2 Corinthians 4: 16 – 18 reveals Paul's closing thoughts about gospel bearers and their hardships. Paul understands that gospel bearers in the temporal will waste away. However, their hope for the eternal inspires them beyond their afflictions. Paul concludes the third pericope by proclaiming hope for those who endure for the sake of the... Read More
Paul continues his discourse about gospel bearers in 2 Corinthians 4:13-15. This pericope or selection of text reveals God sustaining the message of Christ through his gospel bearers. Through faith and assurance of the risen Christ, the gospel bearers continue to proclaim the gospel despite hardships. Paul extrapolates that the... Read More
The bible contains numerous stories about the gospel or the good news of Christ being spread throughout the world. In particular, 2 Corinthians 4:7 – 18 identifies Paul's discourse about his apostolic ministry to the Corinthian church. This discourse resides in a larger context of 2 Corinthians 1 – 9. Paul writes 2 Corinthians 1 – 9 in... Read More
Matthew 14:13-21 depicts Jesus feeding the five thousand. In this passage, Matthew identifies Christ challenging his disciples to faith in imitating him. His actions worthy of imitation involve his ability to meet physical needs. In meeting these physical needs, Matthew reveals Christ as the Messiah. Matthew demonstrates that Jesus'... Read More
What would our lives be like if we as Christians meditated on the manifestation of God's divine favor in our lives verses our circumstances? In Genesis 39: 19-23, we witness Joseph being jailed for false accusations and yet thrive under imprisonment. How did he succeed? The answer is simply, God's favor in the sight of the chief jailer. What does... Read More
Chapters 36 and 38 of the Book of Ezekiel identify God establishing his holiness or sanctification by his actions toward the nations and Israel. In Ezekiel 38:23, Ezekiel exemplifies God asserting his supremacy in the eyes of many nations. In Ezekiel 36:23, God demonstrates his supremacy and power amongst the Israelites as well as nations. God... Read More
- God is Love: Nuts & Bolts Pt II
I wanted to know and allow others to know that there is no fear in God’s love and judgment. His love is perfect and complete. However, in His perfect love, God prompts us to respond to make it complete.
- God is Love: Nuts & Bolts Pt I
Background In 1 John, John calls the believers back to a fundamental understanding that God is love. He reveals that God is love later in the book. The first issue that he addresses deals with a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief. The opposing ideology known as Gnosticism split the believers into two. In 1 John 2:18 – 23, John reveals that antichrist who denied Christ lived among them. These individuals eventually left the church community, but their false teachings continued to infiltrate the church. 1 John 4:1 – 3 …
- God is Love Pt III
When I started this study, I aimed to prove that God’ love remains complete and that His believers reside in His love. I wanted to demonstrate that when believers are imperfect, God perfectly loves them. This understanding is true. God loved us first, so much so that He sent His Son as our sacrifice. In this sacrificial love, God tells us that we do not need to fear the Day of Judgement. Fearing Judgment Day means that we have not embraced the salvation that He has provided. At this point, I wanted the study to be complete. I wanted to …
