The Simple Teachings of Jesus

Jesus had a knack for explaining the most important truths in a way that was easy to understand.

For example, take Matthew 7:13-14, from the well-known Sermon on the Mount.

 

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

To say that these two verses are “simple yet profound” is an understatement.

There are only two gates. One leads to destruction. The other leads to life.

There are only two roads. Likewise, one leads to hell. The other leads to heaven.

Right now, every person on this planet is on one of these two roads.

There are only two. Not three. Or thirty-three. Only two.

Most people are on the road that leads to destruction. Only a few are on the road that leads to life.

Which gate have you entered? Which road are you on?

This is a simple truth. Uncomplicated, unambiguous, as clear as day. It is so “black and white.”

In today’s world, it is controversial and politically incorrect to talk like this. Yet Jesus did it all the time. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Really? Many hear those words and say, “What could be more exclusive and intolerant and unloving than that?”

Yes, Jesus was “black and white” about our eternal destinies — like the cover of my new book, Why Bad People Go To Heaven and Good People Go To Hell.

Why Bad People Go To Heaven and Good People Go To Hell

This short 15-page book is now available for free in these eBook formats:

Amazon (Kindle)

Barnes & Noble (Nook)

PDF (Adobe Reader)

Here’s what readers are saying:

“Your book was very straightforward and to the point. Very soul searching. It truly made me rethink the way that I pray. To me the book makes you soul search yourself with truth.”
— Geri Evans

“Honestly I thought the book was amazing! I really know the Holy Spirit was guiding you with this.”
— Jen Pontoriero

“The book is a very good explanation of the passage in question and the summary at the end is excellent.”
— Eamonn Ryan

“You did your research well and bring to light certain facts that I did not know. It is worth teaching in our congregation. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, time and talents.”
— Hm Latchmenarine

Jesus had a lot to say about heaven, hell, and what happens when we die. Luke 18:9-14 contains Christ’s parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. In just a few sentences, He sheds divine light on who goes to paradise and who ends up in the lake of fire.

Be sure to get your copy today and find out why only bad people go to heaven and good people don’t.

And feel free to share this post with anyone you know who would benefit from learning what Jesus said about heaven and hell and who goes where when they die.

Should you read this eBook, would you please leave a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble? And feel free to send an email to GodWroteTheBook @ gmail.com with your thoughts or questions. I’d love to hear from you.

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Two Ways to Please God Today

Perhaps this may seem obvious, but the Bible is not silent about what it takes to please God.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-14, Paul tells us what he did to live a life that brings God pleasure. Here we read of what Paul and his companions (Silvanus and Timothy) did in Thessalonica that made God happy. Two themes stand out:

1. He spoke the Word of God

Note how often Paul mentions this simple act of verbally communicating God’s truth.

He declared the gospel (v. 3)
He made an appeal that contained no error, impurity, or deception (v. 3)
He spoke these words in order to please God rather than man (v. 4)
His speech contained no words of flattery (v. 5)
He shared the gospel (v. 8)
He proclaimed the gospel (v. 9)
He exhorted, encouraged, and charged the Thessalonians to live in a manner worthy of God (v. 12)

2. He lived a holy and righteous life

Likewise, the passage mentions Paul’s conduct repeatedly.

He was not motivated by greed (v. 5)
He did not seek glory from people (v. 6)
He made no demands of the people (v. 6)
He was gentle, like a mother caring for her children (v. 7)
He didn’t just share the gospel; he shared his very life with them (v. 8)
He worked day and night, to avoid being a burden to them (v. 9)
His conduct was holy, righteous, and blameless (v. 10)
He treated them like a father treats his children (v. 12)

Paul’s ministry was a ministry of both words and deeds. And what were the results?

Because the Thessalonians heard the Word, they received it and accepted it not as the word of men but as the Word of God (v. 13). They became true believers and were imitators of the first churches that were planted in Judea (v. 14). And all this happened while they suffered persecution from the Gentile non-believers (v. 14).

Here we have the model of a ministry that was empowered by God. Because Paul gave them the Word and his very life, God was pleased and lives were changed. Two thousand years later, may we follow the example of Paul and do the same in our homes and communities.

You need not be an apostle, or a close associate of an apostle, to have this type of ministry and this kind of life. In the New Testament, all believers are viewed as “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Questions for Reflection
1. What opportunities does God give you to speak His Word to people in your sphere of influence?  Make a list of all the individuals that you come into contact with regularly, even daily: family members, friends, co-workers, and other acquaintances.

2. What opportunities does God give you every day to do deeds of mercy for others? Again, you probably don’t have to look far.

3. Over the past year or so, how have you seen God at work in the lives of people you know? What role did you, and other believers with whom you associate, have in this work? Offer thanks and praise to God for this!

