This promise is Christ’s assurance to His followers who are actively involved in reaching and “winning” those who are spiritually lost (gaining them for Christ’s kingdom) and teaching them to obey His standards of truth. Jesus has risen from the dead and is now alive and active in His followers’ lives. God is personally interested in each one of His children and has promised to be with them in the person of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16; John 14: 26). God is also with us through His Word (John 14:23).
No matter what your status or condition – rich, poor, weak, humble, famous or relatively unknown – H cares for you and watches every detail of your life with loving care. He knows and understands your difficulties and struggles, and He will give you the strength to endure anything with His help (2 Corinthians 12:9). In fact, God’s presence can fill every believer with joy in any circumstances (Psalms 16:11; 21:6). It is both challenging and comforting to know that we cannot escape God’s presence (Psalms 139:7). Jesus’ promise to be “with you” is the Christian’s answer to every fear, every doubt, every trouble, every heartache and every discouragement.
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
Bethlehem (a village about five miles south of Jerusalem) and the surrounding area were small. It most likely had a population of between one and two thousand. Based on this estimate, the number of male children slain would have been around twenty.
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
Forgiveness is necessary because we all have sinned (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8), which means that we have offended and rebelled against God, broken His laws, ignored His standards and gone our own way (Isaiah 53:6; 1 John 3:4; 5:17). Sin has destroyed our relationship with God, who is completely holy (completely pure, perfect, complete, and separated from evil) and cannot associate with wickedness and rebellion. God’s perfect justice requires that our sin be judged, and because sin is so opposed to God’s character it requires the most extreme penalty – death and eternal separation from Him. Apart from His mercy we would certainly be pronounced “guilty” and sentenced to death (Romans 1:18-32; 6:23). However, God Himself provided the solution to satisfying the penalty of sin by sending His Son, Jesus, to die in our place and pay the penalty for sin once and for all. For all who willingly accept Christ’s sacrifice as their own and yield the leadership of their lives to Him, God offers forgiveness. This becomes the means by which our broken relationship with God can be restored (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13).
For God to be able to offer forgiveness in the first place, a blood sacrifice was required (Hebrews 9:22). But in order for the forgiveness to be complete, the sacrifice had to be perfect. That is why God is the only one who could have provided the perfect sacrifice, which He did through Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus’ death is the basis for forgiveness (Matthew 26:28; John 1:29; 3:16; Romans 8:32).
The Hebrew and Greek words for forgiveness carry the meanings of “to cover,” “to pardon,” “to cancel,” “to send away.” God’s forgiveness involves canceling our debt to Him and keeping no record of the sin that has been committed (Mark 2:5; John 8:11). It involves saving individuals from eternal punishment (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10), accepting them back into His family (Luke 15:20) and freeing them from the control that sin once held over their lives. Forgiveness transforms and renews the whole person, bringing individuals into Christ’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13) and promising them eternal life with Him (Luke 23:43; John 14:19).
In order to receive forgiveness, people must confess (admit) their sin, repent (turn from their own sinful way, surrender to God, make a complete change, and begin following His purposes, Matthew 3:2; Acts 2:38) and demonstrate faith (an active trust that gives God leadership over their lives; Acts 5:31; 20:21; 1 John 1:9). God’s forgiveness is an ongoing need for believers so that we might maintain our saving relationship with God (Matthew 6:12, 14-15; 1 John 1:9).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
Satan (Hebrew, meaning “accuser” or “adversary”) was originally a great angel created perfect and good. He was appointed to serve directly around God’s throne in heaven. Yet before the world began, he became filled with pride and rebelled against God. As a result, he became the primary enemy of God and to God’s greatest creation, humankind (Ezekiel 28:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12). We must keep in mind, however, that Satan is not equal with God; he is a created being and is limited by the supreme power of God.
In his rebellion against God, Satan misled a multitude of lesser angels (Revelation 12:4) who, after their “fall” from heaven, probably could be identified as demons or evil spirits. Satan and many of these lesser angels were exiled to the earth and the atmosphere around it and now operate within this sphere of influence, as God allows. Their considerable control and influence in the world force all people to choose daily whether to follow God or to follow evil.
