Verse of the Day ▼ Devotions ▼ Search Home Verse Of The Day John 14:6 ◄ What Does John 14:6 Mean? ► Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6(NASB) Verse Thoughts “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'” WOW! What a statement! However, there is more truth packed into these few short words than is found in the combined libraries of humanity – and that is no emotional fantasy but a stark statement of factual reality. If, in love, we could but grasp, believe, and act on the deep significance of Christ’s simple, yet profound statement, our troubled hearts would be stilled, and our joy would be full. Jesus did not simply say He would show us the way, but that He IS The Way. He is the one and only way for fallen man to get to the Father. And the way Jesus had to travel to that pivotal point in the history of the world, was the way of the cross of Calvary, where His shed blood and selfless sacrifice, shattered the immovable barrier between sinful man and a holy God. Yes! Jesus IS the one and only Way – and it is non-negotiable! Jesus did not say He would tell us some truths, but that He IS incarnate Truth. He is the personification of truth. Everything that is not of Christ is a lie, a deception, a distortion of truth, a half-truth, or a partial truth. Without JESUS we do not know where to go. Without Jesus, we do not know what is the truth,  and without Jesus, there is no way to live life or to face death. Jesus is the eternal God. He is a life-giving Spirit. He is the Man Who willingly shed His own innocent blood as the full and final payment for the sin of the world – for without the shedding of blood there is NO redemption! He is the only MAN qualified to rise from the dead. The wages of SIN is death, but He was the SINLESS Man. Only Jesus was equipped to answer Thomas’ question, and tell His disciples, “I AM the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Jesus Christ is THE Way that leads to the Father. He is the Word Who spoke all things into existence, for God created the visible and invisible worlds with His spoken language. He sent the Word, made flesh, into the world, to redeem a fallen race of people, Whom He had made in His own image and likeness – a race that had fallen into rebellion and sin. Jesus not only points the way to our heavenly Father and our eternal home, but He is the Way, for salvation is not a state but a Person, and no one comes to the Father except by faith in the Son. Jesus Christ is THE Truth Who opens up our understanding of God and gives us knowledge of God – a truth that confounds the wisdom of man and a truth that silences all the presuppositions of prideful humanity. Jesus not only teaches the truth, but He is incarnate Truth. He is the personification of Truth – for truth can only be found in Christ, Who is the embodiment of all Truth. Jesus Christ is THE Life, Who breathes His own resurrected life into a fallen man, by faith. Every man is born spiritually dead in trespasses and sins and is incapable of saving himself or of communicating with a holy God. But Christ is the Source of all spiritual life and in Him is eternal life for all who trust in His redemptive work. It is through faith in Him that we are made a new creation in Christ. It is by faith in Him that we are in-dwelt by the Spirit of God Who enlivens us – body, soul, and spirit… in time and throughout eternity. Jesus is the way which every one of us must follow. Jesus is the truth in Whom we must believe. Jesus is the life in Whom we have our hope. And Jesus said – NO ONE comes to the Father but through Me. There is no other way to God; no other truth about God; and no other life apart from God. Christ’s claim is exclusive. The one and only way, truth, and life is JESUS. No other religion, no other faith, no other path, no other philosophy, and no other gospel leads the sinner to God the Father, tells the truth about Him, and gives us His eternal life – other than JESUS. And this is a non-negotiable fact. Jesus Christ is THE Way.  Jesus Christ is THE Truth.  Jesus Christ is THE Life. Let us ponder this magnificent truth and seek to grasp the enormity of what it means, for the one who is saved by grace through faith in Him. May the truth of this simple yet profound statement permeate to the very core of our being so that our troubled heart will be stilled and our joy will be full, and may we be willing to share the good news that Jesus Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life, with whomsoever the Lord may place in our path. My Prayer Loving Father, familiarity with Scripture has sometimes prevented me from seeing the astonishing truth behind so much of Your Word. Open my understanding to grasp, believe and act on these simple yet profound truths. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN. ◄ Previous: John 14:3 Next: John 14:9 ► Choose a Verse from John 14 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 Habakkuk 1:2 Proverbs 9:10 Matthew 6:11 1 Timothy 6:16 Follow us John 14:6 Further Study John 14:6 in the Parallel Bible John 14:6 in the Thematic Bible John 14:6 Cross References John 14:6 Treasury of Scripture Knowing John 14:6 Sermons John 14:6 Prayers John 14:6 Images John 14:6 Devotionals Choose Chapter Subscribe to the Verse of the day Today’s Devotionals Christ The Power Of God Proverbs 4:18 Romans 10:13 Prayer Preparation Prayer In The Father’s Honour Pray Without Ceasing – Study in Prayer (13) Behold The Lamb of God Doctrinal Statement / Privacy Policy / Use of Pictures / Donate / Contact Us © Copyright [2011 – 2020] Knowing-Jesus.com – All Rights Reserved

