Bible Minute

[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 7, 2008
Topic: Salvation


One Light; One Way

Unless you're a spelunker, you probably don't spend much time exploring caves. In fact, most people don't think of caves as very friendly places. Caves are not like tunnels. Tunnels lead you out of the light into the darkness and then back into the light at the other end; caves, on the other hand, offer you no guarantee that you will ever see the light again. Many caves have only one entrance and, once you are inside, your world changes drastically.

Imagine, then, that you wander into a cave. You have to squeeze through tight crawl spaces in the rocks and then choose from countless openings that seem inviting but lead you through black mazes to nowhere. You need to be wary of pits and drop-offs where you could easily plunge over a cliff. When you try to turn back, everything looks the same and, if you have no guide or trail marker to follow, you totally lose your sense of direction. Your flashlight dims and fails; you confront unimaginable darkness. There is only one way out, and if you can't find the way, the cavern may be your grave.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve made a choice that virtually put all their descendants into a cavern of sin and death, away from the light of God and away from finding any route of escape on their own.

God uses words such as "darkness" and "blindness" to describe the lost condition of mankind.

What Does God say?

Proverbs 4:19 (ESV) describes the darkness where the person without God exists:

"The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble."

1 John 1:5-6 (ESV) tells you that the person trapped in this darkness has no relationship with God at all: "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."

How can a person escape this horrific darkness? Jesus says there is one--and only one--way out. Look up the following verses in your Bible and write down what Jesus says about Himself and what He can do for those who are in darkness:

    * John 8:12
    * John 12:46

My Thoughts

One who is lost in a cave desperately looks for an opening that will take him into the light. Likewise, a spiritually lost person who is trying to find a way out of his blindness will listen to false teachers and turn to false religion or misleading opinions, only to find that those answers take him even deeper into the darkness.

The Bible says that only God knows the way out. Daniel 2:22, ESV, says: "He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him."

Do you see that only God knows what is in the darkness, and He provides the only possible way out? Read what the Bible says about Jesus Christ in the following verses and, remembering the darkness mankind is in, write down what you learn from them:

    * John 14:6
    * Acts 4:12
    * 1 Timothy 2:5

My Part

Here is a verse to memorize. It shows that God's purpose for your life is not only to save you from the darkness of sin but also to make you His servant to proclaim Him to others who are stumbling in darkness.

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9, ESV).

Read what Jesus said in John 3:16-20. If you have not yet come to the true Light, Jesus Christ, and want to know more about how to do that, click on the link "Meet Jesus" below and consider what it says.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 10, 2008
Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness


Undeserved Mercy

A well-known painter completed the portrait of a very wealthy lady and invited her to look at the finished project. Taking one look she turned up her nose and said, "I don't think that it does me justice."

"Madam," the painter replied, "You are not looking for justice, you are looking for mercy!"

But isn't that true of us all? As we look at our lives filled with sin and failures, our hearts cry out not for justice but for mercy. Yet is that possible? Can God's mercy cover your sin? Let's look at what God's Word says.

What Does God Say?

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life" (Romans 5:6-10 ESV)

    * What kind of a person did Jesus die for? Find at least three words in these verses that describe this person.
    * According to these verses, what kind of a person were we when Jesus died for us?
    * What does "justified by His blood" mean to you?
    * Thank God every day this week for the death of His Son and your salvation because of it.

My Thoughts

Consider some of the people to whom God has shown mercy. Read the verses and list the sins found there.

Abraham (Genesis 12:12-13)

Moses (Exodus 2:11-12)

David (2 Samuel 11:3-5, 14-17)

Saul/Paul (Acts 8:3)

While not making light of the seriousness of sin, God showed mercy to each of these sinners and millions of others. If God could show mercy to liars, adulterers and even murderers, He can certainly show mercy to you.

My Part

Confess your sins to God and accept His mercy today. Memorize Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool." (ESV)

Your greatest sin is no match for God's deepest mercy.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 11, 2008
Topic: Salvation, Forgiveness/Unforgiveness, God's Love


What God's Love Does for You

God loves you…and that's a wonderful thing. But how does His love take care of your problem with sin? Let's take a look.

What Does God Say?

