Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 20, 2011
Topic: Salvation
Saved by Mercy

Napoleon was once asked to pardon a woman's son. He responded that the boy had committed an offense and that justice must be served. The woman's son would die.

"But I don't ask for justice," the mother cried. "I beg for mercy."

"Your son doesn't deserve mercy," Napoleon responded.

"Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and I ask for mercy."

"Well, then," the emperor said, "I will give mercy." And he spared the woman's son.

"Saved by Mercy" is the title of today's study. So, let's see what the Bible says about God's mercy:

What Does God Say?

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV).

    We've been saved by what?
    How does that fit with mercy?
    Why does God have mercy on His children?
    What does God's mercy mean to you?

My Thoughts

Understanding how you are saved by mercy means grasping what it is to be completely and totally forgiven of all your sins--past and present and future. It also means that we will hear God pronounce the following verdict:

"T here is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1, NKJV).

Check out these Scriptures to understand more about the breadth and depth of saving mercy.

"As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12, NASB).

Did you ever wonder why the Bible does not say "as far as the north is from the south?" Because if you go south at one point you will cross the South Pole and then you will be heading north. North and south meet at the poles. But if you go east, you can travel for a million billion years, and you will never touch west.

"And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins" (Jeremiah 31:34, NLT).

If all your sins and transgressions have been separated as far as the east is from the west, if God remembers them no more, then you have been saved by mercy and your sins are gone, gone, gone--completely, totally and forever. Now, that's the richness of God's mercy in Christ!

My Part

Read the following description of "saved by mercy" and let it guide your heart in expressing your gratitude, praise and awe to your Savior and God.

"He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth" (Psalm 103:10-11 NLT).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 21, 2011
Topic: God's Love
God's Loving Heart

When Robert Louis Stevenson retired to the Samoan Islands for his health, he became to the natives of that island a kind and generous friend. Stevenson was concerned that there was only a path leading from the harbor of his island over which his new friends must walk in order to bring provisions to the interior. With his own money and personal efforts, Stevenson had a good road constructed for his people. In gratitude the Samoans called it, "the road of a loving heart."

The Bible reveals another "loving heart"--the heart of God. Let's look at how Jesus showed this heart as He ministered to the needs of others.

What Does God Say?

The psalmist says:

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy (Psalms 145:8, NKJV).

Read the verses below and indicate how Jesus showed this loving heart of God:

    Matthew 14:14
    Matthew 15:32-38
    Matthew 20:30-34
    Mark 1:40-42
    Mark 6:33-34

My Thoughts

True compassion is not simply an emotion; it's an action as well. As we see in the life of Jesus, God doesn't just stop with feeling the pain of His creation, He does something about it. Of course His greatest act of compassion was to send His Son to die on the cross for our sins.

My Part

While we can never equal God's compassion, we are still to imitate it. Take a few moments right now to ask God to bring to mind someone who needs to be shown compassion. Carefully consider how you might show God's loving heart to this person in a practical way.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 22, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, God, God's Love
The Promise Keeper

God keeps His promises. Is that hard for you to believe? I hope not because the Bible is full of the evidence. Open it up and take a look.

What Does God Say?

Hebrews 10:23 reminds us to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" (ESV).

    That "He" is God. He made the promises, and He's faithful to keep them. You can live in complete confidence that God will do what He promises to do. First Thessalonians 5:24 boldly states: "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (ESV).

God's faithfulness, reliability and truthfulness make it impossible for Him to break a promise. Over and over, we find God making--and keeping--His promises. Read the Scriptures below and write out 1) the promises God made and 2) how He kept them.

To Abraham:

1) Genesis 17:15-19
2) Genesis21:1-7

1) Genesis 17:3-8
2) Joshua 24:2-18

To Jacob:

1) Genesis 46:1-7
2) Genesis 50:1-3, 12-14; Psalm 105

To Hannah:

1) 1 Samuel 1:1-2, 10-18
2) 1 Samuel 1:20-28

To David:

1) 2 Samuel 7:5-16
2) 2 Chronicles 6:3-11 and Luke 1:26-33

To Zechariah and Elizabeth:

1) Luke 1:5-25
2) Luke 1:57-66

My Thoughts

If you're thinking God made promises only to a special few and none of His promises apply to you, look up these promises God makes to every believer.

