Notes from Linda:
12/1/22: I just found out that most of the commentaries on the Bible Study Tools website are no longer free. That's where most of the quotes that appear on the "Verse of the Day" and "Previous Verses" pages of my website are taken from, so from now on, many of the "Source:" links that I provide on those pages will not contain the quoted text.I was disgusted to read about the organization's new "PLUS" membership, and the only thing I can say about it is that the Bible has this warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 for the owner of Bible Study Tools: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
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8/8/21: Something is wrong with my Christian forum. Everything seems to be working normally (i.e., the articles are there, and the links work), but for some reason, the forum's format has changed slightly, and I am currently unable to post anything new.
I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Hopefully, the problem is only temporay and will be fixed soon.
"Verse of the Day"
Bible Verses
Bible Verses
"Verse of the Day"
Bible Verses
Bible Verses
Current Month
November 2025
NOVEMBER 23-25
James 3:7, 8, 9, 10
Gaining Control of "Bad Tongues"
In a letter to the 12 tribes of Israel (and to all Christians), the apostle James (who was also a brother of Jesus) wrote:
James 3:7: "For every kind of beasts [wild animals], and of birds, and of serpents [snakes, etc.], and of things in the sea [such as fish and other marine animals], is tamed, and hath [has] been tamed of [by] mankind [human beings--see note below for examples*]:"
James 3:8: "But the tongue can no man [or 'person'] tame [restrain]; it is an unruly evil [thing, meaning it is almost impossible to control], full of deadly poison [which means it is capable of saying malicious, slanderous, hurtful things]."
James 3:9: Therewith [or 'with our tongues'] bless we God [or 'we praise, thank, honor, and worship God'], even the Father [in heaven]; and therewith [i.e., with our tongues] curse we [or 'we wish evil upon'] men [and women and children], which are made after the similitude [or 'in the likeness or image'] of God [i.e., mentally, morally, and socially--see note below**]."
James 3:10: "Out of the same mouth proceedeth [proceeds, comes] blessing and cursing [of people and God]. My brethren [brothers, meaning fellow Jews and Christians], these things [i.e., 'cursing men' while 'blessing God'] ought not so to be [or 'should not be so,' 'should not be done,' 'should not happen']."
"… To the person who speaks praise to God in the worship service [in church or other places] and then abuses people verbally at home or at work, James commands, 'Purify your speech through the week.'
"With the person who says, 'Oh, I know I talk too much,' and laughs it off, James is not amused. He insists, 'Be quick to listen, slow to speak.'
"By the person who boasts, 'I always speak my mind, no matter who gets hurt,' James is not impressed. He commands, 'Discipline your speaking.'
"Of the person who says, 'I know I gossip too much, but I just can't help it,' James still requires, 'Control your tongue.'
"Of the person who is in the habit of speaking with insults, ridicule or sarcasm, James demands, 'Change your speech habits.'
"He [James] expects discipline to be happening in the life of a Christian. Any Christian can ask [God, through prayer] for the grace needed, for [or 'because'] God gives good gifts (James 1:17) and gives them generously (James 1:5) …"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/james/3-10.html, "Dr. Constable's Expository Notes," with the paragraph broken up and with italics added for emphasis)
"It is interesting how that [or 'how] man [mankind] has been able to tame all kinds of creatures. We can tame lions, we've seen the lion tamers and we've watched them in the circus. Birds can be trained to talk, and to say phrases. Even serpents [snakes] can be trained and you see the... in India the guy with his flute and the Boa constrictor you know doing its thing. And of course you can go down to Sea World or over to Marineland and see how they have trained the fish. Man has learned how to train and to bring into control all these of these wild things in nature. One thing man hasn't been able to tame is his own tongue,"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/james/3-7.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary")
-- "What does it mean that no one cam tame the tongue (James 3:8)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/no-one-can-tame-the-tongue.html)
-- "Taming the tongue--why is it so difficult?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/taming-the-tongue.html)
-- "What does it mean that blessing and cursing should not come from the same mouth (James 3:10)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/same-mouth-blessing-cursing.html)
NOVEMBER 22
Hebrews 13:5, 6
In a letter to Jewish Christians, the apostle Paul wrote:
Hebrews 13:5: "Let your conversation [which, in the Bible, refers to a person's actions, conduct, behavior, or way of life] be without covetousness [or greed; in other words, don't crave money, power, and/or possessions, especially like those belonging to other people0]; and be content [satisfied] with such things as ye [you] have: for he [God] hath [has] said [to people like Jacob, Joshua, and King Solomon in the Old Testament--see note below*], I will never leave thee [you], nor forsake [abandon, desert] thee."
Hebrews 13:6: "[We must try not to be covetous, but to be content with the things that we have, and to trust in God's promises to never leave or forsake us] So that we may boldly [confidently] say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear [be afraid of] what man [mankind, other people, human beings] shall do unto me."
-- Genesis 28:15 [God's promise to Jacob]: "And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."
-- Joshua 1:5 [God's promise to Joshua]: "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
-- 1 Chronicles 28:20 [God's promise to Solomon]: "And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."
-- "Why are we told to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/be-content-with-what-you-have.html)
-- "What does God mean when He says, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' (Hebrews 13:5)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/I-will-never-leave-you-nor-forsake-you.html)
-- What does 'the Lord is my helper' mean (Hebrews 13:6)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/Lord-is-my-helper.html)
-- "What does the Bible say about contentment?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-contentment.html)
NOVEMBER 21
Psalm 51:12, 13
Overwhelmed with guilt and deeply remorseful over (or filled with regret and feeling sorry for) his wicked behavior, King David prayed to God:
Psalm 51:12-13: "Restore [bring back, return] unto me the joy of thy [your] salvation; and uphold me [hold me up, support me, keep me from falling--into temptation, sin, etc.] with thy free spirit [or, in other words, with a willing mind (i.e., willingly), and/or with the Holy Spirit's help]. Then [as an expression of gratitude to God for his mercy and forgiveness despite the ungodly things that David had done] will I [David] teach transgressors [sinners--people who break God's laws, either accidentally or on purpose] thy [your] ways [including examples from David's life of the consequences of sin]; and sinners shall be converted unto thee [you (God), implying that backsliding Christians (see note below*) would sincerely repent and turn back to God]."
NOVEMBER 20
1 John 4:20
The apostle John said:
1 John 4:20: "If a man [or woman or child] say [says], I love God, and hateth [hates] his [or her] brother [or sister] [in Christ, meaning a fellow Christian--or, for that matter, if he (or she) hates any person], he [or she] is a liar: for he [or she] that loveth not [or 'does not love or have compassion for' (referring to brotherly love, not romantic or sexual love)] his [or her] brother [or other person] whom he [or she] hath [has] seen, how can he [or she] love God whom he [or she] hath not seen [see note below*]?"
NOVEMBER 19
Psalm 100:1, 2
Psalm 100:1: "{A Psalm of praise.} Make a joyful noise unto the LORD [God], all ye [you] lands [or 'all of you nations, or people, on earth']"
Psalm 100:2: "Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence [both publicly and privately, in person and through prayer] with singing."
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Click here for a current list of the "Most Popular Texts [Hymns]" plus "the 250 texts [hymns] published the most frequently in modern hymnals indexed by Hymnary.org": https://hymnary.org/browse/popular.
\"… Now if you can't serve the Lord with gladness, it's better that you [do] not serve Him [at all]. It is a shame and a disgrace that people gripe [complain] about what they've done for the Lord or their service for God. But that's usually the result of people being pushed into [doing] something that God hasn't led them into. And the church, unfortunately, has been very guilty of pushing people into jobs or into things that the people's heart really isn't in it. People are oftentimes pushed to support a new building program or pushed to support a new budget or something for the church. And everytime the month comes around [or 'every time a new month arrives'] and you get your little notice that your pledge is due, you get upset, you know, and you write out [a check for] your pledge and mail it in, but you're angry about it. You've been pressured into it. They [the 'church'] caught you at a weak moment.
"'Serve the Lord with gladness.' If you can't give joyfully to the Lord, you're much better off not to give, because if you give grudgingly [in a reluctant or resentful manner], that's going to go against you. That's not going to count. That will count against you. So you're much better off not to give at all. If you can be happy about not giving at all, you're much better off doing that rather than giving grudgingly to God. And that's giving of your time and serving the Lord or giving of your finances or whatever. If you can't give unto the Lord with a joyful heart, if you cannot serve the Lord with gladness, then it's best you not serve Him at all. God doesn't want any kind of grudging in your gifts to Him. God doesn't want your giving ever to be out of pressure, out of constraint [restraint], out of someone pushing [pressuring] you. …"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/psalms/100-1.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary," Verses 1-2)
-- "What does it mean to make a joyful noise unto the Lord?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/joyful-noise.html)
-- "What do I need to do to hear, 'Well done, good and faithful servant' when I arrive in heaven?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/well-done-good-and-faithful-servant.html)
NOVEMBER 16-18
Titus 3:5, 6, 7
We're Saved Through Faith, Not Works
In this letter, the apostle Paul was (and is) writing to born-again Christians:
Titus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness [or 'Not through good deeds or because of the good things'] which we have done, but according to his mercy [kindness and compassion] he [God the Father] saved us [from hell and the lake of fire] [Ephesians 2:8-9], by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost [i.e., through spiritual rebirth, or the process of being 'born again,' whereby we are cleansed from sin and become innocent, righteous, and new 'creatures' in God's sight (2 Corinthians 5:17)];"
Titus 3:6: "Which [referring to the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit] he [God the Father] shed [poured out, like rainwater] on us abundantly [plentifully, indicating a daily 'renewing of the Holy Ghost'] through Jesus Christ [the Son of God, who is also] our Saviour [Savior];"
Titus 3:7: "[God saved us so] That being justified [freed from sin, declared righteous] by his grace, we should be made heirs [of his, which means we should be adopted into the family of God] according to the hope of [having] eternal [never-ending] life [in heaven]."
