What Jesus Said About Heaven and Hell

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Wayne Davies

I have good news to share with you.

My latest book has been released on Amazon and is now available in Kindle, paperback, and audiobook formats.

The title is:

Why Bad People Go To Heaven
and Good People Go To Hell (Part 2):
An Explanation of Luke 7:36-50

 

Here’s what one reader says:

“I absolutely loved the book. God bless you for letting the Holy Spirit work through you on such an important topic. You made the concept so simple with specific examples of why a “good” person goes to hell and a “bad” person goes to Heaven. So many people claim faith but have “no love” for Jesus. I really liked the concept of “does the punishment fit the crime?” We deserve hell for sinning against the Holy One — a debt we can’t repay. I think a lot of people know (or think) they are saved so they don’t worry about hell but it’s important to save as many people as we can from hell because it is real.”
— Jen Pontoriero

This short book is Part 2 of the series, “What Jesus Said about Heaven and Hell.” Each book in the series takes a look at what Jesus said about our eternal destiny. Is there a more important topic than that?

The Son of God had much to say about heaven, hell, and who goes where. It was one of his favorite topics. And for good reason. He wants you to know where you will spend eternity.

In Luke 7:36-50 we find the Son of God having dinner with a Pharisee named Simon. Suddenly a “sinful woman” (probably a prostitute) enters the scene, comes up behind Jesus, wets his feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, and kisses his feet while anointing them with expensive ointment.

Simon is appalled at this display of affection. So Jesus rebukes the Pharisee and then proceeds to amaze everyone by saying to the woman, “Your sins have been forgiven.”

Incredible! How can this be? This book explains why. Read it and you’ll discover why Simon is a “good” man on his way to hell while the “bad” woman is a sinner on her way to heaven.

The Kindle version is free. Please take advantage of this introductory price and get your copy today!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CW1K34XN

More good news: The book is also available in paperback and audiobook.

TAKE NOTE: If you want the audiobook, be sure to “buy” the Kindle version first (for free), because if you own the Kindle version, Amazon then gives you a nice 60% discount on the audiobook.

TAKE ANOTHER NOTE: Part 1 of this series is also now available in audiobook, with the same great deal – the Kindle version is free, and the audiobook is 60% off for those who own the Kindle.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CLLJPS3X

Also, would you also help me out by leaving a review on Amazon? Customer reviews really help a book do well in the rankings, so thank you!

Most importantly, who do you know who needs to hear the Good News that Jesus provides eternal life to those who trust Him for the forgiveness of sins and salvation from hell?

Please share this blog post (or the links above) to anyone you know who would benefit from finding the answer to life’s most important question:

“What must I do to be saved?”

Posted in Evangelism, Free Books & Other Resources, Jesus Christ, Salvation, What the Bible Says | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

I Would Die for This Bible Verse

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Wayne Davies

I love the truth of God’s Word.

Here’s a verse I love so much, that I would die for it.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 ESV)

I believe that this verse teaches that Jesus Christ (the Word) always was, always is, and always will be God.

Stick a gun to my head and tell me to deny the deity of Christ, and I will tell you, “You’ll have to go ahead and kill me. Go ahead and make my day infinitely brighter because I refuse to recant my belief that Jesus is the eternal and almighty God — the Creator, Sustainer, and Lord of the universe.”

Yes, I would die for the truth of John 1:1. That would be a privilege.

I will also do whatever I can to tell others that Jesus is God.

I just spent the last eight months meeting with members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization, who came to my house last summer and offered to study the Bible with me in my house. I gladly accepted the invitation.

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in the deity of God the Father, but they deny the deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is a created being and therefore he is not God. And the Spirit is merely God’s active force in the world and not a person.

We met about 15 times, for 1-2 hours each session. We used their materials, and this provided ample opportunity to explain the Trinity to them. We discussed John 1:1-18, Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 1:1-13, and many other passages, in detail. I did my best to explain the deity of Christ and the Holy Spirit. They let me talk as much as I wanted, and to take them to as many passages as I wanted. They asked many questions and I was delighted to have this opportunity to explain my beliefs.