Psalm 23
Psalm 67:6-7
Hebrews 13:5-6
John 14:15-31
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 John 1:9
1 John 2:25
1 John 5:11
1 John 5:14-15

    Which promises do you need today?
    What helps you now to trust God to keep His promises?

Of course, God's greatest promise is summarized in John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (ESV).

God promised that Jesus, His Son, will be our Savior and Messiah and that He will redeem us from sin and give us eternal life. You can find the threads of that promise throughout the Old Testament. Then you can see it fulfilled in the New Testament--as well as whenever someone comes to faith in Jesus Christ.

My Part

Knowing God as our Promise Keeper means two things. The first is a matter of trust: You can trust God to keep His promises to you and to be faithful as you wait for that fulfillment. Go back to the promises we've touched on that have you concerned; take them to God in prayer, asking Him to help you trust Him as He keeps that promise.

Second, as our Heavenly Father, He models promise-keeping to us. So, we should be faithful in keeping our promises and following through on the commitments we've made. What promises have you made that require you to be faithful? What can you do today to keep those promises? Take the opportunity to be faithful to all your promises.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 25, 2011
Topic: God
God Is Truthful

If the force of gravity ever wavered, life on earth would not be possible. If the North Star rotated as do the other stars, navigation principles would have been vastly more difficult to learn. And if God was ever untruthful, we could throw the Bible out the window and give up any hope of ever knowing who God is and what He wants. But the Bible assures us otherwise.

What Does God Say?

The truthfulness of God is so important that Paul reminded Titus of it before he finished greeting the young pastor: "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began" (Titus 1:1-2, ESV, italics added).

    Read those verses again and list some of the things that would be impossible if God did lie.
    How would this affect the confidence we have in our salvation?

God's truthfulness means that we, too, can know the truth. God's truth in our lives means we can know right and wrong and know that right is right for everyone and wrong is always wrong.

God's truthfulness gives us hope of eternal life. God is a God who makes promises and keeps all of them. When Jesus promised that He will return and usher us into heaven (John 14:3), we can count on it.

In the next section we'll look more at what God's truthfulness means for us.

My Thoughts

As you read Titus 1:1-2, think about the following questions:

    How would life be different if God weren't always truthful?
    How would life be different if you could be as truthful as God?

My Part

Titus isn't a long book (46 verses in three chapters), so take the next ten or fifteen minutes to read it. Look for the ways the truth should impact our lives. Look for how Paul describes the people who are opposed to God and His truth.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 26, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational
Be Holy

The word holiness means to be "separate" or "distinctive." In other words, our lifestyle should be different from those around us who have not trusted Christ as their Savior.

So, how do we achieve that? Let's see what God's Word says.

What Does God Say?

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:13-16).

    According to verse 13, where does holiness begin?
    As holy people, what are we to look forward to?
    What should we avoid?
    What is our motivation for holiness?

My Thoughts

We often think of holiness in terms of what we do, but it begins before we take any sort of action. Peter says it starts with our minds. Verse 13 says we are to "gird up the loins" of our mind. This expression refers to the clothing worn in biblical times. Both men and women wore tunics (the men's tunic usually reached to their knees, the women's to their ankles). A girdle was also worn around the waist to hold the tunic against the body. When working in the fields or needing to move quickly, a man would tuck the hem of his tunic into his girdle to give more freedom of movement. This was called "girding up" the loins.

Peter says we must be prepared in our minds for the work of being holy. The apostle Paul describes it as a "renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). This comes about as we allow our minds to be "washed by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26). Spending time in God's Word creates a renewed mind that is ready for the challenge of holy living.

My Part

This week, take special note of what you are allowing your mind to dwell on. Memorize Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." Let holiness begin in your mind and work its way out through your actions.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 27, 2011
Topic: Holiness, Christian Living/Situational, God
Grow in Holiness

So, let me guess. You're perfect, right? You might answer yes, but would your friends or family agree? While we may joke about being perfect, most of us recognize that we're a long way from reaching that goal. But what about being holy? Believe it or not, that's possible.

Holiness isn't the same as sinless perfectionism. It means "to be set apart, distinct." God is holy because He is set apart and distinct from all other gods (and vastly superior in character, wisdom, faithfulness, justice, compassion, etc.). As God's people, we can be holy, too--set apart and distinct, belonging to Him. Let's see what the Bible says about this.