Verse of the Day ▼ Devotions ▼ Search Home Verse Of The Day 1 Corinthians 10:3 ◄ What Does 1 Corinthians 10:3 Mean? ► and all ate the same spiritual food; 1 Corinthians 10:3(NASB) Verse Thoughts The writers of the New Testament often made reference to Israel’s past history as an example of virtues to pursue or vices to avoid. Paul was only too aware of how quickly a religious-minded Jew can fall into legalism, or how easily Gentile believers can slip back into their former, pagan practices and absorb secular attitudes. And Paul used the history of the Jews to explain some important spiritual truths, that are relevant to all believers – past, present, and future. To prevent the Corinthians Christians from regressing into their former ways, Paul used Israel’s escape from Egypt, their wilderness wanderings, and their eventual entrance into the promised land, to teach believers how to live godly lives in Christ Jesus and keep themselves from falling into sin, idolatry, apathy, or rebellion.  He explained the spiritual significance of Israel’s escape from Egypt, and the wonderful things that took place when they trusted God and obeyed His commands. Paul tells us that ALL who were redeemed from Egypt ate of the manna – the supernatural food that God provided for them, and it represented Jesus – Who is our true, Spiritual Food… “they ALL ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them – and the rock was Christ.”   Israel were saved from Egypt, and their faith was reckoned as righteousness, and like all Old Testament saints, they looked forward to the One Who was to come – the Messiah of Israel; the Saviour of the world; the Lord Jesus Christ. Every part of the Mosaic Law and all prophetic writings pointed to Jesus, Who was to come and save them from their sin. He was the true spiritual food and the true spiritual drink for their soul – and for ours too. The sin of every Old Testament saint was temporarily covered by the shedding of innocent blood, as appointed by God, in the Mosaic feasts and sacrifices, UNTIL their true Lamb of God would come, and take away their sin – through the shedding of His own innocent blood. Just as Christians today look back to Christ’s finished work and are saved by faith in Him, so pre-cross believers looked forward to the coming Messiah, and their faith was credited as righteousness – they were saved by grace, through faith in the coming Lord Jesus Christ. Just as we remember Him as the Living Bread and Water of Life, so the spiritual sustenance Israel received in the wilderness represented Jesus, including the Water that flowed from the Rock and the Manna that came down from heaven. Paul reminded the Corinthians that ALL who escaped from Egypt ate the same spiritual food. They ALL drank of the same spiritual drink. They were all saved by grace through faith in God’s promised Messiah. The spiritual food that came down from heaven represented Israel’s coming Royal-Priest!. The Manna Israel ate in the wilderness, symbolised JESUS. Paul also made it clear that, despite being wonderfully redeemed from Egyptian slavery by God’s grace, through faith, that first generation of Israelites failed to become a sanctified people. They failed to mature spiritually. They failed to gain their promised rest by living the godly life for which they had been saved. Instead, of living a victorious life, an entire generation of God’s redeemed people lived a defeated life, as they meandered through the desert for 40 long years. The mighty miracles Israel experienced when they left Egypt with great plunder, crossed over the Red Sea, were protected by the Pillar of Cloud and watched the pursuing Egyptians being drowned beneath the waves, was Israel’s true ‘baptism’ into God’s eternal family. Every individual was saved by grace through faith in God’s Word… and so they were ALL fed with the same, supernatural, spiritual food. How sad that these redeemed people fell into sin, idolatry, apathy, carnality, and rebellion and how important that Christians learn from Israel’s failure, and do not end up as the redeemed of God, who remain in spiritual infancy, and live life, in utter defeat. Everyone who is saved by grace through faith in Christ’s finished work is given power from on high to live a victorious life. Every Christian is part of the new creation IN CHRIST, and we ALL have access to God’s sufficient grace through the power of the indwelling Spirit. We are ALL given everything we need for life and godliness through faith in Christ. Like Israel, we ALL have access to the living Head on Whom we feed by faith. We ALL eat of the same spiritual food, and drink of the same living water of life. Jesus, Himself, reminded us, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” Just as God was faithful to Israel, He is faithful to us today. May we learn the lessons of godly living, which are laid out in the Word of God, May we learn from Israel’s failure and feed on Him in our hearts by faith, with thanksgiving – as we die to self and life for Him. My Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus is the Living Bread and the Water of Life, Who renews my spirit, refreshes my soul, and restores to me the joy of my salvation. Help me to learn the lessons of life and living, that You would teach me through Israel’s lack, and I pray that I would grow in grace and mature in the faith for Your greater praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus’ name, AMEN. ◄ Previous: 1 Corinthians 10:2 Next: 1-Corinthians 10:11 ► Choose a Verse from 1 Corinthians 10 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233 Romans 6:20 Isaiah 40:29 Psalm 13:5 Galatians 1:9 Follow us 1 Corinthians 10:3 Further Study 1 Corinthians 10:3 in the Parallel Bible 1 Corinthians 10:3 in the Thematic Bible 1 Corinthians 10:3 Cross References 1 Corinthians 10:3 Treasury of Scripture Knowing 1 Corinthians 10:3 Sermons 1 Corinthians 10:3 Prayers 1 Corinthians 10:3 Images Choose Chapter Subscribe to the Verse of the day Today’s Devotionals Christ The Power Of God Proverbs 4:18 Romans 10:13 Prayer Preparation Prayer In The Father’s Honour Pray Without Ceasing – Study in Prayer (13) Behold The Lamb of God Doctrinal Statement / Privacy Policy / Use of Pictures / Donate / Contact Us © Copyright [2011 – 2020] Knowing-Jesus.com – All Rights Reserved ×

