, an angel dispatched Philip south to the Gaza road to join and teach a eunuch riding in a chariot. When they came to water, the eunuch asked for baptism.

Peter told Cornelius, a Roman soldier and a Gentile, to undergo baptism, Acts 10.

Lydia, a woman in business, underwent baptism, Acts 16. Later, in Philippi the Jailer also underwent baptism late at night after he heard the gospel.

All of these lumped together teach us that baptism became a command for salvation.

The same today…we must undergo baptism for salvation.

So, what did we learn?

1.All the cases of conversion in the New Testament involved baptism.

2.Today, undergoing baptism remains essential to salvation.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#baptismSalvation #baptismEssentialStep

Quitting, Acts 13:1-13

This post concerns committing and then quitting.

Quitting discusses John Mark’s decision to abandon Paul and Barnabus on a preaching trip.

The Holy Spirit directed the Antioch church, Acts 13:2. “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” John Mark also went to help. out.

So, the Antioch church prayed and sent them out.

They sailed to Cyprus, Acts 13:5. “When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.”

As they preached, Saul silenced a magician who opposed them, Acts 13:10-11. “You… enemy of all righteousness…will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? …you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.”

This miracle helped cause the Proconsul to believe.

Acts 13:13. “Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,”

At this point, John Mark quit. Although we do not know why, his reasons did not convince Paul of sufficient merit.

When Paul and Barnabus proposed another preaching trip, Paul did not want to take John Mark Acts 16:38. “But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them…and had not gone with them to the work.”

Later, John Mark became helpful, 2 Timothy 4:11. “Luke alone… with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he…very useful to me for ministry.”

These incidents show that one can recover from quitting.

Sometimes, we also quit. For example, we can quit our marriages or living as a faithful Christian. What do we need to do to restore these vital tasks?

Firstly, we have to mentally decide to repent of any sin and begin again. For our marriages, this means falling in love with our spouse again. We can love them again.

For life as a faithful Christian, we must repent of any wrongdoing and firmly resolve to worship and serve the Lord daily.

So, what did we learn?

1.John Mark quit the work.

2.Restoring marriages requires mental determination.

3.Restoring faithfulness to the Lord requires repenting of sin and resolving to live right.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#JohnMark #quittingMarriage #quitServingGod

 

 

Another Conversion, Acts 16:16-34

This post covers another conversion at Philippi.

Another Conversion discusses again what Paul taught about salvation.

After Lydia’s conversion, the apostle Paul went each day to the Philippian riverside to preach. However, a local slave girl having a spirit of divination, followed, Acts 16:17, crying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”

After several days, this proclamation annoyed Paul. So, he cast the spirit out of the girl.

 However, this angered her owners who saw their income destroyed. So, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the rulers in the marketplace. By accusing Paul and Silas of being Jews, they incited the crowd to provoke a beating and imprisonment in stocks in the inner prison.

At midnight, Paul and Silas sang praises and prayed to God. An earthquake occurred and loosened the bonds of all the prisoners.

The jailer was about to kill himself when Paul interrupted him, Acts 16:28. “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

Then, the Jailer asked Paul and Silas about salvation, Acts 26:30-33. ““Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” …they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household…they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and… baptized at once, he and all his family.

So, once they believed in Jesus, they followed the plan outlined by Peter to believing Jews, Acts 2:38. “… “Repent…baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,”

The washing of their wounds signified repentance. Baptism followed immediately.

Children could not undergo baptism, because they were required to believe.

Today, let us also follow Peter and the New Testament pattern for salvation.

So, what did we learn?

1.Salvation depends on hearing and believing the gospel, repenting of sins, and proper baptism.

2.Only those who can hear, believe, and repent can undergo correct baptism.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#jailerConverted #jailerFamilyBaptized

A Beautiful Girl, Esther 2:7

This post concerns a beautiful girl, Esther, who became the queen of Ahasuerus, the Medo-Persian ruler.

A  Beautiful Girl describes the circumstances that Esther experienced while saving the Jews from extinction.

Mordecai cared for a beautiful girl, his cousin, Esther 2:7. “The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.”

When Esther won the nationwide beauty contest, she became Ahasuerus’ queen. Mordecai went every day to the Harem gate to learn about Esther.

Meanwhile, Mordecai learned of a plan to murder Ahasuerus by two of the Eunuchs that guarded the gate to the king’s palace. He told Esther about the plot, and she informed the king in the name of Mordecai. The two eunuchs were arrested and subsequently hanged.

Then, the king elevated one of his officials, Haman, to a place of honor and ordered everyone to bow to him. However, Mordecai refused.

This angered Haman so much that he formed a plan to kill all the Jews in the kingdom, because Mordecai was a Jew.

This caused wide-spread fear among the Jews. But no one knew that Esther was a Jew. Mordecai urged her to appeal to the king and warned her of the problem of silence, Esther 4:14. “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther finally told Ahasuerus, the king, who had Haman executed by hanging. Then a law was passed that the Jews could defend themselves. So, they were saved.

This story has an important lesson for us. Like Esther, we may be in some place doing something that we do not know about in order to teach the gospel to someone. God can use us to accomplish unusual things we do not expect.

Let us exert faithfulness wherever we find ourselves, because we may reside in some unusual place for His purposes.

So, what did we learn?

1.God used Esther, a beautiful girl, to save the Jews.

2.God may use us wherever we live.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#EstherMordecai #ourTimeForFaithfuness

Mystery Revealed, Ephesians 3:1-12

This post concerns what the Bible says about the revelation of a mystery from God.

Mystery Revealed discusses God’s plans as provided to Paul, Ephesians 3:1-3. “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that…given to me for you, how the mystery…made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.”