What Does God Say?

In the Old Testament, God called the Israelites to be His chosen people, set apart for a relationship with Him. Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth" (ESV). And in Leviticus 11:44-45, God says, "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy…For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (ESV).

Now, the Israelites were by no means a perfect or sinless people. Just read through Exodus or Judges to see that! But they were still "set apart" to be God's holy people.

When Jesus came as Savior, He took care of our sin and made it possible for us to be presented before God as holy. Colossians 1:21-22 put it this way, "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he [Jesus] has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him [God]" (ESV).

Holiness is what we are because of what Jesus did. Sanctification is the process through which we express by our lifestyle the fact that we have been set apart for God (holy). "God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:13, ESV). First Corinthians 6:11says, "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (ESV).

My Thoughts

So, what does holiness look like? Halos, white robes and saintly expressions? No, holiness is made visible in how you live, the things that you do (or don't do) show you're set apart to God and distinctive from the world around you. As you read these verses, pull out things that can reflect holiness in your life.

    Colossians 3:12-15
    1 Peter 1:14-16
    Luke 1:74-75
    2 Corinthians 7:1

In Romans 12:1-2, you'll see that holiness is not only demonstrated by your actions; it involves a change of mind.

    In what ways is your thinking still conformed to the world?
    Where does it have to changed to line up with your status of "holy"?

My Part

Once you've looked at some of the ways we express holiness, check on these traits or actions or thinking in your life.

    What changes have you seen since you first came to Christ?
    Where do you need some work?
    What keeps you from growing to better reflect the fact that you're set apart for God (holy)?

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you grow to better reflect your holiness, to be alert to those moments when you can choose to show that you have been "set apart to God" through your actions or thinking. If you journal, include your notes from this study and come back to it occasionally and do the self-check again to see how you're growing to better reflect your holy position.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 28, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational
Pure Holiness

In the 1850s, cleanliness in the United States, north and south, rural and urban stood at Third World levels. Sanitation was not unknown, but the great majority felt no urgency to clean up. After all, dirt brought food, crops, survival. Dirt was good.

But when it was discovered that dirt--and specifically the lack of proper sanitation that often came along with it--also brought germs, disease, suffering and death, America came clean on a scale unequaled in world history.

What dirt does to the body, sin does to the soul. When we are saved, it is not so we can continue to suffer the disease that infected us before we knew Christ. Instead Christ purifies us and puts within us a hope that motivates us to continue to be pure. Let's see what the Bible says about this.

What Does God Say?

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11-14).

    As redeemed people, how should we live?
    What future event will motivate us toward holy living?
    What two things did Jesus do for us?

My Thoughts

God's grace doesn't stop with just redemption; it goes on to purify our lives so that we might be His special people, not only in heaven but also right here on earth. By grace we are saved (See Ephesians 2:8-9) and by grace we are set apart (the literal meaning of "holy") to live pure and holy lives full of good deeds (Titus 2:14).

My Part

Is there some impurity in your life that is hindering your walk with the Lord? Confess it today and receive God's cleansing by grace (1 John 1:9).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jul 29, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Obedience/Discipleship
Abiding in the Vine

I have a dwarf apple tree in my garden. It will only grow about half the size of a normal apple tree which is just right for my small garden. But the more appropriate size comes at a price. The root system of this small fruit tree is very weak. Left attached to its original roots, the tree would soon die. To compensate, the grower grafts the tree onto the root system of a normal apple tree. The dwarf tree will produce abundant fruit but only because it has access to the nutrients provided by a root system other than its own.

The same is true of our spiritual life. While Jesus compares our relationship to Him to a vine rather than a tree, the principle is the same. Let's see how it works.

What Does God Say?

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (John 15:1-8, NKJV).

    What is the requirement for bearing fruit?
    What can we do apart from Christ?
    What happens to the "branch" that doesn't abide in Christ?
    What is the purpose of fruit bearing?

My Thoughts

Keep in mind that these verses are talking about "fruitfulness" and not "salvation." Jesus is not saying that our salvation rests on fruitfulness (v. 6) but that our rewards do. Some believers will come before Christ's Judgment Seat like they had escaped from a house fire with nothing but the clothes on their backs (1 Corinthians 3:13; Jude 1:23). To prevent that, we need to make sure that the fruit in our lives is the result of abiding in Christ. As we draw our strength and wisdom from Him rather than ourselves (the flesh), the fruit we bear will bring glory to the Father and eternal rewards for us.

