8 Pentecost

8 Pentecost - Sunday B

First Posted July 26, 2009

Amos 7:10-15 -- God’s Call upon Amos

Psalm 85:8-13 -- God’s Promise of Salvation

Ephesians 1:3-14 -- The Gospel of Salvation

Mark 6:7-13 -- Jesus Commissions his Disciples

Jeroboam II was King of the Northern Kingdom, the Kingdom of Israel, in the time of Amos. Jeroboam (Jeroboam I, the son of Nebat, was the first king of the Northern Kingdom), who had rebelled and split from the original kingdom approved by God, after the death of King Solomon, and had established idolatrous worship of a golden calf at Bethel, which Jeroboam II continued (2 Kings 14:24). Amaziah was the chief priest at Bethel, presiding over a spurious, corrupt religion. The Northern Kingdom retained the name, but not the political or religious legitimacy of Israel. The Southern Kingdom of Judah was the spiritual remnant of Israel, carrying on the legitimate monarchy and religion, and it became the actual remnant of Israel following the destruction of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria.

Amos was not a “professional” prophet. He hadn’t been discipled by a prophet. Amos had been a herdsman and tree-trimmer, which are menial occupations. Amos heard God’s call and he responded in obedient trust. He declared God’s word at Bethel, against the King of the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes of Israel. Amos prophesied Jeroboam’s death and the fall and exile of the Northern Kingdom.

Amos’ proclamation of God’s Word offended the political and religious leaders of the Northern Kingdom. The chief priest informed the king that Amos was “conspiring” against them, and kicked Amos out of the “sanctuary” and the “kingdom,” telling him to go to the Southern Kingdom, Judah, and earn his living prophesying there.

Commentary:

The King of the Northern Kingdom died. (The last king of the Northern Kingdom was Hoshea, who was imprisoned by King Shalmaneser of Assyria, at the fall of Samaria.) The ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom were conquered and carried off into captivity by the Assyrians, and the Northern Kingdom and the ten tribes ceased to exist because of the Assyrian practice of deporting conquered people to other conquered territories. Those of the Northern Kingdom who escaped deportation were intermingled with non-Jewish exiles brought in by the Assyrians and became the Samaritans, of mixed race and religion.

God’s Word is Good News (the Gospel) for God’s People, who trust and obey God. They will listen attentively to God’s Word, because it is peace and salvation for them. God’s salvation of his people will establish a kingdom of steadfast love and faithfulness, peace, and righteousness. God will bless and prosper them. Jesus is the righteousness of God, who has gone before us to show us the way (John 14:6). Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified (John 1;1-5, 14).

Jesus Christ has been God’s only plan for us from the very beginning of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14). Every spiritual blessing in Heaven is received only through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. God has designed Creation so that we have freedom to choose whether to trust and obey him or not. God has given us the opportunity to seek him and come to personal knowledge of, and fellowship with, him, and this is only possible through faith in Jesus (John 14:6). God has given us the opportunity to learn, by trial and error, to trust and obey him. He has designed Creation so that we are all guilty of sin (disobedience of God’s Word), that the penalty for sin is (eternal) death, and that none are worthy of forgiveness. God offers forgiveness and salvation from eternal condemnation and eternal death by God’s grace (free gift; unmerited favor) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

God has intended from the beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey him. God has revealed the mystery of his plan, at precisely the right time, in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who have heard the Gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and have trusted and obeyed, are anointed and filled with the promised gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, “which is the guarantee of our inheritance” (of eternal life in the Kingdom of God; Ephesians 1:14) until we receive it.

Jesus called his disciples to follow him, and as they responded and followed him he taught them his message, and commissioned them to proclaim his message and heal the spiritual illnesses of the people. Physical healing was intended to reveal the need and possibility of spiritual healing, and also concern for all the needs of people. As Jesus’ disciples trusted and obeyed his command, they were guided and empowered to accomplish his mission.

In many ways, America (and other “Christian” nations) and the (nominal) Church, particularly in America, are in the identical situation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the time of Amos. The official political and religious establishments are in rebellion against what God has “sanctioned.’ But they consider themselves “worthy” of God’s favor because of their support of the “rituals” of religion. Are we willing to hear God’s Word when it is critical of us? Are we willing to repent of our rebellion and disobedience, and return to obedient trust in the Lord?