Paul stresses that the solution to this mystery did not occur earlier in history, Ephesians 3:4-5. “When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which… not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”

Now, Paul tells the mystery, Ephesians 3:6. “This mystery… that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

This revelation represented a surprise. The Jews did not expect the Gentiles to receive a place in the church as fellow heirs and members of the same body.

If anything, the Gentiles might appear in a separate body. Not so. God’s mystery comprises one body and one church of His saved people.

Paul plainly states that God gave him this work as his mission, Ephesians 3:8-10. “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace… given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ…

… and to bring to light for everyone what…the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

Thus, the gospel turns out to include everyone.

Let us learn from these verses and never exclude anyone or any group of people from salvation through the gospel of Christ.

So, what did we learn?

1.God always intended for the church and all saved people to function as one body, one unit.

2.Thus, the mystery revealed to Paul comprised this message of salvation which he should preach to the Gentiles.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#mysterRevealed #GentilesIncludedSaved

A New Trip, Acts 15:36-41; 16:1-15

This post concerns a new preaching trip for Paul.

A New Trip describes events on a second preaching tour.

Paul and Barnabus decided to see how congregations established earlier fared. Barnabus wanted to take John Mark. But Paul did not. Thus, a sharp disagreement caused Paul to choose Silas and go to Asia Minor while Barnabus and John Mark went to Cyprus.

When Paul came to Lystra and Derbe, he found a young convert, Timothy, Acts 16:3. “he…circumcised him because of the Jews… for they all knew that his father was a Greek.”

This circumcision occurred not for salvation, but for better acceptance by Jewish audiences.

Then, Paul tried to preach in northwest Asia Minor. But the Holy Spirit forbade him to turn to the right or the left. So, they pressed forward to Troas. Paul had a dream of someone in Macedonia wanting help. Therefore, they concluded that they should cross into Europe, arriving at Philippi.

No synagogue existed in Philippi. So, Paul preached to a group of women engaged in prayer by the riverside. He had success, Acts 16:14-15. “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia… a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul…she was baptized, and her household as well”

Several facts are important. First, it was rare to find a woman in business, especially one that worshiped God. Second, the Lord needed to remove some impediment from her heart to help her obey the Gospel.

Her heart problem may have been any one of several. We do not know.

But she may have had a prejudice against Jesus, due to His crucifixion. Paul, citing a few Old Testament passages such as Isaiah 53, may have taught her that the death of Jesus was prophesied. So, when she believed, she obeyed Peter’s instructions, Acts 2:38. “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.

Thus, God can use scripture to open hearts.

Let us use the Bible to instruct people today.

So, what did we learn?

1.Use the scriptures to open hearts today.

2.Salvation comes by believing, repenting and baptism.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#conversionLydia #baptismBusinesswoman #BaptismNeededToday

The Source of Bad Language, Matthew 12:34-37

This post concerns the source of bad language.

The Source of Bad Language discusses where sinful words come from, Matthew 12:34-37. “How can you speak good when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Foul words come from the heart. If we harbor sinful words and language in our hearts and minds, then we will speak sinful words.

In addition, on judgment day we will be judged by our words.

These facts comprise a sober and thoughtful message: we need to have a clean hearts in order to have clean lips.

The Apostle Paul directs our thinking, Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brothers, whatever… true, whatever…honorable, whatever…just, whatever…pure, whatever… lovely, whatever…commendable, if there…any excellence, if there…anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Thus, if we think clean thoughts, we will speak clean words and please God.

Also, think of the TV programs and movies available to us to watch. Almost without exception, the word ‘God’ comes out as an expletive. Jesus sets the tone for using the name of God, Matthew 6:9. “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Therefore, God’s name should receive a hallowed stature in our minds. If we continually see TV shows or movies that use ‘God’ as a curse word, our minds will absorb the bad language, and we will soon use God’s name in an unholy manner.

So, what did we learn?

1.Judgment Day will feature a verdict based on the words we use.

2.Paul commands pure thoughts.

3.Jesus says to treat God’s name as holy.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#judgedOnSpeechFromMinds #thinkPureThoughts #HallowGod’sName

Paul’s Thorn, 2 Corinthians 12:7-8

This post concerns Paul’s thorn in the flesh.

Paul’s Thorn discusses a physical malady given to keep him from boasting, “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”

The Apostle prayed for the removal of the thorn, 2 Corinthians 12:8. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace…sufficient for you, for my power…made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

However, we do not know what made up this physical ailment. Think of physical thorns that hinder us—poor sight or semi-blindness, extremely bad hearing or deafness, or a crippling walk. Other thorns in our lives may spring to mind—calamities that we have prayed to be removed and received a “no” answer.

This passage may explain an important fact of life for us.

Even though the Apostle asked three times in prayer for God to remove this fleshly irritation and inconvenience, he experienced “no” three times as the answer. But, God had a purpose for the thorn—the removal of conceit. God said that the grace He provided comprised a sufficient condition for Paul. In other words, the grace of God—an eternal home in heaven—should suffice all Christians desire if physical ailments remain as unanswered requests to God.

So, what did we learn?

1.God said “no” to requests by Paul to remove a physical thorn in the flesh.

2.God can answer “no” to our requests for relief from physical hardships.

3.God says that His grace—an eternal home in heaven—becomes sufficient for Christians.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#thornInTheFlesh #God’sGraceSufficientl

A Tree, Psalm 1

This post concerns a man resembling a tree when blessed by God.

A Tree discusses the meaning of calling the blessed man a tree, Psalm 1. “Blessed… the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight…in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night. He… like a tree planted by streams of water…yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked…not so, …like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

God sees only two types of people on this earth: the righteous and the wicked. Three negatives (not standing, walking, or sitting with the wicked) define those blessed by God. So, the righteous do not associate with the wicked nor follow their advice. Instead, they immerse themselves in God’s word.

