INTRODUCTION: Let’s Enter the King’s Palace The great promise of God is the anointing of the Holy Spirit, whose temple we have become (1 Co. 6:19). The Holy Spirit lives in us and speaks from the word of God to wash our hearts in the water of the word (Eph. 5:26). Therefore, as we listen …
The Advocate: 1st John 2:1
CHAPTER 2: The Promise This chapter continues unfolding the word of life and fellowship that we have with the Father so that we may abide in the love of Christ, overcome deception, and inherit the promise of God. VERSE 1: Jesus Christ the Righteous My dear children, I write this to you so that you …
Divorce and Remarriage: Matthew 19:1-15
This lesson deals with one of the most difficult and human topics that touches nearly everyone in a deeply personal way. Divorce hurts so much to talk about not only because we have seen whole families plunged into its sorrow and pain, but also because it shows us how hard our hearts really are; we …
Reflections on 1st John 1:5-10
As the apostle begins unfolding the good news about the eternal life and fellowship that we have in God he begins with the nature of God himself: “God is light”. God himself is the light of all life (John 1:4) and all his deeds consist of goodness, righteousness, and truth (Ephesians 5:9); his light drives …
Devoid of the Word: 1st John 1:10
Verse 10: Devoid of the Word 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. This verse unfolds the final antithetical statement that opposes the phrase “God is light”; if we have never sinned, God’s actions towards us are not love. If we have …
The Reality of the Lord’s Commandment: John 15:12
My heart often overflows with both sorrow and hope because I see both the great coldness in the Church and the awesome power of the gospel to warm our heart in the presence of Christ; and I have more confidence in the gospel than I have fear of our current condition. This is our Lord’s …
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Confession and Sanctification: 1st John 1:9
Verse 9: Confession and Sanctification 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This verse unfolds a positive reinforcement of verse five’s “God is Light” statement by emphasizing the point that there is no shadow of unforgiveness in God because …
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My Soul, Bless the LORD
Psalm 103:1-2 (CSB) My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits. The true essence of Christian worship is to bring our whole being before the presence of the Lord by his grace to magnify him …
The Inward Deception: 1st John 1:8
Verse 8: The Inward Deception 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. This verse unfolds the second antithetical statement that runs contrary to verse five; the claim to “have no sin” is in direct and unequivocal opposition to the claim that “God is …
Christ the King, Priest, and Judge: Matthew 21:1-22
Introduction Matthew’s account of the incarnate birth of our Lord opens with a series of fulfilled prophecies intended to convey one message: this is the child Son of God. In the same way Christ enters Jerusalem and approaches his crucifixion and resurrection replete with prophetic fulfillments of Scripture testifying that Jesus is the King of …
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