Through the Bible for Skeptics, Seekers, and Disciples

The half brother of Jesus and leader of the church in Jerusalem was one of the first martyrs for his faith. James shares wisdom for how to live in our broken world. He shares that we should have a different perspective when facing trials. Some trials come because we live in a fallen world, but God can bring good from this such as developing perseverance. We can avoid trials by not falling into temptation. God does not tempt us. It is our own evil desires that lead us astray. We don’t have to struggle with doubt like a wave going up and down with the wind. Instead we can develop a faith greater than our circumstances. #NewTestament #Devotional #SpiritualGrowth #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #James #Wisdom

The author of Hebrews ends the letter with important reminders on how followers of Jesus should live. We are to love each other as brothers and sisters, to show hospitality to strangers, to live pure lives by keeping our marriage bed pure, to avoid the love of money but remaining content, and to remember our leaders by imitating their faith. We can trust God because He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. There is no reason to fear people. “What can mere mortals do to me?” In light of this, we should continue to do good out of gratitude for all He has done for us. #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ NIV) The Lord disciplines those He loves because we are His children. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later though, God’s discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:14-15 NIV) “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭‭28‬-‭29‬ NIV) #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

In Hebrews 11 we discover one of the most succinct definitions of faith along with several heroes of faith - men and women who trusted God and lived out what they believed. Some experienced the blessing they hoped to experience on this side of eternity. Others were persecuted or even killed because of their faith. They received what God promised on the other side of eternity. Here’s the definition: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1) We are invited to trust God fully even though we cannot see Him. Even still we can have confidence and assurance He can be trusted. Because “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭‭39‬-‭40‬ NIV) #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all… For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬, ‭14) Because we can enter into God’s presence and because Jesus gave His life for us, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings… Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:‭22‬-‭25‬) Then one of my favorite passages as a young believer. The author quotes a promise from God found in Habakkuk which says: “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” Well, I want to live by faith! I don’t want to shrink back! Notice what is true of us when we allow Jesus to lead and guide us. “But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” (Hebrews 10:‭38‬-‭39‬ NIV) Because of Jesus, we have the Spirit of God within us, and we have all we need to endure! We are not the ones who shrink back! #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

The religious ritual of sacrificing an animal as a way to atone for our sins is a common understanding around the world. There’s something within the human spirit. That knows deep down that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Fortunately for us, “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many.” When we turn to God and ask what Jesus did on the cross to count for us, our conscience is wiped clean of the destructive choices we made in the past so that we can freely serve the living God! This new covenant replaces the old covenant. That’s why as followers of Jesus we follow the laws from the Old Testament which are renewed in the New Testament. We no longer follow the ritual sacrifices or kosher eating laws, but we do follow the Ten Commandments and seek to live a life free from sexual immorality. In the Old Testament, the people of Israel went to war against the evil Canaanites, but now in the new covenant “our battle is no longer against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil” as described in Ephesians 6. In the Old Testament you would go to worship God at the Temple. Now, because the Holy Spirit is within us, our bodies are a Temple. In Hebrews 9 we discover that. people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” and that “Jesus will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬, ‭27‬-‭28‬ NIV) #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

After Jesus gave His life on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice, He rose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God. The ascension was his coronation as the King of Kings, the fulfillment of Daniel 7 which was the prophecy that one day there would be a human who would be worthy of worship. As Timothy Keller said: “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. Jesus lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died.” Through his sacrifice for us, Jesus ushered in a new covenant as promised by Jeremiah, and it's remarkable! God promises: “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬ NIV) We can all know God personally and intimately through Jesus! We can experience complete forgiveness! #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

The author of Hebrews introduces us to Melchizedek, a king and priest from ancient times. He was an example of what one day would be true of the Son of God. Jesus gave his life as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the priests and all people. The new covenant in Jesus allows us to leave the past. We no longer need the daily sacrifices in the Temple because of his death. We no longer need to go to another person to get to God. Through Jesus we have direct access to our Heavenly Father. #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

The letter to the Hebrews contains serveral “warning passages” that have confused many over the years. Remember any time we come across passages that are hard to understand, look at the context and allow other clearer Scriptures to interpret the less clear Scriptures. Some feel the author is warning these Jewish Christians that if they turn away from faith in Jesus and back to Judaism, they will lose their salvation. Others think the warning is for those within the community who are not really following Jesus. In other words, those who fall away never truly had faith because those with genuine faith will persevere. Some think these warnings are about losing the blessing of life with Jesus we can experience even in the midst of persecution. There are far too many passages about how Jesus’ power to save us brings us from death to life. Something happens in the spiritual realm to us when we choose to follow Jesus that cannot be undone. When talking of those He’s rescued by grace through faith, Jesus says: “No one can snatch them out of my hand” - John 10:28 Jesus rescues us completely and fully! Just as our good deeds cannot save us, our bad thinking and bad choices cannot unsave us. This passage is in the midst of a warning against immaturity. There are consequences for not taking our faith seriously. The consequences of not remaining faithful to Jesus is life without Jesus, a life without purpose, without victory, a life as if you never said “yes” to Him. (This does not mean they lose out on heaven when they die, but they experience hell on earth while they live. You cannot lose your salvation because you did not earn your salvation!) “But that’s not you!” The author warns them but then reminds them that their faith is stronger than that as they demonstrated in the past! They will experience the blessings of God in the life to come AND in this life because they are not like those who give up. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…. ” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬a NIV) Too often Western thinking emphasizes whether or not someone is in or out of heaven as if the kingdom of heaven is only experienced after death when the scriptures teach the kingdom of heaven is here! But it’s not just whether someone is in or out but also even if you are in so to speak, are you moving toward God or away from God? These passages aren’t to make us worry about losing our salvation but to encourage us to take our faith seriously and pursue growing closer to Jesus. #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews

Jesus became the ultimate high priest. Before Jesus the high priest was selected from among the people and was appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He was able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself was subject to weakness. Jesus was chosen by God, and He never sinned and remained perfectly obedient to the Father. As a result, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who choose to follow him. Choosing to follow Him means fully trusting Him and obeying Him. Too often followers of Jesus fail to grow - looking to have others feed them like infants rather than becoming teachers and helping others in their faith. Those who are mature know how to help others grow and have learned to “distinguish good from evil.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭‭14‬ NIV) #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis #Devotional #ChristianLifestyle #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianTeachings #BibleSummary #Christianity #BibleStudy #ScriptureSummary #ApostlePaul #ChristianLife #Faith #Church #EarlyChurch #Hebrews