This makes the righteous appear like a firmly planted tree which produces fruit, does not wither away because of righteous living, and prospers due to the blessings of God.

An opposite life characterizes the wicked. Their life illustrates their uselessness like chaff that gets blown away by the wind.

God draws a solid conclusion: On judgment day, the righteous will stand with the saved before God. But the wicked will not.

So, what did we learn?

1.God blesses those who do not align their lives with the wicked nor follow their counsel.

2.The constant attention of the righteous to the word of God will result in a solid life like a tree producing fruit and not withering away.

3.On judgment day the righteous will receive salvation while the wicked will perish.

Today we need to read, study, and obey God’s word to stand like a tree and obtain salvation on Judgment Day.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#wiseFoolish #righteousInGod’sWord #judgmentSalvationLost

A Doctrinal Error, Acts 15:1-35

This post concerns a doctrinal error taught in Antioch.

A Doctrinal Error discusses erroneous teaching about salvation, Acts 15:1. “…some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Paul and Barnabus disagreed so sharply that a group of appointed brethren went to Jerusalem to ask the apostles and elders about this matter.

After much discussion, Peter spoke and reminded them that God had poured out the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles without distinction, Acts 15:9. “… he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.” God did not mention keeping Moses Law.

Next, Peter said that the imposition of Moses’ Law on the Gentiles would put God to the test, because no one could keep the law.

IThen Paul and Barnabus related to the assembly their preaching and miracles among the Gentiles. They emphasized that God blessed their work with miracles. This showed that Gentiles need not keep Moses’ Law for salvation.

Finally, James spoke and reminded everyone that the prophets had foretold the salvation of the Gentiles in Amos 9:11-12.

Then, he gave a summary of needed actions, Acts 15:19-21. “Therefore… we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.”

These four sins came before the advent of Moses’ Law.

Then, they sent a letter to the church at Antioch along with Paul and Barnabus and several other brethren to let them know of their decision about this erroneous doctrine.

So, what did we learn?

1.Some taught a fallacy that for salvation, one had to keep Moses’ Law.

2.The apostles and elders refuted this mistaken teaching.

3.Gentiles should refrain from blood, things offered to idols, sexual immorality, and things strangled.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#salvationKeepMosesLaw #GentilesNotRequiredKeepMosesLaw

The Jailer, Acts 16:16-34

This post covers conversion of the Philippian jailer. Acts 16:30. “Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do… saved?”

The Jailer discusses what Paul taught about salvation.

After Lydia’s conversion, the apostle Paul went each day to the Philippian riverside to preach. However, a local slave girl having a spirit of divination, followed Acts 16:17, crying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”

After several days, this proclamation annoyed Paul. So, he cast the spirit out of the girl.

 However, this angered her owners who saw their income destroyed. So, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the rulers in the marketplace. By accusing Paul and Silas of being Jews, they incited the crowd to provoke a beating and imprisonment in stocks in the inner prison.

At midnight, Paul and Silas sang praises and prayed to God. An earthquake occurred and loosened the bonds of all the prisoners.

The jailer was about to kill himself when Paul interrupted him, Acts 16:28. “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

Then, the Jailer asked Paul and Silas about salvation, Acts 26:30-33. ““Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” …they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household…they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and… baptized at once, he and all his family.

So, once they believed in Jesus, they followed the plan outlined by Peter to believing Jews, Acts 2:38. “… “Repent…baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,”

The washing of their wounds signified repentance. Baptism followed immediately.

Today, let us also follow Peter and the New Testament pattern for salvation.

So, what did we learn?

1.Salvation depends on hearing and believing the gospel, repenting of sins, and proper baptism.

2.Only those who can hear, believe, and repent can undergo correct baptism.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#jailerConverted #jailerFamilyBaptized

Examples, Genesis 39:9

This post concerns three outstanding examples from the Old Testament.

Examples discusses what Joseph, Joshua, and King David did that showed their faith.

Joseph as a slave in Egypt was tempted to commit fornication with his master’s wife. His response helps us even today, Genesis 39:9. “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

Joseph teaches us that when we sin, we sin against God.

God liberated the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery and brought them to Canaan where He blessed their efforts with victories over the inhabitants. However, they were surrounded on all sides by idol-worshipping nations. Each person had to decide whether to worship idols or the Lord. Near his death, Joshua reviewed their history of the blessings and care God had given them. Then he set the standard, Joshua 24:14-15. “…choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

We must still choose today to serve the Lord and not the world.

King David wrote many psalms and worshipped the Lord. After God blessed him with victories, David made a thoughtful decision to build a house of worship to replace the tabernacle tent. Although God was impressed, He said that David could not build a temple, but that David’s son would. Then, God prophesied that He would build a house for David from his offspring.

Like David, we should worship with an awareness of God and His desires and seek to please Him.

These three are excellent examples of obeying, worshipping, and thinking of God. However, Jesus exhibits the ultimate example for us to follow, Matthew 16:24. “… Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Let us set Jesus before our eyes as the ultimate proper example and strive to follow Him.

So, what did we learn?

1.Joseph, Joshua, and David serve as excellent examples to duplicate.

2.Jesus provides the best example for us to follow.

For more on the Bible, click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#JosephJoshuaDavidJesusExamples #JesusBestExampleFollow

Jesus as God’s Son 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

This post discusses the Deity of Jesus.

Jesus as God’s Son is a post discussing proof of His Deity. The Bible proclaims Jesus as the Son of God. Ancient manuscripts attest to the life and crucifixion of Jesus. However, the Bible provides much more trustworthy testimony. Thus, once we believe in the inspiration of the Bible, it becomes the primary source of proof for Jesus as God’s Son.

Jesus as God’s Son is shown in more than 300 fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.

This fact alone provides adequate proof of His Deity. Only God could manage all these fulfillments.