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How to Unlock the Rewards and Riches of the Bible

The internet never ceases to amaze me. The abundance of free Bible resources is remarkable.

Here are three articles that are brimming with sound instruction on how to spend more time in the Word while getting more out of your time in the Word.

It’s good to remember that time in the Word is time with King Jesus.

What could be a better way to spend our time?

Looking for motivation to read the Bible?

This short article is packed with powerful truth about the benefits of Bible reading – right from the Bible itself.

A Great Reward (by Tim Challies)
http://www.challies.com/articles/a-great-reward

Looking for easy-to-follow advice on how to read more of your Bible? 

Look no further than this gem:

Three Tips for Better Bible Reading (by Andy Naselli)
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/three-tips-for-better-bible-reading

Extremely practical. Includes links to free online resources that will help you implement these tips.

Looking for help to better understand what you read? 

If you apply the teaching of this article, by the grace of God you’ll be on your way.

Unlock the Riches of Scripture: How I Discover Meaning in the Bible (by John Piper)
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/unlock-the-riches-of-scripture

Have a grace-filled day, and if you find anything helpful in this post, please let me know by leaving a comment below.

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8,800 Bible Questions Answered

Each month I like to feature an online Bible study resource that I have used and can recommend.

Here’s a good one:

www.GotQuestions.org

Do you have a question about God, Jesus, the Bible, or theology? Do you need help understanding a Bible verse or passage? Are there any spiritual issues in your life for which you need advice or counsel?

Go to this website, type your Bible question into the search box, and you’ll find a well-written article on that topic.

There is also a nice index, in which all the questions are organized into 30 major categories and over 100 sub-categories.
https://www.gotquestions.org/content.html

And if you subscribe, you’ll get a weekly email with the “Question of the Week.”

Last week’s question was “Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?”

What a great question! You’ll find the answer here:
https://www.gotquestions.org/good-things-bad-people.html

The last time I checked, there are over 8,800 Bible questions answered on this website. Wow!

Do yourself a favor and take advantage of this valuable resource.

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Why Bad People Go to Heaven and Good People Go to Hell

The Bible has much to say about heaven, hell, and where people go when they die.

God wants us to know what happens to us at death. He has not left us in the dark on this.

Jesus spoke on this topic many times. On one occasion he told a short story about two men and the eternal destiny of each. You’ll find it in Luke 18:9-14.  Sometimes called “The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector,” it is yet another example of how Jesus could communicate volumes of life-changing truth in just a few sentences.

I have written a short (15-page) book that explains the meaning of this passage, entitled Why Bad People Go To Heaven and Good People Go To Hell. I’d like you to have a free copy. You can download it today in these eBook formats:

Amazon (Kindle)
https://www.amazon.com/People-Heaven-Good-Hell-Part-ebook/dp/B0CLLJPS3X

Barnes & Noble (Nook)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/why-bad-people-go-to-heaven-and-good-people-go-to-hell-wayne-davies/1144271910

PDF (Adobe Reader)
https://payhip.com/b/54GdA

As indicated, this book is only 15 pages and will probably take you less than an hour to read. It has been published as a Kindle “Short Read” in the 45-minute category. These Kindle Short Reads are quite popular these days. So I thought, why not write a book about one of the Bible’s most important topics that people can read in one sitting?

Enjoy!

 

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What the Bible Says About Work (Part 1)


The Bible is filled with verses about what God has done, is doing, and will do. This is a source of much comfort and encouragement to me.

We serve a God who is alive and active. He is the great Doer of great things. He is the ultimate Worker. Amen?

We don’t have to look far to see evidence of this. Creation abounds with the work of His hands. And if you are a true believer in Jesus, you only have to look at your own life to see His handiwork, “For we are his workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10).

God has been at work in your life since the day you first believed. What Paul said to the Philippians is also true of you and me. “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

This is great news! God is working in us, making us more like Jesus every day. Even on days when we don’t see it or are not aware of it, God is doing what only He can do – so that He is glorified through us. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Have you ever wondered how God does this work? It’s no secret. He has told us.

For example, how does God do His initial work of salvation in our hearts, granting us the gifts of faith, repentance, and eternal life? Peter answers this question succinctly: “You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).

Nobody becomes a born-again believer apart from the work of the Word. It doesn’t just “happen.” We come to Christ because God draws us to Jesus (John 6:44), and God does that drawing in conjunction with our hearing of His Word. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

Likewise, God’s ongoing work of sanctification is done by His Word. Paul told the Thessalonians “When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). I find it significant that the Bible not only says that God works through His Word (as in 1 Peter 1:23 above), but Scripture also says that it is the Word itself that works in us. What God does, the Word does. You can describe salvation and sanctification either way because these statements are interchangeable.