God loves you and wants a relationship with you. But since God is also righteous and holy, our sinfulness makes that relationship impossible--unless God does something about it. And He did. John 3:16 tells us "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life" (NLT).

That's the first thing God did to take care of our sin: He sent His Son to die for you to pay the penalty for your sin, so you could have eternal life with Him.

Secondly, His love also made it possible for you to be set free from sin. Romans 6:22-23 says, "But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (NLT).

And there's a third thing: In His love, He offers us complete forgiveness, not the kind that says "It's OK, don't worry about it"; then reminds you of it every now and then. This is forgiveness that rolls your sins up into a ball and throws them so far away they'll never be found or held against you again. Psalm 103:12 says,

"He has removed our sins as far from us

as the east is from the west" (NLT).

And Romans 8:1 promises no condemnation--once you believe and are "in Christ Jesus."

My Thoughts

You've just looked at three ways God deals with your sin because of His great love for you. The Bible offers many other insights into what God's love does for us. For example, read through Psalm 103 for a few more ideas.

    * How do you see God's love in action?
    * What does His compassion impel Him to do?
    * What are some of the "benefits" He gives to His people?
    * What does God understand about who we are as humans?
    * What do you learn here that makes you want to trust Him further?

My Part

So, now that you've caught a glimpse of God's love in action, what's next? In Ephesians 3:16-19 Paul prays for the believers "that from his [God's] glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God" (NLT).

Take some time to put these verses into your own words. Have you experienced "how wide, how long, how high, and how deep" God's love is? Are you putting down roots in His love? Are you tapped into His power and strength, the limitless resources of the Spirit? Use your answers to these questions as your own prayer of praise to God for His immeasurable love.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 12, 2008
Topic: Salvation


God's Solution for You

Are you looking for God? If you are, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you can find God. But there is a problem. And, according to the Bible, the problem is the sin in your life.

What Does God Say?

"All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God's paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all (Isaiah 53:6, NLT).

"As the Scriptures say,

"'No one is righteous--
not even one.
No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one" (Romans 3:10-12, NLT).

1. Why do you think the prophet Isaiah uses the image of a sheep in Isaiah 53:6?

2. Who do you believe is the "him" that the Lord laid our sins on?

3. According to the apostle Paul in Romans 3:10-12 who is righteous or wise?

4. Who of us does "good" according to Scripture?

The Bible tells us that all have sinned in Romans 3:23:

"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard" (Romans 3:23, NLT).

And the Bible speaks clearly that if you sin, you have a problem, here and now and for eternity.

"For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23, NLT)

Now, if all of us are sinners--and clearly that what God's Word teaches--then that means all of us are going to get the just penalty for sinning which is death. This means not only physical death but spiritual death which is eternal separation from God.

My Thoughts

Can you argue with that death sentence?

Does that seem to be just and fair?

Do you have any doubt about your guilt before God?

While we are sinners and rebellious against God and His ways, He still loves us and does not want to punish us. So, He provided the answer for our sin problem. What kind of answer could be sufficient for everyone who has ever sinned?

It's beyond amazing; it is incredible. But here is what God did.

"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God" (Romans 5:8-11, NLT).

It is just that simple. Too good to be true? Too good, but it is as true as the Word of God and the faithfulness of His promise. Here it is in a nutshell.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23, NLT).

My Part

Have you ever been so sick you thought you might not live? And your doctor was not sure either! But then the doctor says, “You can be well if you take this medicine--just two pills, and you'll live."

But, it's not enough to know how sick you are. It's not enough to know the medicine can cure you. You have to accept the pills, take them, swallow them and then you are cured. Wouldn't it be foolish to refuse the cure? Not nearly as foolhardy as never trusting Jesus to be your Savior and accepting with gratitude God's great sin solution.

How soon should you become a Christian? Well, how quickly would you take the medicine if you knew it would keep you from dying?

"Indeed, the 'right time' is now. Today is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2, NLT).

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 13, 2008
Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness


God Forgives You

Have you ever noticed how much theology there can be in a single verse? Literally, every word is important; and if even one of them changed, the entire meaning of the verse would be changed.

