The BIG Picture (Shorts)

Philippians 2:12 declares, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” At first glance, this verse might sound like a call to earn salvation, but that’s not what this verse teaches. It’s about living out what Christ has already done for us. Paul begins with “wherefore,” pointing back to Christ’s example in Philippians 2:6-11. Jesus humbled Himself, obeyed unto death on the cross, and was exalted by God. Because of His finished work—not ours—we’re saved by faith in the gospel of His death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins (1Co 15:1-4). By faith, we are declared righteous and are at peace with God.  “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” – Romans 5:1-2 Salvation isn’t something ...

Deception thrives because it mimics truth with enticing words and partial truths, making it difficult to discern without a solid foundation. The ideas of the world, rooted in self-righteousness and human desires, may promise joy and purpose but are ultimately empty and destructive. These lies not only come from the ungodly but also from false teachers who mishandle the Word of God to promote works-based righteousness or other distortions of the gospel. In stark contrast, the Word of God is the only unchanging source of truth. It declares the sufficiency of Christ in all things—His grace provides complete salvation, spiritual growth, and all we need for life and godliness (Col 2:10, 2Pe 1:3). The treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ alone (Col 2:3), and no worldly philosophy, self-help method, or human teaching can compare to or add to what He has already accomplished. To guard against deception, we must actively study and meditate on Scripture. The truth of God's ...