Also, the Bible contains four additional proofs:

1. As Deity, He should openly claim to be the Son of God. He did so before the Sanhedrin court, Mark 14: 61-62: “… the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power….”

Thus, at this point, Jesus verified His claim as the Messiah.

2. As the Son of God, He prophesied things that came true. Matthew records three times that Jesus prophesied about His death and resurrection, Matthew 16:21: “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Only Deity can truly prophesy.

3. Jesus performed many miracles.

A spectacular miracle concerned bringing Lazarus to life. When Jesus came to Lazarus’ tomb, He prayed and said, “Lazarus come out.”  Wearing burial clothes, Lazarus came out, John:11: 43-44.

4. His resurrection and an open tomb provide the final proof of Jesus as the Son of God.

Early on the Sunday morning after the crucifixion, two women came to the tomb, found the stone rolled away, and an empty tomb. This proves the resurrection of Jesus, Luke 24:1-3.

Later, Jesus appeared in the flesh to further verify His resurrection. The Apostle Paul said that Jesus appeared to Peter, then the twelve, then 500 brethren, then James, then to the Apostle himself, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8:

Therefore, the resurrection comprises firm proof about Jesus, the Son of God.

So, what did we learn?

1.Jesus fulfilled 300 Old Testament prophecies.

2.Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and performed many miracles.

3.After His crucifixion, a resurrected Jesus appeared to many.

For more on the Bible click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#JesusFulfilledProphecy #JesusProphesied #openTomb

Jesus on John Luke 7:18-35

This post discusses a question by John the Baptist, and Jesus’ comments about John.

Jesus on John as a post contrasts the two.

After his disciples reported Jesus’ activities, John, imprisoned by Herod (see Matthew 11:2), had doubts about Jesus. So, he sent two disciples to ask about Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus did not answer directly. Instead, He told John’s disciples to report to John the miracles they had seen. Jesus seems to be referencing Is. 35:5-6 and Is. 61:1 where such miracles were prophesied for the Messiah. Thus, His miracles fulfilled prophecy and served as proof of His Messiahship.

To the crowd, Jesus calls John a messenger and clarifies that John fulfilled prophecy, namely, Mal. 3:1. But, John was more than a prophet. Namely, He was a forerunner for the Lord and carried a message from God.

The comment about John being great but not as great as the least in the kingdom of God, the church, puzzles some people. However, John lived under the Old Law and did not have the opportunity to belong to the church. The members of the kingdom occupy a position greater than John and have the promise of eternal life. This comparison by Jesus emphasizes the vast importance of being in the church.

Then, Jesus references two groups of people:

1.Those who were baptized by John and believed that John delivered a command of God.

2.The scribes and lawyers who were not baptized and rejected the will of God.

From these contrasting responses, Jesus drew a word picture of two groups of children playing. One group was trying to please the other who would not be satisfied with any of their efforts. This was a comparison. John came as a rough-hewn prophet-preacher. Jesus came as an ordinary preacher doing miracles. The scribes and lawyers would not accept either John or Jesus.

This parable thus characterizes Jesus’ enemies.

Then, Jesus drew a conclusion: The disciples of John and Jesus show the rightness of the wisdom of God.

What we learned:

1.John fulfilled prophecy as a great forerunner of Jesus.

2.Members of the kingdom of God, the church, occupy a place above John the Baptist.

For more on the Bible click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#johnTheBaptist #rejectionByPharisees #proofOfMessiahship #miraclesFulfilProphecy

God and the Bible Daniel 2:36-45

God and the Bible as a post focuses on proof that God inspired the Bible.

This post, God and the Bible, provides evidence that God spoke via the Bible. Once we believe that God exists, we ask for proof that the Bible is God’s word.

God and the Bible post shows amazing prophecies that came true and gives proof that the Bible is from God. For example, when Nineveh ruled the world, Nahum 3:7, prophesied, “Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?” Nineveh’s thorough destruction made it difficult for archeologists to find its site.

Next, after Nineveh, Babylon ruled the world. However, with Babylon at the height of its glory, Isaiah 12:19 said, “… Babylon, the glory… the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah.”

Only God could know the future and utter such clear prophecies.

Many prophecies in the Bible describe the coming Messiah, Jesus.

Many details about Jesus’ trial and crucifixion are given in Isaiah 52 and 53. For example:

1.Piercing of Jesus by a Roman soldier, John 19:34.

2.His silence at His trials, Matthew 27:12-14.

3.Burial with the rich, Matthew 27:57-60.

It all happened just as prophesied.

Daniel 2 describes an outstanding prophecy to be fulfilled during the next 400 years.

In a dream, the king saw a rock or pebble destroy an image made of metal parts. Then, the pebble became a great mountain. God gave Daniel the interpretation, Daniel 2:36-45. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, “You are the head of gold. Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron… And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed,”

Thus, this prophecy predicted the next 400 years and four world kingdoms.  As prophesied, God sent Jesus during the Roman kingdom to be crucified for the sins of the world and to establish the church (see Acts 2). Its destruction would not happen. It all happened exactly as prophesied.

In summary, fulfilled prophecies show that Deity authored the Bible.

So, what did we learn:

The prophecies in the Bible all came true and prove that Deity was its author.

For more on the Bible click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#babylonianMedo-persianGreekRomanKingdoms #God’sKingdom #fulfilledProphecies

 

Two Great Miracles Luke 7:1-17

This post discusses the significance of two great miracles by Jesus.

In these two great miracles, Jesus shows deity characteristics.

In the first miracle, healing the Centurion’s servant, Jesus did not actually see the sick person, but caused the miracle to happen from a distance.

For the audience, this is a powerful miracle and an amazing story. Consider the Centurion, no doubt, a Gentile, favored by the Jews because he built their synagogue in Capernaum. This may even mean that he had converted to Judaism. Possibly, Jesus probably taught in this synagogue.