First John 1:9 is one of those verses. It is one of the Bible's clearest statements on the issue of forgiveness.

What Does the Bible Say?

Take a minute to read through the entire verse a couple times. Now, let's look at the first statement, "If we confess our sins." Did you notice the word "we"? That means John is talking to Christians, so he's not dealing with salvation (our salvation isn't maintained by confessing our sins). Instead, he's talking about fellowship with God. Then notice the word "if." It means we have a choice when it comes to confessing our sins. It also means that when we don't choose to confess our sins, nothing else in this verse will happen. Our sins will continue to break our fellowship (our sense of closeness) with God.

"He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." The "He," of course, is God; and He is faithful. We can count on Him. He will always come through on His promises. When we confess our sins, He will always forgive them and restore our fellowship with Him. Why? Because He is a just God, which means He always does the right thing. Since Jesus took that punishment upon Himself when He died on the cross, those sins don't have to stand in the way of our fellowship with God. He is now able to always forgive us and allow us to draw close to Him with confidence (Hebrews 10:22).

Peter learned this fact on the shore of Galilee when Jesus asked him a second time to, "'Follow me'" (John 21:19, ESV). Only a short time earlier Peter was vehemently denying that he even knew Jesus. But when Peter came back to Jesus, not only did he find forgiveness, he found an intimate fellowship that gave him direction in life.

Let's go to the last part of 1 John 1:9: "And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" ( ESV). God does not do anything just halfway. He's like a mother who doesn't just forgive her son for tracking mud across the house, she helps him clean up too. Being clean and forgiven, we can now more fully experience the wonderful fellowship of God.

My Thoughts

As you read 1 John 1:9 again, think about the following questions:

1. Have you ever been tempted to think that some sins are too big to forgive?

2. What's the danger of not confessing our sins?

3. Write down two of God's characteristics you learned from this verse.

4. Confess, to God, any sins you've been struggling with.

My Part

John 8 records the story of an adulterous women brought before Jesus. But Jesus demonstrated forgiveness to the woman. And His advice to her is His advice to us after we have confessed our sins: "Go, and from now on sin no more" (John 8:11, ESV). Fix it in your mind today that you have been forgiven and cleansed of your sins. Try to live each moment knowing that the Holy Spirit is encouraging you. And when you stumble again, remember what you learned from 1 John 1:9.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 14, 2008
Topic: Salvation


The Big Picture

Have you seen those puzzles where a photographer takes a close-up of just a portion of an object? The viewer is then challenged to guess what the whole object might be. The answer can baffle you until you're shown the complete picture.

Sometimes events happen in our lives that also leave us baffled. We wonder why God allowed us to develop cancer, lose a loved one or run out of money. We question whether He even loves us when we go through such painful experiences.

But just like one of those puzzle pictures, we're only seeing a small part of the whole thing. Let's see what God's Word says about the big picture.

What Does God Say?

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4, ESV)

    * How are we to respond to trials?
    * What is the first thing that trials produce?
    * What is God's ultimate goal, for you, in these experiences?

My Thoughts

The word "joy" means "to have a calm and peaceful heart no matter what the circumstances." The ability to have joy in the face of trials hinges on our conviction of two essential truths 1) God is in control of everything (including our lives) and 2) God loves us more than we can grasp. When we truly believe those two truths, we're able to look beyond the pain of the moment and see the big picture; we can have confidence that God has a bigger purpose in mind for us. The apostle James says that it is to bring us to a point in our lives spiritually where we are "lacking in nothing."

    * What, in your spiritual life, might you be lacking?
    * Would you be willing to allow God to bring trials into your life to strengthen you in this area? (Before you answer too quickly, think about the implications of your response.)

My Part

You may be one of those people who really are not conscious of any weak areas in your spiritual life. If so, pray the prayer of David in Psalm 139:23-24,

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting! ( ESV)

If you have been experiencing trials, take a moment to think about the way these experiences have impacted your spiritual life. Jot down the differences you see in your spiritual life before your trials and after them. Share those differences with someone else who is going through difficulties.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 17, 2008
Topic: Jesus


God's Plan - 2

It's easy to look at the events leading up to Jesus' Crucifixion and conclude that things went horribly wrong, that Jesus wandered into Satan's trap and died as a result. The Bible tells a very different story. Jesus' death and Resurrection were part of the plan all along.

