Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 WEB In his letter to his fellow Hebrews, Paul gives this definition of faith. It is best understood in context of the rest of the letter. Following this verse, the writer gives an explanation of how the...
Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. Luke 16:19 WEB This line begins the parable Jesus teaches about a rich man living in luxury and a sickly beggar named Lazarus. The story relates how wealth can harden a man’s heart to the...
The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, another steps down before me.” John 5:7 WEB For those without faith in God, there is sometimes an overwhelming sense that “I have no one” to help me. With faith in God and the...
You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. John 8:44 WEB This section...
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, Titus 2:11 WEB This scripture encourages an understanding of the willingness of God to forgive sinners and reconcile them to his holiness. God’s grace that brings salvation to all men is a reference to Jesus Christ as the Savior of...
So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 WEB Jesus, as the Son of God, was present at the moment of creation. As we read of Christ in John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God....
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke...
For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 WEB In this verse from his letter to the Romans, Pau quotes a promise from the prophet Joel. Joel 2:32 says, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount...
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. Psalm 119:27 WEB Jewish tradition teaches that King David wrote this psalm to teach his son Solomon the Hebrew alphabet. Beyond that, the psalm teaches spiritual lessons, providing foundational support...
Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!” Luke 1:28 WEB The physician Luke, a companion of Paul, begins the first chapter of his gospel account with the reason for his writing. As a scholarly man, Luke carefully...
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28 WEB In this portion of the Book Of Acts, Paull urges church leaders to shepherd the assembly of...
He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. John 1:8 WEB John begins his gospel describing Jesus as the Word of God. He relates that Christ existed in the beginning and participated in all of creation. As John writes in John 1:3-5, “All things were made through him....