Somehow, he developed a strong faith in Jesus and His power to heal. He understood authority and especially Jesus’ great authority. He did not feel worthy of Jesus coming into his house. But, his faith caused him to say to Jesus just ‘speak the word to heal the servant.’

Jesus marveled at this depth of faith, deeper than any of the Jews.

After this, the second great miracle involved giving life to a dead person.

The first miracle had caused His fame to grow.  So, a large crowd traveled with him to Nain. At Nain’s gate, He met another crowd bearing a dead body. As the only son of a widow, no doubt older and now derived of income, Jesus felt sorrow for her. He touched the bier on which the dead man lay and stopped the procession. Jesus spoke and the man was instantaneously came back to life. He sat up, and spoke.

After this, some in the crowd called Jesus a great prophet and glorified God.

Some probably realized that four-hundred years had passed since God inspired Malachi, the last oral or written prophet of the Old Testament. Further, no one with the power to raise the dead had appeared since Elisha.

Finally, note that even the dead obeyed the voice of Jesus.

What we learned:

1.Jesus knows the depth of faith of people.

2.His fame grew.

3.He could raise the dead.

For more on the Bible click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#raiseDead #speaksMiracles #growingPopularity

God and Design Genesis 1:1

This post focuses on design to show that God must exist.

God and design analyzes the workings of the water cycle on this earth, our bodies, and our planet system.  This design could not happen by chance. This means that God must be the designer.

The earth’s water cycle begins when rain falls from the clouds. Absorption into the ground for use by plants or running off into streams and rivers provides a pooling of the water to dump into the ocean. Evaporation of the sea water for storage in the clouds occurs until the cycle repeats.

One might imagine that as the rivers spill into the oceans, they would fill up and cover the land. But despite the passage of thousands and thousands of years, this does not happen. Instead, the amount of the oceans at 71% of the globe and the land at 29% provide a steady state that remains. Thus, this division of ocean and land causes rainfall, nourishment of the plants, and replenishment of the oceans year after year. This amazing design of the workings of our planet must have come from a master designer—God—and did not happen by chance.

Consider our bodies. After food enters the stomach, absorption by the blood allows the digested food to be transported to the muscles. This replenishes the energy utilized in muscle movement. At the same time, the blood transports carbon dioxide, the product of muscle use, to the lungs to be expelled into the air.

One might imagine that expelled carbon dioxide into the air would accumulate and destroy life. However, the plants use the carbon dioxide to grow. This maintains the balance of carbon dioxide in the air at about 2%. Again, such amazing design and balance demands the existence of a highly intelligent master designer—God.

Finally, consider our planetary system. The location of the earth, so far from the sun that it takes 8 minutes for light from the sun to reach the earth, allows life to exist. A closer position would make the earth too hot for people or animals to live. A location further away would result in a frozen planet without life. Such a wonderful position must come from a master designer—God.

This earth, this universe, and our bodies all point to design.

Only God could provide such design. Therefore, He must exist. The Bible names this designer as God, Genesis 1:1:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

What we learned: The designs all about us strongly support the existence of God as the master designer.

For more on the Bible click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#GodDesigner #waterCycleDesign #bloodStystemDesign #planetSystemDesigm

False Teachers Luke 6:39-49

This post shows Jesus teaching against false teachers.

In these verses, false teachers receive criticism from Jesus.

Jesus uses a parable to condemn false teachers with three statements: 1) The blind cannot lead the blind. 2) Disciples cannot rise above their teachers. 3) Hypocritical teachers and prophets should remove the big sins of their lives before correcting a brother’s smaller sins.

Thus, false teachers cannot lead their students to know the truth. Their disciples cannot learn the truth because they are taught error. These fake teachers, called hypocrites by Jesus, need to remove the large sins from their lives before correcting the smaller errors of others.

Therefore, these statements by Jesus explain the importance of self-knowledge. Namely, do I know and teach the truth? Then self-correction, that is, correcting my teaching of error, needs implementation before correcting a brother.

Next, Jesus cites a well-known fact that bad trees cannot produce good fruit.

Good fruit comes from teaching the truth.

Then, Jesus cites the source of good fruits. They come from within a good heart. Like a bad tree producing bad fruit, an evil heart produces evil words and actions.

The obvious application appears. Correct our heart first, then a brother’s sin.

Finally, building our lives on a rock requires a firm foundation in our hearts, the commands of Jesus. Building our lives without an adequate foundation of Christ’s teaching means a crash will occur in a crisis. Without a foundation of Jesus’ teaching, our lives and teachings will crash.

Note that in verse 46, Jesus condemns belief and confession without obedience. These people believed in Jesus and even confessed Him. But they would not do what Jesus said. Even though they believed and confessed, without obedience they would reap the result of building on the sand.

What we learned:

1.False or fake teachers produce bad students like bad trees produce bad fruit.

2.Obedience from the heart to the commands of Jesus will provide a life built upon a solid spiritual foundation.

3.Always correct our own teaching before correcting others.

For more on the Bible click https://tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#rockFoundation #goodBadFruit #goodBadTree #speakFromHeart

God and Logic Genesis 1:1

‘God and Logic’ shows logically that God exists

God and logic, used in an analysis of the origin of the universe, shows that God exists. We know from our practical everyday knowledge that solid matter cannot come from nothing. In short, nothing produces nothing. According to all we know, one must start with something containing atoms and electrons to make something solid like this world.

We see the earth and the universe existing all about us. So, where did it all come from? Some say that in the distant past electrons and atoms somehow managed to form the world we live in. But the question to those people remains: where did those early electrons and atoms come from?

However, they can continue to answer that these early electrons and atoms came from even earlier electrons and atoms. Again, the question remains as to the source of these earlier atoms. Ultimately, all atoms and electrons must come from nothing before there were any atoms and electrons. How could this occur since our experience says that nothing always provides nothing?

