For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love… Colossians 2:1-3 ESV As Paul closed out what we know as Colossians chapter 1, […]
We last left off with the apostle Paul noting that all the earthly achievements and religious prestige he had once possessed was of no value in saving his soul. Today let’s continue looking at this and just how passionately he wanted to make the point that salvation is by faith alone. But whatever things were […]
When Paul opened what we know as chapter 3 of his letter to the church in Philippi, he began with a stark warning to look out for false teachers that led believers astray with errant doctrines. One of those was the assertion that certain religious rites must be followed for a Christian to obtain or […]
If accepting Christ and living for Him meant these things for us, would we still do it? Would we ‘sign up’ to follow Christ if it meant walking away from everything? This is the life Paul lived, and countless more of our brothers and sisters in Christ have experienced both in the past and across the world today.
Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:1-2 After affirming his place as a bondservant (or slave) of Christ, which we learned is closely […]
As we study Scripture, we often encounter verses that speak volumes. In the midst of Paul’s admonition to the believers in Ephesus to live their lives in an upright and holy manner (Eph 4:17-32), he drops this rather simple yet striking sentence: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed […]
As the Apostle Paul nears the close of what we know as Ephesians chapter 4, he wrote several important and powerful statements about how believers must behave. From the command to speak truth (Eph 4:25), to not sinning in our anger (4:26), to not stealing and instead laboring for the benefit of the Kingdom (4:27), […]
The Bible is intriguing in that it often explains the most mysterious heavenly truths in such simple ways they can be easy to miss. From the way Jesus told of the workings of the Kingdom of God through parables, to the way Paul draws us a mental picture of the Church as a human body, […]
We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves. So, in that spirit, let’s allow God’s Word alone to tell us a little more about love. 1 Corinthians 13: If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, […]
Last week we looked at how we, being members of God’s family, are strengthened by the Holy Spirit to do the will of God and hold firmly to our faith in Christ, and that this God-given strength is not for our own gain, but for God’s glory. Building on this, the Apostle Paul continues further […]