Satan, also called “the serpent,” caused the “fall” of the human race – influencing the first humans to question God’s care and defy God’s commands – introducing sin and its curse upon all humanity (Genesis 3:1-6; Genesis 3:1; Genesis 3:4; Genesis 3:5; Genesis 3:6; 1 John 5:19).
Jesus came to earth to destroy the works of Satan (1 John 3:8), to introduce God’s kingdom (the evidence of His power, authority, purposes and way of life) and to free us from Satan’s control (Matthew 12:28; Luke 4:18; 13:16; Acts 26:18). By His death and resurrection, Christ paid the penalty for sin and overcame its power. This triumph began the defeat of Satan, which will reach its climax at the end of this age (Revelation 20:7-10) and will guarantee God’s complete victory over him (Hebrews 2:14).
At the end of the age (following the tribulation period, during which God will execute His end-time judgments on the earth; Revelation 6-19), Jesus will return with the armies of heaven to defeat the antichrist and confine Satan to the Abyss (“bottomless pit”) for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3). After a brief release, Satan will make a final attempt to overthrow God; this will result in Satan’s final defeat and his being thrown into the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:7-10).
At the present time, Satan wars against God and His people (Job 1-2; Ephesians 6:11-18), trying to turn them away from loyalty to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3) and make them slaves to sin and this present world system (2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 5:15; 1 John 5:16). Christ’s followers must pray constantly for God’s help in recognizing and avoiding Satan’s deceptions and temptations (Matthew 6:13). They must also remain spiritually alert, relying on God’s strength and resources to conquer the devil’s evil schemes and maintain a strong faith (Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Peter 5:8-9).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS / MATTHEW 25:41
In his initial rebellion against God (Matthew 4:10), Satan misled a third of the angels who were in heaven (Revelation 12:4). It appears that some of them are already in hell, awaiting final judgment (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6), while the rest are still loose and operating under Satan’s authority and control (Matthew 12:24; 25:41; Ephesians 2:2; Revelation 12:7). These fallen angels serve as his highly organized force of agents, carrying out his evil purposes on earth (Ephesians 6:11-12). They likely can be identified with the demons frequently referred to in the Bible. Notice that hell was not originally created for people, and God does not desire to send people there. In a very real sense, people send themselves there by refusing to accept the forgiveness God provides through Jesus’ sacrifice and by failing to yield their lives to Jesus. By hanging on to their sins (offenses against God), people choose to accept the extreme consequences of working against God and rejecting His mercy, which will be punishment and eternal separation from Him.
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
(KJV) Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
MONEY / MATTHEW 6:24
To serve money is to place such a high value on it that we
Allow a desire for it to be a main factor in our life decisions and priorities
Place our trust and faith in it
Depend on it for our ultimate security and happiness
Expect it to guarantee our future
Desire it more than we desire God’s plans and purposes.
Greed and the accumulation of wealth soon dominate one’s mind and life so that honoring God is no longer the main priority in a person’s life.
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
(KJV) Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
GO … MAKE DISCIPLES … BAPTIZING / MATTHEW 28:19
These words are referred to as Christ’s Great Commission (His primary command, instruction, and task – along with the authority to carry it out). This command applies to all His followers of every generation. In His final instructions, Christs states the goal and responsibility of His church (all His faithful followers – individually, in local congregations and as a worldwide community). They are to take His message to people of all nations and cultures.
The church is to go into all the world and spread the message of Christ as revealed in His own teaching and through the teaching of His apostles (those He personally appointed to establish His original church and message, Acts 14:4) as revealed throughout the New Testament (Ephesians 2:20). This task includes the responsibility of sending missionaries into every nation (Acts 13:1-4).
The preaching of the gospel is centered on “repentance and forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24:47; Matthew 26:28), the promise of receiving “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38) and the challenge to live in a way that is uniquely different from the spiritually corrupt world (Acts 2:40). We must also preach with an expectation of Jesus’ return for His church (Acts 3:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).
