Category: New Testament

Can You Hear the Voice of Jesus?

Scripture: John 5: 27-29

and to judge the sins of all mankind because he is the Son of Man. 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed the time is coming when all the dead in their graves shall hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and shall rise again—those who have done good, to eternal life; and those who have continued in evil, to judgment.

Scripture Commentary:

Will you hear the voice of God’s Son, Jesus? Can you hear His voice now? Are you doing what He is telling you to do, or are you doing what you think you should do?

If we don’t hear Jesus now, how will we hear Him in the grave? In saying that the dead will hear His voice, Jesus is talking about the spiritually dead who hear, understand, and accept Him.

Those who accept Jesus’s word will have eternal life.

God is the source and creator of life for there is no life apart from God, either here or hereafter. Our life is a gift from God. Because Jesus is eternally existent with God, the Creator, He, too, is “the life.” It is through Him that we live eternally.

Jesus is talking to you now. Are you listening? Do you hear Him?

Read the Entire Chapter:

John Chapter 5

Read Other Commentary on John Chapter 5

Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?

You Can Depend on Jesus to Make You Whole

How to Be Good Enough for God

Scripture: Romans 10: 2-4

2 I know what enthusiasm they have for the honor of God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand that Christ has died to make them right with God. Instead they are trying to make themselves good enough to gain God’s favor by keeping the Jewish laws and customs, but that is not God’s way of salvation. 4 They don’t understand that Christ gives to those who trust in him everything they are trying to get by keeping his laws. He ends all of that.

Scripture Commentary: You, by yourself, will never be good enough to get into heaven.

I am a good person, I try to live right so I know I am going to heaven. You will be surprised how many people think this way. I was one of them. These thoughts are misdirected.

You will not get into the kingdom merely by being a good person. Some people think it’s a complicated process, but it’s not. Believe in your heart and say with your mouth that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead on the third day.

Jesus is the way to heaven.

Jesus ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God, the Father. You are saved when you ask for forgiveness of your sins. This is how you go to heaven.

Read chapter 10 of the Book of Romans. Paul tells us how to be saved. We aren’t to live by customs or traditions. We are to live by faith in Jesus Christ, not in ourselves.

Salvation is God’s gift to us.

There is no human effort, no matter how sincere, that can ever substitute for the righteousness God offers us by faith. We cannot earn salvation – we cannot be perfect.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Romans Chapter 10

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

Do Not Continue in Sin – You Have Been Set Free

Jesus Freely Died For Your Sins

Create In Me A Clean Heart

Part Three: I Want to Have A Clean Heart for God (Is the Punishment Fair?)

Psalm 51: 10-12

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Turn to God. Renounce a life of sin and rebellion. Let God create a clean heart within you. He will give you direction, love and the power to change.

It is not God who must live up to our ideas of fairness. Instead, we must live up to His. Don’t spend time looking for loopholes in God’s law because there are none. God is perfect, we are not.

God will judge us for what we are, for our own sin, not someone else’s. Each of us is accountable for our own actions.

2 Timothy 4: 8

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Psalms Chapter 51

2 Timothy Chapter 4

Read Parts One and Two of the Sermon, Is the Punishment Fair?

Part One: That Isn’t Fair! In Reality God is Fair.

Part Two: Grace Is God’s Gift

You Can’t Earn Grace

Part Two: Grace Is God’s Gift (Is the Punishment Fair?)

Acts 15: 11

But we believe that we are saved through the [precious, undeserved] grace of the Lord Jesus [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life], in just the same way as they are.”

Now, don’t think grace is something you can earn. This is God’s gift, His divine love and protection bestowed freely upon mankind.

Now to flip this over, if you think that because your mother, father, wife, husband, son or daughter is living a Godly life and (because they are part of your family) that their blessing will fall on you, you’re wrong. Remember, we are all accountable for ourselves!

Ezekiel 18: 13

… and charges interest and takes [a percentage of] increase on what he has loaned; will he then live? He will not live! He has done all these disgusting things, he shall surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

In Ezekiel 18: 13, the question is answered. “Will he then live? He will not live!” This is not only a physical death, but a spiritual death of your soul.

God is a God of love, but He is also a God of perfect justice. His perfect love causes Him to be merciful to those who recognize their sin and turn back to Him. But He cannot wink or turn His head at those who willingly sin.

God takes no joy in anyone’s death. He prefers that we turn to Him and have eternal life. Do not rejoice in the misfortune of unbelievers. Do all you can to bring them into God’s house.

Now if you are living on the edge and you think you’ve found a loophole in God’s law, you are wrong. God’s law and ways are only one way. His way is love for one another.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Acts Chapter 15

Ezekiel Chapter 18

Read Part One of the Sermon, Is the Punishment Fair?

Claim Jesus As Lord

Scripture: 1 John 1: 8-10

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Scripture Commentary: Claim God as your Father.

If you claim to have never sinned in your life, then you must think you’re Jesus Christ.

Why would God send His Son for us? Because we are born in sin from Adam. We go through this life as imperfect souls. But God, through His love for us, sent His Son to pay for our wrongs.

Jesus was the ultimate sacrificial lamb

When Jesus died on the cross for us, His death and resurrection stopped the Old Testament way that believers symbolically transferred their sins to an animal that was then sacrificed. The animal died in their place to pay for their sin and to allow them to continue living in God’s favor.

Commit your life to Christ today!

God forgave them because of their faith in Him and because they obeyed His commandments concerning the sacrifice. When we commit our lives to Christ and thus identify ourselves with Him, His death becomes ours.

He has paid the penalty for our sins, and His blood has purified us.