This is why Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

James makes this point, too. “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). Of course, God the Father is “our Savior” (Jude 25). He can rescue us from the penalty, power, and presence of sin. And Jesus came to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). And the Word, too, “is able to save your souls.”

What is the point of all these verses about the saving power of God’s Word? The Word of God is indispensable to both our salvation and our spiritual growth. Without it, we cannot experience the life of Christ-likeness that God wants us to have.

Oh, how precious is this Book! May we not take it for granted. May we treasure it, guard it, and love it because we know the unique role it has in our relationship with God. May we say with the psalmist, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103).

Questions for Further Reflection
1. What would your life be like today if you had never heard and believed the truth of God’s Word?
2. How have you tasted the sweetness of the Word lately? Take time today to offer praise and thanks to God for this!
3. What changes are needed in your life to cultivate a greater hunger for the Word?

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2-3).

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38 Free Christian Books

We are blessed to live in the age of technology.

God has provided a plethora of online resources, literally at our fingertips, to help us hear Him speak through His Word.

Good Bible teaching from godly Bible teachers is a wonderful blessing.

An ongoing feature of this blog is to highlight free online Bible resources. In a recent post I told you about Ligonier Ministries and their recent audio series on the fear of God.
https://godwrotethebook.com/what-the-bible-says-about-fear/

Today I’d like to tell you about R.C. Sproul’s series of 38 free Kindle eBooks, “Crucial Questions.”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q61X1VS

You’ll find topics like:
Can I Know God’s Will?
Can I Lose My Salvation?
What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?
Are These the Last Days?
Can I Be Sure I’m Saved?
Does God Control Everything?
How Should I Think About Money?
What Can I Do With My Guilt?
What Is Repentance?
What Is the Trinity?

And many more. Enjoy!

I have read many of these eBooks and I highly recommend them to you.

Each of these books is also available in paperback for $3.00.

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How to Benefit from the Thorns of Life

I love the Apostle Paul. He is one of my heroes. He wrote some great letters, didn’t he?

I’ve been reading 2 Corinthians this week. Paul had an up-and-down relationship with this church. That tension is seen throughout this letter, and it shows up again near the end. Paul is planning to visit them for the third time and is preparing himself and them for that encounter (see 12:14 and 13:1).

In verses 1-10 of chapter 12, he shares some thoughts about “visions and revelations” that he had. “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven . . . I know that this man was caught up into paradise . . . and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter” (v. 2-4).

He’s talking about himself here. And this is getting quite fascinating! Paul had a revelation of heaven, but we don’t get to hear the details. Rats! I was hoping that he’d give some great info on what it’s going to be like to be with Jesus.

Apparently, learning about heaven is not the point of this passage.

The reason for Paul’s story about the-vision-we-don’t-get-to-hear-about comes next (v. 7-10):

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God not only gave Paul these “visions and revelations,” but He also gave him “a thorn in the flesh” to “harass” him. Why would God do that? More on that shortly.

What was this “thorn”? We don’t know for sure. The best explanation I’ve heard (from a John MacArthur sermon) is that it was a demon because the Greek word for “messenger” can also be translated as “angel.” An “angel of Satan” sounds like a demon to me.

But that would mean that God sent a demon to bother Paul. Would God do something like that? Well, God allowed the devil himself to wreak havoc on Job. So I don’t have a problem with that interpretation. Other possibilities also make sense, such as a physical ailment.

While we can’t be certain about the nature of the thorn, we can be sure about God’s purposes through it.

PURPOSE #1: To humble Paul.
Paul is clear that God gave him the thorn “to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations.” God used the thorn to remove Paul’s pride.

PURPOSE #2: To increase Paul’s faith in God and His all-sufficient grace and power.
Paul asked God three times to remove the thorn. God answered that prayer with a resounding “No.” Instead, God gave Paul some of the most comforting words in the Bible: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

PURPOSE #3: To increase Paul’s contentment in difficult circumstances.
By trusting God to provide what he needed to endure the thorn and accept it as God’s will, Paul learned how to be content and to even “boast all the more gladly” in all kinds of tough times: “weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities” (for details on Paul’s trials, see 2 Corinthians 11:16-33).

PURPOSE #4: To glorify Christ.
Through it all, as Paul became more humble, dependent, and content, God was exalted because His grace and power were on display in Paul’s sanctification. Paul realized this and could proclaim the ultimate purpose of these afflictions: they were “for the sake of Christ.”

Can you relate to Paul’s situation?  Do you have any weaknesses? How about insults, hardships, persecutions, or calamities? We all have our share of difficulties. They are part of life.

I’ve been dealing with chronic neck and back pain for many years. The older I get, the worse it gets. I have asked God to heal me more than three times . . . more like 300 times. To no avail. I don’t like it and have days of frustration and self-pity, only to feel guilty about those negative emotions.

