Mark 2:17

Holy Spirit please keep me from my own pride and arrogance to come to the full realization that we are ALL sinners in need of repentance.

And there is no one righteous but Jesus the Christ!

God is gracious and kind and does not want anyone to perish. He wants all of His creation to have the opportunity to repent and to accept His sacrifice on the cross on their behalf. He desires us have eternal life with Him.

With this statement, Jesus is neither affirming nor denying that the Pharisees are righteous. He is simply pointing out that the call to repentance and offering of forgiveness are for those who need it—sinners. Faithllife Bible.

In this instance Jesus was speaking tongue-in-cheek when He used the word righteous. None are righteous, though some, such as the Pharisees, fancied themselves as such. Instead, Christ came to call sinners to repentance. Jesus did not condone the activities of sinners, but required repentance—a change of mind that recognizes the need of a Savior and recognizes Jesus Christ as the only Savior. NKJ Bible.

Mark 2:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ When Jesus heard it, He said to them,  “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Matthew 9:12 (NKJV)

¹² When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Matthew 9:13 (NKJV)

¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Matthew 18:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

Luke 5:31 (NKJV)

³¹ Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Luke 5:32 (NKJV)

³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

Just  B.E.L.I.E.V.E. and give the rest to God!

We live because He died for us…in Him, with Him and in unity with the Holy Spirit we live!

Paul considers his apostleship to be a sign of God’s grace and mercy because he did not deserve it. Faithlife Bible.

Paul did not originate the proclamation of Jesus that he delivered to the Corinthians; he simply gave the Corinthians what he himself had received. He viewed himself as a link in a long chain of witnesses to the truth of the death and resurrection of Christ. Christ died for our sins! Christ’s death dealt decisively with our sins. He suffered in our place to endure the just wrath of God against us. Christ lived and died in accordance with the prophecies about Him in the OT. At the time of Paul’s writing, a person could have verified the truthfulness of the apostle’s statements. The majority of the five hundred people who saw the risen Christ, as well as all the apostles and James (the half brother of Jesus), were still living.

The Resurrection verifies the fact that Christ’s death paid the full price for sin. The Greek term translated rose here is in the perfect tense, emphasizing the ongoing effects of this historical event. NKJ Bible.

Christ is a risen Savior today.

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (NKJV)

³ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. ⁶ After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷ After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. ⁸ Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Isaiah 53:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;

He has put Him to grief.

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

Hosea 6:2 (NKJV)

² After two days He will revive us;

On the third day He will raise us up,

That we may live in His sight.

Luke 24:34 (NKJV)

³⁴ saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

Matthew 24:29-31

Be ready, in season and out of season, to give an account of your hope in Christ Jesus.

Jesus draws on various old testament traditions surrounding the Son of Man and the Day of the Lord to describe what it will be like at His Parousia. Faithlife Bible.

The Parousia is a theological concept that comes from the Greek word parousia meaning "coming" or "presence.". In the study of Bible prophecy, the term Parousia is used in reference to the Coming of Jesus Christ. In some cases, the Parousia is used in reference to the time when Jesus Christ comes to rapture His people…

Strong’s Concordance 3952 parousía (from parōn, "be present, arrive to enter into a situation") – properly, coming, especially the arrival of the owner who alone can deal with a situation (cf. LS). 3952 (parousía) is a "technical term with reference to the visit of a king or some other official, 'a royal visit' " (Souter) – "hence, in the NT, specifically of the Advent or Parousia of Christ" (A-S).

[3952 (parousía) is "used in the east as a technical expression for the royal visit of a king, or emperor. The word means literally 'the being beside,' thus, 'the personal presence' " (K. Wuest, 3, Bypaths, 33).]

The sign of the Son of Man probably refers to Christ Himself appearing in heaven. The tribes of the earth probably refers to Israel. The context here is the national repentance of Israel predicted in Zech. 12:10, 12. The Son of Man coming on the clouds will be a fulfillment of Dan. 7:13. NKJ Bible.

Matthew 24:29–31 (NKJV)

²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Daniel 7:13 (NKJV)

¹³ “I was watching in the night visions,

And behold, One like the Son of Man,

Coming with the clouds of heaven!

He came to the Ancient of Days,

And they brought Him near before Him.

Zechariah 12:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

John 10:7-10

There is no other Savior but JESUS. 

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to live, die and be born again that whoever believes in Him shall also be alive in Him. Jesus is the only way to the Father, the truth of God made flesh and he offers life to all who repent and accept Him. In Him, all God-all man, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit we have abundant life.

Whoever follows him shall live in His presence forever.

Jesus is the gateway for eternal life as well as the one who leads the sheep. Faithlife Bible.

The thieves take life; the shepherd gives it. Abundant life includes salvation, nourishment, healing, and much more. Life here refers to eternal life, God’s life. It speaks not only of endlessness, but of quality of life. With Christ, life on earth can reach much higher quality, and then in heaven it will be complete and perfect. NKJ Bible.

