Bible Commentaries

Genesis 17:11-15 — baptism. (3)    It did not take the place of obedience to God's commandments, despite the fact of the rite itself being a required response to God; baptism also cannot relieve the Christian of his duties as a member of the community of faith, despite the ceremony itself being a required response to God. (4)    It stood at the gateway of entrance by birth into the Abrahamic covenant; baptism is the initiation of the Christian into the family of God. He is baptized

Genesis 32:24-32 — and promises would have been defeated, and the world would never have had a Savior."Henry M. Morris, op. cit., p. 500. It was this crisis nature of the situation that required and justified God's personal intervention to establish and confirm Jacob's faith. The big question here concerns the understanding of what really happened. Peake alleged that Jacob wrestled with "a local deity … one of the river gods (pagan)," trying to prevent anyone's crossing the river.Arthur S. Peake, A Commentary

Genesis 35:1-7 — Shechem, but the expression "to go up to" was also true in another way. "The verb go up often described a religious pilgrimage."Clyde T. Francisco, op. cit., p. 234. In Jacob's case both meanings are applicable, for it was indeed a renewal of religious faith on the part of Jacob. As a preparation for this journey, Jacob demanded and received obedience from his family that they: (1) put away their idols; (2) purified themselves; and (3) changed their clothes. Francisco suggested that this latter requirement

Matthew 6:9-13 — of being higher and nobler than our earthly life, invisible to mortal eyes (1 Timothy 6:16), not subject to material limitation, nor to the presence of death or sin, and yet a true reality of the most transcendent importance and glory. The Christian faith is a heaven-centered faith. Christ's teaching places the utmost emphasis upon it, making it the abode of the Father, the ultimate home of the redeemed, and the source of all blessing. The word "heaven" was ever on his lips. From heaven

Mark 13 overview — While the language of apocalyptic is indeed used, the purpose for which it is used and even the form of the discourse are different. It is, in fact, exhortation, not ordinary apocalyptic. Its purpose is not to impart esoteric information but to sustain faith and obedience.C. E. B. Cranfield, op. cit., p. 388. We agree with Sanner who wrote, "It is heartening to read comments of scholars like Barclay and Cranfield, who take the chapter as genuine."A. Elwood Sanner, Beacon Bible Commentary

Luke 15:3-7 — that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, who need no repentance. THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP ANALOGIES IN THE PARABLE The man with one hundred sheep = Christ the Good Shepherd The sheep which wandered away = backsliders from the faith Finding the lost sheep = Christ saving sinners Elevating it to his shoulders = uplifting the fallen The rejoicing of the shepherd = joy in heaven over the saved The fact of there having been only a single sheep is not an indication of how few were

Luke 21:24 — those interpretations are true, then there is a powerful indication in the current status of Jerusalem that suggests the awesome possibility, if not the certainty, that "the times of the Gentiles" have about expired. The current status of true faith in Christ in our troubled world is weak and precarious. Multiplied billions of the Gentile nations have either not heard the gospel at all, or have totally repudiated Christianity, as has Russia. The truth that men cannot foresee the future, and

John 16:13 — from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. This is a verse of nearly incredible importance in the proper understanding of Christianity. Here is the cornerstone of faith. The errors grounded here are colossal, and the general misunderstanding of it has perverted millions of disciples. He, the Spirit of truth … See under John 16:8. Shall guide you into all truth … The most poisonous errors have been

John 6:27 — challenges confronting Christianity today. The great concern of true religion is in the realm of the moral and spiritual; and the consideration overriding all others is that of the final attainment unto eternal life. To that glorious goal of Christian faith absolutely everything else must be subordinated. It was this very thing that came into focus in the Saviour's wilderness temptation when Satan proposed making bread out of stones (Matthew 4:4). And why not? Such would have solved the economic problem