The primary purpose of Christ’s commission was to make disciples (Greek matheteusate) – disciplined “learners” and followers of Jesus who live by His commands and are continually growing in their relationship with Him. To make disciples is the only direct command in this passage (the word “go” could be translated “as you are going”). Many people talk about the Great Commission as a call to evangelism (to spread Christ’s message of forgiveness and new life with the aim that people will respond positively and accept Christ). But Christ’s words here are really a commission to the deeper aspect of discipleship – which goes beyond evangelism and on to solid teaching and continual spiritual nurturing that produces growth and progress. Effective evangelism cannot be separated from true discipleship. Christ does not intend for His followers to simply convert to Christianity; He wants them to train and mentor (train by teaching and example) other people who will faithfully follow Christ and lead others to Him as well. If individuals who accept Christ do not grow beyond that starting point, they will almost certainly abandon their faith and likely become spiritually hardened toward God. A church’s spiritual energies and efforts must not be focused merely on enlarging church membership, but in making true disciples – life-long followers of Christ who avoid evil, follow Christ’s commands and pursue His purposes with all their heart, mind and will (Matthew 22:37; John 8:31).
Christ commands us to concentrate on reaching spiritually lost men and women with His message of hope, but this does not mean that believers are called to Christianize society or to expect that all of the world will become Christians. While we must strive to make a positive difference in the world, we also must understand that the world system will remain defiant toward God until he returns to earth for the final time to destroy evil and judge the wicked. Until then, God’s people must separate themselves from the corrupt beliefs, behaviors and lifestyles that surround them. Believers and lifestyles that surround them. Believers should devote themselves wholeheartedly to God and His purposes (Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14). Devotion to Christ includes not hesitating to expose the evil and shame in the world so as to encourage others to avoid it (Ephesians 5:11-12).
Those who believe in Christ – who accept His message by faith and actively yield their lives to Him – are to be “baptized” with water. (The word translated “baptized” literally speaks of being immersed or put completely under the water.) This act of obedience serves as a public statement of faith in Christ – a sign that a person is identifying with Jesus in His death, burial (going under the water; Colossians 2:12) and resurrection (coming up out of the water). It represents a person’s spiritual pledge to turn away from sin and immorality, to die to one’s own sinful nature and, with God’s help, to be raised up to live a new life (Romans 6:4). In this new life, the believer is completely committed to Christ and His purposes (Acts 22:16).
Christ will be with His obedient followers through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:20; 1:23; 18:20). They will be able to fulfill their task to take Christ’s message wherever they go, even to all people and all nations, only after they are “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
(KJV) Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
Jesus’ followers could easily relate to the properties and benefits of salt as described in Jesus’ metaphor (symbolic comparison, figure of speech).
Salt seasons and flavors food, just as Christians should enhance and favorably influence the people and society around them. Salt is a preservative, just as Christians and the church should resist moral corruption and decay, preserving a godly influence on the culture. In addition, salt has healing properties, just as Christ’s followers must help bring healing to people who are hurting physically, emotionally and spiritually. Salt also creates thirst, just as Christians – through their good example – should create spiritual thirst or desire in others to know more about God.
Individual Christians and churches that lose these qualities will become spiritually “lukewarm” (unconcerned, unresponsive, lazy; Revelation 3:15, 16), a condition that suppresses or destroys the activity and power of the Holy Spirit. Without the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Without the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, churches will completely lose their effectiveness and will be rejected and “thrown out” by God.
As a result, these Christians who are not seasoned with salt will be “trampled by men,” which means they will end up giving in to the ways and values of an ungodly society. Taking this path will bring destruction in the end (Deuteronomy 28:13, 43, 48; Judges 2:20-22).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
(KJV) Matthew 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
YOU ARE WORTH MORE / MATTHEW 10:31
Jesus teaches that God’s faithful followers – His children – are of the greatest worth to their heavenly Father.
God values you for who you are. He knows your special abilities and personal needs. He desires your love and companionship so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price for your sin (John 3:16). As His child, you are never separated from His presence, care, and concern. He knows all your needs, difficulties, and sorrows (Matthew 6:8).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