John 10:7–10 (NKJV)

⁷ Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Ephesians 2:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

John 14:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

There is no other truth than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Only in Him and through Him can we be saved. There will come a time of judgement for those who choose not to accept the salvation God provided through the birth, death and resurrection of our blessed Savior.

His love conquers all and covers a multitude of sins. 

Paul boasts about the Thessalonians because of the flourishing of their faith and love. For this reason, they serve as a model for other churches. Faithlfe Bible.

Since the writing of 1 Thessalonians, reports had come to Paul of continued progress in the Thessalonian church, indicating their faithfulness to the gospel. However, doctrinal problems had also arisen. False teachers had begun to tell the believers in Thessalonica that the day of the Lord was already at hand. These teachers were misapplying and possibly even twisting Paul’s teaching that the day of the Lord would come suddenly. Most likely because of this, some of the believers had stopped working and were simply waiting for the Lord. Mounting persecution may have also fueled these extreme beliefs about the Second Coming.

The Thessalonians’ steadfast faith not only strengthened them to withstand difficult circumstances, it also motivated them to express genuine love for others. A Christian’s faith in Christ should always culminate in true love for others. NKJ Bible.

2 Thessalonians 1:3–4 (NKJV)

³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, ⁴ so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,

1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NKJV)

³ remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)

⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,

Acts 26:21-23

Use the gifts that God provides you for His glory. This is your declaration of faith and loving obedience to Him. In Christ is everything we need to use our talents to share the Good News!

To God be all glory!!

Acts 26:21–23 (NKJV)

²¹ For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. ²² Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—²³ that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Colossians 1:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Revelation 1:5 (NKJV)

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

1 Peter 4:10-11

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Acts 26:19-20

Repent and choose the salvation that is provided in Christ Jesus, invite the Holy Spirit to teach you His ways and change your lifestyle to one that honors God with the talents and gifts that He has given you.

Precept by precept we become Christlike. As we mature more of the fruits of the Spirit are revealed in us.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

What does God require of us? 

He requires us to: Be fair, forgive others and stay humble. It is all about the goodness and grace of God and nothing to do about ours! Micah 8:6 

Repentance indicates a complete change in thinking. In Romans12:2, Paul speaks of the “renewing of your mind.” We do what we think is best, what makes sense to us. Paul was killing Christians because he thought it was the correct course of action. Christ’s revelation changed his thoughts, but his preaching of the Good News was visible proof that he had repented of his former ways. Genuine repentance is evidenced by changed behavior. NKJ Bible.

Acts 26:19-20Acts 26:19–20 (NKJV)

¹⁹ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

Matthew 3:8 (NKJV) ⁸ Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

Luke 3:8 (NKJV) ⁸ Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Romans

A long two weeks has come to an end and with it the burial of my dear Poppy. Although in my spirit I am rejoicing for he is whole now and with God, in my heart I am mourning the death of the one person who showed me the attributes of my heavenly Father and made it so easy to believe in a Father who loves all of His children without partiality. God wants no one to perish but all to abide with Him and in Him with the unity that the Holy Spirit provides.

This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine!

Romans is a mighty leveler, for it declares that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). Since all are sinners, it comes as a delightful shock that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (5:8).

We cannot save ourselves because as sinners we can never meet God’s requirements. Our only hope is faith in Jesus Christ. 

God loved us when we were still without strength and ungodly. God loved us so much He sent His Son to die for us. God loves us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. NKJ Bible. 

Both Jews and Gentiles have failed to live up to God’s standard; sin is universal. As a result, God’s provision of righteousness by faith, as opposed to law or race, relates to all people. Faithlife Bible.

Romans

Romans serves as the flagship of the fleet of Pauline letters within the New Testament. This letter has also loomed large in the history of Christianity. Countless men and women of faith have singled out Romans as the weapon God graciously used to bring about their surrender to Christ. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and others received unexpected spiritual volleys from Romans that pierced their defenses and ended their rebellion against God.

Romans combines breadth, logic, and a mature understanding of the Old Testament Scriptures into a powerful arsenal. By the time it was written, the Holy Spirit had shaped the apostle Paul into a skillful communicator of the faith. The result is his letter to the Romans, a theological treatise that perfectly fits Paul’s description of all Scripture as “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). 

The letter represents a full expression of apostolic theology. Paul’s arguments challenge the secular, pagan mind, yet they also pierce the shallow spiritual confidence of many nonpagans. Romans is a mighty leveler, for it declares that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). Since all are sinners, it comes as a delightful shock that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (5:8). This is the Good News, which Paul so eloquently and systematically defends in this theological treatise addressed to the Romans. NKJ Bible.

John 8:28-32

If we believe in Jesus and the salvation that can only come through Him…we will be saved. 

If we listen closely to the promptings of the Holy Spirit we will know our sins. The truth of that and asking for forgiveness allows us to remain in Him. In lifting Jesus up and sharing His gift of salvation, offered to all as a free gift, we spread the Good News of the Gospel.This faith pleases God.

God doesn’t want anyone to spend eternity without Him.

