Tag: New Testament

Live a Commendable Life For God

Scripture: Galatians 6: 2-5

2 Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself. 4 But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable [a]without comparing himself to another. 5 For every person will have to bear [with patience] his own burden [of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible].

Scripture Commentary: Don’t compare yourself to others.

Have you looked at someone and said to yourself, “I wish I was like him or her”? When you see a person do something commendable, do you wish you could do that?

If you look at the gift that God has given you, not worrying about anyone else, you would be amazed. When you fully put your life in God’s hands, you will be amazed.

Look for God’s approval, not man’s.

God knows what to do and how to do it, but you have to believe in Him. We are not to look for man’s approval. We are to follow the way of Jesus Christ. To follow Christ is to study the Word, help others, and not look for rewards for those actions.

Find inner joy from doing something commendable.

No Christian should ever think he or she is totally independent, not needing help from others. And no one should feel excused from the task of helping others.

When we plant the Gospel seed of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we are helping someone to see and to follow Him. When you sow for God, you are planting and reaping joy and everlasting love and life with Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Galatians Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Galatians:

The Righteous Will Live by Faith

Sow to Please God, and Reap Joy and Everlasting Life

We Take Communion in Remembrance of Christ

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11: 24-26

… and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is (represents) My body, which is [offered as a sacrifice] for you. Do this in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].

Scripture Commentary: What does the Lord’s Supper mean to you?

When you take the Lord’s Supper, what does it mean to you? Are you taking it in remembrance of Him or are you taking it because everyone else is and you don’t want to look out of place? If you don’t know why you’re taking it, stop and learn why we, as Christians, do it.

In reality no one is worthy to take the Lord’s Supper. We are all sinners saved by grace. This is why we should prepare ourselves for communion through healthy introspection, confession of sin, and resolution of differences with others. These actions remove the barriers that affect our relationship with Christ.

Being aware of your sin should not keep you away from Communion. Instead, it should drive you to participate in it. Know why Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and rose on the third day. This is the new covenant that cost Jesus His life.

Communion is not a meaningless ritual. This is our bond with Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Corinthians Chapter 11

Read Other Commentary on 1 Corinthians:

Let God Fill You With Wisdom and Understanding

God Has Freely Given Us His Love

Our Old Self Was Crucified With Jesus

Scripture: Romans 6: 5-9

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

Scripture Commentary: In Christ our old self is dead.

The power and penalty of sin died with Christ on the cross. Our “old self,” our sinful nature, died once and for all. We are freed from its power.

The “body of sin” is not the human body but our rebellious, sin-loving nature inherited from Adam. Although our body willingly cooperates with our sinful nature, we must not regard the body as evil. It is the sin in us that is evil. And it is this power of sin at work in our body that is defeated.

Christ’s children stand ‘not guilty’ before God.

Paul has already stated that through faith in Christ we stand acquitted, “not guilty” before God. Paul emphasizes here that we need no longer live under sin’s power. God does not take us out of the world or make us robots. We will still feel like sinning, and sometimes we will sin.

The difference is that before we were saved, we were slaves to our sinful nature. But now we can choose to live for Christ. That assurance frees us to enjoy fellowship with Him, and a desire to do His will.

We have a new start.

The Holy Spirit will help us become what Christ has declared us to be. We are His children.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary on Romans Chapter 6

There Is No Death in Jesus Christ

Will You Go On Sinning?

Do Not Let Sin Reign in Your Life

Scripture: Romans 6: 1, 12-13

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?(1) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting [g]the members of your body to sin as[h] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as[i] instruments of righteousness to God. (12-13)

Scripture Commentary:

When you do something for God out of love for Him, you feel good. When do you something wrong for Satan, you feel bad. Do not let sin reign within you!

This is a daily battle but you can reign over sin’s power, over death’s threat, and over Satan’s attacks. When you accept Jesus Christ, you are no longer obligated to carry out those old motives, desires, and goals.

Live the life that Christ gave you when He died on the cross for you.

If you think of our old, sinful life as dead and buried, you have the power to resist sin. Then you can enjoy your new life with Christ because you are united with Him in His death and resurrection.

Your evil desires, your bondage to sin, and your love of sin died with Him. Jesus’s love for you has set you free. You are free at last!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary from Romans Chapter 6:

Don’t Be a Slave to Sin

Don’t Harden Your Hearts to God

Scripture: Hebrews 3: 7-11

Warning Against Unbelief

So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”

Scripture Commentary:

The Bible warns not to “harden” your hearts toward God. This means stubbornly setting yourself against God so that you are no longer able to turn to Him for forgiveness.

Obey God’s Word.

God’s ‘rest’ has several meanings in Scripture:

  • The seventh day of creation and the weekly Sabbath commemorating it.
  • The promised land of Canaan.
  • Peace with God now because of our relationship with Christ, through faith, and our future eternal life with Christ.

When you trust your own efforts instead of Christ, you, too, are in danger of turning back. Your own efforts are never adequate. Only Christ can see you through.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Hebrews Chapter 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Hebrews:

You Must Believe That He Is

Jesus Is the Perfect Forever Sacrifice For Our Sins

Examine Your Spiritual Life Today

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13: 3-6

… since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak [d]in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. 5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you [e]fail the test? 6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves [f]do not fail the test. 

Scripture Commentary: Examine yourself today to see if Jesus Christ is in you.

Do you examine your spiritual self? Do you ask yourself if you are truly living and working for Our Lord Jesus Christ? Have you asked if you trust all things in Him?

