Tag: Matthew

(KJV) Matthew 25:41

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:

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.

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1. MONEY / MATTHEW 6:24
2. GO … MAKE DISCIPLES … BAPTIZING / MATTHEW 28:19
3. SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
4. YOU ARE WORTH MORE / MATTHEW 10:31
5. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

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1. To serve money is to place such a high value on it that we
2. Allow a desire for it to be a main factor in our life decisions and priorities
3. Place our trust and faith in it
4. Depend on it for our ultimate security and happiness
5. Expect it to guarantee our future
6. Desire it more than we desire God’s plans and purposes.
7. 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.

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1. GO … MAKE DISCIPLES … BAPTIZING / MATTHEW 28:19
2. SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
3. YOU ARE WORTH MORE / MATTHEW 10:31
4. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

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Start Your Day Right Devotion

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. 

1. 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).
2. 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).
3. 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). 
4. 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). 
5. 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).

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

1. SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
2. YOU ARE WORTH MORE / MATTHEW 10:31
3. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

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Start Your Day Right Devotion

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).

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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).

Bible Study Tools I Use

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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

1. YOU ARE WORTH MORE / MATTHEW 10:31
2. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

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START YOUR DAY RIGHT DEVOTION

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.

1. 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).
2. You are so important to God that He treasures your faithfulness, love, and loyalty above all earthly things. Your steady faith in Christ, which is proven through times of great difficulty or trouble, is priceless to Him and brings Him great honor. Read the assurance found in Psalms 91:14-16; 116:15; Isaiah 49:16; Matthew 11:28-29; Luke 12:32; John 13:1; 14:3; 17:24; Romans 8:28; 1 John 4:19.

Bible Study Tools I Use

• NIV Bible
• King James Bible
• www. biblegateway.com
• Map Pencils
• College Ruled Spiral Notebook
• Ballpoint Pens

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

1. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

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