Unfortunately, it was all to no avail. They are resolute in their conviction that Jesus is a created being. He is Savior and King, but he’s not God. Their Bible (the New World Translation) has inaccurately translated many passages that teach the deity of Christ and the Spirit.

We never argued. They were polite and respectful of me, and vice versa. We agreed to disagree. After  eight months, they finally said, “Wayne, there’s no point continuing this study with you.”  The last few times we met, I verbalized what we knew was happening: “We don’t have the same God.”

I continue to pray for them. My heart aches for the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are so passionate about their beliefs. They are sincere and devout. But I believe their answer to the question “Who is Jesus?” is contrary to Scripture.

Like Paul, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness” (Romans 10:1-3).

I could go on and on about what God taught me through this experience. My understanding of the Trinity was taken to a new level. Explaining anything for 10+ hours will do that! My love for Jesus is greater. My desire to tell people who he is has become dramatically more intense.

Does it matter whether we believe that Jesus is God? Absolutely. Our eternal destiny depends on it. How we answer the question “Who is Jesus?” has everlasting consequences. The Apostle John made this clear in 1 John 4:15 and 1 John 5:12 –

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

And what is the meaning of the title “Son of God”? It means that Jesus is “equal with God,” as indicated in John 5:17-18 –

“But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is working until now, and I am working.’ This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”

To understand that Jesus claimed to be God is not rocket science. Even his enemies knew that’s what he meant.

Jesus’ claim to deity was the “crime” (blasphemy) for which the Sanhedrin demanded his crucifixion. Matthew 26:63-66 makes that clear:

“And the high priest said to him, ‘I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’  Then the high priest tore his robes and said, ‘He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?’ They answered, ‘He deserves death.’

If you’re unsure whether Jesus is God, here are some additional resources, so you can examine the Scriptures — “to see if these things be so” (Acts 17:11).

Short but Meaty Articles
Basic Bible Doctrine – Who Is Jesus?
https://godwrotethebook.com/169

Basic Bible Doctrine – Who Says Jesus Is God?
https://godwrotethebook.com/225

Basic Bible Doctrine – How Do We Know Jesus Is God?
https://godwrotethebook.com/227

For a Deeper Dive, Here’s an Excellent Book
The Forgotten Trinity, by James White
https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Trinity-James-R-White-ebook/dp/B00B0VMJC0

If you find anything in this post helpful, please leave a comment below. I welcome your feedback.

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8 Great Bible Verses about the Goodness of God

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Wayne Davies

God is great and God is good. Amen?

I like meditating on who God is – his holy character and his many amazing attributes. The goodness of God is mentioned repeatedly in the Psalms. Here are eight great passages that extol our Lord for his goodness, along with a few comments to stimulate your gratitude and worship.

Psalm 13:5-6
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

1) v. 6 — God’s goodness is reason to praise God. “For” means “because.” I will sing the Lord’s praise because of his goodness.
2) v. 6 — God’s goodness is personal. He has been good to me.
3) v. 5 —  God’s goodness to me is closely related to his unfailing love for me.
4) v. 5 —  God’s goodness is closely related to his salvation. His salvation is one of the many ways he demonstrates his goodness to me.


Psalm 23:6
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

1) Again, God’s goodness and love are closely related.
2) I can depend on God’s goodness and love every day – all the days of my life, I will experience the goodness of God. That includes all those “bad” days, when “bad” things happen.
3) The goodness of God has a future aspect. God has promised his goodness to me today, tomorrow, and forever. God has promised to be good to me forever; this future aspect of his goodness means I can be optimistic about the future; my best days are yet to come. He demonstrates his goodness with this promise: I will live with him forever! God demonstrates his goodness by telling me that my eternal destiny is to be in his comforting presence, “in the house of the Lord,” forever, i.e. trillions of years.