What Does the Bible Say?

After His Resurrection, Luke records a conversation between Jesus and two men on the road to Emmaus. "And he [Jesus] said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:25-27, ESV).

Moses was most known to the Jews as the man to whom God gave the Law. Moses and his brother established the sacrificial system at God's direction. The author of the Book Hebrews would later explain how the imperfect sacrifice of animals to atone for sins was a foreshadowing of a perfect future sacrifice: the sacrifice of Jesus.

Old Testament Scripture, like the following verse from Isaiah, includes descriptive prophecies to describe Jesus' suffering and the redemptive nature of His sacrifice.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5, ESV).

Let's look further at what Isaiah 53 has to say about Jesus.

My Thoughts

As you read through Isaiah 53, think about the following questions:

1. Why is it important to understand that Jesus' death was part of the plan?

2. How has His sacrifice brought "peace" to your life?

3. How has He brought "healing" into your life?

4. When you think of His sacrifice, do you feel amazed? Humbled? Grateful? Write down 2 or 3 adjectives to describe how you feel.

My Part

Of all the Gospel writers, Matthew seems most concerned with showing Jesus as the One foretold in the prophecies. Over the next week read through the Book of Matthew and find all the places where Matthew quotes an Old Testament author. A good study Bible will help you find these verses.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 18, 2008
Topic: Salvation


Behold the Lamb

A stone lamb that stands on top of a small church in Germany has an interesting history. When workers were building the roof, one of the crew members fell off. The other workers quickly went down to the ground expecting to find their co-worker dead. But he was unhurt. A lamb that had been grazing below was crushed to death when the falling crewman fell on it. A co-worker of the "surprisingly unhurt" man was so moved that he made a stone image of the lamb and placed it on top of the church as a memorial.

If you are a believer in Christ, you also owe your life to a Lamb--the Lamb of God--who takes away the sin of the world (See John 1:29).

What Does God Say?

Let's go back to the Old Testament to see something about sacrifices.

Although Israel's sacrifices to the Lord had several variations, purposes and requirements, there are some similar characteristics in many of them. Read Leviticus 1:1-5, which describes the burnt offering, and notice the following procedures:

    * The sacrificial animal must be a male without blemish, chosen from the herd or the flock (1:2-3).
    * The offering must be acceptable before the Lord (1:3).
    * The person presenting the offering must lay his hand upon the head of the animal to show that he is making the animal his substitute, acceptable as a covering or atonement, for his sins (1:4).
    * The sacrifice must then be killed before the Lord, and its blood must be shed (1:5).

God says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22, NIV). (See Leviticus 17:11.)

The Old Testament sacrifices provided only temporary relief for the sinner (Hebrews 10:3-4, 11). It covered the sin, but it didn't take it away. Christ's offering on the cross for the sins of mankind, however, was an eternally sufficient sacrifice that actually removed sin. Read Hebrews 9:12.

My Thoughts

Here is great and good personal news for you. Paul says this about the Lord Jesus Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV): "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

That means Christ became your sin offering, took your sin on Himself, went to the cross and shed His blood to forgive you for your sin, paid your debt and provided the only possible way in the world that you could be made permanently acceptable to God.

Read the following scriptures and record what you see about Christ's death for you on the cross.

    * Galatians 3:13
    * 1 John 3:5
    * 1 Corinthians 1:30
    * Romans 8:3
    * Romans 4:24-25

My Part

Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, their Savior, year around. But this is a season of the year that helps you to focus your attention on the cross, the empty tomb and the living Lord.

Today, read and reflect on the account of the death and Resurrection of Jesus as recorded in John 19 and 20.

Acts 4:12 (ESV) is a good verse to memorize and keep in your heart:

" And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 19, 2008
Topic: Love


God's Love Is Timeless

What comes to mind when you hear the word timeless? In my own mind I associate the word with great works of art. Something that is timeless has such universal appeal that it's valued in all times and in all places. The paintings of Da Vinci, the symphonies of Tchaikovsky, the works of Shakespeare--all are hundreds of years old but all are still treasured by many people.