My Part

The apostle Paul urges us to be rooted and built up in Christ Jesus (Colossians 2:7). As you abide in the written Word, you will become rooted in the Living Word and bear much fruit to the glory of the Father. Get into the Word by looking at one of our Bible reading guides at www.backtothebible.org and begin to daily spend time in the Word.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 1, 2011
Topic: New Life
Object Lessons

The passage of the Bible we're looking at today begins with Jesus' announcement: "'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified'" (John 12:23, ESV). That sounds like a very exciting prospect. It reminds me of the movie Aladdin where the boy wishes to become a prince. A huge celebration breaks out and the newly-made Prince Ali is paraded through the capital streets.

But Jesus was not about to be celebrated in such a princely fashion.

What Does God Say?

"'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life'" (vv. 24-25, ESV).

    How are Jesus' words in verses 24 and 25 different in tone from verse 23?
    Why did Jesus use an agricultural-type example to teach this truth?
    What allows the grain of wheat to bear fruit?

Jesus' path to glory would ultimately end in heaven's throne room, but not before leading Him to the grave. Jesus was teaching His disciples a very important object lesson--you have to die in order to live. You have to give yourself to something larger than yourself in order to be of any value.

In Aladdin, the pauper-turned-prince had to drop his ruse in order to save the day. He had to put to death His princely persona. God created all of us with incredible potential: the ability to change lives forever. But before we can have any lasting value in His service, we need to embrace His life and His goals and leave behind our own.

My Thoughts

What do Jesus' words in the next verse mean for you today? "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him" (v. 26, ESV).

My Part

As you think about how God might be calling you to serve Him today, take some time to express your worries and doubts to Him. God understands this isn't an easy calling, so give Him the opportunity to calm your fears and prepare you for greater things to come.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 2, 2011
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship
Get a Life

Maybe someone has said to you (or you've said to yourself), "You need to get a life!" If your heart was beating and your lungs were breathing in air, you knew the person wasn't talking about a physical life. Instead, your adviser was suggesting you needed to focus more on the things that make life enjoyable.

Jesus, on the other hand, tells us just the opposite. In John 12:25 (NASB), He says, "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal." Jesus expands upon this seeming contradiction in the Book of Matthew. Let's take a look.

What Does God Say?

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done (Matthew 16:24-28, ESV).

    What does Jesus mean by losing your "life"?
    What promise do these verses end with?

My Thoughts

On the surface, it seems like Jesus is talking in contradictions. "Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." It's only when we look at the context that it makes sense. Jesus is looking beyond the few years that we spend on earth. He has eternity in mind. The people who live totally for the "now," might gain great wealth and power, but they will leave it all behind when they die. Those people will lose everything they felt was worthwhile in life.

Even Christians can get sucked into focusing on things that are only temporal and forget that it's those things of eternal value that really matter. The life we want to be sure to "get" is not this life but the next one.

My Part

What is the focal point of your life--the things of the world or the things of Christ? Make a list of the most important things in your life. Put a star beside those things that have eternal value. Determine to focus on these items and put a lower priority on all the rest.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 3, 2011
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship, Worship/Praise/Worthiness
Reflecting Glory

We say it--"the chief end of man is to glorify God."
We sing it--"glorify His name"
We believe it--"Christians are to glorify God."

What that means and how to do it, however, few seem to understand. Jesus helps us know how we can give glory to God.

What Does God Say?

"'I brought glory to You here on earth by doing everything You told Me to do'" (John 17:4, NLT).

Jesus brought glory to the Father by living obediently every day. We can do not only the same through our obedience, but Paul tells us that glorifying God permeates the life of the Christian. Here's how Paul puts this truth:

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV).

So, if we are to follow the example of Jesus and bring glory to God, we must purpose to live reflecting Christ's glory and walking in obedience.

Scripture gives us specific actions that will bring glory to God. Here are two examples from the Bible.

"'You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven'" (Matthew 5:14-16, ESV).

"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, ESV).

In light of the verses in Matthew and 1 Corinthians, summarize the two things we can do to bring glory to God. What are two things that will not glorify God?

