Fighter Verses

Galatians 5:24–25, And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Character is determined by identity. At the end of the day, we live as who we are. Start with Paul’s primary command [...]

The depth behind Galatians 5:19–23 reaches well beyond certain character traits that we should and should not have. The presence of the Holy Spirit invades our present realitiy to point to a new world. And his aim in the lives of believers is to produce lifestyles that are fit for this new world. As the [...]

Galatians 5:22–23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. John Calvin summarized the Christian life as a transformation of identity, or better said, an exchange of possession. “We are not our own, but the Lord’s,” he writes. And thus, [...]

“Fear not, little flock,” Jesus says, “for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). We magnitude of these words are too great to skim over. God is pleased, happily pleased, to give us the kingdom. John Piper writes, What does he promise to give to his little flock — [...]

There are actually two worlds here: one old and one new. Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen write, Two great figures stand at the entrances to two worlds: Adam stands at the gate of the old world, Jesus at the gate of the new. Adam’s first sin inaugurated the old age and brought sin, death, and [...]

Loving the word of God means that we’ve taken a particular position on truth. First, we believe it exists. And second, it comes from somewhere (better, Someone) outside of ourselves. And this leads to a profound recognition of Jesus’ identity. John Piper explains it this way: The way the Bible uses the word truth, and [...]

John Piper on the cross, . . . in that accomplishment on the cross, as he died for sinners, Christ revealed the love and righteousness of the Father supremely. This was the apex of the revelation of the glory of God—the glory of his grace. Therefore, in the very moment of his perfect act as [...]

Ephesians 4:31-32, Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. The church, the Ephesian believers and us, are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. And [...]

This week’s verse from Ephesians 4 is immensely practical. It’s about how we talk. And yet, it’s also embedded within a larger demonstration of the apostle Paul’s theology. Paul’s practice throughout his epistles is a 1-2 punch of both indicative and imperative. The commands to do are always rooted in the who we are in [...]

Psalm 103:20–22, Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul! This psalm concludes [...]