Psalm 25:7
Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.

1) God’s goodness is again related to his love. Because God is good, he will not “remember” my sins and my rebellious ways – i.e. he treats me as if I had never sinned; that’s amazing grace in action. Because he has forgiven me, it’s as if he has “forgotten” all my sins – he does not hold them against me today, nor will he do so on Judgment Day.


Psalm 25:8
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

1) There’s a relationship between God’s goodness and his uprightness. He is good = He is always right and always does the right thing. His goodness is related to His righteousness/moral perfection/holiness.
2) God demonstrates his goodness by teaching sinners how to live a righteous life — how to live a life of moral purity, how to do the right thing, how to be more like Jesus.


Psalm 27:13
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

1) Again, God’s goodness has a future aspect: I will experience God’s goodness today, tomorrow, and forever.


Psalm 31:19
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.

1) God provides good things for his people. These good things are gifts; they are demonstrations of grace and mercy. We do not deserve or earn them; he bestows them freely, simply because he chose to do so.
2) There are many of these good things! There is an abundance of them!
3) There are so many of these gifts, God stores them up for us. He doesn’t give them to us all at once. There is an unlimited supply available, to be distributed according to God’s timetable, at his discretion, when he deems it best.
4) These gifts are easily identifiable. They can be seen and received by everyone – like the sunshine and the rain, per Matthew 5:45.


Psalm 34:8-10
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

1) The goodness of God can and should be experienced personally. Like food, it can be tasted. Like the sunset, it can be seen. It is real. If I am not experiencing God’s goodness, it’s my fault, not God’s. If I do not taste and see the goodness of God, I’m like the blind referee who is missing a good game.
2) God’s goodness means he will meet all my needs (not wants). Because God is good, I will never lack anything that I need.
3) God’s goodness is demonstrated to all people, believers and nonbelievers alike (again, per Matthew 5:45). At the same time, God’s goodness comes in special ways to believers. Note the repeated references to the people of God as the recipients of the goodness of God: “the one who takes refuge in him . . . his holy people . . . those who fear him . . . those who seek the Lord.”


Psalm 52:9
For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

1) God’s goodness is demonstrated through God’s actions on behalf of his people. How do I know God is good? Look at “what he has done” to see the evidence.
2) God’s goodness provides ample reason to praise, thank, and worship God. No matter what happens, the believer never has a valid excuse for not exalting God for his goodness.
3) God’s goodness is the basis of our hope. Our future is secure because “your name is good.”

Enjoy your day, and the rest of your life, because God is good!

Posted in Attributes of God, Thoughts About God, Thoughts on the Psalms | Tagged , | Leave a comment

What the Bible Says about the Hands of Jesus (Thoughts on Psalm 24:1-2)

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Here’s a passage to ponder today:
Psalm 24:1-2.

“The earth is the LORD’s,
and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.”

David begins Psalm 24 with the staggering truth that God is both Owner and Creator of everything and everyone.

In light of those verses, here are a couple of questions to answer:
1) What effect does this truth have on you today?
2) What difference has it made in your life?

Here are my thoughts, along with additional instruction from God’s infallible Word.

The simple fact that God made planet Earth is mind-blowing. And what the Old Testament ascribes to God the Father, the New Testament credits to God the Son:

“All things were made through him (Jesus), and without him (Jesus) was not anything made that has been made.”
John 1:3

“For by him (Jesus) all things were created, in heaven and on earth”
Colossians 1:16

“But of the Son he says . . . You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands”
Hebrews 1:8, 10

What a thought! Take a look around today. The sky and the clouds, the mountains and the valleys — Jesus Christ made it all. Everything in creation is the work of his hands.

And he made me and you, too.

“Your hands have made and fashioned me”
Psalm 119:73

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made”
Psalm 139:13-14

Since God made everything and everyone, that means he made me and he owns me. I am not my own. I belong to him. And therefore, I am not the master of my fate and the captain of my soul. Jesus is.