Verse of the Day ▼ Devotions ▼ Search Home Verse Of The Day 1 Thessalonians 5:10 ◄ What Does 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Mean? ► who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:10(NASB) Verse Thoughts There is no solitary place to which we can go, nor a single state in which we find ourselves, that is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. He died that we could be united to Him by faith, and live together with Him, forever. This extraordinary knowledge is beyond our understanding. This truth is so majestic that we are unable to fathom it, in our limited comprehension. Clearly, the wages of sin is death, and assuredly, we are all sinners deserving of God’s terrible punishment. But when we trusted Christ as Saviour, His sacrificial death redeemed us from the many consequences of sin, death, hell, and eternal separation from the Father. What assurance to know that Christ died for us, “so that whether we wake or sleep, we will live together with Him.” What a joy to know that whether we are alive at the Rapture or our bodies are resting in the grave we can proclaim, in ecstatic unison, “Oh death, where is your sting! – Oh grave, where is your victory!”  Familiarity with this biblical passage must never diminish the lofty splendour of this magnificent truth – that, whether we are awake or in the grave, we will live together with Jesus, eternally. This is one of a myriad of verses that proclaims the veracity of the eternal security of the child of God. This is the unshakable hope we have in Christ, that began the moment we believed; and is an everlasting assurance that continues forever throughout the eternity of eternities. Before our salvation, we were under God’s wrath and eternal punishment, but having been saved through faith in Christ, we are no longer destined for God’s wrath, because Christ took the punishment we deserved. We have been given salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ and we have been promised that we will live together with Him, in resurrected bodies, through the Millennial age and throughout the eternal state. We have a God-given promise that no matter what happens during our waking consciousness or our sleeping moments we are kept safe in His hands, through time, and will live together with Him – in the eternal ages to come – for we are in Christ and Christ is in God – and He has promised that nothing and no-one can pluck us from His hands. Death, for the believer, is often referred to as “sleep”. Our physical death is that time in our life when our born-again spirit returns to God and when our eternal soul is separated from our physical body. The Bible tells us that the soul that sins shall die, but thanks be to God for we have been redeemed by the precious blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and have been united with Him forever. At salvation, we were positioned in Christ… and because we are in Him and are now part of His Body, death has lost its cruel sting and no longer can hold us in an icy grip around our throat. Because He lives we too shall live, and whether we live or die – whether we are awake or sleep, we have an assurance that Christ’s death and resurrection has secured for us eternal life – spirit, soul, and body.  Jesus died for us to pay the price for sin – BUT, He also rose again, so that whether we wake or sleep – whether we continue to live in this mortal realm or cast off this physical ‘tent’ when we die, we know that we will live together with Christ until the consummation of this Church age when we will be raised in an eternal and incorruptible body – for the rest of time (the Millennial kingdom) and for the eternal ages to come. Death holds no fear for the one who is IN Christ. When we breathe our final breath in this life, we simply transfer into the next – with Jesus, in heavenly places. What a glorious time awaits us, when our spirit and soul go to join the Lord in the heavenly realm, for to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord – “Who died for us, so that whether we are awake, (still living on earth) or asleep, (physically dead and buried in the ground) we will live together with Him,”- for we have an eternal hope in Christ and an inheritance – that is saved for us in heaven. NEVER forget that God has promised ALL His children that whether we are awake and facing the challenges of life, or experience the inevitable death of our physical bodies, our future with Him is secure. God has purposed that whether we live or die, our destiny is already written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We have an unbreakable guarantee, that the finished work of Calvary paid the price of our salvation in FULL – and God is satisfied in HIM. Sponsored by Advertising Partner Sponsored Video Watch to learn more My Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You that my life is hid with Christ, and that His finished work is accepted by You on my behalf. Thank You for the assurance that throughout the challenges I face in the daily and nightly round of life, You are with me and dwelling in me. Thank You that even if I am required to face physical death, Your promise remains firm, that I will one day live together with Christ in an indestructible body. Praise Your glorious name! AMEN. ◄ Previous: 1 Thessalonians 5:9 Next: 1-Thessalonians 5:11 ► Choose a Verse from 1 Thessalonians 5 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728 1 John 3:18 2 Thessalonians 1:9 Luke 3:7 Romans 1:12 Follow us 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Further Study 1 Thessalonians 5:10 in the Parallel Bible 1 Thessalonians 5:10 in the Thematic Bible 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Cross References 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Treasury of Scripture Knowing 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Sermons 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Prayers 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Images 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Devotionals Choose Chapter Subscribe to the Verse of the day Today’s Devotionals Continuing Thankful Prayer – Study in Prayer (12) Yet I Will Rejoice On To Maturity John 14:26 That Which Was From The Beginning Matthew 22:42 Prayer In The Father’s House Doctrinal Statement / Privacy Policy / Use of Pictures / Donate / Contact Us © Copyright [2011 – 2020] Knowing-Jesus.com – All Rights Reserved