"And this work of salvation which He [God] has wrought [brought about, produced] in us if we are Christians, was not because of any works that we had done in righteousness. It was not deserved in any way. It simply resulted from His [God's] compassion and mercy. And it was through 'the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit'. This does not mean that it was outwardly through baptism and inwardly through the Holy Spirit. That is totally to misunderstand the picture. (How we love to bring baptism in when water is mentioned as though water was never used for anything else. Even in a context like this we still have to keep God under our control). It is a picture drawn from the Old Testament where the coming of the Holy Spirit was likened to the pouring out of rain from above, washing the earth and regenerating it … And the result was to be life and fruitfulness. It was to be the renewal of the Holy Spirit which had been so long awaited.
"Alternately the washing of regeneration may have in mind the Old Testament examples of the washing away of sin (not defilement [uncleanness]) … where it is a picture of the removal of sin, not of a ritual washing. The new birth washed away all [of] their [the people's] old sins and their old ways … and they became new creatures in Christ Jesus … In this case the regeneration is seen in terms of the positive removal of their sin, not of ritual washing.
"All [of] the Gospels [i.e., the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John] emphasise [emphasize] that it was a prime [main, most important] ministry of Jesus, to drench [wet thoroughly, soak, or (in this case) totally immerse] men in the Holy Spirit [in other words, he wanted them to be filled to overflowing with God's presence] … And it is this work of Jesus that Paul is describing here, a work that began while He was on earth … continued in the Upper Room [i.e., the place where Jesus shared the Last Supper with his disciples--see note below*] … flowered at Pentecost [i.e., the day the Christian church was 'born'--see note below**] … and has gone on ever since [then], a work that takes place in men and women [and children] when they hear the Gospel and truly believe …
"In fact baptism is never described as 'washing' (Acts 22:16, the only possible exception, is debatable). It is always seen as an indicator of life from the dead through the Holy Spirit. Nor did ritual washings in the Old Testament ever cleanse ('you shall not be clean until the evening' was the constant refrain [referring to a statement that was repeated frequently]). They simply washed away earthly defilement [impurities] so that men could then reach out to God, and Peter makes clear that that is not what baptism is all about … What baptism does of course signify is the working of the Holy Spirit, picturing it in terms of the heavenly rain. The Christian is baptised [baptized] as a picture of what has happened to him [during the 'new birth' (i.e., at salvation, when he was 'born again')], and as an act of his resulting total commitment to [Jesus] Christ as his Lord."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/pet/titus-3.html, "Pett's Commentary on the Bible," "Verse 5")
"The story of Pentecost describes the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the early followers of Jesus in Jerusalem, 50 days after his resurrection. As they gathered in a house, a sound like a mighty wind filled the room, and tongues of fire appeared and rested on each of them, causing them to be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in different languages. This event, described in Acts Chapter 2 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202%3A1-15&version=KJV], is considered a pivotal moment, often called the 'birthday of Christianity,' as it empowered the disciples to begin preaching and is the origin of the Christian church.
"Key events of the story
"• The setting: About 120 followers of Jesus, including his mother Mary, were gathered in a house in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which is also known as Pentecost.
"• The wind: Suddenly, a sound like a 'mighty rushing wind' came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting.
"• The fire: Divided 'tongues as of fire' appeared and rested on each person's head.
"• Speaking in tongues: All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
"• The crowd's reaction: People from various nations who were in Jerusalem for the festival heard the commotion and gathered, stunned to hear the disciples speaking in their own native languages.
"• Peter's sermon: The Apostle Peter addressed the amazed crowd. He explained that this was a fulfillment of prophecy and that Jesus, whom they had crucified, had been raised to life, exalted by God, and had sent the Holy Spirit.
"• Repentance and baptism: Hearing this message, many in the crowd were deeply moved and asked what they should do. Peter told them to repent and be baptized, and about 3,000 people did so that day.
"• The birth of the church: The event is seen as the birth of the Christian church, as the followers dedicated themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, and prayer."
NOVEMBER 15
Ephesians 4:26
In his letter to the "saints [born-again Christians] at Ephesus," the apostle Paul advised all Christians as follows:
Ephesians 4:26: "Be ye [you] angry, and sin not [or 'don't sin'] [in other words, if you become angry at other people's sins or at unfortunate circumstances (bad things that happen to you or other people), etc., don't let your anger cause you to sin]: let not the sun go down [or 'don't let the sun set' or 'don't let the day end'] upon your wrath [anger, indignation, exasperation--i.e., without letting it (your wrath) go; in other words, try not to hold a grudge or seek revenge]:"
"'… If you be angry, which may be the case, and which may be unavoidable, see that the sudden excitement does not become sin. Do not let it overleap its proper bounds [boundaries]; do not cherish [hold on to] it; do not let it [your anger] remain in your bosom [or, in this case, 'your heart'] even to the setting of the sun. Though the sun be sinking in the west, let not the passion [anger] linger [remain, stay] in the bosom, but let his [the sun's] last rays find you always peaceful and calm.'"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/ephesians-4.html, "Verse 26")
"Ephesians 4:26. Be ye angry, and sin not:
"If you must be angry, (and you must, sometimes,) take care that you do not sin when you are angry. It is rather a difficult thing to be angry, and not to sin; yet, if a man were to see sin, and not to be angry with it, he would sin through not being angry. If we are only angry, in a right spirit, with a wrong thing, we shall manage to obey the injunction [warning] of the apostle: 'Be ye angry, and sin not:'
"Ephesians 4:26. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
"Never let it [your anger] outlive [last beyond, remain longer than] the day, but forgive ere [before] the sun goes down."
(Source: https://www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com/commentaries/spe/ephesians-4.php)
"… though anger may come into the bosom [or 'heart'] of a wise man, it rests [remains for a long time] only in the bosom of fools."
(Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/ephesians/4.html, "Verses 17-32," "v. 26")
-- "What does the Bible mean when it says in your anger do not sin (Ephesians 4:26)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/in-your-anger-do-not-sin.html)
-- "What does it mean to not let the sun go down on your anger?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/sun-go-down-anger.html)
NOVEMBER 14
Proverbs 14:13
Proverbs 14:13: "Even in laughter [which means that sometimes, when a person appears to be happy and having fun,] the heart is sorrowful [full of grief]; and the end of that mirth [laughter, cheerfulness--referring, in this case, to the person's true, hidden feelings] is heaviness [sadness]."
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Pastor Delany goes on to says, "the very thing we try to block out [in public--i.e., sorrow] is GOOD for us!" That's because:
"• God uses sorrow to get our attention… to cause us to look to Him… to stop and think…
"• God uses sorrow to strengthen the inner man. It is in a time of grief that we take the time to reflect upon life… on the important things…
"• This sorrow and sober reflection [or 'thoughtful consideration'] often leads to repentance… a change of mind followed by a turning in the right direction.
"• People are much more likely to think soberly [correctly] about the real issues of life at a funeral than at a party."
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The commentary ends with:
"• So there is no point in covering up sorrow… or pretending to be always happy.
"• If you are going through a period of grief or sorrow… let God USE that period for good in your life."
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If you want to read more of the commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "14:13."
(Please note: Proverbs 14:13, along with some other Bible study verses in this chapter of Proverbs, is currently missing on the Salem Baptist Church website, but hopefully, it will be added back soon. Sorry!)
NOVEMBER 13
Psalm 5:3
King David prayed to God:
Psalm 5:3: "My voice [in prayer, either silently or out loud] shalt thou [shall you] hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee [you], and [I] will look up [to heaven--for an answer] [which means that, when praying, we should watch and wait for an answer from God, in the same way that an archer would shoot his or her arrow toward the target and then look up to see where it has landed--see note below*]."
"Psalms 5:3. In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
"Adjust your prayer as the archer fits his arrow on the bow, look up as you shoot it, and keep on looking up and looking out for an answer to your supplication [request]. You cannot expect God to open the windows of heaven to pour you out a blessing if you do not open the windows of your expectation to look for it. If you look up in asking, God will look down in answering. It is well always to take good aim in prayer; some prayers are like random shots, they cannot be expected to hit the target; but David's prayer was well aimed, and he expected it to prevail with [or be received and answered by] God …"
(Source: https://truthaccordingtoscripture.com/commentaries/spe/psalms-5.php, "Spurgeon's Verse Expositioins of the Bible," Verse 3)
-- "What does the Bible say about prayerlessness?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/prayerlessness.html)
-- "Do we have to seek the Lord early in the morning (Psalm 63:1)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/early-will-I-seek-you.html)
NOVEMBER 9-12
Ephesians 6:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
The Apostle Paul's Spiritual Advice to "Christian Soldiers"
Ephesians 6:11: "Put on the whole armour of God [referring to a spiritual suit of armor, the parts of which are similar to Greek armor--see note below*], [so] that ye [you] may be able to stand against the wiles [methods, tricks, schemes] of the devil."