My Thoughts

Living to glorify God comes down to our choices. It doesn't depend on our parents, friends, church family, fellow employees or students or the government. Read the following Scriptures and write down ways that you could choose to glorify God.

I can glorify God by choosing to

Romans 4:20 _______________________________

Psalm 50:23 _______________________________

John 21:19 ________________________________

Philippians 2:11 __________________________________

1 Peter 4:14; 1 Peter 4:16 _____________________

2 Thessalonians 1:12 _______________________________

John 15:8; Philippians 1:11 _________________________

1 Peter 4:11 ________________________________

My Part

Will there be glory in heaven? Oh, yes! The Father, Son and Spirit will be there in all their glory. Can there be glory on earth? That depends on whether Christ-followers live to glorify God. Make your choice today.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 4, 2011
Topic: Holiness
Stay Spotless

When Hebrew believers in Old Testament times wanted to present a blood sacrifice to God, they searched out a lamb or other proper animal with absolutely no imperfections or injuries, so the Lord could accept the offering. God's requirement for perfection was to teach the people of Israel the gravity of their sin and the necessity for a perfect substitute to die in their place.

All of the Old Testament sacrifices were a foreshadowing, or an object lesson, predicting the coming sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, on the cross.

What Does God Say?

First Peter 1:17-19 (ESV) refers to the priceless blood of Christ as follows: "And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

Christ, the spotless Lamb, took your place to pay for all of your sin. His sacrifice was completely acceptable to God. Nothing more is needed for your salvation and nothing less is sufficient. When you are saved by the blood of Christ, you are washed spotlessly clean and made acceptable to God. In God's sight, you are completely forgiven and there is no spot of sin to keep you from being His child.

Read about spotlessness in Ephesians 5:25-27 in your Bible.

    To what does the apostle Paul compare the proper love of a husband for his wife?
    What did Christ give up for the Church?
    To whom will the Church be presented in the future?
    What qualities will characterize the Church of the future?

My Thoughts

So, as a Christian, saved by the blood of Christ, you are made spotless by Christ. But wait a minute! Why did Peter write 2 Peter 3:13-14? Look that up and answer these questions.

    Is Peter writing to Christians or unbelievers?
    What are the recipients of his letter to be careful to do (v.14)?

You see, then, that although Christ has made you spotless and perfect, you are still responsible to get rid of any spots that you might get as you travel along in your Christian life. So, how does that work?

In John 13:3-10, you'll find a lesson about keeping clean. Read that passage of Scripture now.

    What was Jesus going to do that shocked Peter?
    What was Jesus' warning to Peter?
    How did Peter respond to Jesus' warning?
    After a person has a complete bath, what gets dirty first?

Jesus is saying that when you take a bath, you are clean; but when you walk on a dusty road, you'll need to wash your feet before you come back into the house. Your spiritual life is like that too. When you are saved, Jesus has completely washed your sins away. You are totally forgiven. But because you live in this world and because you will sometimes be stained by sin, you will need an occasional footbath. That is what 1 John 1:9 tells you. If you sin, you don't lose your salvation. You just need to truly confess your sins in order to be entirely clean again and restore your fellowship with God.

My Part

Do you have a spot that needs removing? Feet that need washing? Does your fellowship with God need to be restored? Keep 1 John 1:9 in your head and heart: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Write out a prayer of confession.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 5, 2011
Topic: Jesus
One and the Same

I knew this would be a challenging topic to write about as soon as I opened a theology book and read, "This concept of the hypostatic or one-person union of the divine and human natures in one person is probably one of the most difficult concepts to comprehend in theology."*

Why do Christians even bother with such a complicated concept? Why don't we just say that Jesus was fully God--or fully man--and get on with it? Well, because the Bible won't let us get away with that. In fact, in many cases, it's Jesus' own words that clue us in to His utterly unique person.

*Charles C. Ryrie "Basic Theology" 1999 p. 287.

What Does God Say?

It's easy to grasp that Jesus was a man. We have stories of His birth in Bethlehem, His growing up in Nazareth. We see Him eating with friends and dying a horrible death.

But He was also fully God. How do the following verses convince of you of that fact?

    Read John 10:30. What is Jesus saying about Himself in this verse?
    What does Jesus tell His disciples in Matthew 16:21?
    What is Jesus doing in Mark 5?
    What miracle does Jesus perform in John 11:42-45?