URGENT: We Need Your Help to Provide a Bible for a Service Member or Veteran! Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! How Is “All of Scripture God-Breathed”? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / How Is “All of Scripture God-Breathed”? Meg Bucher | Writer and Author Friday, July 31, 2020 Share Tweet Save “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Paul’s popularly quoted verse definitively states God is the Author of all Scripture. Though penned by men, it is divinely inspired, or, God-breathed. Since humans are imperfect by nature, we can conclude not all of Scripture is a direct quote from God, though many divine revelations in the pages of the Bible are. The historical accuracy of the Bible sets it apart from other stories and wisdom passed down through generations. “We have access to knowledge that is unshakeable true and infinitely valuable,” John Piper wrote on the topic. “All Scripture is God-breathed,” also explains the alive and active Word of God. Meaning, we can study Scripture today and still find it relevant to our daily lives. God moves in and through His Word, guiding, counseling, connecting to and comforting us through its ancient pages. What Does “All Scripture Is God breathed” Mean? “All Scripture is God breathed” describes the Bible’s nature as God’s literal word, given to men by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This divine inspiration is the supernatural work of God’s Holy Spirit. The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible further explains, “This doctrine does not downplay human action in Scripture’s authorship but affirms Scripture’s ultimate origin in God, who gave it.” Our God is the same yesterday, today, and eternally. He is supernaturally able to take the truth we find in Scripture and communicate with us relationally through it. The NIV Study Bible explains, “Although the Bible doesn’t spell out the mechanics of how God inspired the writers, it makes clear that the ultimate source was God himself.” Verse 17 further explains why God would continue to choose to communicate through an ancient text to His people today: “so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This important notion explains the root of all goodness, even through the workings of our daily lives. All the good we do is rooted in the Lord, and it is He, in Christ, who equips us for every good work. “The Greek word translated as ‘breathed out’ in 2 Timothy 3:16 … is the only thing described as such by the Apostles,” explains Ligonier Ministries. “It uniquely serves as God’s special revelation, as His inspired and revealed will for His people.” What Is Happening in 2 Timothy 3? The Old and New Testaments were being composed during Paul’s time, explains the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible. Peter wrote, “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.” There is consistent acknowledgement throughout the Old and New Testaments that the words the authors penned came divinely and supernaturally from the Author. “He writes the same way in all his letters,” Peter continued, “speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15-16). Timothy was like family to Paul, who authored two letters (1 Timothy and 2 Timothy) to his brother in Christ. During Paul and Timothy’s time, what it truly meant to be a Christ follower was often twisted and/or misinterpreted by surrounding influencers. Paul wrote to encourage and reinforce the root of their confidence in Christ. He affirmed that the prose of his letters was divinely inspired by God and essential for daily living in alignment with His will. It was important then, and now, for us to remember that Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament Scriptures, not replace them. Even today, the world is confusing. If we base our lives off news reports, or what other influencers say, we can by swayed from the solid foundation of our faith and distracted by half-truths and opinions. Scripture is our firm foundation. Living within the New Testament covenant, we have the aid of the Holy Spirit, present in every believer through Christ, in interpreting and understanding God’s Word as He convicts, encourages and communicates to us through it. We can trust, rely, and live by the wisdom God provides for us through the Bible. Every explanation we receive of Scripture should be prayerfully and diligently confirmed with the actual Scriptures. Photo credit: Unsplash/Ben White Do Different Translations Change the Wording of This Verse? Different translations, and even paraphrases, of the Bible can help us to understand God’s word by changing the wording, but we should be wary lest the meaning of the text seems to change. We can assure we’re interpreting Scripture the right way by finding the root of the original language used to pen the pages of Scripture, easily accessible through study Bibles and commentaries. The New International Version, which I quoted at the beginning of this article, is a popular translation of the Bible. The following translations are also popularly quoted versions of the same Scriptural truths: The English Standard Version of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” The Amplified Bible: “All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The New English Translation: “Every Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” And finally, a paraphrase, from The Message: “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” A wise pastor once counseled me to go directly to Scripture, considering multiple voices describe the same Biblical text, not just one interpretation. We are all prone to human error, so following any one person’s preaching more than we are seeking Christ for ourselves isn’t healthy. There will continue to be many false and deceitful prophets claiming to understand the Bible. It won’t always be easy to pick them out of a crowd. When we study God’s Word for ourselves daily and prayerfully, and listen to many educated voices of mentors, pastors and Biblical scholars, it helps us to discern the truth of God’s Truth. What Is Scripture Useful for and Why? “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). It was important to Paul that Timothy (and now we, today) understand Scripture wasn’t just “inspired” by God, but “breathed” by God, “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (NIV Study Bible). God has purposed our lives to bring glory and honor to His name. When Jesus came to earth and willingly took on our sin at His crucifixion, our spiritual lives forever changed. In Christ, we come directly to the Father in prayer, and through His Word. Through His Holy Spirit, we contain a supernatural power to live out the attributes Paul penned to the Galatians: love, joy, peace, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24-25). The very Spirit of the Living God lives in everyone who believes in and accepts Jesus Christ as Savior. Our salvation unlocks the supernatural, “God-breathed” elements of Scripture: not just to interpret it historically, but to embrace its application in our everyday lives. The Holy Spirit not only translates what we cannot put into words in prayer to God, but also allows us to discern God’s Word as we daily read and study it. Because we are all human, we are wise to be wary of the tendency to apply God’s Word to what we want to hear instead of allowing our hearts to be softened, convicted, and repentant. “Everything good that God expects us to do,” explains John Piper, “the Scriptures equip us to do.” Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Aldo Murillo Can We Trust ALL of Scripture? All of Scripture can be trusted if we approach God’s Word with wisdom and humility. This submission requires us to pursue the study of God’s Word daily in order to properly understand what God is saying and how it relates to our lives. For example, it may be ineffective to grab a quote from the Bible that sounds inspirational without studying the context of the entire paragraph, chapter, or book of Scripture. Seek to understand who penned the Bible, what was happening during that time, and look up what the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) words mean to better understand Scripture. We can trust all of Scripture when we diligently and prayerfully study it, in Christ. The Holy Spirit, present in every Christ follower, aids in this process. Many study guides, study Bibles, Biblical commentaries, and voices of credible pastors and Biblical scholars are placed within reach to help us interpret God’s Word correctly. Still, even the most educated are prone to human error. Prayerfully, we can seek God’s counsel to find our way to His truth. Scripture Is Reliable, Relatable, Relevant Scripture and prayer are costly lifelines we’ve been given to our Heavenly Father. Christ Jesus, our Savior and Messiah, came to fulfill God’s Word. John reminds us He is the Word (John 1:1). His sacrifice on the cross broke the chain of sin on our lives. We no longer have to be slaves to sin, but can live free lives in truth! This is a freedom that can never be stripped from us, by anyone or anything. “Scripture is God-breathed; however, faith serves as an essential component of our understanding of God’s inspired revelation in the Bible” (compellingtruth.org). The key to living in freedom lies in prayer and daily study of God’s Word. Life is not a sum of coincidences, but a purposeful existence set in motion by our omnipotent and sovereign God. He is in control, all-knowing, and compassionate, surrounding us with people, creation, and access to Him via prayer and His word. He seeks a relationship with us. Scripture is reliable, relatable, and relevant because it is God breathed. Photo credit: Unsplash/Nathan Dumlao Meg writes about everyday life within the love of Christ as an author, freelance writer, and blogger at Sunny&80. Her first book, “Friends with Everyone,”  is available on amazon.com. She earned a Marketing/PR degree from Ashland University but stepped out of the business world to stay at home and raise her two daughters. Besides writing, she leads a Bible Study for Women and serves as a Youth Ministry leader in her community. She lives in Northern Ohio with her husband, Jim, and two daughters. Promoted Stories Ads by Revcontent Do You Know Signs of Schizophrenia? 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What Does the Bible Say About Proper Dress?

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does the Bible have a dress code?
• Is it OK to wear shorts to church?
• Should women wear pants to church?
• What about hats and veils?
• Is it a sin for a woman to wear pants?
• What is proper to wear to church?

Background^1,2

The clothing worn in Biblical times was very different from what we wear today. Both men and women wore a loose, woolen, robe-like cloak or mantle as an outer garment. It was fastened at the waist with a belt or sash. A tunic or coat, a long piece of cloth, leather or haircloth with holes for arms and head, was worn under the cloak. Sandals were worn on the feet.

The difference between men’s and women’s clothing was small but distinctive. In addition, men often wore a turban to confine their hair, and women of some cultures wore a veil.

Old Testament

Cross-Dressing

The book of Deuteronomy has a prohibition against dressing in clothing of the opposite sex:

A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this. (NIV, Deuteronomy 22:5)

No one knows for sure whether this prohibition was intended as a general principle or was directed at some specific abuse among the ancient Hebrews. Cross-dressing was likely considered an affront to the natural distinction between the sexes (Genesis 1:27). It may also have been related to some deviant sexual practice, or more likely, to pagan worship. It is known that some pagan rituals of that time involved women wearing armor and men dressing as women, and the Hebrews were forbidden to do anything that had even the appearance of pagan worship.

Some people think this verse would prohibit women from wearing pants because pants have traditionally been worn by men. But, in light of the similarity of men’s and women’s clothing in Biblical times and the fact that pants were not worn by either sex at that time, that conclusion would be difficult to justify.

Mixed Materials

There was also a prohibition against wearing clothes woven of wool and linen together:

Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together. (NIV, Deuteronomy 22:11)

Again, no one is sure why this would be wrong. It may have been to avoid mixing things that God has created separately (Deuteronomy 22:9-11, Leviticus 19:19). Or, these mixtures may have been related to some idolatrous practice that the Hebrews were forbidden to imitate.

Old Testament Rules Superseded

It should be noted that the New Covenant initiated by Jesus supersedes Old Testament Law for Christians and frees us from strict observance of Old Testament rules. (Romans 8:1-2, 1 Corinthians 9:20-21, Galatians 5:13-14, James 2:8).