A logical answer to the source of the universe is that in the beginning before electrons and atoms existed, a tremendous force, God, with vastly superior knowledge from outside any universe and not itself made up of atoms and electrons must have created all the atoms and electrons that now make up this world.

Thus, to explain the origin of this world logically an outside force of great power and intellect must have been involved creating something from nothing in the beginning. The Bible records this happening in Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Thus, logic shows that God must exist to create this world.

What we learned:

1.The universe must have come from creation by a powerful force of great intellectual ability outside of this world, namely God.

 2.The Bible attributes creation to God.

For more on the Bible click https://berksblog.net or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#beginning #somethingNothing #GodPowerfulForceIntellect

Daily Living for Jesus’ Disciples Luke 6:32-38

This post amplifies Jesus’ teaching of His disciples about daily living.

Jesus’ disciples will utilize the golden rule “as you you wish that others would do to you, do so to them,” and “love your enemies.”

Now, Jesus explains daily living for his disciples the attitude needed to carry out these two principles. Verse 36 provides the key—“be merciful even as your Father is merciful.” Daily living as a Christian requires disciples to be merciful like God. We treat others with mercy, love, and thoughtfulness. Also, reciprocation where we only extend love and mercy to those that love us does not characterize the life of Jesus’ disciples.

Next, Jesus details how His disciples judge and  analyze the lives of those in sin.

We treat them as God treats them and do not judge without adequate proof and never on hearsay.

Further, examination of other scriptures shows that sometimes we must decide or judge on some things of great importance. For example, the church must decide upon the sinfulness of members. See 1 Corinthians chapter 5 for instructions on withdrawing fellowship from someone. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said in Matthew 7:6, to “not throw your pearls before pigs.” Such a decision of the mind requires a decision or judgment before designating a person into the classification of pigs.

Thus, this prohibition by Jesus means judging others without evidence. In other words, don’t judge on hearsay.

What we learned:

1.In daily living, disciples of Jesus, like God, need to be compassionate, kind, and helpful to their fellowman even though they may not receive reciprocation and may even be persecuted.

2.Followers of Jesus in their daily living, like God, do not judge or decide character or sinfulness without adequate proof.

For more on the Bible click https://berksblog.net or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#disciplesCompassionateLoveEnemies #mercifulLikeGod #judgeNot

Jesus and Angels Hebrews 1-2

This post discusses Jesus and angels and how we should consider them.

The Hebrews writer contrasted Jesus and angels in Hebrews 1 and 2. The word ‘angel’ means messenger. The Hebrews writer calls them “ministers” and “ministering spirits”, Hebrews 1:7, 14, sent to God’s people. Much of the work of angels in the Bible involved bringing messages from God. For example, in Luke chapter 1, the Archangel Gabriel revealed God’s word to Zechariah and Mary about the coming births of John the Baptist and Jesus.

God sometimes endowed Angels with special powers or characteristics. For example, in 2 Kings 19:35 an angel killed 185,000 enemies in one night. Also, sometimes angels can cause anxiety. Soldiers were guarding Jesus’ tomb. But when an angel came and rolled away the large stone, they feared, Matthew 28:2-3:

“an angel of the Lord…came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.”

Clearly, angels were very impressive.

So, how much attention should we give angels?

In chapter one, Hebrews begins by asserting that God previously spoke by the prophets. But now He speaks through His Son. Then, the writer points to the superiority of Jesus over another of God’s former speakers, namely, angels, because Jesus sits at God’s right hand. Then, God says that the Son will have a throne forever and ever. To make the point even more forcefully, God asks a rhetorical question in Hebrews 1:13 as to which angel did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

The answer is ‘no one.’ Clearly, this statement honors only His Son and not angels. Thus, speaking through His Son now supersedes God speaking to people through angels. This means that we should revere and listen to Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. Today we should not expect to hear from an angel. God wants us to listen to His Son.

What did we learn?

1.Jesus, superior to angels, sits at God’s right hand eternally.

2.God now speaks via His Son.

3.Angels no longer reveal God’s will on this earth.

https://berksblog.net or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#angelsfearful #GodspeaksSon #JesusSuperiorAngels

The Sermon on the Plain Luke 6:17-31

This Sermon on the plain discusses what Jesus taught about how to live.

Jesus’ Sermon on the plain covers beatitudes about people with low income, woes concerning the rich, and the attitude of mind in daily living. At the end of the sermon when Jesus summarized, He gave ‘the golden rule,’ Luke 6:31: “…as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

Luke chapter six opens with a description of the large multitude who came for healing and to hear Jesus’ teachings. His amazing power to heal could go from Him when they touched Him.

In this sermon, He spoke beatitudes about people with low income, Luke 6:20-23:

““Blessed are … poor, for yours is the kingdom of God …who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied… who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed … when people hate you … exclude you …revile you …spurn your name, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day…your reward is great in heaven.”

Thus, the message of the beatitudes applies to those poor in this world’s goods. Following Jesus would allow them future entrance into the kingdom of God. Then, they will receive an eternal reward that makes for rejoicing now, even though living in poverty.

Next in the sermon, the four woes Jesus pronounces on the rich —they will receive consolation, experience hunger, mourn and weep—express regrets for their condition, Luke 6:24-26.

They refuse to follow Jesus and therefore suffer eternal loss. If people all speak well of a person, they fall into the class of the false prophets who received material rewards for their falsehoods.

Then, as Jesus continues His preaching, He commands a general attitude of life of kindness and forbearance toward those who mistreat us. We should never seek revenge. We should pray for and love our enemies. Disciples of Jesus will  show this attitude.

Finally in the sermon on the plain, Jesus expresses the golden rule,‘ Treat others as we wish to be treated.’