This idea is radically different from what I believed as a young person, when I embraced the mantra, “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” Is there any truth to that statement? In one sense, sure. I make decisions every day. I select what clothes to wear and what food to eat, along with thousands of other choices – choices for which I will be held accountable on Judgment Day when I will give account “for every careless word”(Matthew 12:36).

But ultimately, who is in control of my life? I do this and I do that. Meanwhile, what is my Creator doing, while I’m doing what I’m doing?

According to Romans 8:28, he is doing what only he can do: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Today, I will do many things — some sinful, and by God’s grace, some good. And if my main goal is to love God with all that I am and my primary objective is to glorify him through what I say, do, and think, he is at work for my good. That is incredible! That is breathtaking! It staggers my imagination and brings me to my knees.

I thank you, Jesus, that my life is in your hands. Thank you, Jesus, for being my Creator, my Owner, and my good Shepherd. Thank you for having strong hands, the hands of omnipotence.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)

I thank you, Jesus, that no one can take me out of your hands. You got my back. The same hands that created the universe and were nailed to the cross are holding me up and carrying me all the way to glory.

How do you answer the two questions above? You are welcome to leave your comments below.

Before you go to sleep tonight, why not offer a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for being the Owner and Creator of all? Pour out your heart to him in worship and adoration!

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Confessions of a Serial Sinner (Thoughts on Psalm 53:1)

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Psalm 53:1 paints a dismal yet truthful picture of the sinful human race:

“They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.” (ESV)

 

Here we find three descriptions of our fallen condition. Three scathing indictments. If I’m reading the Bible to boost my self-esteem, I picked the wrong verse.

That second description is especially intriguing to me. Our sin is “abominable.”

What does that mean?

“Abominable” is what is detested or loathed. The NIV translates this phrase as “their ways are vile.”

It’s what God thinks of sin. He hates it. God is the God of love and he’s also the God of hate.

16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV

Now we know how God views our sin. He abhors it.

Now we get personal. Psalm 53:1 begs the questions, “What do I think of my sin? Do I hate it?”

Apparently not.  Even though is it commanded that I do so: “Hate what is evil” (Romans 12:9 NIV).

I sure wish I did. If I despised my sin the way God does, maybe I wouldn’t do it so often.

Instead, I prefer to minimize it, downplay it, deny it, rationalize it, excuse it, and blame others for it.

Oh, and hide it, ignore it, and laugh about it.

I also like to distort it. Sin is much more palatable if I use words to describe it that soften the blow of its reality. I don’t feel so guilty if I refer to it as a mistake, an oversight, a lapse of judgment, or a little white lie.

Or how about this one – a peccadillo. What’s that? Dictionaries define this as “a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin” (Oxford); “a small fault or mistake, or something that someone does wrong that is not very serious” (Cambridge); “a slight offense” (Webster’s).

If the standard of morality is the holiness of God, is there such a thing as a small sin, an unimportant iniquity, or a slight transgression?

I think not.

So lately I’ve been praying that God will enable me to see my sin the way he sees it. “O God, please teach me to hate my sin, to take it seriously, to not joke about it or marginalize it or sweep it under the rug.”

I am a serial sinner. “Wretched man that I am!” (Romans 7:24)

But thanks be to King Jesus, I’m also a saved sinner, redeemed by the grace of God, forgiven through faith in the Son of God, all because of the wrath-absorbing death of the Lamb of God.

I am grateful that I can open the Bible and read that my God is the One “who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” (Jude 24).

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Why Is Resurrection So Important?

Posted on March 31, 2024 by Wayne Davies

For many, Easter is a time of rejoicing and celebrating. And well it should be.

Our Savior rose from the grave on the third day, just as He predicted, thereby defeating death and providing hope of new life for all who believe in Him.

 

So I pray that this is a day of great joy for you. He has risen!