Ephesians 6:12: "For we wrestle not [or 'we don't struggle with or fight'] against flesh and blood [i.e., people], but [we fight] against principalities [principal rulers in Satan's kingdom], against powers [meaning 'powerful fallen (bad) angels'], against the rulers of the darkness of this [sinful] world, [and] against spiritual wickedness in high places [i.e., all other evil and wicked spirits]. [In other words, our fight is against very powerful invisible enemies, all of whom are evil spirits, and many of whom hold positions of authority in Satan's kingdom.]
Ephesians 6:13: "Wherefore [for the reasons mentioned above (i.e., because our opponents are so powerful)] take unto you [or 'put on'] the whole armour of God, [so] that ye may be able to withstand [or 'be victorious'] in the evil day [or 'the day of temptation'], and [so that,] having done all [things, or having won the fight], [you will be able] to stand [firm, or stand your ground]."
Ephesians 6:14: "Stand therefore [or 'resist every attack'], having your loins [the region around your sexual organs] girt about [surrounded] with truth [i.e., sincerity and truthfulness, the truth of God--for protection, like the soldiers did, in Bible times, when they wore a 'girdle,' or sash or belt, to keep every piece of armor in place and to hold their swords and other weapons], and having on [or 'wearing'] the breastplate of righteousness [i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ that was imputed (given) to you the moment you got saved];"
Ephesians 6:15: "And [having] your feet shod [covered, as when you wear shoes or boots] with the preparation of the gospel of peace [probably called that because, through the gospel, you can have peace in your heart, peace with God, and peace with mankind (other human beings)];"
Ephesians 6:16: "Above all [or 'in addition to the things just mentioned,' as protection for your entire body], taking the shield of faith, wherewith [or 'with which'] ye shall be able to quench [put out, extinguish] all [of] the fiery [flaming] darts of the wicked [one (referring to Satan), including evil thoughts and temptation--anything that may cause you to stumble and sin]."
Ephesians 6:17: "And take the helmet of salvation [representing hope for a bright future, and the assurance of eternal life in heaven], and the sword of the [Holy] Spirit, which is the word of God [referring to the Bible, and everything that is contained in it]:"
The girdle (or belt) of truth
The breastplate of righteousness
The boots (or shoes) of the gospel of peace
The shield of faith
The helmet of salvation
The sword of the Spirit (i.e., the word of God)
"As there is here allusion [a reference] to some of the most important parts of the Grecian armour [or 'armor,' referring to protective gear worn by ancient Greek soldiers], I shall give a short account of the whole. It consisted properly of two sorts [types, kinds]:
"Defensive armour, or that which protected themselves.
"Offensive armour, or that by which they injured their enemies. The apostle refers to both.
"I. Defensive armour:
"… the HELMET; this was the armour for the head, and was of various forms, and embossed with a great variety of figures. Connected with the helmet was the crest or ridge on the top of the helmet, adorned with several emblematic figures; some for ornament, some to strike terror. For crests on ancient helmets we often see the winged lion, the griffin [a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle], chimera [a fire-breathing monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail], [et]c. St. Paul seems to refer to one which had an emblematical representation of hope.
"… the GIRDLE this went about the loins, and served to brace the armour tight to the body, and to support daggers, short swords, and such like weapons, which were frequently stuck in it …
"… the BREAST-PLATE; this consisted of two parts … one covered the whole region of the thorax or breast, in which the principal viscera of life [i.e., the soft, internal organs of the body, located in the chest and abdomen--things like the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines] are contained; and the other [part of the breastplate] covered the [person's] back, as far down as the front part [of the breastplate] extended.
"… GREAVES or brazen boots, which covered the shin or front of the leg; a kind of solea was often used, which covered the sole [the bottom of the foot], and laced about the instep, and prevented the foot from being wounded [injured] by rugged ways [such as difficult or rough paths], thorns, stones, [et]c.
"… GAUNTLETS a kind of gloves that served to defend the hands, and the arm up to the elbow.
"… SHIELD; it was perfectly round, and sometimes made of wood, covered with bullocks' hides [i.e., the hides or skins of young bulls]; but [was] often made of metal …
"II. Offensive armour, or weapons; the following were chief:" (Note: This section lists the following items: spear, lance, sword, battle-axe, iron club, and bow and arrows.)
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/ephesians/6-13.html, "Clarke's Commentary")
-- "What is the full armor of God?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/full-armor-of-God.html)
-- "What are the wiles of the devil in Ephesians 6:11?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/wiles-of-the-devil.html)
-- "What are the devil's schemes (Ephesians 6:11)?
(https://www.gotquestions.org/devils-schemes.html)
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-- "What does it mean that we do not fight against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/not-fight-against-flesh-and-blood.html)
-- "What are the spiritual hosts of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-hosts-of-wickedness.html)
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-- "What is the meaning of 'having done all to stand' in Ephesians 6:13?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/having-done-all-to-stand.html)
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-- "Why are we told to 'stand therefore' in Ephesians 6:14?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/stand-therefore.html)
-- "What is the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/belt-of-truth.html)
-- "What is the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/breastplate-of-righteousness.html)
____________________
-- "What is the readiness of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/gospel-of-peace.html)
____________________
-- "What is the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/shield-of-faith.html)
-- "What are the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/flaming-arrows-of-the-evil-one.html)
____________________
-- "What is the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/helmet-of-salvation.html)
-- "What is the sword of the Spirit?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/sword-of-the-Spirit.html)
____________________
-- "What does the Bible say about spiritual warfare?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-warfare.html)
-- "What can I do when I am under spiritual attack?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-attack.html)
NOVEMBER 8
John 3:17
While explaining to Nicodemus (see note below*), a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, that people must be "born again" in order to go to heaven, Jesus said:
John 3:17: "For God [the Father] sent not [or 'did not send'] his Son [Jesus] into the world [or 'to earth,' to be born of the virgin Mary] [in order] to condemn [judge, punish] the [nations of the] world; but [he did it so] that the world [that is, the people in it] through him [Jesus, because of his death on the cross to pay for our sins] might be saved [from hell and the lake of fire--see note below**]."
"It was the opinion of the Jews that the Gentiles [non-Jewish people], whom they often term [or 'call' or 'refer to as'] the world, … were to be destroyed in the days of the Messiah. Christ [Jesus] corrects this false opinion and teaches here a contrary [or 'an opposite'] doctrine. God [the Father], by giving [us] his Son [Jesus], and publishing his design in giving him [to us], shows that he purposes [desires] the salvation, not the destruction, of the world-[i.e.,] the Gentile people: nevertheless, those who will not receive the salvation [that] he [God] had provided for them, whether [they are] Jews or Gentiles, must necessarily perish [be sent to hell and the lake of fire]; for this plain reason, There is but one [or 'only one'] remedy [i.e., that of salvation (by God's grace, through faith alone--Ephesians 2:8-9), which involves trusting in Jesus' death on the cross to pay for our sins], and they refuse to apply it [to themselves]."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/john/3-17.html, "Clarke's Commentary")
-- "What does it mean that Jesus saves?"
(Note: The article includes a sample prayer that you can say if you truly want to be saved.)
(https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-saves.html)
-- "Did God sacrifice Himself to Himself to save us from Himself because of a rule He made Himself?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/did-God-sacrifice-Himself.html)
NOVEMBER 7
Romans 5:3, 4
In this letter to the Christians in Rome (and to all other Christians, too), the apostle Paul wrote:
Romans 5:3-4: "And not only so [do born-again Christians rejoice in good times (such as when our families are healthy, we can afford to pay our bills on time, etc.) and because we know that we are cleansed from sin, have peace with God, are saved from hell, and will live in heaven someday], but we glory [rejoice, take pleasure] in tribulations [troubles, afflictions, bad times] also: knowing that tribulation worketh [works, produces, brings about, results in] patience [a calm temper]; And patience, [produces] experience; and experience, [produces] hope [for the future]:"
-- "What does it mean that tribulation produces perseverance (Romans 5:3)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/tribulation-produces-perseverance.html)
-- "How can we glory in our sufferings (Romans 5:3)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/glory-in-our-sufferings.html)
NOVEMBER 6
Psalm 34:18
In this psalm, King David prayed:
Psalm 34:18: "The LORD [God] is nigh unto [or 'is near' or 'is willing to help'] them that are of a broken heart [or 'those who are brokenhearted,' referring to Christians who are overwhelmed by sin, or by depression or grief, as when a romantic relationship ends or a loved one dies]; and [he--God] saveth [saves, rescues] such as be of a contrite spirit [referring to people who are remorseful or repentant, meaning they humbly accept responsibility for their sins and are sincerely sorry for them]."
NOVEMBER 4-5
2 Corinthians 11:13, 14, 15
Don't Be Fooled by False Religious Teachers
In a letter to members of the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul said:
2 Corinthians 11:13: "For such [men, like Paul had been talking about earlier, especially in 2 Corinthians 11:4 (i.e., those who preach 'another Jesus' or 'another gospel')] are false apostles [false religious leaders with false messages--see note below*], deceitful [dishonest, untrustworthy] [religious] workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of [Jesus] Christ [meaning they pretend to be ambassadors of Christ by acting like true Christian teachers in the things that they say and do]."
2 Corinthians 11:14: "And no marvel [no wonder]; for Satan himself [i.e., the devil, or 'prince of darkness'--a very evil angel] is transformed into an angel of light [or 'a good angel'; in other words, he can change himself into almost any shape or form and appear to be something that he's not]."