The Greek phrase translated believed in occurs almost exclusively in John’s Gospel. The phrase describes faith in Jesus’ message, which results in eternal life. A believer who continues to obey the Word is a disciple, a learner.

Obedience to the Lord means fellowship with Him, protection from sin, and experiencing His love. NKJ Bible

John 8:28–32 (NKJV)

²⁸ Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. ²⁹ And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” ³⁰ As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.

³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 5:30 (NKJV)

³⁰ I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

Deuteronomy 18:18 (NKJV)

¹⁸ I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.

The Book of Luke

THANKFUL…plainly, unadulterated gratefulness for the the King of kings and Lord of lords. Deeply moved and captured by the dear Holy Spirit who enables us to love others and to be loved by Him. Holy, holy, holy is the Father almighty who from the beginning loved His creation so much that our Savior and salvation was in His mind!

Love divine…Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The mind, body and heart of God revealed to mankind.

Christ in the Scriptures

Just like we’d expect from a family doctor, Dr. Luke sensitively describes Jesus as One who reaches out personally and heals those who are mercilessly caged by devastating illnesses. As a person, He is concerned with people. Whereas Matthew likes to refer to Jesus as the Son of David and Mark refers to Him as the Son of God, Luke’s favorite expression is “the Son of Man.”

Jesus’ humanity and compassion are repeatedly stressed by the author. This, coupled with Luke’s portrayal of Jesus’ sinless perfection, set up his logical conclusion. Because Jesus is the only perfect person born of a woman and because He identifies compassionately with the plight of suffering sinful people, He alone is qualified to carry our sorrows, bear our sin, and offer us the priceless gift of salvation.

John 14:15-18

What did Jesus command us to do?

To love  God above anyone, any place or any thing and to love others in the same way that we do ourselves and our own families.

Easy to say not as easy to carry out…Holy Spirit guide us into the way, the truth and the life.

All three members of the Trinity are mentioned here. Jesus prayed to the Father who would give the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth because He is truth and guides us into all truth. The Spirit of God is active in the world, but His acts go unnoticed by the world. NKJ Bible.

John 14:15–18 (NKJV)

¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

John 15:26 (NKJV)

²⁶ “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

John 16:13 (NKJV)

¹³ However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Ephesians 3:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Proverbs 22:17-25

Wisdom! 

Care for others in the same way that you would want them to care for you. Jesus commanded it!

This proverb addresses the exploitation of the impoverished. Because they are unable to protect their legal rights, the poor are an easy target for the rich and powerful. The rationale given here for not robbing them is that Yahweh defends them. The oppression of the poor insults God, the Maker of both rich and poor. This proverb goes further, stating Yahweh will come to the defense of the impoverished and carry out justice for the oppressed. While quarrelsome people bring destruction, the greatest danger of associating with them is becoming like them. This threat of corruption is also a common theme in Egyptian wisdom literature. Faithlife Bible.

Most violations of justice target poor and afflicted people because they are weak and defenseless. But anyone who does this makes an enemy of God, who will plead their cause. NKJ Bible.

Proverbs 22:17–25 (NKJV)

¹⁷ Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,

And apply your heart to my knowledge;

¹⁸ For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;

Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

¹⁹ So that your trust may be in the Lord;

I have instructed you today, even you.

²⁰ Have I not written to you excellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

²¹ That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,

That you may answer words of truth

To those who send to you?

²² Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;

²³ For the Lord will plead their cause,

And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

²⁴ Make no friendship with an angry man,

And with a furious man do not go,

²⁵ Lest you learn his ways

And set a snare for your soul.

He will not stand before unknown men.

Exodus 23:6 (NKJV)

⁶ “You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his dispute.

Exodus 23:7 (NKJV)

⁷ Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.

Luke 12:1-7

Be honest and transparent. God already knows everything about you and loves you. You are important to Him. 

Trust God to accomplish what you cannot. 

Leaven serves as an apt metaphor to describe the widespread effects of the Pharisees’ hypocritical teachings and actions. The disciples must not fear their trials because God is watching over them. Faithlife Bible.

Practicing hypocrisy is senseless because eventually all deeds—both good and evil—will be exposed. God knows the most minute detail of what happens on earth. The copper coins mentioned were the smallest coin in circulation, worth about one-sixteenth of a basic day’s wage. NKJ Bible.

Luke 12:1–7 (NKJV)

12 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. ³ Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

⁴ “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

⁶ “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

John 15:13 (NKJV)

¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

John 15:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

1 Corinthians 14:27-28

Every gift is to be used for the glory of God. 

Speaking in tongues is a gift. It is nothing to do with our abilities but everything to do with the power of the Holy Spirit to use fallen man for His purposes. It is not a weapon but a means of praise to our Savior! Where it cannot be interpreted…use it quietly to speak of things beyond your understanding to honor your creator.

If each person brings to the meeting the special ability that God has given him or her, and if everything is done for edification, the church as a whole will benefit. NKJ BIble.

1 Corinthians 14:27–28 (NKJV)

²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.