The Bible is another one of those timeless treasures. That's because it is ultimately the story of the timeless love of God. Let's take a look.

What Does the Bible Say?

If you saw the movie The Passion of the Christ a few years ago, you know (perhaps better than many in the last several centuries) how brutal and terrible the cross of Christ was. It was a savage way to die; and yet, according to John, the very picture of love. Why?

The Bible tells us what it means by love. In 1 John 3:16 we find one of the greatest definitions of love ever given. "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers" (ESV).

The greatest acts of love are demonstrated in the greatest acts of self-sacrifice. Jesus didn't end up on the cross by accident. He didn't slip up one day in Jerusalem. From the beginning, Jesus' sacrificial death was part of the plan (Revelation 13:8 ). God knew that only through the substitutionary death of Jesus could we ever have a relationship with Him again.

You and I today can experience that renewed relationship with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus. We can experience that true love when we come to Christ. It's a love that is as timeless as God Himself.

My Thoughts

As you read through 1 John 3:16 again, think about the following questions:

1. How does this definition of love differ from other popular definitions of love?

2. How can we demonstrate this example of love in our lives?

My Part

John says, "and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers" (1 John 3:16, ESV). Now, we can read this as "we ought to die for each other"; but the much more practical way of reading it is, "we ought to serve each other." Think about it: When you choose to fulfill someone else's needs, you are in effect laying down your life. Ask God to show you some ways today you can lay down your life for others. Pray that as you do they will see the timeless love of God in your actions.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 20, 2008
Topic: Love


Unfailing Love

Ernest Hemingway wrote a story about a father and his teenage son. In the story, the relationship had become strained, and the teenage son ran away from home. His father began a journey in search of the rebellious boy. Finally, in Madrid, Spain, in a last-ditch attempt to find the boy, the father put an ad in the local newspaper. The ad read: "Dear Paco, Meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven. I love you. Your father." The next day, in front of the newspaper office, 800 Pacos showed up.

That's the kind of love God has for you and me. Let's see how the Bible describes it.

What Does God Say?

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God (Romans 5:6-9, ESV)

    * What did God do to show His love?
    * How does Paul describe our condition at that time?
    * What happens, ultimately, if we reject God's love through Christ?

My Thoughts

Are you a "Paco"? Have you rebelled and turned away from God? The good news is that God still loves you; He still wants you to be a part of His family. No matter what you have done, God says, "In Christ, all is forgiven. I love you. Meet me."

My Part

If you're ready to meet God, to come home to a father who still loves you.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 21, 2008
Topic: Salvation


More than Atonement

You might be asking yourself, How can I know what "more than atonement" (the subject of today's study) means when I don't know what "atonement" means? Well, its meaning has little to do with how you say it. Although, the emphasis is on the second syllable, the word has nothing to do with singing or playing by ear. Used 69 times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament, "atonement" has a very deep meaning.

What Does God Say?

Look at the following two Old Testament verses that address atonement:

"The priest is to make atonement before the LORD for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven (Numbers 15:28, NIV)

"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life (Leviticus 17:11, NIV)

Now, do your own study of the Old Testament meaning of "atonement" by answering the following questions:

1. Go to the Web address: http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/ and click on "Old Testament Hebrew." Now, enter "atonement" in the space provided, and click on "Find." Look at the entries there (click on the word) and write down the meanings for the Old Testament (Hebrew) word for "atonement."

2. How does the meaning of "atonement" in Hebrew relate to the "sacrificial system" instituted by Moses?

3. What were the animal sacrifices meant to accomplish?

4. What did the animal sacrifices point to?

Let's go now to the New Testament and discover how "atonement" is used there:

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

"And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement (Romans 5:8-11, KJV).

1. Go to the same Web address and click on "New Testament Greek." Type "atonement" into the area provided and click on "Enter." Once again, write out the definition (Greek definition) of "atonement."

2. What difference do you find between the Hebrew and Greek meanings?

My Thoughts

The word "atonement" was coined by Tyndale (a Protestant who translated the Bible into English) to convey the idea that God reconciled man to Himself through Christ. Tyndale used the three words "at"+"one"+"ment" to get that meaning across.