2 Corinthians 11:15: "Therefore it is no great thing [or 'it is not surprising'] if his [Satan's] ministers [servants] also be transformed as [or 'appear to be'] the ministers [religious leaders] of righteousness [good]; whose end [final destiny, fate--referring to Satan's 'ministers,' or servants] shall be [ruin and destruction,] according to their works [of deception]."
"(3) We are not to sup pose [suppose] that all that appears to be piety [the quality of being religious or reverent] is piety. Some of the most plausible [believable] appearances of piety are assumed by Satan and his ministers. None [of them] ever professed a profounder [greater] regard for the authority of God than Satan did when he tempted the Saviour [Jesus Christ]. And if the prince of wickedness [Satan] can appear to be an angel of light, we are not to be surprised if those who have the blackest hearts [referring to 'ministers' who serve Satan] appear to be people of most eminent [respected, distinguished] piety.
"(4) We should be on our guard. We should not listen to suggestions merely because they appear to come from a pious [religious] man, nor because they seem to be prompted by a regard to the will of God. We may be always sure that, if we are to be tempted, it will be by some one [someone] having a great appearance of virtue [high moral standards] and religion."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/2-corinthians-11.html, "Verse 14")
NOVEMBER 1-3
1 Corinthians 3:5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Many people who hear the gospel will not get saved, so regarding evangelism (soul winning, witnessing), it's important to remember that God rewards our efforts, not the results (see Note 1 below).
In a letter to the Corinthian church, regarding divisions in that church, the apostle Paul wrote:
1 Corinthians 3:5: "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos [see Note 2 below], but [aren't they both] ministers [i.e., servants of God, not heads (or leaders) of different parties (or groups) within the Christian church] by whom ye [you] believed [the gospel], even as the Lord gave [talents and abilities and other spiritual gifts--see Note 3 below] to every man [and woman and child]?"
1 Corinthians 3:6: "I [Paul] have planted [(sowed) the seed of the gospel, meaning Paul had preached the gospel and established the Christian church in Corinth], Apollos watered [that seed, which means that he had continued Paul's work of preaching and teaching]; but God gave the increase [in other words, God gave life to the church and made it grow]."
1 Corinthians 3:7: "So then neither is he [the minister] that planteth [plants] [the seed of the gospel] any thing [worth mentioning, meaning he is not more important than other ministers], neither [is] he [the minister] that watereth [waters] [the seed of the gospel] [anything worth mentioning, meaning he is not more important than other ministers]; but God that giveth [gives] the increase [by saving souls and growing the Christian church] [is greater and more important than those who plant and water the seed (i.e., the people who preach and teach the word of God)]."
1 Corinthians 3:8: "Now he [the minister] that planteth [the seed of the gospel] and he [the minister] that watereth [the seed] are one [meaning they are united in doing one part of building up the church; God does the other part]: and every man [every minister--see Note 4 below] shall receive his own reward [from God] according to his own labour [referring to what he (the minister) has done for the sake of the gospel]."
1 Corinthians 3:9: "For we [ministers] are labourers together with God: ye [you--in this case, born-again members of the Corinthian church] are God's husbandry [an agricultural metaphor comparing the church at Corinth to a cultivated field (i.e., land that has been prepared by God to raise crops, or be fruitful)], [and] ye are God's building [an architectural metaphor indicating that God was the builder of the Corinthian church]."
Here are two articles on the subject of evangelism:
-- "What is personal evangelism?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/personal-evangelism.html)
-- "How can I gain a passion for winning souls?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/winning-souls.html)
"Who was Apollos?" is answered in the GotQuestions.org article by the same name. To read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/who-Apollos.html.
"Here are some articles about spiritual gifts:
-- "Is there a biblical spiritual gifts list?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-gifts-list.html)
-- "Spiritual gifts survey - what are the different spiritual gifts the Bible mentions?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-gifts-survey.html)
According to Albert Barnes:
"And every man - The argument of the apostle [Paul] here [in 1 Corinthians 3:8] has reference only to ministers; but it is equally true of all people, that they shall receive their proper reward."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/1-corinthians-3.html, "Verse 8")
____________________
In light of the above statement by Mr. Barnes, I have rewritten my comments on the second half of verse 8 to include all people:
1 Corinthians 3:8: "… and every man [and woman and child] shall receive his [or her] own reward [on judgment day] according to his [or her] own labour [referring to the rewards that Christians will receive in heaven at the judgment seat of Christ for what they did on earth for God]."
"So while we must properly appreciate what ministers do, if they do it humbly and faithfully, we must remember, and they [the ministers] must remember, that they are merely earthly vessels [containers]. Sometimes their work will prosper [be successful], and sometimes it will seem to languish [grow weak and feeble] (although the seed grows secretly). It will all depend on God's activity, without which their work is useless. And sometimes work will seem to prosper which is earthly work and not heavenly work at all. But anything worthwhile that comes out of it will be God's work, not theirs. It will be accomplished through the word of the cross, not through the word of men."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/pet/1-corinthians-3.html, "Verse 7")
"… So Paul will receive his reward for planting. Apollos will receive his reward for watering. And that is the beautiful thing about serving the Lord, He does reward us for that work that we do, not for the results of the work, because the results belong to Him.
"So [as a preacher, says Pastor Smith,] I'm on a salary, I'm not commissioned at all. I'm not paid with a commission. I'm only salaried [meaning he receives a salary, or is paid] by the Lord to teach His Word; whatever comes of it is His [i.e., God's] and it's for His glory.
"I [referring to Pastor Smith] cannot produce fruit in your life. All I can do is teach you the Word of God, water really. And maybe someone else has planted the seed, but here we are watering, cultivating, in some cases planting, great. But it's the work of God that counts. It's God who brings life and gives life to the Word [of God--the Bible], and thus, I just receive the reward for that which I have done, and I receive the reward whether or not anything comes of it, because I've been faithful to do what God called me to do.
"And that's the thing that we need to really realize: that God rewards us for the work that He's called us to do, not for the results of that work. Sometimes we feel so discouraged, because [as we might say], 'I've witnessed to so many people, then none ever believe, you know. I haven't been able to lead one person to Jesus Christ and I've talked to so many.' Hey, it doesn't matter. As far as your reward is concerned, God only asked you to talk to them.
"God didn't commission us to argue people into a faith in Jesus Christ, to get into disputes [disagreements, arguments, debates] with people over the inerrancy [trustworthiness, infallibility] of the Bible or whatever. I find it rather pathetic [pitiful, sad] that we so often are placed in the position of defending the Word of God. God didn't call you to defend His Word. God called you to use His Word.
"If you were in a duel [a fight with a deadly weapon] and you pulled your sword out of the sheath [its protective covering], you wouldn't say, 'Now, you be careful, this sword is the sharpest sword in the world' … You're not going to defend your sword, you're going to use it. Don't defend the Word of God, just use it. The Lord will do the work."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/1-corinthians/3-5.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary")
James 3:7, 8, 9, 10
Gaining Control of "Bad Tongues"
In a letter to the 12 tribes of Israel (and to all Christians), the apostle James (who was also a brother of Jesus) wrote:
James 3:7: "For every kind of beasts [wild animals], and of birds, and of serpents [snakes, etc.], and of things in the sea [such as fish and other marine animals], is tamed, and hath [has] been tamed of [by] mankind [human beings--see note below for examples*]:"
James 3:8: "But the tongue can no man [or 'person'] tame [restrain]; it is an unruly evil [thing, meaning it is almost impossible to control], full of deadly poison [which means it is capable of saying malicious, slanderous, hurtful things]."
James 3:9: Therewith [or 'with our tongues'] bless we God [or 'we praise, thank, honor, and worship God'], even the Father [in heaven]; and therewith [i.e., with our tongues] curse we [or 'we wish evil upon'] men [and women and children], which are made after the similitude [or 'in the likeness or image'] of God [i.e., mentally, morally, and socially--see note below**]."
James 3:10: "Out of the same mouth proceedeth [proceeds, comes] blessing and cursing [of people and God]. My brethren [brothers, meaning fellow Jews and Christians], these things [i.e., 'cursing men' while 'blessing God'] ought not so to be [or 'should not be so,' 'should not be done,' 'should not happen']."
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We all need God's help to "tame" our tongues.* * * * *
In his commentary on James 3:10, Dr. Thomas Constable wrote:"… To the person who speaks praise to God in the worship service [in church or other places] and then abuses people verbally at home or at work, James commands, 'Purify your speech through the week.'
"With the person who says, 'Oh, I know I talk too much,' and laughs it off, James is not amused. He insists, 'Be quick to listen, slow to speak.'
"By the person who boasts, 'I always speak my mind, no matter who gets hurt,' James is not impressed. He commands, 'Discipline your speaking.'
"Of the person who says, 'I know I gossip too much, but I just can't help it,' James still requires, 'Control your tongue.'
"Of the person who is in the habit of speaking with insults, ridicule or sarcasm, James demands, 'Change your speech habits.'