In John 14, Jesus comforts His disciples by saying, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me" (v. 1, ESV). Here again, Jesus was saying that as a man, He is every bit as worthy of our belief and trust as God.

In the end, we can only conclude that Jesus was an utterly unique individual--"full Deity and perfect humanity united without mixture, change, division, or separation in one person forever."*

*Charles C. Ryrie "Basic Theology," 1999 p. 284.

My Thoughts

    Why is it important that we understand that Jesus was fully God and fully man?
    Could Jesus have carried out His mission on earth if He had not been fully God and fully man?
    What are the dangers of ignoring one or the other aspect of Jesus' unique nature?

My Part

Take a piece of paper and make two columns. Label one column as "Man" and the other as "God." Read through the Gospel accounts of Jesus' life. List under the appropriate column those verses that indicate the humanity of Christ or the deity of Christ. Give thanks that He was both "man" and "God."

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 8, 2011
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Faith/Trust
Promises, Promises

I'm looking for a new place to live and that means all those crazy questions I hate to deal with. Do I get an apartment or a townhome or a house? Should I rent or buy? And then there's the packing and moving. Not something I'm excited about. That's one reason I look longingly at a promise Jesus made.

What Does God Say?

In John 14, Jesus is preparing His disciples for what's ahead: His death, Resurrection and return to heaven. He promises them several important things including, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:2-3, ESV).

Take a few minutes to read through John 14.

    What promises do you find Jesus making?
    Which promises have already been fulfilled?
    Which ones are you still waiting for?
    How is God the Father involved?
    What reassurance does Jesus give you as you wait on His promises?
    How do you find peace and comfort?

If you want to do a little more, read John 15 and 16, too, asking the same questions.

My Thoughts

One reason Jesus returned to heaven was to prepare a place for those who believe and follow Him. I like that--there's a home waiting for me--one I don't have to worry about or pack for, and that's a very good thing.

Jesus goes one better in His promise. Not only is He getting it ready, but He will come back and take us there. Personal service from the Lord Himself!

This is a future promise; it hasn't happened yet. But we can trust that it will because it fits with all the other promises made by Jesus the Son and God the Father. For example, in John 14:15-17, Jesus promises "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you" (ESV). What will this helper do? John 14:26 tells us, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

The Spirit has come; He takes up residence in all who believe. That's a promise kept. And it gives us confidence that God keeps other promises too.

My Part

From the very beginning God made and kept promises--to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, etc. Through Jesus, He kept the promise of redemption and eternal life. And through Jesus, we're also promised help for living today and peace for what comes in the future. God's track record is superior in the promise department; it's based on His faithful, purposeful, unchanging character.

So, how have you seen God deliver on His promises? Which ones do you struggle to trust Him for? Which promises have you found in the Bible that mean the most to you?

Take a moment to thank God for making and keeping His promises, and ask Him to help you trust Him for those you still struggle to understand.

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen" (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 9, 2011
Topic: Jesus, Salvation, Evangelism
The Only Way

Do you realize all religions contradict each other? And, logically, there are only two reasons: Either they are all false or there is only one that is true. And the Bible makes it clear that the one true religion is Christianity and that Jesus is the Way--the only way to God.

What Does God Say?

    What name recorded in Acts 24:14 were the early Christians known by?
    What does Jesus call Himself in John 14:6?

The Bible teaches us about the Way to God.

    Why does John say he wrote down the miracles Jesus performed (John 20:30-31)?
    Whom does Acts 10:43 say that everyone must believe in to receive forgiveness of sin?
    Who does Acts 4:11-12 tell you is the "stone"? What does the verse mean by that term? By what name do you receive salvation? Is any other name mentioned?
    Paul stated the truth that Jesus is the only way to God firmly. To him it was unquestionable.

"For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5, NLT).

"There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles" (Romans 3:30, NLT).

My Thoughts

    Who/what is the narrow gate referred to in the verse below?
    Why do so few find the narrow gate?
    What makes the way that leads to destruction the easy way?
    What does the narrow gate lead to?

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13-14, ESV).

My Part

Remember, God did not send Jesus to exclude people from heaven but in His love and grace, sent Jesus so we could go to heaven.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:16-17, ESV).

Are you on your way to heaven? You can be, if you will trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord. You'll be a part of God's family and all those who have discovered that Jesus and only Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.