Romans 1:7 — the dead IV.    Paul's relationship to the risen Lord (mentioned in "C" above) A.    Received grace and apostleship from Christ B.    Commissioned by Christ to preach obedience of faith to all nations C.    Such evangelism to be for Christ's name's sake V.    Concerning the church in Rome (just such a congregation as could have been expected from the activity mentioned in "C" above) A.    They

Romans 16:7 — with Paul through one, or some, of his imprisonments; and, regardless of the possibility of other meanings, the likelihood is that these kinsmen were actually in jail with Paul on some occasion, or occasions, when the great apostle suffered for the faith. Who are of note among the apostles … is a reference to the reputation of Andronicus and Junias who were known and respected within the circle of the twelve apostles themselves. This meaning is required by the facts: (1) of there at this

Romans 8:28 — blow. It's the set of the sails and not the gales That determines the way they go! —Anonymous The reaction of the child of God, or his response, to the ills of mortal life must be one of patience, submission, humility, prayer, love, hope, and faith. Even adversity of the severest kind must be made to yield its precious fruit in the heart of the Christian. It has been proved again and again by Christians that "Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of

Romans 8:3 — occurring. God sending his own Son … Jesus came into the world to achieve perfection as a man and upon man's behalf. He came to fulfill the whole will of God, to obey God's every word of commandment, and to "fulfill all righteousness." Christ's faith was perfect; his obedience was perfect; his love of the Father was perfect; he was totally perfect. In Christ, therefore, is the righteousness which alone can save people; and, as to the manner of this righteousness being made available for the

Galatians 1:13-14 — regarding it were: "abrogated, done away, taken away, annulled, etc." It was this aspect of Christianity, truly understood, which so antagonized and enraged Saul of Tarsus. As soon as he accepted Christ, he accepted the very first corollary of the faith, i.e., that as far as worshipping Almighty God is concerned, it is all over and done with for Judaism.

1 Timothy 6:1 — the institution and lifted the yoke of slavery from the back of humanity. The name of God … is here placed upon a coordinate basis with "the doctrine," showing the highest esteem in which the apostles held the sacred doctrine of the faith. The current downgrading of doctrine is hurtful, sinful and contrary to divine law. Be not blasphemed … The word "blaspheme" here has its general meaning of "spoken against." As Spence pointed out: Any action on the part

Hebrews 10:11-12 — subject at this juncture in Hebrews. In New Mexico and Colorado, one of the most spectacular and beautiful mountain ranges on earth is called the "Sangre de Cristo Range," that is, "The Blood of Christ Range"! It is a tribute to the faith and perception of the Conquistadors that they named the most beautiful mountains they had ever seen after that which they valued most, "the blood of Christ." For one who truly understands and appreciates the blood by which we are sanctified,

Hebrews 10:18 — "once" is not sufficient to procure the pardon of sin, but must be frequently repeated. If they reply that their mass is only the representation and commemoration of the sacrifice of Christ, they give up the cause and renounce an article of their faith, established by the Council of Trent, which in session xxii, canons 1, 3, declared "the sacrifice of the mass to be true and propitiatory sacrifice for sin." I say, give up the cause; for the representation and commemoration of a sacrifice

Judges 16:28-31 — burial-place of his father" It is evident, of course, that Manoah was deceased at that time. Despite all of Samson's sinful escapades, Israel continued to honor his memory, and in the N.T., the author of Hebrews inscribed his name among the heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:32). The very fact that Samson's body was recovered from the Philistine temple is proof of the enormous casualties that had marked its collapse. Under normal conditions, the Philistines would have abused the body of Samson as they did

2 Peter 3:10 — But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. We shall not attempt to

2 Peter 3:7 — No blue-print of what will occur is given, merely the bare fact of ultimate destruction by fire. People may choose to disbelieve this if they will! Noah's generation did not believe God either; but those who are the elect will receive these words by faith that not a jot or a tittle shall pass away until all be fulfilled. "This verse is the clearest prophecy in the Scripture of the final conflagration of the universe," B. C. Caffin, op. cit., p. 67. but it is by no means the only one. PROPHECIES