"He [James] expects discipline to be happening in the life of a Christian. Any Christian can ask [God, through prayer] for the grace needed, for [or 'because'] God gives good gifts (James 1:17) and gives them generously (James 1:5) …"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/james/3-10.html, "Dr. Constable's Expository Notes," with the paragraph broken up and with italics added for emphasis)
* * * * *
*Commenting on the apostle's statement in James 3:7, Pastor Chuck Smith, a Bible commentator, said:"It is interesting how that [or 'how] man [mankind] has been able to tame all kinds of creatures. We can tame lions, we've seen the lion tamers and we've watched them in the circus. Birds can be trained to talk, and to say phrases. Even serpents [snakes] can be trained and you see the... in India the guy with his flute and the Boa constrictor you know doing its thing. And of course you can go down to Sea World or over to Marineland and see how they have trained the fish. Man has learned how to train and to bring into control all these of these wild things in nature. One thing man hasn't been able to tame is his own tongue,"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/james/3-7.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary")
* * * * *
**How we can be made "after the similitude of God" is explained in the following article: "What does it mean that humanity is made in the image of God (imago dei)?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/image-of-God.html.* * * * *
Here are some GotQuestions.org articles about taming the tongue:-- "What does it mean that no one cam tame the tongue (James 3:8)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/no-one-can-tame-the-tongue.html)
-- "Taming the tongue--why is it so difficult?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/taming-the-tongue.html)
-- "What does it mean that blessing and cursing should not come from the same mouth (James 3:10)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/same-mouth-blessing-cursing.html)
NOVEMBER 22
Hebrews 13:5, 6
In a letter to Jewish Christians, the apostle Paul wrote:
Hebrews 13:5: "Let your conversation [which, in the Bible, refers to a person's actions, conduct, behavior, or way of life] be without covetousness [or greed; in other words, don't crave money, power, and/or possessions, especially like those belonging to other people0]; and be content [satisfied] with such things as ye [you] have: for he [God] hath [has] said [to people like Jacob, Joshua, and King Solomon in the Old Testament--see note below*], I will never leave thee [you], nor forsake [abandon, desert] thee."
Hebrews 13:6: "[We must try not to be covetous, but to be content with the things that we have, and to trust in God's promises to never leave or forsake us] So that we may boldly [confidently] say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear [be afraid of] what man [mankind, other people, human beings] shall do unto me."
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God's promise to never leave or forsake Christians who lived in Bible times also applies to Christians who are alive today.* * * * *
*Some promises that God made to Jacob, Joshua, and King Solomon regarding his faithfulness and protection can be found in:-- Genesis 28:15 [God's promise to Jacob]: "And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."
-- Joshua 1:5 [God's promise to Joshua]: "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
-- 1 Chronicles 28:20 [God's promise to Solomon]: "And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."
* * * * *
The following articles relate to today's verses:-- "Why are we told to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/be-content-with-what-you-have.html)
-- "What does God mean when He says, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' (Hebrews 13:5)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/I-will-never-leave-you-nor-forsake-you.html)
-- What does 'the Lord is my helper' mean (Hebrews 13:6)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/Lord-is-my-helper.html)
-- "What does the Bible say about contentment?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-contentment.html)
NOVEMBER 21
Psalm 51:12, 13
Overwhelmed with guilt and deeply remorseful over (or filled with regret and feeling sorry for) his wicked behavior, King David prayed to God:
Psalm 51:12-13: "Restore [bring back, return] unto me the joy of thy [your] salvation; and uphold me [hold me up, support me, keep me from falling--into temptation, sin, etc.] with thy free spirit [or, in other words, with a willing mind (i.e., willingly), and/or with the Holy Spirit's help]. Then [as an expression of gratitude to God for his mercy and forgiveness despite the ungodly things that David had done] will I [David] teach transgressors [sinners--people who break God's laws, either accidentally or on purpose] thy [your] ways [including examples from David's life of the consequences of sin]; and sinners shall be converted unto thee [you (God), implying that backsliding Christians (see note below*) would sincerely repent and turn back to God]."
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When this psalm was written, David had fallen into sin (by committing adultery with Bathsheba and causing the death of her husband, Uriah), and he wanted God to forgive him and restore the joy that he had when he first got saved. David also needed the Holy Spirit's help to resist temptation and avoid depression in the future. He promised that if and when God answered his prayer, he would tell others what they must do to have their sins forgiven, and, as a result, backslidden Christians would "get right with God."* * * * *
*If you're unfamiliar with the term backslidden Christians, an excellent article to read is "What does it mean to backslide?" Here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/backslide.html.* * * * *
The GotQuestions.org article relating to today's verse is entitled "What did David mean when he asked God to 'restore to me the joy of your salvation' (Psalm 51:12)?" To read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/restore-joy-salvation.html.NOVEMBER 20
1 John 4:20
The apostle John said:
1 John 4:20: "If a man [or woman or child] say [says], I love God, and hateth [hates] his [or her] brother [or sister] [in Christ, meaning a fellow Christian--or, for that matter, if he (or she) hates any person], he [or she] is a liar: for he [or she] that loveth not [or 'does not love or have compassion for' (referring to brotherly love, not romantic or sexual love)] his [or her] brother [or other person] whom he [or she] hath [has] seen, how can he [or she] love God whom he [or she] hath not seen [see note below*]?"
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Hate-filled people are lying if they claim to be Christians. That's because, according to 1 John 4:20, if they don't love people, they also don't love God.* * * * *
*The Bible says that we can't see God (John 1:18), but we were created in his image (Genesis 1:27, so you may be wondering, "What does it mean that humanity is made in the image of God (imago dei)?" For the answer to that question, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/image-of-God.html.NOVEMBER 19
Psalm 100:1, 2
Psalm 100:1: "{A Psalm of praise.} Make a joyful noise unto the LORD [God], all ye [you] lands [or 'all of you nations, or people, on earth']"
Psalm 100:2: "Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence [both publicly and privately, in person and through prayer] with singing."
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As I've mentioned before, singing (which is one way to 'make a joyful noise') is a great way to praise and worship God. In fact, if we pay attention to the words of Christian hymns (for example, the kind used in Baptist churches--see Hymnary link below) while singing, it will not only give us joy but also help to strengthen our faith.____________________
Click here for a current list of the "Most Popular Texts [Hymns]" plus "the 250 texts [hymns] published the most frequently in modern hymnals indexed by Hymnary.org": https://hymnary.org/browse/popular.
* * * * *
Regarding serving the Lord with gladness, Pastor Chuck Smith, a Bible commentator, wrote:\"… Now if you can't serve the Lord with gladness, it's better that you [do] not serve Him [at all]. It is a shame and a disgrace that people gripe [complain] about what they've done for the Lord or their service for God. But that's usually the result of people being pushed into [doing] something that God hasn't led them into. And the church, unfortunately, has been very guilty of pushing people into jobs or into things that the people's heart really isn't in it. People are oftentimes pushed to support a new building program or pushed to support a new budget or something for the church. And everytime the month comes around [or 'every time a new month arrives'] and you get your little notice that your pledge is due, you get upset, you know, and you write out [a check for] your pledge and mail it in, but you're angry about it. You've been pressured into it. They [the 'church'] caught you at a weak moment.
"'Serve the Lord with gladness.' If you can't give joyfully to the Lord, you're much better off not to give, because if you give grudgingly [in a reluctant or resentful manner], that's going to go against you. That's not going to count. That will count against you. So you're much better off not to give at all. If you can be happy about not giving at all, you're much better off doing that rather than giving grudgingly to God. And that's giving of your time and serving the Lord or giving of your finances or whatever. If you can't give unto the Lord with a joyful heart, if you cannot serve the Lord with gladness, then it's best you not serve Him at all. God doesn't want any kind of grudging in your gifts to Him. God doesn't want your giving ever to be out of pressure, out of constraint [restraint], out of someone pushing [pressuring] you. …"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/psalms/100-1.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary," Verses 1-2)
* * * * *
Here are two articles that relate to today's verses:-- "What does it mean to make a joyful noise unto the Lord?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/joyful-noise.html)
-- "What do I need to do to hear, 'Well done, good and faithful servant' when I arrive in heaven?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/well-done-good-and-faithful-servant.html)
NOVEMBER 16-18
Titus 3:5, 6, 7
We're Saved Through Faith, Not Works
In this letter, the apostle Paul was (and is) writing to born-again Christians:
Titus 3:5: "Not by works of righteousness [or 'Not through good deeds or because of the good things'] which we have done, but according to his mercy [kindness and compassion] he [God the Father] saved us [from hell and the lake of fire] [Ephesians 2:8-9], by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost [i.e., through spiritual rebirth, or the process of being 'born again,' whereby we are cleansed from sin and become innocent, righteous, and new 'creatures' in God's sight (2 Corinthians 5:17)];"
Titus 3:6: "Which [referring to the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit] he [God the Father] shed [poured out, like rainwater] on us abundantly [plentifully, indicating a daily 'renewing of the Holy Ghost'] through Jesus Christ [the Son of God, who is also] our Saviour [Savior];"
Titus 3:7: "[God saved us so] That being justified [freed from sin, declared righteous] by his grace, we should be made heirs [of his, which means we should be adopted into the family of God] according to the hope of [having] eternal [never-ending] life [in heaven]."
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If you're not yet saved (from hell) and want to become a born-again Christian, you'll find detailed instructions in the "Printable Gospel Tracts" section of my website. Here's a direct link to that page: https://www.mansioninheaven.com/PrintableGospelTracts.html.* * * * *
Some Bible commentators think that the phrase by the washing of regeneration in Titus 3:5 refers to baptism, but others do not. This is what Peter Pett said in his commentary:Note: Most references in the following quote have been omitted.
"'Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he [God] saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,'"And this work of salvation which He [God] has wrought [brought about, produced] in us if we are Christians, was not because of any works that we had done in righteousness. It was not deserved in any way. It simply resulted from His [God's] compassion and mercy. And it was through 'the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit'. This does not mean that it was outwardly through baptism and inwardly through the Holy Spirit. That is totally to misunderstand the picture. (How we love to bring baptism in when water is mentioned as though water was never used for anything else. Even in a context like this we still have to keep God under our control). It is a picture drawn from the Old Testament where the coming of the Holy Spirit was likened to the pouring out of rain from above, washing the earth and regenerating it … And the result was to be life and fruitfulness. It was to be the renewal of the Holy Spirit which had been so long awaited.
