Ephesians

 

Ephesians

On Paul’s second missionary journey, he visited Ephesus and left Aquila and Priscilla there. He returned to Ephesus two years later and ministered for three years. Some years later, when Paul was in prison in Rome, he wrote this letter to the believers in Ephesus.

Ephesus was an important city and boasted of being custodian of the temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the world. The city was devoted to idolatry, which explains why Paul had so much to say about defeating the devil.

From the very first words, Paul details the spiritual blessings of every Christian. It records one blessing after another and the differences those blessings can make in our service, confidence, and fellowship with other believers.

God came after us and made us His own. Through Jesus, we have peace. Through Him we have everything we need to accomplish the work God has prepared for each of us and be secure in our standing with Him.

Those who study Ephesians and work to apply it to their lives will develop depth and stability in their souls. Maturity comes only by grace, so understanding that grace must become our lifelong passion.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

 

Galatians

 

Galatians

On Paul’s first missionary journey, the Galatians were deceived by false teachers who insisted on the necessity of following the law of Moses in order to be accepted by God. In the strongest possible terms, Paul renounces that message, proclaiming that salvation comes by faith alone in Christ alone. Faith leads to freedom and that produces life-giving spiritual fruit in our lives by which we can bless others.

Paul wrote this letter to magnify God’s grace in salvation and to explain the freedom of God’s people because of that grace. He explains how God delivered him from bondage through faith in Jesus Christ. He tells how to enjoy grace and freedom in your daily life.

Christian freedom is the liberty to become all that you can in Jesus Christ; it is not a license to do whatever you please. The worst bondage you can experience is living for yourself and yielding to the desires of the old nature. (Romans 6). We have freedom to do good or evil, yet to make the choice of evil, is not to use, but to abuse our freedom. Christ did not free us to be our own; He freed us to be His and His alone.

In Him alone, is our salvation, our righteousness, our joy, both now and in eternity.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Second Corinthians

 

Second Corinthians

The problems in the Corinthian church grew worse and Paul had to visit Corinth to confront the troublemakers.

Second Corinthians was written when the Apostle Paul learned that some fast talking false teachers had infiltrated the struggling church and had stirred the congregation against him. Titus was sent to dispute these allegations. Some changed their minds, others continued to challenge Paul’s authority, security and ministry. Paul’s next attempt was to counter the attacks of his critics through this letter.

This is a glimpse into the heart of a man who was fully devoted to serving God and others. His focus is on ministry, eternal rewards, reconciliation, holy living, true generosity, and perseverance.

Paul outlines the price he paid for service to Christ and the gospel. He reminded the Corinthians and us today that the physical body is only temporary. When we leave this body, we step into a wondrous permanent body, designed to last forever.

It is encouraging to remember that God’s people aim is to point fellow travelers to the Way and to be “well pleasing to Him.”

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

First Corinthians

 

First Corinthians

Paul founded the Corinthian Church during his second missionary journey.

Corinth was the capital of Achaia, and most likely the most important city of Greece. It was also the most corrupt city.

Paul had planted the church in the city, but the city got into the church causing many problems. This letter was a source of godly wisdom for saints who are called in live in a godless culture. Paul addresses matters such as Church unity, humility, modesty, church discipline, marriage, divorce, remarriage, singleness, temptation, love, spiritual gifts and worship.

Long-term faithfulness is what leads to fruitfulness.

Paul concentrated on Agape love (unconditional love). The place to start when we have relational problems is to first ask God to restore the selfless love that only God can give, maintain, and ultimately perfect.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Romans

 

Romans

Paul was on his third missionary journey when he wrote this letter to the Romans.

The theme of this letter is “what it means to be justified (declared righteous by God) and to live a righteous life.

Paul talks of God’s righteousness and salvation, God’s righteousness and Israel, and God’s righteousnes and practical Christian living.

Justification is God’s gracious act by which He declares a believing sinner righteous in Jesus Christ because of the work of Christ on the cross.

God has revealed His righteousness and that is why the Good News needs to be revealed.

Paul writes that the “abundance of grace” we have received, and receive everyday, along with the gift of righteousness enables us to “reign in life” through Jesus Christ.

Read Romans as though your life depended on it, because in a very real sense it does.

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Book of Acts

 

Book of Acts

The Book of Acts was written by Luke as a companion volume to his gospel, Luke, and it describes what Jesus continued to do and teach after He returned to heaven.

The first chapter outlines how the gospel went from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and then to the ends of the earth. It describes a transition from ministry to Jews to ministry to Gentiles and explains how the gospel got from Jerusalem to Rome.

Luke wrote Acts with Paul evangelizing Jewish leaders in his rented room in Rome while under house arrest.

Dr. Luke may have realized his Book of Acts would never be completed until the end of church age.  The Acts of the Holy Spirit working through His servants would continue, reaching and evangelizing each new generation until the Lord call His church to heaven.

The same Holy Spirit is present and available to God’s sons and daughters today. God offers His children the boldness and courage to walk without fear and to own the name of Jesus without hesitation or embarrassment. We can take note that “we have been with Jesus.”

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

John

 

John

John wrote this gospel to prove that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and to believe in Him and be saved. His evidence is the miracles that Jesus performed, the words He spoke and the testimony of the witnesses that knew Him.

Seven witnesses declare that Jesus is the Son of God: John the Baptist, Nathaniel, Peter, a man who had been blind, Martha, Thomas and the apostle John. Jesus also declared Himself Deity.

John not only wrote for the Jews, Greeks, and for the Romans but for the whole world. John’s invitation is “Come and hear, Come and see!” His words and His works prove that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. Throughout this book Jesus is seen as Savior and Lord.

John modestly spoke of himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” He clarified who that was in John 21:24.

John wrote to encourage faith in the only Son of God that all who believe in Him might have everlasting life. His goal was to portray Christ as the divine Son of God, clothed in human flesh, having come to save all who believe in Him.

Most people thirst for something beyond themselves. We thirst for the relationship with our Creator that our first parents lost in Eden. We thirst for a deeper sense of meaning to our lives, even when we are as busy as we have ever been. There is life in Jesus name, eternal life that will sustain us forever and life for today that will refresh and renew us in the middle of our journey. Christ says, “Come and drink, Come and live.”

Please read the Book listed so that you can understand the word of God to its fullness. This study comes from The Jeremiah Study Bible, The Bible for Hope, The King James Bible and the Nelson’s Quick Reference Bible Commentary

For more posts like this, go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.