New Testament

As our celebration of resurrection Sunday comes and goes, let's never let go of the amazement and wonder that must have been going through the women's minds at what they saw and heard at Jesus' tomb: an angel, who went on to explain to them that Jesus has risen from the dead! The foundation of our faith, and the greatest blessing of all ages, is in Christ's resurrection power. And it's worth remembering all throughout the year as we take joy in Him!

The "great commission" actually starts with verse 18, where Jesus tells his disciples that he has all authority in heaven and earth. 19 starts with a "therefore" - because of Jesus' authority, we therefore are commanded to make disciples of all nations - baptizing, teaching the doctrine of the trinity, and all other things that Jesus showed us in His life and teaching. It's exciting to remember that He will be with us always, to the very end of the age. Christ's enabling power and his loving presence will never leave us. Let's follow His command and live in His power!

The message of the angel to the shepherds, "do not be afraid, I bring you good news," was a message of comfort and hope - the Messiah had been born, and he was given for the salvation of ordinary folks like us! This message of good news has resounded through the centuries, as the theme song of Christ's own Church. Drink deeply of these words this Christmas season!

Jesus commands us to love each other. Here and in many other passages, Jesus tells us what this looks like: elsewhere we read that we are to love not as the world loves; to love all people, not just our friends; to love the person in need; and that love fulfills the old testament law and commandments - and it's what sets apart us as His. Here Jesus spells out the extent of such love: we should love as He loved us. That's the greatest love of all - that one would lay down his life for his friends. Jesus showed us the way, and under the power of the Holy Spirit we too can love others sacrificially and completely.

We're reminded of just how secure we are in God's powerful love and justification for His children. How can any adversary stand if God is with us? And who or what could ever separate us from the love of Christ? Paul ends this passage with a crescendo of seven trials we might otherwise fear, culminating with the sword (death). Can any of these things happen to us apart from the love of Christ? The answer is a resounding "no!" We are conquerors through Him who loves us!

Paul illustrates the awesome position, power, and knowledge of God. We are so blessed to know the one from whom, through whom, and to whom are all things.

Paul has just finished describing the awesome supremacy of God - and His mercy because we can be forgiven and may know Him. In the light of this mercy towards us, our best choice in life is to offer our entire selves as a sacrifice to God. Verse 2 describes how: to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, as we submit to the Holy Spirit. Then we can truly glorify Him by demonstrating His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Jesus said it first - the spirit of unity and love is what marks us as believers. Here Paul offers a prayer and a blessing that we take to heart, that the God of encouragement will give us that spirit as we follow Christ Jesus.

What are we to think about Christ's death and resurrection for our sins? Paul puts it directly: the fact that Christ took the drastic measure of dying for all must mean then that all had died - that Christ died in our place. And Christ's resurrection power provides more than a mere return to life; He gives us something to live for instead of self - we live for Him! This is glorious, and we can look at everything in a new way. In fact, anyone who is in Christ is a new creation!

Paul links our newness in Christ to our ministry as His ambassadors - sharing the perfect hope of reconciliation with God. Each of us is not only a recipient, but also a messenger to the world and to one another. Paul gives a condensed salvation message, explaining how this can be: "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." Be personally reconciled to God every day, and then spread that glorious hope to the world!

It's so important to remember that, as Christians, our sins have been hung on the cross through Christ. Not only our sins, but our old sin nature is, as far as our relationship with God is concerned, dead. To live the victorious Christian life, we must now relinquish our mastery of our own selves. We joyfully give that to Christ, so that He may live through us!

If the whole of Ephesians focuses on the importance of the Body's unity, then Ephesians 4:1,2 is a great passage that tells us how, individually, to promote that unity. It is also the set of characteristics that are worthy of our calling. If with the Spirit's help we practice complete humility, gentleness, and patience, then our differences won't divide us, and the world will see believers with that true hallmark of Christ - an unwavering love for one another.

Paul lays out five very important gifts that God gives to his people - to all of us, for the building up of his Church. We're to be serving him by building up our brothers in unity in the faith. And as we become mature, His Church will more and more reflect the glorious "fulness of Christ."

Just as children adore their parents and desire to be just like them, it's natural for us when we have a healthy relationship with Christ, to become imitators of God.

This long passage, a "ballad" of Christ's sacrificial journey from Heaven to the cross for our sake, sums up his supremacy and our need to imitate his humility. What an uplifting look at our Lord and master, the one to whom every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess.

When Paul says "do not be anxious about anything," he's not just saying, "don't worry, be happy," or "what, me worry?" This is no empty promise, but the secret to a peace so powerful it will guard our hearts and minds against any circumstances. What do we need to do? Practice placing our trust in God, presenting our requests to Him and then-with thanksgiving-trust Him for the results. Whenever we feel anxious, it should be a reminder to exercise verse 6, and place our cares into God's loving hands.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, or praiseworthy - these are the things that should fill our thoughts.

Paul's statement that "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" is so important, and so often misunderstood unless we also delve into the context of verse 12. Here he confirms the fact that he - and we o can be placed in any circumstances and still receive the strength needed to do God's will.

This is a great passage for the Thanksgiving season, or any time. We're encouraged to continue In Christ Jesus, rooted and built up in him, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Paul urges us to set our minds on things above because we've been raised with Christ - raised to heavenly treasures, not the old decaying earthly things: "for you've died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." To think on anything less shortchanges ourselves and our relationship with God. This song emphasizes the victory and excitement that should accompany our commitment!

Jesus' presence in our lives leads to a profound peace - a calmness that transcends understanding. That peace is especially important since we are one body in Him. And when his word dwells richly in us, we see it reflected in loving actions to that body- teaching, warning when necessary, and worshipping the Lord in song. When He dwells in us to that extent, surely whetever we do - word or deed - all will be to His praise and glory, with thanksgiving.

Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances" - this Is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. This passage Is a very important reminder that thankfulness, joy, and prayer are expected and natural for The Christian at all times - regardless of our circumstances!

Paul's famous exhortation to correctly handle the word of truth: We are like artisans, who must become intimately familiar with the material that is our occupation. As Christians our occupation is to correctly handle and apply God's word.

Imagine the kindness and love God bestowed on us, when Jesus appeared to take away our sin. As these verses remind us, it wasn't any righteous act that we did, but simply God's mercy, that led to salvation. Just think: the salvation task is complete! He saved us through rebirth - a completed act! And now He pours out his Spirit generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. Rejoice in Him through this comforting passage!

Paul presents a "hall of faith" in Hebrews chapter 11. His purpose? We should see from this that there's a great cloud of witnesses (examples of) how the life of faith can be run. These people persevered by casting aside all hindrances, looking to the reward during their trials. And we should look to the ultimate example, the author and perfecter of the life of faith, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul starts with the rhetorical question, "who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?" It may seem that we could answer, "many could," but if we truly set apart Christ as Lord, then even Satan and all his attacks can't harm us! When we set our eyes on the unmovable, infallable Christ, who loves us eternally, then truly we have a great hope, one that is likely to arouse questions and probing - and all to God's glory if we are prepared to answer in His power.

The apostle John so vibrantly describes why he believes - he was there, witness to the Word of life in the flesh as Jesus. We sing this with the same conviction, because we have seen him at work in our lives.

John's prophetic vision of all sorts of heavenly beings giving praise to God and Jesus (the Lamb) is immense - thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand - numbers too large to visualize, all singing praise to His glory. This passage helps us remember the glory due Jesus' name.