Related article: What Does the Bible Say About the Old Testament Law?

New Testament

Proper Dress for Women

Two passages in the New Testament concern proper dress for women:

I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. (NIV, 1 Timothy 2:9-10)

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. (NIV, 1 Peter 3:2-5)

Many of the New Testament letters address specific abuses that occurred in the early Christian communities, and that may be the case here. Jesus had defied the standards of first-century male-dominated society by treating women as equals. Paul had declared all people equal in the family of God (Galatians 3:26-29). Many Bible scholars believe some women in the church had carried their “liberation” too far and adopted offensive styles of dress. Church leaders were anxious to avoid any hint of scandal in the churches, and these passages served that purpose.

Both of these passages also make the point that a person’s true beauty comes from within and is properly expressed by good deeds rather than showy clothing and jewelry.

A few Christians interpret these passages as a requiring women to dress very plainly and refrain from wearing jewelry or using makeup. But most Christians believe the advice is simply to dress modestly and in good taste, according to the standards of the society they live in.

Proper Headwear for Worship

In his letters to the church at Corinth, Paul responded to a number of questions the Corinthian Christians had asked him (1 Corinthians 7:1). One of those questions involved proper headwear during worship services. No one knows what the exact question was or what situation prompted it, but Paul gave this reply:

Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head disgraces his head, but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her head–it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man. (NRSV, 1 Corinthians 11:4-7)

In first century culture, it was considered a mark of respect for a man to remove his turban in the presence of a superior. Similarly, a man should remove his head covering when he came into God’s presence in prayer. Additionally, it was the custom of pagan men to cover themselves while praying, so as to avoid distractions. Thus, men should remove their head coverings to avoid any association with paganism.

Jewish women did not normally wear veils, but reputable Greek and Roman women did. A woman’s veil was a symbol of her modesty and respect for her husband. For a Corinthian woman to remove her veil in public would have been an insult to her husband and an affront to the Greek/Roman society in which she lived. Paul strongly discouraged any such rebellion or hint of scandal within the churches. In addition, some pagan priestesses removed their veils and wore their hair disheveled when prophesying. Thus, women should remain veiled while praying or prophesying to avoid any association with paganism.

It must have been a great disgrace for a woman to shave her head. So, Paul made the comparison that removing one’s veil while praying or prophesying would be an equally great disgrace.

Partiality, Discrimination

Questions of proper dress for church may reflect a somewhat elitist attitude in affluent modern society. In Biblical times most people were laborers or farmers and could not afford fine clothing. They wore the same dirty clothing to church services that they wore to work because that is all they had. However, it is wrong to discriminate against people because of their status or clothing (James 2:1-9, 1 Corinthians 11:20-22, Galatians 3:28).

How Should One Dress for Church?

The Bible’s teachings about dress cannot be applied directly to today’s situation. Attending church in biblical-era clothing: a cloak, tunic, sandals and a turban or veil, would cause quite a disruption in most churches! But the general principles of modesty and propriety can be applied. Standards of dress are different from church to church and change over time, but we should avoid any style of dress that sends a message opposing the church community’s values.

¹ Herbert Lockyer, Sr., ed., Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986.
² Merrill F. Unger, The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Moody Press, 1988.

What Does The Bible Say About Doctrine?

        Praise The Lord Saints!!  Praise The Lord!!  How are all of you doing today?  Fine, I hope.  What does the Bible say about the word doctrine?  What is an example of doctrine? An example of doctrine is the Truman Doctrine that said the US would work to contain the Soviet Union. Doctrine is defined as a principle or group of principles which are taught by a religion or political party. An example of doctrine is the teaching of the Ten Commandments in Christianity. 

Doctrine (from Latin: doctrina, meaning “teaching” or “instruction”) is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the essence of teachings in a given branch of knowledge or in a belief system. The etymological Greek analogue is “catechism”.  What is the true doctrine?

Celsus’s own beliefs, the “true doctrine” referenced in his title, is that of Platonism which from a modern materialist perspective has its own issues of supernatural and thus unproved claims and assumptions. Yet this Platonism is not central to his critique of early Christianity.

Doctrine. … Doctrine (from Latin: doctrina, meaning “teaching”, “instruction” or “doctrine”) is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the essence of teachings in a given branch of knowledge or in a belief system.

This doctrine states that there is one God, a singular divine Spirit, who manifests himself in many ways, including as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This stands in sharp contrast to the doctrine of three distinct and eternal persons posited by Trinitarian theology.

Celsus

Celsus was either a Greek or a Roman who wrote during the latter half of the 2nd century AD. Very little is known about his origins or life. The work in its original form has been lost and the True Word survives only as excerpts from a work by the Christian scholar Origen, who quoted Celsus to rebut him.

What is sound doctrine KJV?

The term is found only once in the Bible, in 2 Timothy 4. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. — 2 Timothy 4:3-4 KJV.

Where does the Trinity doctrine come from?

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (Latin: Trinitas, lit. ‘triad’, from Latin: trinus “threefold”) holds that God is one God, but three coeternal consubstantial persons or hypostases—the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit—as “one God in three Divine persons”.

Did the early church fathers believe in the Trinity?

Whether the earliest Church Fathers believed in the Trinity is a subject for debate. Some of the evidence used to support an early belief in the Trinity are triadic statements (referring to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) from the New Testament and the Church Fathers.

Matthew 10:36 and How it Pertains to All People!!

By: Anthony Joseph Hopkins January 31, 2020

        Praise The Lord Saints!! Praise The Lord!! How are all of you doing tonight?  Fine, I hope.  I would like to start things off by asking everyone a very important question.  What does Matthew 10:36 really mean to all of us?  The answer is simple.  A Man’s enemies will be those of his own household.  What is the definition of the word foe?  A foe is a chief or principle enemy.  This can become in a form of principalities, powers, and demonic spirits. 

Therefore, I want to inform all of you that I am powerless over people, places, and things.  However, when it comes to the institution of the family, things can breakdown very easily.  There can be disagreements over comments and other issues.  It is that the very first family in the Bible was Adam and Eve.  They had two children named Cain and Abel.  I am focusing on these two individuals because God favored one over the other.  Eventually, Cain killed Abel over the simple fact that Abel was favored by God. 