Have we been listening for God’s Word? Have we been willing to be his disciples? Have we been willing to declare God’s Word, even when it was not “popular?” Are we willing to go out into the world preaching repentance (turning from disobedience of God’s Word) and offering spiritual healing?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

8 Pentecost - Monday B

First Posted July 27, 2009

Psalm 23 -- Assurance of God’s Providence

Those who allow the Lord to be their shepherd can be assured that he will provide for their needs. He will provide their physical food and drink and will also nourish and sustain them spiritually.

Those who are led by him will be guided and enabled to do what is right in God’s judgment, so that the name of the Lord will be glorified.

Though we travel through valleys of spiritual darkness and physical death, we need not fear any evil, because the Lord is with us to protect and guide us through to the other side.

The Lord has prepared a table of feasting and victory, in the presence of our enemies. The Lord anoints us with the oil of joy, approval and salvation. Our “cup,” our destiny, overflows with goodness. We can be sure that goodness and mercy will be poured out to us all the days of our physical lives, and that we will dwell for all eternity in the house of the Lord.

Commentary:

This psalm is one attributed to David, the shepherd boy who became the great king of Israel. Jesus is the Son of David, his descendent (Matthew 1:1-17), who is the eternal heir to the throne of David. Jesus is the “good shepherd” (John 10:11-15) who laid down his life for the “sheep” at the Cross.

Jesus is the name of the Lord that we glorify by trusting and obeying Jesus and doing good works which God intends for us to accomplish [Ephesians 2:(8-9) 10]. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, he healed the sick, fed the hungry, and raised the dead, physically and spiritually. His miracles of physical providence were intended to reveal our need and his ability to provide for our spiritual nurture and healing.

In the Old Testament, olive oil was used by the priest to anoint the king as a symbol of God’s approval. Oil was also used as a healing ointment for the sick. “Born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciples are “anointed” with the Holy Spirit, by their great king and high priest, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-15). Only Jesus baptizes (anoints) with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The indwelling Holy Spirit is a very present help in time of trouble, reassuring us, guiding and carrying us through, and assuring us, in the valley of physical death, of resurrection to eternal life .

The Lord has prepared a table of feasting and victory in this world, in the presence of our physical and spiritual enemies; it is the Lord’s Supper; the Eucharist; Holy Communion. Through our participation, he nourishes and sustains us spiritually, and we are assured that it is a foretaste of the Communion feast which we will share with Jesus in his eternal kingdom (Luke 22:14-16).

The cup of wine is a symbol of celebration, but in the Lord’s Supper it is also the spiritual blood of Jesus shed on the Cross as a sacrifice to God for our sins. Jews were forbidden to consume blood, because it was believed to contain the spirit, the life-force, of the animal. God does not want us to be filled with the spirits of animals but with his Holy Spirit.

Christians are not guaranteed that everything will be easy for them, and that they will not face troubles in this world, but we can be assured that the Lord will bless us, even in the midst of troubles, and bring us through them to eternal life.

8 Pentecost - Tuesday B

First Posted July 28, 2009

Jeremiah 23:1-6 -- Woe to Unfaithful Shepherds

Woe to shepherds, the political and spiritual leaders of God’s people, who destroy and scatter them. Those unfaithful shepherds, who have not properly cared for God’s people will be judged and punished by God. The Lord himself will gather his people from all the countries where they have been driven. The Lord will bring them back to their “fold,” and they will be fruitful and multiply. The Lord will appoint shepherds over them who will properly care for them. They will no longer fear or be dismayed, and none shall be missing.

The Lord declares that he will raise up a righteous branch from the descendants of David (the great shepherd-king), who will reign as king, who will govern wisely and establish justice and righteousness in the land. “In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. In him we will know that the Lord is our righteousness.

Christian nations, particularly America, and the Church, particularly in America, are each the “New Israel,” the “New People of God,” the “New Promised Land.” Our political and spiritual leaders will be accountable to God for their care and treatment of God’s People. In too many instances the civil and religious leaders are pursuing their own self-interest instead of providing the care of God’s people that God desires. Many of our political leaders exploit the people to enrich themselves. Many of our spiritual leaders build “buildings” and make “members” instead of making disciples and building them up spiritually.

Jesus is the righteous branch, the descendant of David, the heir to David’s throne, God’s “anointed” (Christ and Messiah mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew respectively) eternal king. Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11-15). Jesus is the shepherd who seeks the lost and straying “sheep” and brings them into the heavenly “fold” of God’s eternal kingdom. Jesus is the Savior of Judah, the remnant of God’s People.