Read the following verses and write your own definition of "atonement" keeping in mind that it was derived from the word "reconciliation."

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (Romans 5:10, KJV).

"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility" (Ephesians 2:14-16, ESV).

"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him [Christ], and through him [Christ] to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:19-20, NIV).

My Part

Take time to pray and praise giving thanks to God for all Christ gave to atone for your sins. Marvel at the love He has for you that caused Him to do that for you.

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 24, 2008
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Obedience/Discipleship, Faith/Trust


Knowing What God Wants

Have you ever noticed how complicated we make things? I mean, when you want to know what God expects of you, you can find entire books, workshops, training programs and studies that help you find the "secret" formula. But God made it really simple and clear if we just pay attention to His Word.

What Does God Say?

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 holds the key: "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?" ( ESV)

These verses name five things that God requires of us. They tell us that if we're living in respectful awe (fear) and honoring God, if we love Him and we're seeking to please Him, giving Him our whole hearts and are eager to obey Him, the rest of the details of life fall into place.

Jesus put it even more simply in Matthew 22:37-39: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" ( ESV).

Your love for God lines up your vertical relationship with Him and influences your love for other people. And if you're operating in true, godly love, you aren't going to lie, cheat, steal, be unfaithful or chase after things that don't matter to God. So, these really are the two core commands, the foundation for all the other commandments.

My Thoughts

Let's go back to Deuteronomy 10:12-13 and outline the five things God wants from you. Look up the additional verses and describe these expectations in your own words.

    * "Fear the Lord your God": To show God the reverence, honor and respect He deserves because He is God. Psalm 33:8; Proverbs 1:7; 10:27.
    * "Walk in all His ways": As a child imitates his father, you need to reflect God's character and follow the path He leads. Deuteronomy 5:33; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 86:11; 25:10; 77:13; 145:17.
    * "Love Him": A passionate desire for God, one that gives Him first place in your life. Deuteronomy 6:5; Psalm 31:23.
    * "Serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul": Whole-hearted dedication to willingly do whatever God asks. 1 Samuel 12:24; Ephesians 6:6-8.
    * "Keep the commandments": Our positive response to God's Word to us, knowing what He says and submitting our will to Him in obedience. 2 John 1:6; Deuteronomy 28:1,15; Psalm 119:33-34; 57-64.

My Part

Think through your daily routine and look for ways to put each expectation into practice in your own life. How might it change your priorities? Your schedule? Your activities? Your relationships with other people? Keep track of any changes you make and ask God to help you live the way He wants you to live.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 25, 2008
Topic: Service/Servanthood


Preaching to the Choir

Has anyone ever told you that, "you're preaching to the choir"? That's never a good thing to do. It means you're telling someone something they already know and accept, like telling a mechanic that he ought to change his car's oil every 3,000 miles.

Here's a new phrase that means roughly the same thing: "Serving God in the Church." Sure, choirs need preachers, and churches need servants. But the real value of the preacher and servant comes when they take their ministry beyond the church walls into the world.

What Does the Bible Say?

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul explains a little of his methodology for taking Christ's message to the world: "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them" (1 Corinthians 9:19, ESV).

Paul's mission wasn't just to those already inside the church, it was also to those who had never heard of Jesus. And he knew the best way to accomplish that mission was to actually be out and among the people he wanted to save.

Paul goes on, "To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings" (1 Corinthians 9:20-23, ESV).

Paul's ministry was active every day of the week. Paul served the Lord everywhere he went, whether preaching in synagogues or singing in jail.

My Thoughts

As you read through 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, think about the following questions:

1. How does Paul balance being in the world, but not part of it?

2. What allows Paul to "become all things to all people"?

3. How has God equipped you to serve Him outside the church as well as inside?

My Part

As Christians we severely limit the impact God can have in this world if we serve Him only within the church walls. Pray today that God would show you one way to reach out and serve those around you today.

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 26, 2008
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship


100%

All or nothing. That doesn't sound much like a Christian phrase, but it expresses accurately a Bible truth.

What Does God Say?

What did Jesus expect His followers to be willing to do? Listen to what He told His disciples:

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it'" (Matthew 16:24-25).