Here’s a passage I’ve been meditating on:
“Great are the works of the Lord;
They are pondered by all who delight in them.”
Psalm 111:2

Arguably, of all the great “works of the Lord” (and there are many), the death and resurrection of Jesus are the greatest.

Today I’m compelled to “ponder” the death and resurrection of Christ. Will you join me? You will find no more glorious subject upon which to set your heart, soul and mind.

The word “ponder” (NIV) is translated “study” by the ESV and NASB. I think that adds much to our understanding of what believers are supposed to do on these special days.

Have you ever studied the resurrection of Jesus? I’d like to encourage you to carve out some time to do just that.

Here’s a link to Chapter 11 of Randy Alcorn’s best-selling book, Heaven. It’s entitled “Why Is Resurrection So Important?” and it is loaded with Biblical teaching on the meaning of the resurrection. I highly recommend it!

http://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-is-the-resurrection-so-important.html

Please take time today to reflect on the resurrection through focused study. A biblically informed mind is the key to God-glorifying worship.

“Any views of the afterlife that settle for less than a bodily resurrection — including reincarnation, and transmigration of the soul — are explicitly unchristian.”
— Randy Alcorn

“Jesus walked the earth in his resurrection body for forty days, showing us how we would live as resurrected human beings. In effect, he also demonstrated where we would live as resurrected human beings—on Earth. Christ’s resurrection body was suited for life on Earth, not primarily life in the intermediate Heaven. As Jesus was raised to come back to live on Earth, so we will be raised to come back to live on Earth (1 Thessalonians 4:14; Revelation 21:1-3).”
— Randy Alcorn

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How to Handle Rejection (Thoughts on Psalm 22)

Posted on March 31, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Here are some thoughts on the death of Jesus – based on Psalm 22, the Bible’s most graphic description of the crucifixion.

We all face rejection; it’s a given. If you haven’t been laughed at yet, you will be. Virtually all of us have experienced the derision of our peers at a young age and remember well the emotional pain that our so-called friends inflicted upon us.

As we get older, the stakes get higher. Whether it’s unrequited love or the rejection letter from a potential employer, disappointment can be our closest friend.

As a Christian, being mocked by the world is par for the course. Jesus promised that we’d suffer abuse from unbelievers, for the gospel is an offensive message. “No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20).

The apostle Paul — no stranger to the whip of the wicked — told Timothy that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). And Peter wrote, “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

Knowing all this doesn’t make the pain any easier to endure, however. What should be our response to such unjust treatment and ridicule?

I believe that Psalm 22 provides a model for us to follow. David wrote this psalm, and he, too, was well acquainted with persecution. But this psalm finds its primary fulfillment in the gruesome death of our Savior. This psalm is the prayer of Jesus, for David’s words became the cry of the Messiah on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1, Mark 15:34).

What did Jesus do when faced with the most horrifying affliction known to man? Yes, he expressed his despair. He told God exactly how he felt. He bore his soul while bearing our sin. God was unleashing his wrath upon his only begotten Son – what could be more excruciating than that? Jesus was serving the death sentence for our crimes and he let God know how agonizing it was to provide the salvation which the Father and Son had planned from eternity past.

But Jesus did something else on the cross: he worshipped his Father. “Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises” (Psalm 22:3). Amazingly, Jesus did not remain focused on himself and his pain. Instead, he looked away from himself and worshipped God for his holiness.

The English Standard Version renders the first part of verse 3 as “You are holy” – an even more succinct and powerful expression of praise. When faced with the ultimate test of his love for the Father, Jesus was thinking of God’s righteousness. He knew that God’s holiness was the reason he was on the cross. Since a holy God cannot allow unforgiven sinners into his presence, Jesus’ sin-covering crucifixion was the only way we could ever enter into a right relationship with God. The holiness of God motivated Jesus to pay the ultimate price to liberate us from slavery to sin, death, and the devil.

If Jesus worshipped God for his holiness while on the cross, shouldn’t we do the same while taking up our cross?