"Alternately the washing of regeneration may have in mind the Old Testament examples of the washing away of sin (not defilement [uncleanness]) … where it is a picture of the removal of sin, not of a ritual washing. The new birth washed away all [of] their [the people's] old sins and their old ways … and they became new creatures in Christ Jesus … In this case the regeneration is seen in terms of the positive removal of their sin, not of ritual washing.
"All [of] the Gospels [i.e., the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John] emphasise [emphasize] that it was a prime [main, most important] ministry of Jesus, to drench [wet thoroughly, soak, or (in this case) totally immerse] men in the Holy Spirit [in other words, he wanted them to be filled to overflowing with God's presence] … And it is this work of Jesus that Paul is describing here, a work that began while He was on earth … continued in the Upper Room [i.e., the place where Jesus shared the Last Supper with his disciples--see note below*] … flowered at Pentecost [i.e., the day the Christian church was 'born'--see note below**] … and has gone on ever since [then], a work that takes place in men and women [and children] when they hear the Gospel and truly believe …
"In fact baptism is never described as 'washing' (Acts 22:16, the only possible exception, is debatable). It is always seen as an indicator of life from the dead through the Holy Spirit. Nor did ritual washings in the Old Testament ever cleanse ('you shall not be clean until the evening' was the constant refrain [referring to a statement that was repeated frequently]). They simply washed away earthly defilement [impurities] so that men could then reach out to God, and Peter makes clear that that is not what baptism is all about … What baptism does of course signify is the working of the Holy Spirit, picturing it in terms of the heavenly rain. The Christian is baptised [baptized] as a picture of what has happened to him [during the 'new birth' (i.e., at salvation, when he was 'born again')], and as an act of his resulting total commitment to [Jesus] Christ as his Lord."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/pet/titus-3.html, "Pett's Commentary on the Bible," "Verse 5")
* * * * *
*"What is the meaning and importance of the Last Supper?" is answered in the GotQuestions.org article by the same name. If you want to read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/Last-Supper.html.* * * * *
**According to the AI overview in Google:"The story of Pentecost describes the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the early followers of Jesus in Jerusalem, 50 days after his resurrection. As they gathered in a house, a sound like a mighty wind filled the room, and tongues of fire appeared and rested on each of them, causing them to be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in different languages. This event, described in Acts Chapter 2 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202%3A1-15&version=KJV], is considered a pivotal moment, often called the 'birthday of Christianity,' as it empowered the disciples to begin preaching and is the origin of the Christian church.
"Key events of the story
"• The setting: About 120 followers of Jesus, including his mother Mary, were gathered in a house in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which is also known as Pentecost.
"• The wind: Suddenly, a sound like a 'mighty rushing wind' came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting.
"• The fire: Divided 'tongues as of fire' appeared and rested on each person's head.
"• Speaking in tongues: All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
"• The crowd's reaction: People from various nations who were in Jerusalem for the festival heard the commotion and gathered, stunned to hear the disciples speaking in their own native languages.
"• Peter's sermon: The Apostle Peter addressed the amazed crowd. He explained that this was a fulfillment of prophecy and that Jesus, whom they had crucified, had been raised to life, exalted by God, and had sent the Holy Spirit.
"• Repentance and baptism: Hearing this message, many in the crowd were deeply moved and asked what they should do. Peter told them to repent and be baptized, and about 3,000 people did so that day.
"• The birth of the church: The event is seen as the birth of the Christian church, as the followers dedicated themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, and prayer."
* * * * *
The GotQuestions.org article relating to today's verse is called "What is the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5)?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/washing-of-regeneration.html.NOVEMBER 15
Ephesians 4:26
In his letter to the "saints [born-again Christians] at Ephesus," the apostle Paul advised all Christians as follows:
Ephesians 4:26: "Be ye [you] angry, and sin not [or 'don't sin'] [in other words, if you become angry at other people's sins or at unfortunate circumstances (bad things that happen to you or other people), etc., don't let your anger cause you to sin]: let not the sun go down [or 'don't let the sun set' or 'don't let the day end'] upon your wrath [anger, indignation, exasperation--i.e., without letting it (your wrath) go; in other words, try not to hold a grudge or seek revenge]:"
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Meaning of the above verse, according to Albert Barnes:"'… If you be angry, which may be the case, and which may be unavoidable, see that the sudden excitement does not become sin. Do not let it overleap its proper bounds [boundaries]; do not cherish [hold on to] it; do not let it [your anger] remain in your bosom [or, in this case, 'your heart'] even to the setting of the sun. Though the sun be sinking in the west, let not the passion [anger] linger [remain, stay] in the bosom, but let his [the sun's] last rays find you always peaceful and calm.'"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/ephesians-4.html, "Verse 26")
* * * * *
Here's another good explanation of the above verse, quoted from "Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible":"Ephesians 4:26. Be ye angry, and sin not:
"If you must be angry, (and you must, sometimes,) take care that you do not sin when you are angry. It is rather a difficult thing to be angry, and not to sin; yet, if a man were to see sin, and not to be angry with it, he would sin through not being angry. If we are only angry, in a right spirit, with a wrong thing, we shall manage to obey the injunction [warning] of the apostle: 'Be ye angry, and sin not:'
"Ephesians 4:26. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
"Never let it [your anger] outlive [last beyond, remain longer than] the day, but forgive ere [before] the sun goes down."
(Source: https://www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com/commentaries/spe/ephesians-4.php)
* * * * *
Matthew Henry said this about holding a grudge:"… though anger may come into the bosom [or 'heart'] of a wise man, it rests [remains for a long time] only in the bosom of fools."
(Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/ephesians/4.html, "Verses 17-32," "v. 26")
* * * * *
These two articles relate to today's verse:-- "What does the Bible mean when it says in your anger do not sin (Ephesians 4:26)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/in-your-anger-do-not-sin.html)
-- "What does it mean to not let the sun go down on your anger?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/sun-go-down-anger.html)
NOVEMBER 14
Proverbs 14:13
Proverbs 14:13: "Even in laughter [which means that sometimes, when a person appears to be happy and having fun,] the heart is sorrowful [full of grief]; and the end of that mirth [laughter, cheerfulness--referring, in this case, to the person's true, hidden feelings] is heaviness [sadness]."
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Sometimes true feelings are hidden by forced (or fake) smiles.* * * * *
According to Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church, "Solomon's point in this proverb is that laughter isn't always what it seems." In his commentary, he says, "Solomon observed [noticed] that often times [or 'frequently'] people attempt to cover up their deep inner grief [sorrow] with the outward appearance of laughter" and that "clowns [and comedians, too] are often very sad people."____________________
Pastor Delany goes on to says, "the very thing we try to block out [in public--i.e., sorrow] is GOOD for us!" That's because:
"• God uses sorrow to get our attention… to cause us to look to Him… to stop and think…
"• God uses sorrow to strengthen the inner man. It is in a time of grief that we take the time to reflect upon life… on the important things…
"• This sorrow and sober reflection [or 'thoughtful consideration'] often leads to repentance… a change of mind followed by a turning in the right direction.
"• People are much more likely to think soberly [correctly] about the real issues of life at a funeral than at a party."
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The commentary ends with:
"• So there is no point in covering up sorrow… or pretending to be always happy.
"• If you are going through a period of grief or sorrow… let God USE that period for good in your life."
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If you want to read more of the commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "14:13."
(Please note: Proverbs 14:13, along with some other Bible study verses in this chapter of Proverbs, is currently missing on the Salem Baptist Church website, but hopefully, it will be added back soon. Sorry!)
* * * * *
The GotQuestions.org article that relates to today's verse is entitled "What does it mean that, 'even in laughter the heart may ache' (Proverbs 14:13)?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/even-in-laughter-the-heart-may-ache.html.NOVEMBER 13
Psalm 5:3
King David prayed to God:
Psalm 5:3: "My voice [in prayer, either silently or out loud] shalt thou [shall you] hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee [you], and [I] will look up [to heaven--for an answer] [which means that, when praying, we should watch and wait for an answer from God, in the same way that an archer would shoot his or her arrow toward the target and then look up to see where it has landed--see note below*]."
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Although praying at all times is acceptable and good, a great time to pray and ask God for his guidance, protection, and resistance to temptation (among other things) is in the morning. We should all try to develop that daily habit.* * * * *
*In his commentary, Charles Spurgeon used archery to explain how we should pray. He wrote:"Psalms 5:3. In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
"Adjust your prayer as the archer fits his arrow on the bow, look up as you shoot it, and keep on looking up and looking out for an answer to your supplication [request]. You cannot expect God to open the windows of heaven to pour you out a blessing if you do not open the windows of your expectation to look for it. If you look up in asking, God will look down in answering. It is well always to take good aim in prayer; some prayers are like random shots, they cannot be expected to hit the target; but David's prayer was well aimed, and he expected it to prevail with [or be received and answered by] God …"
(Source: https://truthaccordingtoscripture.com/commentaries/spe/psalms-5.php, "Spurgeon's Verse Expositioins of the Bible," Verse 3)
* * * * *
Here are some articles about prayer:-- "What does the Bible say about prayerlessness?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/prayerlessness.html)
-- "Do we have to seek the Lord early in the morning (Psalm 63:1)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/early-will-I-seek-you.html)
NOVEMBER 9-12
Ephesians 6:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
The Apostle Paul's Spiritual Advice to "Christian Soldiers"
Ephesians 6:11: "Put on the whole armour of God [referring to a spiritual suit of armor, the parts of which are similar to Greek armor--see note below*], [so] that ye [you] may be able to stand against the wiles [methods, tricks, schemes] of the devil."