What God told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 is a source of much encouragement to me. I continue to pray for physical healing, but now I also pray for the healing of my heart, soul, and mind, that God would use the pain to reduce my pride, increase my faith in His grace and power, and make me content in this condition because I have God and He is enough for me. I hope that, like Paul, I can “boast” about this ailment and be able to sincerely say that my bad back is for my good because God is using it to make me more like Jesus.

May God teach us all how to be content in Him regardless of our circumstances.

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What the Bible Says about Fear

R.C. Sproul

God is so good, He has given us His precious Word. And He has also given us many godly men and women to teach His Word so we can better understand it and live it out.

We are blessed to live in an age of technology that provides abundant access to good Bible teaching.

One of my favorite online ministries is Ligonier.org. Here you’ll find hundreds of resources to help you dig deep into Scripture.

R.C. Sproul is the best-known Bible teacher at Ligonier. He is joined by other excellent teachers such as Steven Lawson, Stephen Nichols, and Michael Reeves.

Recently a 5-part series on The Fear of the Lord, presented by Michael Reeves, was released on Ligonier’s daily podcast, “Renewing Your Mind.”  I have always wanted a more complete understanding of this subject, and these audios did just that.

You can access them here:
https://renewingyourmind.org/archive

Each audio is about 25 minutes, and I recommend you listen to them in chronological order:

August 28, 2023
The Fear of the Lord (an interview with Michael Reeves that introduces the series)

August 29, 2023
Not All Fear Is the Same

August 30, 2023
A Dreadful Fear of God

August 31, 2023
A Delightful Fear of God

September 1, 2023
Benefits of the Fear of God

Michael Reeves

In these five teaching sessions, I was amazed at how much I learned. Dr. Reeves is a gifted explainer of God’s truth.

You can also access this series, and hundreds of other free Bible resources, through the Ligonier App, the most user-friendly app I have on my phone. I use it often. For details on the app, including a list of all the great resources, visit https://subsplash.com/ligonier/app

Enjoy! And if you find anything from Ligonier Ministries helpful to you, let me know by leaving a comment below.

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7 Ways to Keep Your Focus on Jesus

NOTE: This post is written by Heather Erdmann, author and Bible teacher. For more info about her ministry, visit www.GoodPortionPromises.com. And be sure to check out the free resources offered below.

 

As Christians, we know that Jesus is of supreme importance to us, both for this life and the next. Yet busy days and crowded schedules can make spending time with Him difficult to keep at the top of our priority list.

Jesus came to earth to do the will of the Father, so His highest priority was time in fellowship with Him. It was not something He tacked on to an already busy schedule–it was His lifeline! He considered it more important than anything else because this was where He got His “marching orders” for the day as He sought the Father’s will. It was where His strength was renewed after ministering to the needs of others, and where He was empowered to do battle against Satan and win! Here He received grace to love the unlovable and the power to do the impossible.

Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16) 

Spend some time looking up the prayer life of Jesus and be inspired and encouraged!

As believers, God created His children for a purpose. We can go to Him to seek His will, offer Him praise, ask Him to meet our needs, and just spend time enjoying being with Him in His presence. As we spend time in prayer and the Word, He gives us power and direction to better know and do His will. And, as we navigate this crazy world–we NEED His power and direction every day!

If Jesus needed daily time alone with the Father, how much more do we?! (I’m reminding myself of this as well!)

With that in mind, here are . . .

7 Ways to Keep Your Focus on Jesus throughout Your Day

  1. Before you get out of bed, thank Him for another day of life and ask Him what HIS plans are for you today.
  2. Pray over your food at every meal–thanking Him and asking Him to bless it.
  3. Spend time in His Word and prayer before you start your daily activities or work. (This may include getting up a little earlier if possible.)
  4. Meditate on a verse or passage throughout the day. (It helps to write it down and carry it along with you, or post it somewhere you can see it often.)
  5. Pray for “Divine Appointments” where you can share Jesus with those around you. Or pray for the people you are interacting with such as coworkers, your children, your spouse, employees at the store, etc.
  6. Listen to worship music whenever possible as you do your daily tasks. We are called to do everything as unto the Lord, and this is a great way to turn daily chores into an opportunity for praise!
  7. Close your day in prayer (and more Bible reading if possible.) Thank Him for the day and ask Him to protect you and those you love as you sleep.

What else would you add to this list? Feel free to leave a comment below with your suggestions, and let us know if any of this has been helpful to you!

And to access Heather’s free “5-Day Bible Study Tools VIDEO Challenge,” visit:
https://subscribepage.io/biblestudytoolsvideochallenge

Posted in Bible reading, Bible study, Jesus Christ, Prayer | Tagged | Leave a comment