As I’m sure many know, Dr. James Dobson passed away last this week. He was 89. Millions knew him as the host of Focus on the Family. He was the child psychologist who “answered hundreds of thousands of parenting questions and urged Christians to fight in America’s ‘civil war of values.’” Hmm. “A civil war... Continue Reading →
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace… Paul begins with the word “For.” In a grammatical and exegetical sense, when a verse begins with “For,” this signals that Paul is about to give us a reason or an explanation for the preceding statement, which in this case is how we are made nigh by the... Continue Reading →
Mat 19:2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. Mat 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? If you've been following along in our series on the Gospels in chronological order (all... Continue Reading →
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Notice how Paul begins with the word “For.” This word connects this verse to what came before it in verses 8-9. Vs. 8 also begins with For, which connects it... Continue Reading →
Learning to see someone’s heart and soul, rather than focusing on their flesh is beneficial as we minister. I call it having ‘love eyes’ for others. Godly love is unconditional love and kindness, yet we are to remember: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” (Col. 3:23)... Continue Reading →
How should a believer pray for a tragedy like the horrible flash flooding in Texas? Of course, we know that natural disasters are not judgments from God today. How do we know this? 2 Cor 5:19 tells us “that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them...” He... Continue Reading →
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. In both... Continue Reading →
Who are the “aged women” referred to in Titus 2? The most obvious answer is those who are older physically and have had a lifetime of opportunities to experience the stages of life: a child, youth, adolescence, middle age, and the older years. This gives occasion to apply sound doctrine in various roles, exper-iences, and... Continue Reading →
"Riches" is an interesting Bible study. Let’s first consider the definition from Webster’s 1828: RICH'ES, noun 1. Wealth; opulence; affluence; possessions of land, good or money in abundance. Riches do not consist in having more gold and silver, but in having more in proportion than our neighbors. 2. Splendid sumptuous appearance. The riches of heav'n's... Continue Reading →
"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ." (Eph 1:12 ) Who is Paul talking about when he wrote, “who first trusted in Christ”? Some commentaries would argue that Paul must’ve been talking about the Jews in the OT. Or maybe the members of the Little Flock were... Continue Reading →
Paul covers seven basic points about your inheritance from God. 1) Inheritance was always by faith. I guess you could say that faith got your name written into the will. Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law,... Continue Reading →
How do you exegete the expression, “dispensation of the fulness of times”? What does this mean word-for-word? You know what verse I’m talking about: Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;... Continue Reading →
Sometimes, a saint may think to themselves, How can I encourage others, when I live far away or am homebound? We are to be God's representatives while we are here on earth: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (II... Continue Reading →
My prayer for all Calvinists is that they come into the knowledge of the truth and understand the Word rightly divided (2 Tim. 2:15), that they recognize Paul as their apostle today, and quit perverting verses in the Gospels to be all about them when they aren’t. Make no mistake. Matthew 18 has nothing whatsoever... Continue Reading →
[This is an excerpt from my Sunday message and new series on Ephesians. PTL! -Joel] Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Notice that we have in this one verse, blessed, blessed, and blessings, all variations... Continue Reading →
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. The first word Paul says is Wherefore. This means “for this reason.” Therefore also means “for this reason.” Same Greek word. The translators... Continue Reading →
John 15:13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Rom. 13:14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. By the doctrine which is according to godliness, we are taught that our love... Continue Reading →
There is a monumental shift in your thinking and how you live your life when you have reckoned that you have a perfect standing in His grace, when you know who you are in Christ. From that moment onward, you rest in those truths. You don’t worry about upsetting God because, say, you ate something... Continue Reading →
[These are some of the notes from my recent message at the 2025 Florida Regional Grace Conference. -Joel] Eph 6:18. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” This is the one and only time Paul mentions perseverance. Paul never really defines... Continue Reading →
A new believer can have many challenges. First, he needs to grow to understand sound doctrine. Ideally, a stronger believer will walk beside this new saint to help. Many new believers believe that since they’re forgiven and saved from the wrath by the blood of Christ, that they’ve arrived and then, just kick their feet... Continue Reading →
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