Ephesians 6:12: "For we wrestle not [or 'we don't struggle with or fight'] against flesh and blood [i.e., people], but [we fight] against principalities [principal rulers in Satan's kingdom], against powers [meaning 'powerful fallen (bad) angels'], against the rulers of the darkness of this [sinful] world, [and] against spiritual wickedness in high places [i.e., all other evil and wicked spirits]. [In other words, our fight is against very powerful invisible enemies, all of whom are evil spirits, and many of whom hold positions of authority in Satan's kingdom.]
Ephesians 6:13: "Wherefore [for the reasons mentioned above (i.e., because our opponents are so powerful)] take unto you [or 'put on'] the whole armour of God, [so] that ye may be able to withstand [or 'be victorious'] in the evil day [or 'the day of temptation'], and [so that,] having done all [things, or having won the fight], [you will be able] to stand [firm, or stand your ground]."
Ephesians 6:14: "Stand therefore [or 'resist every attack'], having your loins [the region around your sexual organs] girt about [surrounded] with truth [i.e., sincerity and truthfulness, the truth of God--for protection, like the soldiers did, in Bible times, when they wore a 'girdle,' or sash or belt, to keep every piece of armor in place and to hold their swords and other weapons], and having on [or 'wearing'] the breastplate of righteousness [i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ that was imputed (given) to you the moment you got saved];"
Ephesians 6:15: "And [having] your feet shod [covered, as when you wear shoes or boots] with the preparation of the gospel of peace [probably called that because, through the gospel, you can have peace in your heart, peace with God, and peace with mankind (other human beings)];"
Ephesians 6:16: "Above all [or 'in addition to the things just mentioned,' as protection for your entire body], taking the shield of faith, wherewith [or 'with which'] ye shall be able to quench [put out, extinguish] all [of] the fiery [flaming] darts of the wicked [one (referring to Satan), including evil thoughts and temptation--anything that may cause you to stumble and sin]."
Ephesians 6:17: "And take the helmet of salvation [representing hope for a bright future, and the assurance of eternal life in heaven], and the sword of the [Holy] Spirit, which is the word of God [referring to the Bible, and everything that is contained in it]:"
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To sum up the above, in order to have victory over Satan and his kingdom (i.e., everyone and everything under Satan's control), we need to put on (and keep wearing) the whole spiritual armor of God, which consists of:The girdle (or belt) of truth
The breastplate of righteousness
The boots (or shoes) of the gospel of peace
The shield of faith
The helmet of salvation
The sword of the Spirit (i.e., the word of God)
* * * * *
*Adam Clarke's commentary includes a description of the various parts of Greek armor. Basically, it says:"As there is here allusion [a reference] to some of the most important parts of the Grecian armour [or 'armor,' referring to protective gear worn by ancient Greek soldiers], I shall give a short account of the whole. It consisted properly of two sorts [types, kinds]:
"Defensive armour, or that which protected themselves.
"Offensive armour, or that by which they injured their enemies. The apostle refers to both.
"I. Defensive armour:
"… the HELMET; this was the armour for the head, and was of various forms, and embossed with a great variety of figures. Connected with the helmet was the crest or ridge on the top of the helmet, adorned with several emblematic figures; some for ornament, some to strike terror. For crests on ancient helmets we often see the winged lion, the griffin [a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle], chimera [a fire-breathing monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail], [et]c. St. Paul seems to refer to one which had an emblematical representation of hope.
"… the GIRDLE this went about the loins, and served to brace the armour tight to the body, and to support daggers, short swords, and such like weapons, which were frequently stuck in it …
"… the BREAST-PLATE; this consisted of two parts … one covered the whole region of the thorax or breast, in which the principal viscera of life [i.e., the soft, internal organs of the body, located in the chest and abdomen--things like the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines] are contained; and the other [part of the breastplate] covered the [person's] back, as far down as the front part [of the breastplate] extended.
"… GREAVES or brazen boots, which covered the shin or front of the leg; a kind of solea was often used, which covered the sole [the bottom of the foot], and laced about the instep, and prevented the foot from being wounded [injured] by rugged ways [such as difficult or rough paths], thorns, stones, [et]c.
"… GAUNTLETS a kind of gloves that served to defend the hands, and the arm up to the elbow.
"… SHIELD; it was perfectly round, and sometimes made of wood, covered with bullocks' hides [i.e., the hides or skins of young bulls]; but [was] often made of metal …
"II. Offensive armour, or weapons; the following were chief:" (Note: This section lists the following items: spear, lance, sword, battle-axe, iron club, and bow and arrows.)
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/ephesians/6-13.html, "Clarke's Commentary")
* * * * *
No one knows exactly what the "Armor of God" looks like. However, if you're interested in learning more about what battle armor was like in Bible times, its various parts are described and pictured in the following article: "The Armor of God: What It Is and How to Use It." Here's the link: https://reasonabletheology.org/the-armor-of-god-what-it-is-and-how-to-use-it/.* * * * *
GotQuestions.org has many articles about today's verses. Here are their titles and links, if you want to read them:-- "What is the full armor of God?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/full-armor-of-God.html)
-- "What are the wiles of the devil in Ephesians 6:11?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/wiles-of-the-devil.html)
-- "What are the devil's schemes (Ephesians 6:11)?
(https://www.gotquestions.org/devils-schemes.html)
____________________
-- "What does it mean that we do not fight against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/not-fight-against-flesh-and-blood.html)
-- "What are the spiritual hosts of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-hosts-of-wickedness.html)
____________________
-- "What is the meaning of 'having done all to stand' in Ephesians 6:13?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/having-done-all-to-stand.html)
____________________
-- "Why are we told to 'stand therefore' in Ephesians 6:14?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/stand-therefore.html)
-- "What is the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/belt-of-truth.html)
-- "What is the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/breastplate-of-righteousness.html)
____________________
-- "What is the readiness of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/gospel-of-peace.html)
____________________
-- "What is the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/shield-of-faith.html)
-- "What are the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/flaming-arrows-of-the-evil-one.html)
____________________
-- "What is the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/helmet-of-salvation.html)
-- "What is the sword of the Spirit?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/sword-of-the-Spirit.html)
____________________
-- "What does the Bible say about spiritual warfare?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-warfare.html)
-- "What can I do when I am under spiritual attack?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-attack.html)
NOVEMBER 8
John 3:17
While explaining to Nicodemus (see note below*), a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, that people must be "born again" in order to go to heaven, Jesus said:
John 3:17: "For God [the Father] sent not [or 'did not send'] his Son [Jesus] into the world [or 'to earth,' to be born of the virgin Mary] [in order] to condemn [judge, punish] the [nations of the] world; but [he did it so] that the world [that is, the people in it] through him [Jesus, because of his death on the cross to pay for our sins] might be saved [from hell and the lake of fire--see note below**]."
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Jesus came to save the world, not condemn it.* * * * *
Adam Clarke explains the above verse as follows:"It was the opinion of the Jews that the Gentiles [non-Jewish people], whom they often term [or 'call' or 'refer to as'] the world, … were to be destroyed in the days of the Messiah. Christ [Jesus] corrects this false opinion and teaches here a contrary [or 'an opposite'] doctrine. God [the Father], by giving [us] his Son [Jesus], and publishing his design in giving him [to us], shows that he purposes [desires] the salvation, not the destruction, of the world-[i.e.,] the Gentile people: nevertheless, those who will not receive the salvation [that] he [God] had provided for them, whether [they are] Jews or Gentiles, must necessarily perish [be sent to hell and the lake of fire]; for this plain reason, There is but one [or 'only one'] remedy [i.e., that of salvation (by God's grace, through faith alone--Ephesians 2:8-9), which involves trusting in Jesus' death on the cross to pay for our sins], and they refuse to apply it [to themselves]."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/john/3-17.html, "Clarke's Commentary")
* * * * *
*You can learn about Nicodemus by reading the article entitled "Who was Nicodemus in the Bible?" Here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Nicodemus-in-the-Bible.html.* * * * *
**These two articles answer the following questions regarding salvation:-- "What does it mean that Jesus saves?"
(Note: The article includes a sample prayer that you can say if you truly want to be saved.)