Jesus is the one who fulfills God’s promise of the Lord who has become our righteousness (compare Romans 3:21-26; 10:3-4). Jesus is the righteousness of God manifested in human form, and we who trust and obey Jesus have become righteous in God’s judgment, not on our own “works” but by “faith” (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

8 Pentecost - Wednesday B

First Posted July 29, 2009

Ephesians 2:13-22 -- Unity in Christ

At one time Israel was God’s favored people through the Old Covenant of the Law of Moses; through them he brought forth his Son, Jesus Christ. Now the blood sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross has initiated a New Covenant of Grace (unmerited favor; free gift) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, through whom all people, Jew and Gentile, become his forgiven and saved (from eternal condemnation and eternal death) people.

Jesus is our peace, between Jew and Gentile and between us and God. Jew and Gentile are one with God and each other through Jesus Christ by his indwelling Holy Spirit. The Old Covenant of Law was a dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, but the New Covenant of Grace unites rather than dividing. Through Jesus’ flesh, he has replaced the Old Covenant, with a new and better one, including and uniting all people, Jew and Gentile, into one body, the Church. So we are all reconciled to God and each other through Jesus’ Cross.

Jesus came preaching peace to Jews and Gentiles. Through Jesus both Jews and Gentiles have access to God through the one Holy Spirit. So both Jew and Gentile are fellow citizens of God’s eternal kingdom and members of the household of God, the Church, which has been built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets (the New Testament and the Old Testament scriptures) and Christ is the cornerstone which unites and holds the Church together, growing into a holy temple to the Lord. Christians are “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples, who have been filled with the Holy Spirit, and we are built into the Church (like “living stones;” 1 Peter 2:5 RSV), together becoming the “dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).

Commentary:

The Church is not physical buildings; The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9), dwells within each believer and together they become the temple of the Lord. The Church is founded upon the Bible, the Word of God.

The Old Testament prophesies the coming of the Messiah (Christ; both mean “anointed” by God), the Savior (Matthew 1:21) promised by God to save us from our sin (disobedience of God’s Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The New Testament is the eyewitness testimony of the Apostles, the “messengers” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, chosen and discipled and commissioned by Jesus, and the record of the founding of the Christian Church. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Word in the Old Testament scripture, and the embodiment and demonstration of God’s Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).

Paul (originally known as Saul of Tarsus), the author of the letter to the Ephesians, is the first modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ. He first encountered the risen and ascended Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-20). Paul was “convicted” by the Holy Spirit on the Damascus road, repented and became obedient to Jesus (Acts 9:8-9), was discipled by a born-again” Christian disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:10-17), was “baptized” (anointed; filled) with the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-18), and was led by the Spirit to proclaim the Gospel message (Acts 9:19b-20). He was as much an Apostle as the original Eleven (the Twelve minus Judas, the betrayer) and was accepted by them as such (Acts 15:6-29).

Paul is the example of what the Church should be doing. Paul was discipled until he had received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:10-18; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Then he went out into the world proclaiming the message of the Gospel, teaching people to trust and obey Jesus, and making “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20), and teaching them to do likewise (2 Timothy 1:6-7; 2:2). How are we doing, Church?

The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for oneself to know with certainty, for oneself, whether one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2). Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14-15-17)

8 Pentecost - Thursday B

First Posted July 30, 2009

Mark 6:30-34 -- Sheep Without a Shepherd

Jesus had sent his Disciples out as “apostles” (“messengers;” of the Gospel). When they returned to him, they told him all that they had done and taught. Jesus took them by boat off to an uninhabited place (perhaps the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee), but people saw them leave and guessed where they were heading. The people ran there on the shore, and a great crowd was waiting for Jesus and his disciples when they landed. Jesus saw them, “and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).

Commentary:

Jesus’ disciples had been with him for a considerable time, day and night. They had learned Jesus’ message, had gotten to know Jesus’ character, and had experienced Jesus’ miracles. Jesus commissioned them to go and carry on his message and ministry, as an “internship.” Jesus was preparing them to carry on his ministry after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.

When they returned, Jesus wanted to give them some time to rest and relax. Large crowds were constantly seeking Jesus, and they had no time by themselves even to eat. When the crowds saw Jesus and his disciples leaving by boat, they guessed where they were going and were waiting for them when they arrived.

Jesus cared for the needs of people. He wanted to help his disciples rest and relax, but he also cared for the spiritual and physical needs of the people who came to him. He managed to feed the people spiritually through his teaching, and physically through the multiplication of bread and fish (Mark 6:35-44). And his disciples had some time to relax.