Next, I want to inform all of you that in my family, I had 5 brothers and 3 sisters.  My mother had me out of wedlock.     I am saying this because my siblings and I do not get along with each other.  I want to say that it is not very easy to have brothers and sisters by different parents.  My Father’s name is Joseph Webb.  He was married at the time that I was conceived.  My mother made a conscious decision to take me to my grandmother’s house because she suffered from Post-Partum Depression.  I ended up staying with my grandparents for the first seven years of my life.

Further, I can relate with this Bible verse because all of our hairs on top of our head are all numbered.  When it comes to the subject at hand, I was subjected to having my name changed to Anthony Joseph Russell.  This is simply because my mother got married as soon as my sister was born.  My mother did this out of false pretense.  I did not understand why my mother had changed my name just to affiliate with a man.  That does not make any sense.  To me personally, I attended Edison Elementary School in Dayton, Ohio from 1971 -1976.  My mother changed my name to appease her husband Mr. Willie Andrew Russell Sr.

Moreover, I want to inform all of you that my mother had 8 consecutive children by Willie Andrew Russell Sr. This has taken place from 1967 to 1980.  I am simply saying all of this because this man tried his best to kill me by putting my head inside of a very hot stove back on May 30, 1972.  I will admit that I was staying with my mother at the time.  I came home from school hungry and I decided to get something to eat.  This man grabbed me and slapped me a few times on my face.  He put my head inside of a hot stove because he did not know how to properly discipline children.  He was not my father in the first place. 

In Addition, I want to say that this man was very abusive both physically and verbally.  My mother shot him at the time because what he had done to me.  My half siblings and I really do not get along because we have never learned how to really relate well with one another.  I also will admit that I became the Man of The House at the time because my mother and stepfather used to leave the house for a long period of time.  I also understand that I am not supposed to say things that are against God in any way.  This means that God is taking an account of what we actually say out of our mouths.  We will be held accountable for our actions.

Finally, this is the reason why I do not believe in men and women having children out of wedlock to begin with.  Anytime that men and women get together, it is best to start things off by being friends; instead of having sex with each other.  This is simply because it makes things worse.  When it comes to Matthew 10:36, my own family members and I do not get along with each other.  I know that this pertains to those who live inside of our household.  I know that it is not very easy for me to really relate well with people who are very contentious.

In Conclusion, I know that when I was a child, I stayed with my grandparents for safety sake.  This is simply because I was around someone who really did not like me as a person.  My baby brothers and I relate a whole lot better than the middle children.  I can really say that: there is also a lot of division inside of all of the members of the family.  There is also a lot of use of vulgarity and a lack of love in the first place.  My family members tend to group with one another and forsake those who are older than them.

        In Summary, I want to inform all of you that I am in serious need of all of your prayers.  This is simply because there are members of my family, who are really against me personally.  Matthew 10:36 is very serious to me because I am not accustomed to drama.  I cannot stand anyone who goes against the truth.  I am not supposed to fellowship with darkness in any form.   

Even when it has a whole lot to do with this world.  Favoritism also exist in my own family.  This is a complete shame.  Favoritism also goes against God’s principles.  My family members really choose these things.  I am saying all of this because I am not used to this form of behavior.  Please pray for me and the rest of my family.  Thank You very much!!

Matthew 19:26 and what it mean to all people!!

          Good Day Everyone!! I would like to ask everyone a very important question.  What does this Bible verse Matthew 19:26 mean to all of you?  For me personally, I have to change my expectations and allow God to work things out for me.  Matthew 19:26 in the King James Version states 26.) But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

          Next, this means that I will have to deny myself and follow Him.  I say this because I am guilty of saying something is going to happen.  When it does not happen for me, this means that God did not want me to have anything at man’s convenience and expense.  It is the Lord who will provide.

 Matthew’s Bible verse is very interesting.  In actuality, it is Jesus who is talking to His disciples and letting them know that man cannot tell God what to do.  It is the Lord who will bless you when the time is right.  It does not mean that we have to stop having faith in God and obtain the things that we need on our own accord.  One of our biggest problems is that some of us do not have patience.  We have to exercise patience and self-control when it comes to maintaining good behavior inside of a changing society.

          Mark 9:23 King James Version indicates; 23.) Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  Mark’s gospel is different because Jesus is saying that as long as a person believe in Him; as well as have faith, all things are possible for him who believes.  However, the disciples were trying to cast out a mute spirit from a little boy, and they were not successful at casting the spirit out.  It was also the father of the little boy who had disbelieved.

          Further, he pleaded with Jesus to help him with his unbelief because Jesus had healed the unbelieving man’s son.  Jesus commanded the deaf and dumb spirit to leave the child.  In addition, Jesus stated that this type of spirit can come out by prayer and fasting.  Mark 9:23 goes hand in hand with Matthew 19:26 because it has a whole lot to do with our belief in Him.  Both of these Bible verses would give anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ to immediately believe.

          Also, I want to say that I believe in Jesus Christ even though I sin from time to time.  According to Romans 3:23; it says: For all have sinned and has fallen short of the glory of God.  I will always believe in God.  I would like for all of you to please pray for me because I suffer from multiple health problems.  Therefore, I am taking a total of 23 prescription medications on a daily basis.  I am a member of Fort McKinley United Methodist Church in Dayton, Ohio.

          Luke 18:27 in the King James Bible says: And he said: The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.  Honestly, Luke’s gospel Bible verse is different, but similar.  It is simply saying that with man, it is impossible, but it is definitely possible with God.  I am placing emphasis on these three Bible verses because I will admit that I am working the 12 Steps of recovery on a daily basis.  Do you know that the 12 Steps are inside of the Bible?

          In Summary, these three Bible verses should give anyone hope.  I will admit that I used to have an anger management problem for 8 years.  When I was living in Charlotte, NC; I used to attend a group called Double Trouble in Recovery.  This class was held on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:15pm.  It helped me to manage my troubled emotions because I also have a mental illness.

          Furthermore, I am trying to put things in perspective and allow God to work inside of me with the Holy Spirit.  I feel at this time that I am getting better at managing my behavior.  My belief in the Lord right now is very strong. 

          Finally, I can say that I read the Bible and pray every single day because it enables me to stay strong.  The Gospels that ar4e inside of the Bible helps everyone to read and listen to the verses.  Listen to yourself read out loud.  Please pray before you read the Bible.  Please ask God to talk to you.  My name is Anthony Hopkins and I love all of you.  I believe in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  God Bless all of you.  Remember to please pray for me.  Remember that the Lord will always make it possible for anyone to believe in Him.

Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! How Do I Repent? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / How Do I Repent? Share Tweet Save Clarence L. Haynes Jr. Monday, July 20, 2020 To repent or not to repent, that is the question. Well actually it’s not really the question because all of us at some point in life will have to repent. Since we all have to do it, I guess what really needs to be asked is how do I really repent? If you look in the dictionary it defines repenting as “feeling or expressing sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin.” While that is part of repentance the question remains – is there more to it? As you will discover from Scripture, repentance goes beyond just feeling bad. It must involve change – the type of change that influences how you think and ultimately how you act. Let’s look further. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Zbynek Pospisil What Does Repent Mean? A biblical definition of repenting means to change your mind or change your direction and move in a different direction. As you can see that is a little bit different than the common dictionary definition. While it may involve remorse or guilt because of your sin, it still goes a little further. The major difference between repentance and remorse is the source. Here’s what I mean. Remorse can happen not because you feel bad, but because you got caught. The remorse is a result of the consequence of the action, not because of a genuine desire to change it.  I was driving with my family to Niagara Falls and the speed limit on the road was 65. I was going a little bit faster than the speed limit, I was only doing 84 (in my math that’s a little bit). As I was cruising along on the highway I noticed a state trooper and before I could go back to the speed limit of 65 (like all good Christians do in those moments), he caught me with the radar. Eventually he pulled me over and gave me a ticket. When he pulled me over and gave me the ticket I felt remorse; I felt bad because I got caught and I knew this would mean a fine and possibly points on my license. I didn’t feel bad because I was speeding, I only felt bad when I got caught. This is not repentance. If I was really repenting I would have said before I got the ticket or got caught, this behavior needs to change. I therefore would have changed my mind about how I was driving and would have slowed down to the speed limit. This is repentance. If all you do is feel sorry after you have been caught in your sin, then that is not repentance. If repentance doesn’t move you to change your actions, then unfortunately you have not repented. This is a big part of what is involved in repentance and moves us closer to answering the question: how do I repent? Photo credit: Unsplash/Jim Wilson Where Does the Bible Talk about Repentance? The Bible talks a lot about repentance but I want to give you two examples, one from the Old Testament and one from the New. Old Testament “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). This is a very popular Scripture and it really defines what repentance is, even though it doesn’t use the word. There are four key words that really answer the question of how to repent. I will flush it all out later. For now, here are the four words: humble, pray, seek, turn. At this moment let’s just look at the last word, turn. Notice God says “turn from their wicked ways.” This is what repenting is. Notice he didn’t say to feel bad about your wicked ways (though you should) he said turn from them. There cannot be forgiveness of sin unless you have a sincere desire to turn from your sin. This does not mean that you won’t sin in that area again, it means you have a real desire not to. New Testament “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:5). Notice again something very interesting about repentance – it requires action. Notice what Jesus is saying here: Consider – Think about where you are and what you are doing. Repent – Ask for forgiveness and change your mind about what you are doing. Do – Don’t just change your mind, change your actions. (By the way, if you change your mind about what you are doing, your actions will follow.) Hopefully so far you have gathered that repentance is not a feeling, though it may start with one. Repentance is an action. A change of mind about what you are doing that will ultimately lead to asking for forgiveness and changing your actions. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/artisteer Why Is It so Important That I Repent? To understand why you need to repent, you must understand the impact of sin in your life. I want to consider sin from two perspectives, the perspective for the unbeliever and the perspective of the believer. For the unbeliever, repentance is needed to restore relationship. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, then your sin has put a separation between you and God. You cannot enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ until you first admit you are a sinner. You agree with God that you, just like every other person on this earth, has fallen short of what he requires. Once you acknowledge this and recognize your need for a savior, it opens the door for your relationship with God to be restored. For the believer, repentance is needed to restore fellowship. Once you have received Christ as your savior, your relationship with God is now intact. However what sin does is it puts a wall in the fellowship between you and God. Have you ever made a decision to sin? Have you ever ignored the conviction of the Holy Spirit to engage in activities that you knew were sinful? I know I have. After doing that what is the last thing you want to do? Spend time with God. You don’t want to pray, worship, read your bible, and you are definitely not going to be around other believers. In this instance, while you are still in relationship with God, your fellowship is broken. The only way to restore that fellowship is to repent and turn from your sin. Photo credit: Pexels/Nathan Cowley How Do I Repent? Now let’s get to the heart of the matter and answer the question how do I really repent? To do that let’s go back to our Scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Remember the four key words, humble, pray, seek, and turn. Within these words is the answer to the question how do I really repent? Humble – This means we have to get off our high horse and admit that we have sinned and have violated God’s standards or commands. If there is no humility, there will never be any repentance. In fact, if you believe you have never sinned, you are deceived. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Pray – It is in prayer that you confess your sins and ask God to forgive you. The beautiful thing about God’s love for you is this. If you ask him to forgive you, he will. Obviously there has to be a sincerity of heart, but God knows your heart so you can’t fool him anyway. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Seek – This is where you ask God for the power to help you so that you won’t do what you have done before. You want God’s forgiveness, but what you need moving forward is God’s strength to overcome sin. The good news is that he gives it to you in the person of the Holy Spirit. Because God’s Spirit dwells within you, sin does not have to rule over you. By seeking his face, you are allowing the Holy Spirit to have greater influence in your life which will lead to better decisions and strength to overcome the temptations of sin. “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves” (Galatians 5:16.) Turn – Finally we get back to the turning, which is the moving away from sin and going in a different direction. Thankfully as you live a life guided by the Holy Spirit he will help you to do this. Photo credit: Unsplash/Luis Alberto Sanchez Terrones How Many Times Should I Repent? A question that may pop into your mind is how often should you repent? When you sin and the Holy Spirit convicts you of that sin, you should repent. Remember as a Christian sin interrupts your fellowship with God, so repent and do it quickly to keep your fellowship intact. What happens however if you repent and you notice that you sin again? What should you do? The answer is the same, repent. The Bible says in Proverbs 24:16: “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.” You may sin again after repenting. You may even commit the same sin again after repenting. Regardless keep getting up and repenting of your sin. Understand this is not about giving you a license to sin where the attitude is “I can sin as much as I want, I just need to ask for forgiveness.” That is not repentance. Remember repentance requires a change of mind and actions. If your heart is sincere and you are walking with God and fall into sin, repent and keep walking with God.  