We are called to a life of suffering; it is the will of God. By focusing on God’s perfect character, we remind ourselves that he remains in control of our lives even when it may appear otherwise.

When faced with persecution, like Jesus, the best thing we can do is cry out to God, “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel” (v. 3, ESV). No matter what people do to us, our sovereign God continues to reign over all.

Psalm 22: Questions for Further Study, Reflection and Discussion

1. Psalm 22 is mentioned 15 times in the New Testament, causing Christians throughout the centuries to call it “the fifth gospel” and “the Psalm of the Cross.” This passage was written by David about 1,000 years before the death of Christ, yet it is the most graphic description of the crucifixion found in all of Scripture. Let’s take a closer look at five verses that predict what would happen to Jesus on the cross.

Compare the verse from Psalm 22 with the New Testament verse. In your own words, write out a description of each prophecy and its fulfillment.

Psalm 22:1 and Matthew 27:46
Psalm 22:7 and Matthew 27:39
Psalm 22:8 and Matthew 27:43
Psalm 22:18 and John 19:23-24
Psalm 22:31 and John 19:31

2. Why did Jesus believe that his Father had forsaken him? (v. 1) What does this prayer reveal about the thoughts and feelings of Jesus when he was on the cross? What does this abandonment of Jesus by the Father teach us about what his death accomplished for guilty sinners like us?

3. When Jesus was on the cross, why did people mock and ridicule him? What was the intent and purpose of this contempt and derision? (v. 7)

4. The people taunted Jesus with sarcasm: “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him.” (v. 8). Why would these comments have been especially painful for Jesus to hear?

5. What do the soldiers’ words and actions tell us about their attitude toward the death of Jesus? (v. 18). What is the irony of this behavior?

6. “He has done it!” (v. 31). According to this psalm, what has God done, and what has God not done (see v. 24)?

7. Psalm 22 has two distinct yet related parts:
Part 1 – verses 1-21
Part 2 – verses 22-31

How would you summarize Part 1?
How would you summarize Part 2?
The tone and content of Part 2 are dramatically different from that of Part 1. What has happened to the speaker (Jesus) that would account for this change?

NOTE: The above comments and questions are an excerpt from the book, How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 1-41 (Volume 1 – Psalms Bible Study Guides).
You can download a free copy at https://payhip.com/b/3iQfu
Also available in Kindle and paperback formats here:
https://www.amazon.com/How-Pray-Like-David-Psalms-ebook/dp/B09SNX3853/

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How to Go to the Cross with Jesus

Posted on March 29, 2024 by Wayne Davies

The week before Easter I like to read the Gospel accounts of the last week of Christ.

You can see how I do that in this blog post:
https://godwrotethebook.com/what-the-bible-says-about-jesus-last-week/

 

This year I’m reading Luke’s account, chapters 19-24, a chapter each day. This is one way to walk with Christ all the way to the cross and the empty tomb. Would you like to join me?

I am also reading J.C. Ryle’s commentary on Luke. He’s one of my favorite Bible teachers and offers many profound insights on the meaning of the text. (To get your free copy of this book, visit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JVL32NN )

For example, let’s discover what J.C. Ryle says about Luke 19:28-34, when Jesus tells two disciples, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here” (v. 30).

Here are Ryle’s comments. (Note his use of parallel passages to explain the meaning of this passage. I love how he does that.)

“Let us mark, for one thing in these verses, the perfect knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We see Him describing what they will see and hear with as much confidence as if the whole transaction had been previously arranged. In short, He speaks like one to whom nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight; everything is uncovered and laid bare before his eyes. He speaks like one whose eyes were in every place, like one who knew things unseen as well as things seen.

“An attentive reader will observe the same things in other parts of the Gospel. We are told in one place that “He knew the thoughts” of His enemies. We are told in another chapter that “He knew what was in man.” We are told in another that Jesus “knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him” (Luke 6:8, John 2:25, John 6:64).

“Knowledge like this is a particular attribute of God. Passages like these are meant to remind us that the man Christ Jesus is not only man, but He is also God blessed forever (Romans 9:5).