Today there is a great spiritual need in America and throughout the world. Jesus is the only one who can satisfy that need, but are people seeking Jesus? Many people seem to be seeking spiritual fulfillment in everything and everyone but Jesus.

At the time of Jesus’ physical ministry, the spiritual leaders of Israel at the time were cooperating with the pagan Roman government. They thought it was in their best interest to go along with the secular leaders. Instead of serving God and providing spiritual healing and nurture for the people, the religious leaders were using their positions in Judaism to further their own interests. Judaism had become a “religion” of “tradition” and the “precepts of men” (Mark 7:5-9), instead of a relationship with Almighty God. Instead of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah (“Christ”), the fulfillment of God’s Word, they rejected and crucified him.

America (and other “Christian” nations) and the Church, at least in America are in a similar position today. America and the Church are each “the New Promised Land;” The New Israel;” the “New People of God;” the “New Jerusalem.” Our people are like sheep without a shepherd.

Our political leaders are cooperating with the secular “status quo.” The ultimate present world ruler is Satan, who in Jesus’ day was symbolized by Rome. Our Church leaders are more concerned with building “buildings” and making “members,” than making disciples and equipping and sending them into our world to offer spiritual healing and nurture. Christian ministry is too often a “career choice,” instead of a call guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. If churches don’t make “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples, where are the “born-again” “apostles” going to come from?

Jesus has demonstrated the mission of the Church. Jesus had taught his disciples the message, and they had gotten to know Jesus personally before Jesus sent them out in ministry, and that ministry was an “internship,” while Jesus was still with them. When he gave them the commission to carry on his ministry (Matthew 28:18-20), he also commanded them not to leave “Jerusalem” until they had been filled with gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1 4-5, 8). They obeyed (Acts 1:12-14), and they received the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13) and began to carry on Jesus’ mission (Acts 2:14-42)

The Church is to make disciples, teaching them until they receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, before sending them out in ministry. Only Jesus “baptizes” with the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus has promised to return on the Day of Judgment to judge all who have ever lived on earth. Those who have trusted and obeyed Jesus will receive eternal life in Heaven with the Lord; those who have rejected and disobeyed Jesus will receive eternal destruction and eternal death in Hell with all evil, separated eternally from God and everything good (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Are we any more ready for Jesus’ return than the Jews were ready for Jesus’ first advent (coming)?

8 Pentecost - Friday B

First Posted July 31, 2009

Jeremiah 23:16-29 -- False Prophets

The Lord warns us not to listen to prophets who prophesy according to their own hearts and imagination, and not from the Lord. They offer vain hope. They say to the wicked that it will be well with them; they tell the stubborn and disobedient that no evil will come upon them.

Anyone who has really been in the council of the Lord, who has listened and given heed to his word knows that the Day of the Lord is coming; a great storm of God’s wrath is about to burst upon the wicked. God’s wrath will not end before God has accomplished his will. When it happens you will know it clearly.

The false prophets were not sent by God, but they hurried to prophesy, though God had not spoken to them. If these false prophets had been in God’s council, they would have proclaimed God’s word, and God’s people would have turned from evil.

God is close at hand, but he is also far off. A person cannot hide himself from God. God fills heaven and earth. God is aware of false prophets who claim that their dreams are visions from God. How long will the Lord tolerate prophets who tell lies and false dreams to his people and cause them to forget the name (the whole character and person) of God as their fathers forgot the Lord for Baal (a Canaanite false god; an “idol”)?

Let the (false) prophet who has a dream tell his dream and the (true) prophet who has God’s word declare it faithfully. The comparison will be like straw compared to wheat. God’s word is also like a (consuming) fire, and like a hammer smashing rocks to pieces.

_______

A prophet is one who speaks the word of God. Prophecy is not primarily a foretelling of the future; it is the proclamation of God’s word. It is the fact that it is truly God’s word, which is eternally true, which results in what is prophesied being fulfilled. In fact, the test of prophecy is whether it is fulfilled or not (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

An important distinction is that the outcome of God’s word depends upon our acceptance or rejection of it. For example, God’s word prophesied the exile of Judah to Babylon, but if the prophecy had been received and led Judah to repent and return to obedient trust in the Lord the exile could have been avoided, right up to the moment that Judah fell to the Chaldeans (see Jeremiah 38:17-23; 39:4-8).

Throughout the history of God’s People, there have been false prophets contradicting God’s word. In the Garden of Eden, it was the serpent, who tempted Eve to go against God’s word (Genesis 3:1-7), and she and Adam lost eternal life in paradise with the Lord (Genesis 3:17-24).

