Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 NIV In the opening of the fourth chapter of John’s first epistle, he explains how to discern if a spirit is from God. He describes how to judge the sincerity of any...
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15 KJV This is another of Jesus’ statements from his famous Sermon on the Mount. It serves as a warning. Saying, “beware of false prophets,” Jesus follows a theme in his ministry...
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21 NIV In chapter five of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, the apostle instructs his reader to follow God’s example as dearly loved children. Paul exhorts the church to do this with the love Christ demonstrated in obedience to...
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son Colossians 1:13 KJV Paul begins his letter to the Colossians with a greeting emphasizing grace and peace. He follows this with thanksgiving and prayer. Specifically, Colossians 1:9-14 reveals...
Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:9-10 This statement made by Jesus is in reference to a chief tax collector named Zacchaeus. As a wealthy tax collector, the...
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:19 NIV James was the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was a son of Mary and Joseph. As a member of a faithful Jewish family, James believed in the one true God. If James ever doubted the divinity of...
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness Luke 4:1 WEB Before the ministry of Jesus Christ began, John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of the lower Jordan Valley. His message was repentance from sin in preparation for the...
Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it. Matthew 7:13 WEB This statement is from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, Jesus teaches the will of God for our lives. The Lord makes clear that...
He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23 WEB Paul begins his letter to the church at Ephesus with a brief greeting that includes a blessing of grace and...
Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know Acts 2:22 WEB In the previous chapter of Acts, the disciples select Mathias to replace Judas Iscariot as one of the...
My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. 1 John 2:1 WEB As Christians, we have a Counselor in the Holy Spirit to help us in understanding the will of God and avoiding sin. Here, John...
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21 NIV Our heavenly Father sent Jesus into the world calling sinners to repentance and ultimately paying the price for our sins reconciling sinners to our righteous Creator. Jesus is the deliverer, known as...