What we learned:

1.The correct attitude of a heart of kindness and forbearance characterizes Jesus’ disciples.

2.Discipleship should outrank a desire for riches.

3.We should follow the golden rule as an attitude in life toward others.

https://berksblog.net https://justchristian.com https://podcastjustchristian.com

#goldenRule #woeToRich #AttitudeOfHeart

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The Holy City Revelation 21-22

This post discusses the Holy City and what it means.

The Holy City, described in Revelation 21 and 22 was seen by John as it came down from heaven. John also calls the city “a new Heaven and a new earth,” and “new Jerusalem,” in Revelations 21:1-2. In this new earth that John saw, old Jerusalem and the seas did not exist. John also saw God, resplendent as a new bride, dwelling in the city among His people. Also John saw that this new earth had no pain and suffering and death.

The Holy City emerges in the book of Revelation after the finishing of all the prophecies and actions.

God explained “… the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end” said “It is done!” in Revelation 21:6. The statement ‘It is done’ means that God had completed His work. Satan, his angels, and all the wicked were in the lake of fire. Those remaining, the redeemed, reside with God in the Holy City.

What did this name mean to John?

‘Holy’ shows that holiness characterizes the city where God and the saved dwell.  Because of God’s holiness, no light such as the sun or moon appears because God provides the light. In this Holy City, God also provides eternal life for His people “from the spring of the water of life,” Revelation 21:6. Drinking this water insures eternal life for the redeemed people of God.

In order to impress John, a special angel showed him the appearance of the city, Revelation 1:10-11:

“… and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.”

As John saw the city coming down, he could see it gave glory to God.

Then, John saw many details: great, high walls, twelve beautiful gates, and everything covered with gold. Next, underneath the city, he saw twelve foundations that provided eternal security for the residents. In addition, someone estimated the size of this city as being over a million miles on each side of a cube.

The angel also showed John eternal food and drink, Revelation 22:1-2, “…angel showed me the river of the water of life… flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb… also, on either side of the river, the tree of life,”

To summarize, the city, prepared for the redeemed, shows beauty and description almost beyond belief. God dwells there for His people to worship forever. Looking forward, God’s people see the city as an extreme and wonderful blessing.

What we learned:

1.Worshipped eternally in the Holy City, God will dwell among his people.

2.This eternal abode possesses great beauty.

3.The Holy City, new Jerusalem in a new heaven and a new earth, provides a great blessing for the redeemed in eternity.

Links: https://berksblog.net https://justchristian.com https://podcastjustchristian.com

#GodIsLight #savedInCity #newHeavenNewEarth

Sabbath Criticism Luke 6:1-16

Sabbath criticism discusses criticism of Jesus and His actions.

Sabbath Criticism of Jesus involved His disciples plucking grain to eat.

Sabbath criticism by the Pharisees involved Jesus for not teaching them to obey their ‘teachings of the elders.’ (The Pharisees made up the ‘teachings of the elders,’ a set of rules apart from Moses’ Law.) They considered plucking grain and rubbing it so they could eat it a violation of God’s Law prohibiting working on the Sabbath.

Jesus gave a two-fold answer. First, he pointed to their lack of consistency. King David sinned by eating the showbread from the tabernacle. They did not condemn King David but criticized Him for not teaching their made-up doctrine.

Second, he pointed to His position as ‘Lord of the Sabbath.’ That meant that He knew the Old Law and correct Sabbath conduct. So, His disciples committed no sin.

Criticism also occurred when Jesus saw a man with a withered hand in the synagogue audience as He taught.

The Scribes and Pharisees watched to find something of which they could accuse Him. Jesus knew their thoughts and motioned for the man to come closer. Then He asked a rhetorical question about whether it was proper to do good or do harm, to save life or destroy life on the Sabbath. Everyone knew the answer. Then He healed the man. This made the scribes and Pharisees angry and accelerated their desire to harm Him. At this point, Luke shows the increasing anger of the scribes and Pharisees.

Thereafter, a set of vital decisions loomed ahead foSr Jesus. So, after praying all night, He chose twelve of His disciples to become apostles. Judas, not now a traitor, became a traitor later.

What we learned:

1.Jesus possesses the power to heal, and how to deal with His enemies’ criticism.

2. Jesus communicated with His heavenly Father and carefully chose His apostles after a night of prayer.

Here are more links to the Bible: https://berksblog.net  https://justchristian.com  https://podcastjustchristian.com

#hungryDisciplesSabbath #healedWitheredHand #KingDavidSinned #LordOfTheSabbath #twelveChosen

Sins in Jude

This post, Sins in Jude, discusses three examples of rebellious sin and the lessons to us.

Sins in Jude involves how God dealt with previous sinful behavior.

Initially, Jude set out to write about the faith. Instead, the ungodly conduct of some caused him to write, v.3 “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”  Some ungodly people were perverting the faith. Their teaching involved sexual sins and denying the rulership of Jesus. Jude cites three examples that show the folly of those sins.

In v.5, Jude describes the first example involving unbelieving Israelites, “Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.”

This happened in Numbers 16 when more than 250 men assembled against Moses and Aaron, God’s-appointed leaders. God punished them with death.

As a second example, Jude follows in v. 6 with what happened to fallen angels.

“And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day…”

These angels would not remain in their proper God-appointed sphere. They rebelled against the right and power of God to be in control. They now wait in darkness and chains for the final judgment day.

In Jude v.7, Jude cites Sodom and Gomorrah as the third example. In Genesis 19, God sent angels to examine the sexual behavior of several cities in the valley below Abraham. These citizens exhibited God-forbidden homosexual practices and were then destroyed by fire from heaven.

Continuing in v.8, Jude uses three phrases to describe the ungodly people threatening the church.

“Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.”

These phrases identify heretics in the church, both then and now.