“The thought of Christ’s perfect knowledge should alarm sinners and awaken them to repentance. The great and righteous judge knows them and all their doings. The judge sees them continually and marks down all their ways. “There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves” (Job 34:22). If they go into the secret chamber, the eyes of Christ are there. If they privately scheme villainy and plot wickedness, Christ knows it and observes it. If they speak secretly against the righteous, Christ hears. They may deceive men all their life long, but they cannot deceive Christ. A day is coming when, “according to the gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus” (Romans 2:16).

“The thought of Christ’s perfect knowledge should comfort all truehearted Christians and quicken them to increased diligence in good works. The master’s eye is always upon them. He knows where they dwell, and what are their daily trials, and who are their companions. There is not a word in their mouths, or a thought in their hearts, but Jesus knows it altogether. Let them take courage when they are slandered, misunderstood, and misrepresented by the world. It matters nothing, so long as they can say, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You” (John 21:17).

“Let them walk on steadily in the narrow way and not turn aside to the right hand or the left. When sinners entice them, and weak brethren say, “Spare yourself,” let them reply, “My Master is looking at me. I desire to live and move as in the sight of Christ.”
END OF QUOTE.

Reality Check: Does the omniscience of Jesus alarm you, or does it comfort you?

Have a great week remembering and celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus!

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34 Bible Reading Questions Answered

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Wayne Davies

Do you have questions about how to read the Bible? See below for 34 of them.

You’ll find answers to all these questions in the new book, Ask Pastor John: 750 Bible Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions. (“Pastor John” is John Piper, who spent 33 years as a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

Chapter 1 is all about reading the Bible, and you can download a free copy of Chapter 1 here:
https://www.desiringgod.org/books/ask-pastor-john

Here are the 34 Bible reading questions:

  1. Why do we read the Bible?
  2. Why read the Bible daily?
  3. How do I get the most from my Bible reading?
  4. What should we expect on our first read through the Bible?
  5. How do we stay passionate about Bible reading for a full year?
  6. Where should I help a new believer begin his journey into the Bible?
  7. What are the essential components of daily Bible reading?
  8. How many Bible versions should I read?
  9. Ink or pixels?
  10. How do I find the meaning of a Bible text?
  11. Should we read the Bible for breadth or depth?
  12. How do we accomplish deep reading with pens and paper and marked-up texts, but also simply read the Bible devotionally?
  13. How do we piece together chapters of Scripture?
  14. How do I read the Bible topically?
  15. What happens when you pray over Scripture?
  16. How do I pray before reading the Bible?
  17. How do I prepare my soul to encounter Christ through Bible reading?
  18. Isn’t the Bible old and irrelevant?
  19. How do I battle doubt and cynicism in Bible reading?
  20. Why is the Bible so violent?
  21. Is Bible reading only profitable if we come away with application?
  22. How do we avoid intellectualism with the Bible?
  23. Do I love Bible insights more than I love God?
  24. How do I read the Bible in dark seasons?
  25. I’m too busy and exhausted—when should I read the Bible?
  26. Should we use audio Bibles for daily devotions?
  27. I have one hour to read. How much Bible? How much other books?
  28. If I listen carefully to sermons, why do I need to read my Bible?
  29. If I read my Bible, why do I need preachers?
  30. When does my Bible neglect become sin?
  31. What is the final goal of Bible reading?
  32. Bible memory: essential or optional?
  33. What are your suggestions for Bible memorization?
  34. What are essential Bible texts for life’s hardest battles?

Enjoy!

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The Meaning of Ephesians 4:15

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Wayne Davies

I love reading stories of how people become Christians. The Bible is filled with God-glorifying conversion accounts – from the woman at the well (John 4) to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).

Here’s a story of how a woman became a Christian in the late 1800’s in Chicago. It’s told by Reuben Torrey, an associate of D.L. Moody and like Moody, one of the great evangelists in church history. It’s an excerpt from his book, How to Be Saved and How to Be Lost. (To get a free copy of this book, see the link at the end of this post below.)