Jeremiah was a prophet of the Lord, in Judah, the Southern Kingdom of the divided monarchy. Judah had witnessed the fall and end of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians (722/721 B.C.*), as punishment of their disobedience of God’s word and their idolatry, but Judah, the remnant of Israel, didn’t learn from the lesson of the Northern Kingdom.

Judah was disobedient to God’s word and idolatrous at the time of Jeremiah, who warned them of the coming Day of the Lord, when they would be exiled to Babylon for seventy years (a virtual death sentence for adults at the time of the deportation; Jeremiah 25:1-14). Jeremiah was opposed by the religious and political leaders of Judah, who took assurance from false prophets (see Jeremiah 28:1-14).

They failed to learn from the demise of the Northern Kingdom and refused to heed the warning of the true prophet of the Lord, and the result was that they were conquered by King Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) of Chaldea and deported to Babylon for seventy years, from the destruction of Solomon’s Temple to the rededication of the Second Temple (587-516 B.C.)**

Israel and Judaism were led by unfaithful “shepherds” at the time of Jesus’ physical ministry. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and exemplification of God’s Word (John 1:1-3, 14), but was opposed by the religious and political rulers of Israel, and the same situation exists in the world, particularly in America and the American Church today.

There are many false “Christs” and false prophets in the world today (Matthew 24:24). The Apostle Paul told Timothy whom Paul had discipled, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and turn away from the truth and wander into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). That time is here now!

There are many examples today of spiritual teachers who give false assurances, instead of calling people to repent and return to obedient trust in God’s word. The only way to protect ourselves from false teachers and false prophets is to read and know God’s word for ourselves. Any average reader can easily read the entire Bible in one year. Set aside a regular time each day to pray, read and meditate on God’s word (see Free Bible-Study Tools, sidebar, top right), and make it a habit. Don’t put it off.

*Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, David Noel Freedman, “Samaria,” p. 1158, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids Michigan, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-2400-5

**ibid. “Jerusalem Temple,” p 1282

8 Pentecost - Saturday B

First Posted August 1, 2009

Jeremiah 23:16-29 -- Beware of False Prophets

Jesus warns us to beware of false prophets. They’re like ravenous wolves disguised to look like “sheep.” The test of their authenticity is what they produce. As good trees produce good fruit, and bad trees produce evil fruit, so also prophets (and all people) are known by the “fruit” they produce. Bad trees are cut down and burned. So we will all be known by our “fruit.”

Jesus warns, “Not every one who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

There are many false prophets and false teachers in the world today, even within the (nominal) “Church.” What they say and teach sounds appealing, but how does it compare to God’s word?

There are two examples of false teachings in the “Church” today, which were present in the “First-Century,” “New Testament” Church, and which are refuted in the Bible.

One is called “Cheap Grace;”* the doctrine that we are saved by (God’s) grace (unmerited favor; free gift) without the requirements of obedience and discipleship. The other is the opposite extreme, “works-righteousness;” the teaching that we must “earn” our salvation by doing “good deeds.”

In the New Testament Church, the Apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthian congregation for practicing “cheap grace,”* (1 Corinthians 5 & 6, for example). On the other hand he opposed the “circumcision party,” Jewish Christians who wanted to require that gentile Christians keep the Jewish Laws, such as circumcision (Acts 15:1-21).

The Biblical doctrine of Salvation is summarized in Ephesians 2:8-10: “For by grace (unmerited favor) you are saved through faith (obedient trust; in Jesus Christ); and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God- not because of works lest any [one] should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in (i.e., do) them.

Unless we have read the Bible completely, we have no basis for discerning truth from false teaching. Unless we read the Bible daily, with prayer and meditation, we have no way of knowing God’s will for us individually and personally. It is not those who call themselves “Christian,” and it is not those who hear God’s word, who are saved from eternal condemnation, but those who read and apply God’s word in their lives daily.

Knowing God’s word is not difficult; it doesn’t require years of collegiate “post-graduate” scholarship. God wants us to know and understand God’s word. If we seek his will, with the intention of doing it, he will reveal it to us. He will open our minds to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45).

Any average reader can easily read the entire Bible in one year. That is the place to start studying the Bible, and also establishing a habit of daily Bible-reading with prayer and meditation. There are a number of one-year plans available; see “Free Bible Study Tools,” sidebar, top right.

*See: The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., NY 1963 ISBN 0-02-083850-6