Is your way of living a true example of a loving, giving Christian?

At times we must stop and examine where we are in our life with God. We get so caught up in our everyday life that we oftentimes don’t look at our spiritual life.

Don’t become complacent about Christ.

Stop what you’re doing, get on your knees and talk to God. When you talk to Him, you’re touching the power He placed in you to overcome your weakness.

God would like to hear from you today.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Corinthians Chapter 13

Read Other Commentary on 2 Corinthians:

God’s Grace Is Sufficient For Your Needs

Believers Spread the Aroma of the Knowledge of God

Without the Law, Sin is Dead

Romans 7: 8-13

8 It was sin that used this command as a way of making me have all kinds of desires. But without the Law, sin is dead.

9 Before I knew about the Law, I was alive. But as soon as I heard that command, sin came to life, 10 and I died. The very command that was supposed to bring life to me, instead brought death. 11 Sin used this command to trick me, and because of it I died. 12 Still, the Law and its commands are holy and correct and good.

13 Am I saying that something good caused my death? Certainly not! It was sin that killed me by using something good. Now we can see how terrible and evil sin really is. 

Scripture Commentary: Law lets us know when our actions are good or bad.

Without the law, sin is dead. Where there is no law, people cannot know that their actions are sinful. There must be a law that forbids those actions.

Sin is real and dangerous.

God’s law makes people realize that they are sinners doomed to die, yet it offers no help. Sin deceives people by misusing the law. The law is holy, expressing God’s nature and will for the people.

When we are tempted to rebel, we need to look at the situation from a wider perspective. Look in the light of God’s grace and mercy. When we focus on His great love for us, we will understand that He only restricts us from actions and attitudes that ultimately will harm us.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 7

Read Other Commentary on Romans Chapter 7:

Let Christ Set You Free

When I Want to Do Good, Why Is Evil There With Me?

Jesus Delivered Us and Teaches Us Love

Jesus Saved Us From God’s Wrath

Scripture: Romans 5: 8-9

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 

Scripture Commentary:

We are descendants of Adam but we are the children of God. We were born sinners but Jesus saved us from God’s wrath. God gives us His peace. This may differ from peaceful feelings such as calmness and tranquility.

Jesus paid for our sins.

Because Jesus died for us on the cross, the price for our sins has been paid. God loved us so much that He sent His Son to save us. He also sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. The Holy Spirit enables us to live.

If you ever feel uncertain about God’s love for you, remember that He loved you even before you turned to Him. God loved you when you were a lost sinner. And He can strengthen you now that you have returned to love Him.

You can pray for God’s power and love at any time.

Be assured that having begun a life with Christ, you have a reserve of power and love to call on each day. You have help to meet every challenge or trial.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 5

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

The Wrath of God Against Sinful Humanity

You Have No Excuse

Be Declared Not Guilty By God

Scripture: Romans 4: 6-8

King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared “not guilty” by God. “Blessed and to be envied,” he said, “are those whose sins are forgiven and put out of sight. Yes, what joy there is for anyone whose sins are no longer counted against him by the Lord.”

Scripture Commentary:

King David was guilty of terrible sins: adultery, murder, lying. Yet he experienced the joy of forgiveness.

What can we do to get rid of guilt? First, we need to quit denying our guilt and recognize that we have sinned, admit our guilt to God and ask for His forgiveness. Then we should let go of our guilt and believe that God has forgiven us.

This can be difficult when a sin has taken root and grown over many years. It’s difficult when the sin is very serious, or involves others. We must remember that Jesus is willing and able to forgive every sin.

Jesus paid a tremendous price on the cross for us.

Have faith and believe you have no sin that God cannot forgive. It is Jesus Christ who saves us, not our feelings or actions. He is strong enough to save us no matter how weak we are.

Jesus offers us salvation as a gift because He loves us, not because we have earned it through our powerful works. Faith is believing and trusting in Jesus Christ, and reaching out to accept his gift of salvation.

God’s Word declares that sins confessed are sins forgiven.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 4

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans

Worship the Creator, The One True God

God Has Made It Plain

Lord, Help My Unbelief, Increase My Faith

Scripture: Romans 3: 1, 3

 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? (1) For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (3)

Scripture Commentary: We all stand as sinners before God.

Paul contends that everyone stands guilty before God. He dismantles the common excuses of people who refuse to admit they are sinners. Some do not believe there is a God. But does their unbelief negate God? Others will say they follow their conscience, and some try to justify their actions by saying, “I’m not as bad as other people.” Some church-goers rely on their church membership, or call out that they are “religious.”

No one will be exempt from God’s judgment on sin.

Every person must accept that s/he is sinful and condemned before God. Only then can we understand and receive God’s wonderful gift of salvation.

In the beginning of Romans, Chapter 3, Paul prints a depressing picture. All of us — pagans, Gentiles, humanitarian, and religious people — are all condemned by our own actions. The law, which God gave to show the way to live, holds up our evil deeds to public view.

But there is hope for us!

It’s true that the law condemns us but the law is not the basis of our hope. God is! He, in His righteousness and wonderful love, offers us eternal life with Him.

We cannot earn it. Accept it as a gift from our loving heavenly Father through His son, Jesus Christ. In order to receive it, we must give ourselves to Our Lord. Live as He commanded us to do. We must love our fellow man, and help spread the Word of Our God.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 3

From the title: Mark 9: 24

Other Commentary from the Book of Romans

Jesus Freely Died For Your Sins

God Is the Root That Supports You