(https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-saves.html)
-- "Did God sacrifice Himself to Himself to save us from Himself because of a rule He made Himself?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/did-God-sacrifice-Himself.html)
* * * * *
Another GotQuestions.org article that relates to today's verse is entitled "What does it mean that God did not send His Son to condemn the world (John 3:17)?" If you want to read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/God-did-not-send-His-Son-to-condemn-the-world.html.NOVEMBER 7
Romans 5:3, 4
In this letter to the Christians in Rome (and to all other Christians, too), the apostle Paul wrote:
Romans 5:3-4: "And not only so [do born-again Christians rejoice in good times (such as when our families are healthy, we can afford to pay our bills on time, etc.) and because we know that we are cleansed from sin, have peace with God, are saved from hell, and will live in heaven someday], but we glory [rejoice, take pleasure] in tribulations [troubles, afflictions, bad times] also: knowing that tribulation worketh [works, produces, brings about, results in] patience [a calm temper]; And patience, [produces] experience; and experience, [produces] hope [for the future]:"
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Here are two articles that relate to today's verses:-- "What does it mean that tribulation produces perseverance (Romans 5:3)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/tribulation-produces-perseverance.html)
-- "How can we glory in our sufferings (Romans 5:3)?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/glory-in-our-sufferings.html)
NOVEMBER 6
Psalm 34:18
In this psalm, King David prayed:
Psalm 34:18: "The LORD [God] is nigh unto [or 'is near' or 'is willing to help'] them that are of a broken heart [or 'those who are brokenhearted,' referring to Christians who are overwhelmed by sin, or by depression or grief, as when a romantic relationship ends or a loved one dies]; and [he--God] saveth [saves, rescues] such as be of a contrite spirit [referring to people who are remorseful or repentant, meaning they humbly accept responsibility for their sins and are sincerely sorry for them]."
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"How is the Lord near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18)?" is the GotQuestions.org article relating to today's verse. It references many important Bible verses that you might want to check out (by hovering your mouse pointer over them). And if you want to read the article, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/near-to-the-brokenhearted.html.NOVEMBER 4-5
2 Corinthians 11:13, 14, 15
Don't Be Fooled by False Religious Teachers
In a letter to members of the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul said:
2 Corinthians 11:13: "For such [men, like Paul had been talking about earlier, especially in 2 Corinthians 11:4 (i.e., those who preach 'another Jesus' or 'another gospel')] are false apostles [false religious leaders with false messages--see note below*], deceitful [dishonest, untrustworthy] [religious] workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of [Jesus] Christ [meaning they pretend to be ambassadors of Christ by acting like true Christian teachers in the things that they say and do]."
2 Corinthians 11:14: "And no marvel [no wonder]; for Satan himself [i.e., the devil, or 'prince of darkness'--a very evil angel] is transformed into an angel of light [or 'a good angel'; in other words, he can change himself into almost any shape or form and appear to be something that he's not]."
2 Corinthians 11:15: "Therefore it is no great thing [or 'it is not surprising'] if his [Satan's] ministers [servants] also be transformed as [or 'appear to be'] the ministers [religious leaders] of righteousness [good]; whose end [final destiny, fate--referring to Satan's 'ministers,' or servants] shall be [ruin and destruction,] according to their works [of deception]."
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Be careful: Not all people--and things--that look good are good.* * * * *
*GotQuestions.org has an article that answers the question "What are false apostles?" and tells us how to recognize them. If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/false-apostles.html.* * * * *
While teaching about Satan and false teachers in his commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:14, Albert Barnes points out that:"(3) We are not to sup pose [suppose] that all that appears to be piety [the quality of being religious or reverent] is piety. Some of the most plausible [believable] appearances of piety are assumed by Satan and his ministers. None [of them] ever professed a profounder [greater] regard for the authority of God than Satan did when he tempted the Saviour [Jesus Christ]. And if the prince of wickedness [Satan] can appear to be an angel of light, we are not to be surprised if those who have the blackest hearts [referring to 'ministers' who serve Satan] appear to be people of most eminent [respected, distinguished] piety.
"(4) We should be on our guard. We should not listen to suggestions merely because they appear to come from a pious [religious] man, nor because they seem to be prompted by a regard to the will of God. We may be always sure that, if we are to be tempted, it will be by some one [someone] having a great appearance of virtue [high moral standards] and religion."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/2-corinthians-11.html, "Verse 14")
NOVEMBER 1-3
1 Corinthians 3:5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Many people who hear the gospel will not get saved, so regarding evangelism (soul winning, witnessing), it's important to remember that God rewards our efforts, not the results (see Note 1 below).
In a letter to the Corinthian church, regarding divisions in that church, the apostle Paul wrote:
1 Corinthians 3:5: "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos [see Note 2 below], but [aren't they both] ministers [i.e., servants of God, not heads (or leaders) of different parties (or groups) within the Christian church] by whom ye [you] believed [the gospel], even as the Lord gave [talents and abilities and other spiritual gifts--see Note 3 below] to every man [and woman and child]?"
1 Corinthians 3:6: "I [Paul] have planted [(sowed) the seed of the gospel, meaning Paul had preached the gospel and established the Christian church in Corinth], Apollos watered [that seed, which means that he had continued Paul's work of preaching and teaching]; but God gave the increase [in other words, God gave life to the church and made it grow]."
1 Corinthians 3:7: "So then neither is he [the minister] that planteth [plants] [the seed of the gospel] any thing [worth mentioning, meaning he is not more important than other ministers], neither [is] he [the minister] that watereth [waters] [the seed of the gospel] [anything worth mentioning, meaning he is not more important than other ministers]; but God that giveth [gives] the increase [by saving souls and growing the Christian church] [is greater and more important than those who plant and water the seed (i.e., the people who preach and teach the word of God)]."
1 Corinthians 3:8: "Now he [the minister] that planteth [the seed of the gospel] and he [the minister] that watereth [the seed] are one [meaning they are united in doing one part of building up the church; God does the other part]: and every man [every minister--see Note 4 below] shall receive his own reward [from God] according to his own labour [referring to what he (the minister) has done for the sake of the gospel]."
1 Corinthians 3:9: "For we [ministers] are labourers together with God: ye [you--in this case, born-again members of the Corinthian church] are God's husbandry [an agricultural metaphor comparing the church at Corinth to a cultivated field (i.e., land that has been prepared by God to raise crops, or be fruitful)], [and] ye are God's building [an architectural metaphor indicating that God was the builder of the Corinthian church]."
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NOTE 1:Here are two articles on the subject of evangelism:
-- "What is personal evangelism?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/personal-evangelism.html)
-- "How can I gain a passion for winning souls?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/winning-souls.html)
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NOTE 2:"Who was Apollos?" is answered in the GotQuestions.org article by the same name. To read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/who-Apollos.html.
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NOTE 3:"Here are some articles about spiritual gifts:
-- "Is there a biblical spiritual gifts list?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-gifts-list.html)
-- "Spiritual gifts survey - what are the different spiritual gifts the Bible mentions?"
(https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-gifts-survey.html)
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NOTE 4:According to Albert Barnes:
"And every man - The argument of the apostle [Paul] here [in 1 Corinthians 3:8] has reference only to ministers; but it is equally true of all people, that they shall receive their proper reward."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/1-corinthians-3.html, "Verse 8")
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In light of the above statement by Mr. Barnes, I have rewritten my comments on the second half of verse 8 to include all people:
1 Corinthians 3:8: "… and every man [and woman and child] shall receive his [or her] own reward [on judgment day] according to his [or her] own labour [referring to the rewards that Christians will receive in heaven at the judgment seat of Christ for what they did on earth for God]."
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Regarding Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 3:7 that "neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase," Peter Pett wrote:"So while we must properly appreciate what ministers do, if they do it humbly and faithfully, we must remember, and they [the ministers] must remember, that they are merely earthly vessels [containers]. Sometimes their work will prosper [be successful], and sometimes it will seem to languish [grow weak and feeble] (although the seed grows secretly). It will all depend on God's activity, without which their work is useless. And sometimes work will seem to prosper which is earthly work and not heavenly work at all. But anything worthwhile that comes out of it will be God's work, not theirs. It will be accomplished through the word of the cross, not through the word of men."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/pet/1-corinthians-3.html, "Verse 7")
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Commenting on the rewards mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:8 for serving the Lord (including preaching, teaching, witnessing, and soul winning), Pastor Chuck Smith said:"… So Paul will receive his reward for planting. Apollos will receive his reward for watering. And that is the beautiful thing about serving the Lord, He does reward us for that work that we do, not for the results of the work, because the results belong to Him.
"So [as a preacher, says Pastor Smith,] I'm on a salary, I'm not commissioned at all. I'm not paid with a commission. I'm only salaried [meaning he receives a salary, or is paid] by the Lord to teach His Word; whatever comes of it is His [i.e., God's] and it's for His glory.
"I [referring to Pastor Smith] cannot produce fruit in your life. All I can do is teach you the Word of God, water really. And maybe someone else has planted the seed, but here we are watering, cultivating, in some cases planting, great. But it's the work of God that counts. It's God who brings life and gives life to the Word [of God--the Bible], and thus, I just receive the reward for that which I have done, and I receive the reward whether or not anything comes of it, because I've been faithful to do what God called me to do.
"And that's the thing that we need to really realize: that God rewards us for the work that He's called us to do, not for the results of that work. Sometimes we feel so discouraged, because [as we might say], 'I've witnessed to so many people, then none ever believe, you know. I haven't been able to lead one person to Jesus Christ and I've talked to so many.' Hey, it doesn't matter. As far as your reward is concerned, God only asked you to talk to them.
"God didn't commission us to argue people into a faith in Jesus Christ, to get into disputes [disagreements, arguments, debates] with people over the inerrancy [trustworthiness, infallibility] of the Bible or whatever. I find it rather pathetic [pitiful, sad] that we so often are placed in the position of defending the Word of God. God didn't call you to defend His Word. God called you to use His Word.
"If you were in a duel [a fight with a deadly weapon] and you pulled your sword out of the sheath [its protective covering], you wouldn't say, 'Now, you be careful, this sword is the sharpest sword in the world' … You're not going to defend your sword, you're going to use it. Don't defend the Word of God, just use it. The Lord will do the work."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/1-corinthians/3-5.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary")
