Category: New Testament

You Can’t Always Avoid Pain

Scripture: 1 Peter 4: 1-6

Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, you must have the same attitude he did; you must be ready to suffer, too. For remember, when your body suffers, sin loses its power, 2 and you won’t be spending the rest of your life chasing after evil desires but will be anxious to do the will of God. 3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things the godless enjoy—sex sin, lust, getting drunk, wild parties, drinking bouts, and the worship of idols, and other terrible sins.[a]

4 Of course, your former friends will be very surprised when you don’t eagerly join them anymore in the wicked things they do, and they will laugh at you in contempt and scorn. 5 But just remember that they must face the Judge of all, living and dead; they will be punished for the way they have lived. 6 That is why the Good News was preached even to those who were dead—killed by the flood[b]—so that although their bodies were punished with death, they could still live in their spirits as God lives.

Scripture Commentary:

Some people will do anything to avoid pain. However, as followers of Christ, we should be willing and prepared to do God’s will and to suffer for it, if necessary. Sin loses its power to defeat us in our suffering if we focus on Christ and what He wants us to do.

A person whose life changes radically at conversion may experience contempt from his or her old friends. S/he may be scorned not only because s/he refuses to participate in certain activities but also because his or her priorities have changed. S/he is now heading in the opposite direction.

The basis of salvation is our belief in Jesus, but the basis for judgement is how we have lived. Is your life on the same track as before you were saved? Or have you begun to live for Jesus?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Peter Chapter 4

Read Other Commentary from 1 Peter:

Would You Curse God When the Devil Is Your Enemy?

Jesus Suffered For Us and Redeemed Us

Beware of False Teachings in the Church

Scripture: 2 John 1: 7-11

Watch out for the false leaders—and there are many of them around—who don’t believe that Jesus Christ came to earth as a human being with a body like ours. Such people are against the truth and against Christ. 8 Beware of being like them and losing the prize that you and I have been working so hard to get. See to it that you win your full reward from the Lord. 9 For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will leave God behind; while if you are loyal to Christ’s teachings, you will have God too. Then you will have both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to teach you, and he doesn’t believe what Christ taught, don’t even invite him into your home. Don’t encourage him in any way. 11 If you do, you will be a partner with him in his wickedness.

Scripture Commentary:

We are to do nothing that would encourage the heretics in their propagation of falsehoods. In addition, if believers were to invite them in, such action would show that they approve what the false teachers say and do.

It may seem rude to turn people away, even if they are teaching heresy. But how much better it is to be faithful to God than merely courteous to people!

John condemns the support of those who are dedicated to opposing the true teachings of God. However, he does not condemn hospitality to unbelievers.

False teaching is serious business, and we dare not overlook it.

There are so many false teachings in our world that we might be tempted to take many of them lightly. Instead, we should realize the dangers they pose and actively refuse to give heresies any foothold.

Jesus loves you!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 John Chapter 1

Read Other Commentary from 1 John:

We Are From God and God Is Love

Do Not Believe Everything You Hear

You Can’t See in Darkness

Scripture: Matthew 6: 21-23

If your profits are in heaven, your heart will be there too.  “If your eye is pure, there will be sunshine in your soul.  But if your eye is clouded with evil thoughts and desires, you are in deep spiritual darkness. And oh, how deep that darkness can be!

Scripture Commentary: Can you truly see in darkness?

In darkness you may see an image but not its true features. Satan will let you think the images you see are real and good for you. But in the light you will see the real thing.

Jesus will always place you and keep you in the light. The kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ is held before you so you can see His Magnificence.

With Jesus your spiritual vision gives you the capacity to see what God wants you to see and what He wants you to do. With our weak, self-serving desires we will never see what God has for us.

Stop storing up earthly materials.

Don’t spend your life collecting and storing your earthly goods only to die and leave it behind.

Fix your eyes on God. Have only one master in your life: Jesus! Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Fill your heart with His desires; take His character for your own. Serve and obey Him in everything.