And we see an example of this when Jesus encounters the man who was to write the Gospel of Matthew:

"Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector's booth. 'Follow me and be my disciple,' Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him (Luke 5:27-28, NLT). [editor's note: Matthew was Levi's Greek name.]

Did Jesus really expect folks to give up all to follow Him? Evidently, Matthew thought He meant it.

But perhaps Jesus' message of leaving all and following Him was intended for the apostles and not for us average sinners. Let's see what the Scripture has to say about that:

"A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 'If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison--your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

 "But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?

"So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own" (Luke 14:25-28, 33, NLT).

    * What were the qualifications for becoming Christ-followers? What was Jesus' challenge to the crowds?
    * Listening to Jesus' words, what would you say He expected from His followers as far as a commitment?
    * Why do you think Jesus didn't "soft sell" the commitment needed to follow Him; and, then, once people became followers, ease them into a deeper commitment?

My Thoughts

Are you committed to giving 100 percent of yourself to Jesus? That's the basis for becoming a Christian, giving Him all of your life. And that's the basis for following Him--to have a heart that only has room for one priority--living for Jesus.

My Part

What makes it possible to give 100 percent to Jesus? Love. The greater our love, the more willing we are to commit all of ourselves. Where does love like that come from?

"We love Him, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19, KJV).

Love Jesus with all of your heart, and you will follow Him all of your life with all that you are.

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Mar 27, 2008
Topic: Service/Servanthood


Reasonable Service

You won't find his name in Who's Who or in the annals of history. He was a Korean man, smaller than most men. He always smiled as he pushed his overloaded, rickety bicycle along the potholed stone roads of rural Korea, visiting settlement after settlement, laboring up mountain trails or balancing his load as he edged along the narrow strips of land dividing the rice paddies.

All around the country, villagers recognized him. He showed up unannounced with Bible tracts, small booklets and New Testaments. Some he gave away; others he sold for a small fee. The "Bible man" humbly and faithfully followed his route for years, in season and out of season. For him, it was his service to God, and he gave his whole being to do the job well.

What does it take to be a servant of God like that? Let's find out.

What Does God Say?

In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote this for all Christians: " I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1, NKJV )

Let's begin with a question. What, exactly, does that verse tell you to present to God as a living sacrifice? Your soul? Your possessions? Your life? Your all? If you answered, "My body," you are 100 percent right.

As long as you are in this life, you will have a physical body. That body God gave you goes with you wherever you go. You won't get away from it until death separates your spiritual makeup from your physical makeup. You can't commit your soul to serve God as a living sacrifice apart from committing your body to serve Him. You can't somehow live a life acceptable to God separated from the body you live in. Note that "reasonable service" is done in your body, not merely in spirit. The Korean Bible man served God, but to accomplish that sacrificial service meant he had to bodily pedal and push his bicycle to visit the remote villages. Every person who received Christian literature from his hand got it because God's servant was there in his body, not merely "in spirit."

My Thoughts

God has called many people His "servants." Some of His servants might surprise you. Look at the following verses and write down the name of each servant you find.

    * Psalm 89:3-4
    * Psalm 105:41-42
    * Joshua 1:1-2
    * Luke 1:38
    * Romans 1:1
    * Acts 3:13

Record your answers to these questions:

    * What does Hebrews 9:14say you are to do as a Christian?
    * In 1 Corinthians 9:19, what goal does Paul have as he serves others?
    * What does Paul advise slaves concerning their attitudes about service? (Ephesians 6:5-8 )
    * How has Christ demonstrated His servant-heart (Philippians 2:5-9)? How has God rewarded Him (Philippians 2:10)?
    * What should a Christian's motive be for serving (Galatians 5:13)?
    * What does Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 12:5tell you about Christian service?

My Part

Christ has given Christians good local churches; most likely there is one in your area. This is not only so you can fellowship and worship Him, but so you may have guidance and training to serve God and others. Your church can help you serve better, but you are personally responsible to commit all you are--body, soul, spirit, mind and heart--to God in order to serve Him effectively.

Here is a key Bible verse on service for you to memorize:

"Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you" (1 Samuel 12:24, NKJV).

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