Jude’s lesson: If God did not let any of the three sinful past activities escape, then God will not overlook similar activities now.

Instead, we must respect His written word in the New Testament.

What do we learn?

1.God expects obedience to His word and respect.

2.The punishment for offenders involves eternal chains and darkness.

3.Christians must avoid sexual sins and rebellion against the authority of God.

For more links on the Bible click https://berksblog.net or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#rebelliousIsraelites #fallenAngels #SodomGomarrah

Criticism of Jesus Luke 5:33-39

This post discusses new criticism of Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees.

Criticism of Jesus at this point concerned His disciples not fasting.

Earlier grumbling about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners now brought on this new criticism. So, here they criticize His training of His disciples, Matthew 5:33: “And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.”

Their comment infers that Jesus failed to teach his disciples correctly, unlike John the Baptist and the Pharisees who followed the Old Law. Thus, they say that Jesus sins by this omission. Jesus answered, Luke 5:34: “And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?”

As they mulled this question in their minds, they should have realized that fasting as wedding guests does not occur. It is inappropriate as long as the groom is present.

Jesus then told them that in the future, fasting of the disciples would happen because at that point, Jesus would not be present. This, the first indication of the cross and Jesus’ later ascension into heaven, appears early in His ministry.

To further teach the inappropriateness of what they were suggesting, Jesus then told them a two-fold parable.

One cannot use new cloth to repair an old garment. When washed, the shrinkage of the new cloth will pull a hole in the old garment. They knew this was true, no doubt, from earlier experiences.

Likewise, they surely remembered the inappropriateness of putting new wine into old wineskins. On storage the new wine expands and bursts the old wineskins. Again, they knew this as a truism.

Jesus told these two examples of inappropriate behavior to illustrate that the old law does not mix with the new (Christianity.)

Jesus then characterizes the scribes and Pharisees as liking the ‘old’ more than the new. Their contentment with the Old Law made them not want to even hear Jesus tell of something new from God.

For the first time, Luke records opposition to Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees—an opposition that would increase.

What we learned:

1.Jesus always answers criticism correctly.

2.The Old Law does not mix with Christianity.

3.At a future time, a separation from His disciples will occur.

For more on the Bible click https://berksblog.net or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#johnTheBaptist’Pharisee’sDisciples #NewWineBurstOldWineskins #JesusTakenAway

The Father and the Son; Matthew 3; 2 Peter 1; John 12

This post discusses the close relationship of God the Father and Jesus the Son.

The Father and the Son interacted via prayer and public announcements. The scriptures show that Jesus as the Son often sought out a quiet place to pray to the Father, Luke 5:15-16, “…he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” In this way, the Son frequently communicated with the Father and, no doubt, constantly received strength to continue His long and difficult mission.

Three times the Father spoke publicly from Heaven about the Son and His work. Each emphasized the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son.

The first occasion occurred in the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry just after His baptism by John the Baptist, Matthew 3:16-17:

“…when Jesus was baptized… behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

In this way, the Father announced His approval publicly.

1. The second time God spoke about Jesus and His work happened at the transfiguration in front of three disciples.  Accordingly, Peter wrote that God the Father spoke from heaven, 2 Peter 1:18:

“For when he received honor and glory from God the Father…we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”

Then, Jesus, nearing the end of His ministry, heard God speak for a third time, John 12:28-29:

“Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered.”

This occasion happened after Jesus heard that Greeks sought Him. At that point, Jesus knew that the time for His death approached and that the cross glorified the Father. The voice from heaven assured Him of that fact.

In summary, what do these three utterances from heaven teach?

1.Firstly, these verses show that the Father and the Son communicated both publicly and in prayer during Jesus’ ministry.

2.Secondly, God encouraged Jesus at critical points in His ministry.

3.Finally, the public announcements show Jesus as God’ Son.

For more on the Bible click https://berksblog.net or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#God’sVoiceEncouragesJesus #proofJesus’Deity #JesusPraysFather

Jesus and Sinners Luke 5:17-32

Jesus and sinners, discussed in this post, shows His interaction with two sinners.

Jesus and sinners interacted in His teaching. He attracted great crowds from everywhere to listen and to see Him cure the afflicted. As He spoke, Pharisees and teachers of the Law assembled with the crowds.

During a teaching session, some men brought a paralytic on his bed for possible healing by Jesus. But they could not enter the house to get close to Jesus because of the crowd. So, they ascended to the rooftop. There they removed enough of the rooftiles to lower the man to Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, “your sins are forgiven you.”

The assembled Pharisees and teachers labeled this language as blasphemy. They probably expected Jesus to heal the man by just speaking. Instead, Jesus forgave the man’s sins, something they knew only God could do. In this way, they rejected Jesus’ previous miracles as proof of His Deity.

Jesus knew their thoughts and asked about the difficulty of curing paralysis or forgiving sins. Then He healed the paralytic.

This miracle, a powerful argument that proved Jesus’ Deity, caused amazement and glorification of God.

After this, Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax booth. The public considered tax collectors to be noted sinners. Yet, Jesus called him by saying “follow me.”

Note that Levi—like Peter—left everything to follow Jesus. The next day Levi arranged for his friends to meet Jesus in a big reception. When Jesus attended, the scribes and Pharisees grumbled and disapproved of eating with sinners.

Jesus’ answer to them revealed much about His mission, Luke 5:31-32:

“And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

That reply explained why Jesus ate with and talked to sinners. The scribes and Pharisees imagined themselves as righteous, not needing repentance or teaching by Jesus.

What we learn in these verses:

1.Jesus as Deity could forgive sin.

2.Jesus came to call the sinful to repentance.

For more on the Bible click https://berksblog.net or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

#JesusHealedForgaveSinsParalyzedMan #JesusCalledTaxCollector #JesusDeity