Don’t let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today. Today the light of Our Lord Jesus Christ shines on you!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Matthew:

Spread the Good Truth

Not Everyone Has a Relationship with God. What About You?

What Favor Do You Ask of Jesus?

Scripture: Matthew 20: 20-22

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, brought them to Jesus and respectfully asked a favor. “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit on two thrones next to yours?” But Jesus told her, “You don’t know what you are asking!” Then he turned to James and John and asked them, “Are you able to drink from the terrible cup I am about to drink from?” “Yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

Scripture Commentary:

The mother of James and John asked Jesus for a favor. She wanted Him to give her sons special positions in His kingdom. Parents naturally want to see their children promoted and honored, but this desire is dangerous if it causes them to lose sight of God’s specific will for their children.

James, John, and their mother failed to grasp Jesus’ previous teachings on rewards and eternal life. They failed to understand the suffering they must face before living in the glory of God’s kingdom.

We play religious games, expecting God to give us something in return. When you pray, are you looking for gifts in return? Jesus teaches us that the greatest person in God’s kingdom is the servant.

What is your answer when Jesus asks, “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” The “cup” was the suffering and crucifixion that Christ faced. Jesus tells us He is under the authority of the Father, who alone makes the decisions about heaven. Authority is given not for self importance, ambition or respect, but for useful service to God and His creation.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 20

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Matthew:

Jesus, When Did I Deny You?

Jesus Fulfilled the Prophecy as King

Don’t Turn Your Back on God’s Commandments

Scripture: 2 Peter 2: 20-21

And when a person has escaped from the wicked ways of the world by learning about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and then gets tangled up with sin and becomes its slave again, he is worse off than he was before. It would be better if he had never known about Christ at all than to learn of him and then afterwards turn his back on the holy commandments that were given to him. 

Scripture Commentary: God’s holy commandments are a blueprint for how to live.

As a child you learned right and wrong. If you were told not to touch something because it would hurt you but you touched it anyway, you were hurt. God’s holy commandments tell us what to do in our lives.

In this passage, Peter, through God, is telling about Christ and how to be saved, and how to help others. To say you are a follower of Christ and not live to help others is to reject Him.

If you know God but reject Him, you are like a person sinking.

If this is you, you are worse off than before because you knew the way but you rejected it. You are like a person sinking who is thrown a rope, but you cast it aside to go your own way.

If you did not know God at all, that is one thing. But you know God. Don’t turn from Him. God judges sin and the unrepentant sinner cannot escape.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Peter Chapter 2

Read Other Commentary on 2 Peter:

The Promise of His Coming

Rejoice! His Coming Is Promised

Don’t Be “Certain People”; Be Extraordinary!

Scripture: Jude 1: 4

For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Scripture Commentary:

The Bible is inspired by God and should never be twisted or manipulated. There are certain people who avoid studying The Bible because they think theology is dry and boring. Some people refuse to learn correct doctrine and are susceptible to false teaching. They aren’t fully grounded in God’s truth.

We must understand the basic doctrines of our faith so that we can recognize false doctrines. We need to always be on guard against wrong teaching that would undermine our faith.

In the first century and today we have people teaching that Christians could do whatever they like without fear of God’s punishment. They have a light view of God’s holiness and His justice.

Are you a Christian that minimizes the sinfulness of sin, believing that what you do has little to do with your faith?

Or do you believe how you act will show your faith? Those who truly have faith will show it by their deep respect for God and their sincere desire to live according to the principles in His Word. The truth of The Bible must not be compromised because it gives the real facts about Jesus Christ and salvation.

Jude emphasizes the important relationship between correct doctrine and true faith. Beware of those who claim to have all the answers and know not what they speak!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Jude Chapter 1

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Jude:

Have Mercy on Those Who Doubt

Idols Can’t See, Nor Hear, Nor Walk; Worship the Living God

Don’t Walk in Darkness, Live in God’s Light

Scripture: 1 John 1: 4-8

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Scripture Commentary:

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the light to our lives if we let Him dwell in us. If we walk in darkness and do not let God in, we then are living in Satan’s darkness.