BEGINNING OF EXCERPT:

One night at a late meeting in Chicago, as I passed through the innermost inquiry room, a lady of substantial culture sat among the inquirers. This woman held two or three university degrees; she was a professional and one of the most highly cultured women who attended our church. As I passed by, she said, “Mr. Torrey, will you speak with me?”

I replied, “If you will wait a few moments until I speak to these poor creatures over yonder,” as I looked toward some poor outcasts grouped together in a corner of the room. “I will come back and speak with you.” These poor outcasts knew that they were sinners, and they accepted Jesus Christ. Then I came back to the lady, drew up a chair, sat down in front of her, and asked, “What can I do for you?”

She replied, “Mr. Torrey, I have not had a satisfactory Christian experience.”

I replied, “I do not think you have had any Christian experience at all.”

“Why,” she replied, “I am a church member.”

I answered, “Unfortunately, that does not prove anything. I am sorry to say that I have known many church members whom I could not believe were really saved.”

“But,” she said, “I am a Sunday school teacher.”

I said, “Unfortunately, that does not prove anything. I am sorry to say I have known not a few Sunday school teachers of whose salvation I was not at all sure.”

“But,” she replied, “I am the widow of a minister.”

“Well,” I said, “unfortunately, even that fact does not prove anything. I do not read anywhere in the Bible that anyone is saved by marrying a pastor. Now, I do not believe that you ever in all your life came to God as a poor, vile, worthless, miserable, hell-deserving sinner – not essentially better than those poor creatures over in the corner.”

She immediately straightened up, and her eyes flashed as she replied, “No, I never did, for I am not.”

I looked at her and quietly said, “You are about as full of spiritual conceit as anyone I ever met.”

She gasped out, “Mr. Torrey, you are cruel.”

“No,” I replied, “I am kind. It is not cruel, but it is kind to tell people the truth. Now, you are a physician, are you not?”

She said, “Yes, I am.”

I said, “Suppose you had a patient who had a great big tumor, and you took a sharp knife and cut it out. Would that be cruel?”

“No,” she answered, “that would be the kindest thing I could do.”

“Well,” I said, “you have a great big tumor of spiritual pride, and by the grace of God, I will cut it out tonight.”

The woman had sense even if she was proud. She immediately dropped on her knees and came to God as a poor, vile, worthless, miserable, hell-deserving sinner, and she got a satisfactory Christian experience. But there are some of you who have never done it, and some of you who are determined that you never will do it. Well, you will, or you will spend eternity in hell.

Come, my good-natured, upright, polished, perfect gentleman; you must come and take your place as a sinner if Jesus Christ is to take any interest in you and save you. Come, my fine lady with your fair and attractive life, beautiful character, generous culture, winsome personality, and honored place in society; you too must come to your right place before God as a sinner if Jesus Christ is to save you.

Yes, you must get down right alongside your sister from the slums, for Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and He saves nobody else. Are you one? Are you a real, genuine sinner? If not, Christ did not come for you. We have thousands in our churches today who have never taken their places as lost sinners before Jesus Christ, and, of course, they have never been saved.

END OF EXCERPT

This is a wonderful example of “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Here we see Mr. Torrey telling this woman what she needed to hear to become a Christian. She was a proud woman and this pride prevented her from humbling herself as a sinner before God.

God can’t save us until we realize how lost and wretched we are, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). The good news of the gospel begins with the bad news of our utter depravity.

May God give us the humility to see our sinful condition and cry out to him for mercy. And may he give us the boldness to share the gospel with others – one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.

How to Be Saved and How to Be Lost: The Way of Salvation and the Way of Condemnation Made as Plain as Day, by Reuben Torrey, is available for free in Kindle format here.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Saved-Lost-Salvation-Condemnation-ebook/dp/B09NMTM8Q1

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