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God’s name means that he is the one who is and who will be, God’s existence doesn’t depend on anyone or anything else, this God simply is. It will sound kind of strange for Moses to go say to the Israelites, I will be, has sent me to you, only God can say, I will be. God tells Moses the version...

Iniquity, in Bible translations, “iniquity” is one way the Hebrew word “avon” gets translated. It’s also rendered by words like “wickedness,” “guilt” or “sin.” What does avon actually mean? The word avon is related to a Hebrew verb “avah” which means to be bent or crooked. Psalm 38:6, the poet...

The old humanity that we took off, is just in a lifelong pursuit driven by desires that are constantly tricking us and letting us down, they’re ruining us, because we just go from one desire to the next, it’s an endless trail of breadcrumbs.

We heard implications of this truth about Jesus and it opened up a completely different way of living, put off your old-humanity, be made new in the attitude of your minds and put on the new-humanity created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Paul’s mixing all these different...

In the Greek New Testament, Paul develops this portrait of humans as “trust breakers,” using the word “paraptoma.” Paul recalls the story in Genesis about “Adam,” that means “humanity” in Hebrew. In that story, humanity breaks trust with God and seizes authority to discern good and evil on their...

What is Paul up to in his letters? Paul’s core conviction is that fundamental change happens to us, when our very sense of who we are is completely revolutionized behavior, follows our sense of identity. Don’t live like the Gentiles, because we are something new, we are all new kinds of humans...

Another problem Paul addresses is the issue of Jesus’ resurrection and the future hope of Jesus’ followers. There were some people in the church who were saying that the idea of resurrection is ridiculous and doesn’t really matter to being a Christian. Paul reacts to this, he begins by saying...

Acts chapter 28:16-20, Paul is in the middle of his court trial, and it is not going well, out of this very dark situation, Paul appeals to Timothy, who is still on assignment in Ephesus, he asked Timothy to come be with him in prison so Paul can pass on to him the church planting mission he...

Atoning sacrifice, this language of sacrifice is really significant. 1 John 1:5-2:2, vandalism, “sin” that we introduce into God’s good world, but what does Jesus do about that? The blood of Jesus purifies us, a metaphor for Jesus’ death, his execution on the cross. Purification is connected...

Paul uses Abraham, pre-law, pre-circumcision, he’s trying to make the point, it’s by faith. Salvation is by faith, there’s no personal merit and performance has nothing to do with a right relationship to God. Allegiance, there’s never a question in what a believer should believe. We sow what we...

Jesus didn’t leave us guessing, Mark 3:27, he lays out a spiritual law that few teach, but every believer must learn, freedom doesn’t begin by cleaning up, it begins by confronting who’s in charge. A stronghold may be the fortress, but the strong man is the spirit running it and until it’s...

In Luke 4:16-30, this is the scene where Jesus preaches in his hometown in the synagogue. Starting in Luke 4:23, Jesus is harsh with how he responds to these people. Jesus said, You’ve all heard about the things that I have done in Capernaum and other places. Doubtless, somebody here is going to...

Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul prays that we would wake up to the fact, that we as God’s people, we are God’s own special treasured possession, God created a special people, who are unique and holy, who are distinct and different than the world around us, precisely to be the witnesses to his mercy and...

Here's a cool video.

That feeling isn’t weakness, it’s awareness, it’s our soul recognizing that it was made for more than what fades, Isaiah 40:8, everything eventually slips through our fingers, even the things we love most in this world are fragile, but God is not. Not only did God create everything, he continues...

The Bible consistently shows that knowing God isn’t just about information, it’s about relationship, the same God who exists outside time chose to step into history to reveal himself, not because he needed us, but because we need him. Once we begin to understand God’s nature, an eternal God...

This is where the meaning of life starts to come into focus, if God is eternal and self-existing, then our purpose can’t be found in temporary things and yet, that’s where so many of us look, success, status, possessions, distractions, we chase things that fade and then wonder why we feel empty...

It is possible to profess faith in Jesus as savior and still deny his lordship through the way you live. Many people want the benefits of belonging to Jesus without accepting the responsibilities. They want forgiveness without submission. They desire heaven without renouncing control over their...

The cross does not just cancel sin, it confronts it and the spirit doesn’t just live in you quietly, the spirit takes over. The fruit of the spirit, not the personality of a good Christian, but the fruit of the spirit, this list is not optional, it is not advanced level discipleship, it is the...

Galatians 5:16, the line is drawn, because there are only two paths, there is no third, either you are walking by the flesh or you are walking by the spirit, there is no neutral zone, no spiritual Switzerland, you are either being led by sin or led by God. The flesh is not passive, it is...