Read the Entire Chapter:

1 John Chapter 1

Read Other Commentary from the First Book of John:

Love Comes From God Because God Is Love

God Is Light, in Him Is No Darkness

At What Hour Will Jesus Return?

Scripture: Luke 12: 39-40, 43

But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (39-40) It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. (43)

Scripture Commentary:

We know Jesus is coming. We just don’t know at what hour or day. So the question is are we ready for Jesus’s return? Are we serving Jesus or ourselves?

We shouldn’t just focus on bettering our lifestyle. How can we use what we have to help others?

What are you doing with this life that God has given you?

Jesus said He is returning. This is a true statement. God does not lie. He did not say this to trap us, but to give us time to correct ourselves.

God has blessed us with material rewards. What are we doing with it? Do you boast about what you have or are you using what you have to do God’s work?

Store your treasure in heavenly places.

What we have on earth will pass away but what we store in the heavenly kingdom will last for eternity.

We have the Book on how to live, how to give, and how to love. It’s The Bible. So we cannot say we weren’t told how to be Christ-like here on earth.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Luke Chapter 12

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Luke:

When He Saw Their Faith, He Answered Their Prayer

Lord, Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom

“If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

Scripture: Mark 5: 24-34

So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,  because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”  But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.  Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Scripture Commentary: “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 

The women in Mark Chapter 5 had a seemingly incurable condition which caused her to bleed constantly. This condition had kept her from most social contact. She desperately wanted Jesus to heal her. But she knew that her bleeding would cause Jesus to be unclean under Jewish law if she touched him. Still, the woman reached out by faith and was healed.

God is always ready to help you.

Sometimes we feel that our problems will keep us from God. But He is always ready to help. We should never allow our fear to keep us from approaching Him.

Jesus wasn’t angry with the woman for touching him. He knew she had touched him but he stopped and asked who did it in order to teach her something about faith.

Genuine faith causes action.

Although the woman was healed when she touched him, Jesus said her faith caused the cure. Genuine faith causes action. Faith that isn’t put into action is not faith at all.

Jesus’s words in the midst of crisis speak to us as well. “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” In Jesus’s mind, there was both hope and promise. The next time you feel helpless and afraid, look at your problem from Jesus’s point of view. He is the source of all hope and promise. We should never let our fears keep us from approaching him.

What are you looking for God to do?

Have you been suffering with something in your life? Whatever it is, give it to Jesus. He is the healer. If you trust him and have faith, he will bring you through.

If you are reading this message, then God has given you another day and time to come to him. Jesus accepts us the way we are. Have faith that He loves you. Jesus died for your sins, and he rose from the grave.

Thank you, Jesus, for your love!

Read the Entire Chapter:

Mark Chapter 5

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Mark:

Watch! Be Alert For Jesus’ Return

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

Watch for the Morning

Scripture: Mark 13: 34-35

For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Scripture Commentary: Jesus is the bright and morning star

What time is it? Are you on the watch for God? Are you ready if He comes calling this morning or tonight? In this parable Jesus is telling us that He, in human form, is going away. The hour of His return is unknown.

But He is leaving us instructions (The Bible) on what must be done. We are the servants. We have in our possession the Word of God. The question is why are we doing what is not in the Book?

There’s work to do for God!

Do we not believe, or do we think we have all time on our side? We do not know the second, minute, hour or day when our time is up. So why act as if we know?

These verses tell us to work now because we can’t do anything in the grave. Each day that God gives us is a day for the Lord’s work. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to each of us but if we don’t ask the Spirit to awaken in us, it will stay asleep.

We don’t know the day or hour but we do know that Jesus is coming. Watch and pray!

Read the Entire Chapter:

Mark Chapter 13

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Mark

Are you Spiritually Paralyzed?

Levi Immediately Witnessed for Christ

Work the Harvest for God

Scripture: Luke 10: 2-3

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus needs workers for the harvest

The harvest is truly great but help is needed. There’s no unemployment but we need more workers. God has work for everyone.

Will you apply?

Are you sitting on the sidelines watching others work? We, Christians, have a job to do, and that is to spread God’s gospel to as many people as we can while we are able.

Jesus sent 72 disciples in pairs to prepare the towns for His coming. These disciples were not unique or better educated than everyone else but Jesus sent them to prepare the way.

You can do the job!

Jesus can and does use anyone to spread the gospel. So why not you? We are to prepare the people of today for Jesus’s coming. You say you are a follower, a child of God. Go and talk about what God has done and what He is doing in your life.

Will you work for God?

The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Will you work in God’s fields? Or will you just sit and watch?

Read the Entire Chapter:

Luke Chapter 10

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Luke:

When He Saw Their Faith, He Answered Their Prayer

Save Yourself Through Belief; Save Others Through Discipleship

Works that Bear Fruit

Scripture: John 5: 36-40

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 

Scripture Commentary:

The religious leaders knew what the Bible said but failed to apply the Word to their lives. They knew the teachings – they knew the ‘works’ that would bear fruit – but they failed to see the Messiah to whom the Scriptures pointed. They knew the rules but missed the Savior.

Entrenched in their own religious system, they, like some of us, refused to let the Son of God change their lives. The religious leaders enjoyed great prestige in Israel but their stamp of approval meant nothing to Jesus. He was concerned about God’s approval.

Be concerned when you get approval for doing the wrong thing.

If ever the highest officials in the world approve our actions and God does not, we should be concerned. We know what God requires from us, and our love for the Father requires our obedience to Him.

Whose praise do you seek?

Are you open to God’s teaching? Don’t neglect His gracious offer. Eternal life begins when you accept Jesus Christ as Savior.

Read the Entire Chapter:

John Chapter 5

Read Other Commentary from the Book of John

God So Loved You That He Gave His Son

Lord, I Want to Follow You Now