However, if you find yourself struggling with a particular sin and you can’t seem to get freedom from it then you may need to get some help and accountability. This can come either through counseling, your pastor, leaders at your church or from another brother or sister in Christ. By the way if you need the help don’t be ashamed. These are some of the ways God helps you overcome. One of the biggest tricks and lies of the enemy is to tell you that you can’t share your struggle because people will condemn you. Unfortunately, there are some Christians and leaders who will condemn you and that’s a shame on them. If you really are struggling and want freedom, don’t let that stop you from asking for help. That’s why you are part of the body of Christ. You don’t have to go through your struggle alone. As you can see, the question of repentance is a very important question. As you walk with God you are going to make mistakes. You will sin. When that time comes, run to God and repent. He will not reject you and more importantly he will welcome you with open arms, because he was waiting for you to repent all along. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/sgolan20 Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, teacher, author and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He has spent more than 30 years serving the body of Christ in various capacities and has just released his first book, The Pursuit of Purpose. If you have ever struggled trying to find God’s will, this book will help you discover the different ways God leads you into his perfect will. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.  Promoted Stories Ads by Revcontent Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis You May Wish You Knew Sooner Arthritis | Sponsored Links How Dogs Cry for Help: 3 Warning Signs Your Dogs is Crying for Help Dr. Marty Doing This Melts Belly Fat So Crazily That Doctors Are Stunned! USA Healthy News What is Multiple Myeloma? See Signs & Symtpoms Myeloma | Sponsored Links People May Be Getting Rid of Their Phones for Voip Technology Providers VoIP | Sponsored Links Do You Know Signs of Schizophrenia? 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Verse of the Day ▼ Devotions ▼ Search Home Verse Of The Day Matthew 12:36 ◄ What Does Matthew 12:36 Mean? ► “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36(NASB) Verse Thoughts Jesus came to the lost sheep of the house of Israel as their long-awaited Messiah. He came to set up His kingdom, and like the prophets of old, He called on the people and the priests to.. “repent of your sin.” The people had fallen into apostasy and sin, and the entire nation had to repent collectively. Israel, as God’s firstborn, adopted son, had to turn back to the God of their forefathers and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ – His only begotten Son and anointed King, Who would become the ‘firstborn’ from the dead and Saviour of the world. Both priests and people had strayed far from God, and the depravity in their heart was manifested in the fruit they produced. They murdered John the Baptist, who was God’s voice in the wilderness, who came to prepare the way of the Lord. They knew that Jesus came from God, yet refused to come to Christ and acknowledge His message, His mission, and His ministry. They dismissed the prophesied signs and wonders He performed, that authenticated His Messianic claims, and they accused the Lord of the Sabbath of breaking their Sabbath laws, when He healed the sick on the Sabbath Day… and they even accused Him of blasphemy, because He called God, His Father. Despite the truth Christ taught and the warnings He gave, the Scribes and Pharisees finally went too far, by committing the unforgivable sin – they blasphemed the Holy Spirit, by calling Christ the son of the Devil. They called evil, good and good, evil. They accused Him of working through the power of Beelzebub and not through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. And so Christ gave a blistering response to these blind leaders of the blind: “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come” –  either in the dispensation of Law or the dispensation of the Church. No surprise that Christ referred to these Jewish leaders as ‘a brood of vipers’. Their accusation proved that the thoughts of their hearts were only evil continuously, for the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. While a good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. Jesus told them that on the day of judgment, people will have to account for every careless word they speak. “For by your words you will be justified and acquitted,” He told them, “and by your words, you will be judged and condemned.” Some people today worry that they have committed the unforgivable sin. They worry that they have said something that God will not forgive… and generally it is a sin that is personal to themselves. But no-one who believes that Jesus died for their sin, was buried, and rose again the third day could ever commit this unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit. However, it is a huge warning for all of us to guard the thoughts of our heart, which too often are manifest by the words that we speak. For unless the heart of man is being transformed into the likeness of Christ, by the daily renewing of our mind, through faith in Him,  a life can never be truly reformed. Oh, there are some good ‘actors’ that can manifest a form of godliness, through strict discipline, human programming, or legalistic behaviours, while denying the Lord Who bought them. Such people will bring on themselves swift destruction, for God knows the thoughts of the heart and the motives behind our words and actions. It is a very serious thing to challenge God and speak carelessly about the truth of the gospel and the things of God, and in the light of this warning we should all be careful of the thoughts we think, the words we say, and the motives that manipulate our speech and actions. Let us examine ourselves to see if we are walking in spirit and truth, growing in grace, and living a life that honours our heavenly Father. Let us reflect on the way we should conduct our lives from this day forward and consider what sort of people we ought to be – in all holy conduct and godliness. Sponsored by Advertising Partner Sponsored Video Watch to learn more My Prayer Heavenly Father, how quickly legalism and pride can stifle a heart that should be open to You in prayer and praise. How thought-provoking to realise that jealously and self-conceit can blind us to the truth of Who the Lord Jesus is and prevent us from giving Him the honour He deserves. Give me a teachable spirit and keep me from developing biased opinions that conflict with Your Word. Prevent pride and legalism from blinding my eyes to the goodness of God. Cleanse my heart, I pray, so that I speak and act wisely and produce in me good fruit and holy conduct. Forgive me for any idle words I have uttered indiscreetly, and may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be righteous before Your throne. This I ask in Jesus’ name, AMEN. ◄ Previous: Matthew 12:20 Next: Matthew 12:40 ► Choose a Verse from Matthew 12 1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950 2 Peter 3:13 Luke 5:31 John 8:21 1 Corinthians 15:17 Follow us Matthew 12:36 Further Study Matthew 12:36 in the Parallel Bible Matthew 12:36 in the Thematic Bible Matthew 12:36 Cross References Matthew 12:36 Treasury of Scripture Knowing Matthew 12:36 Sermons Matthew 12:36 Prayers Matthew 12:36 Images Choose Chapter Subscribe to the Verse of the day Today’s Devotionals Sacrificial Service Out From The Father 1 Corinthians 15:24 1 Thessalonians 5:25 Sanctification (part 2) Our Incomprehensible God – Character and Attributes of God (29) Bread of Life Doctrinal Statement / Privacy Policy / Use of Pictures / Donate / Contact Us © Copyright [2011 – 2020] Knowing-Jesus.com – All Rights Reserved