If we let our lives – our sinful way of living – into the light of Jesus, we can see who we have become. In doing this, we can let God in and He can forgive and heal us and save us from our sinful ways. His compassion for us lets us enjoy and fellowship with Him.

God wants to fellowship with us.

This is why He sent His Son to die for our sins. When we come to Christ, He forgives all the sins we have committed or will ever commit. We don’t need to confess the sins of the past all over again. We don’t need to fear that God will reject us if we don’t keep our slate perfectly clean.

No one is perfect. All are weak. But we are to try. Our relationship with Christ is secure. We are to pray for His strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it.

We can’t love God and court sin at the same time!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 John Chapter 1

Read Other Commentary from the First Epistle of John:

Love Comes From God Because God Is Love

God Is Light, in Him Is No Darkness

You Have God’s Mercy and Love

Scripture: 1 Peter 2: 9-10

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Scripture Commentary:

You were lost but because of God’s love for you, you have His mercy. If you think about what your life was like before Jesus, you know now that you have His mercy.

Before Christ, you based your self-concept on your accomplishments.

But now your relationship with Christ is far more important than your job, success, wealth, or knowledge. God has chosen you as His very own. You have been called to spread His gospel. You are given the responsibility of bringing others to Him.

We are united with Jesus Christ as members of His body. We are joined in His priestly work of reconciling God and man.

Remember that your value comes from being one of God’s children.

Your value does not come from what you can achieve for yourself. You have worth because of what God does, not because of what you do.

To love Jesus Christ is to serve Him. Serve Him with all your heart, body, soul and love that you have.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Peter Chapter 2

Read Other Commentary from 1 Peter:

Faith Has Greater Worth Than Gold

Jesus Didn’t Avoid the Call, He Suffered for Us All

God Saved My Life

Scripture: 1 Peter 4: 2-4

2 so that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living for human appetites and desires, but [lives] for the will and purpose of God. 3 For the time already past is [more than] enough for doing what the [unsaved] Gentiles like to do—[b]living [unrestrained as you have done] in a course of [shameless] sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. 4 In [connection with] all this, they [the unbelievers] are resentful and surprised that you do not [think like them, value their values and] run [hand in hand] with them into the same excesses of dissipation and immoral freedom, and they criticize and abuse and ridicule you and make fun of your values.

Scripture Commentary:

Thank you, Lord, for savings me from myself! When I think of my life before I became saved, and the Christian lifestyle I live today, I thank Our Lord Jesus Christ.

If it wasn’t for Jesus, where would my life be?

Satan lost his power over me – and you – when we turned to God. Our focus is now on God.

When some of us turned to Christ, we experienced contempt from some of our so-called friends. We were scorned for refusing to participate in certain activities. They saw the change in us and didn’t understand the new person we became.

Bring people to Christ so they will know the love He has for them.

Don’t judge them. Show them the way to Christ. Bring people to Christ so they will know the love He has for them. They are lost and Satan has a hold on them as He once did on us.

With you and me and the help of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we can help break this lifestyle they are living and bring them into the light. Don’t keep the joy that you received to yourself.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Peter Chapter 4

Read Other Commentary from 1 Peter:

Jesus Is the Lamb of God Without Blemish

Christ’s Life Is an Example of How to Live

We Will Always Face Trials

Scripture: James 1: 2-8

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Scripture Commentary:

We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react when we face trials. It’s easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly?

God wants to make us mature and complete, not keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank God for promising to be with us in rough times.

Trials will come. Place the problems in God’s capable hands.

We need to ask God to help us solve our problems or to give us strength to endure them. We need to place the problems in His hands, and then be patient.

Believe in Him. God doesn’t leave us alone with our problems; He stays close to help us grow. To “believe and not doubt” means not only believing in the existence of God, but also believing in His loving care.

God does not grant every thoughtless or selfish request. Remember that!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

James Chapter 1

Read Other Commentary from the Book of James:

To Know the Gospel is Different from Living It

The Power of the Tongue