The BIG Picture (Shorts)

Rom 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. The Ten Commandments, given to Moses, define God's standard of righteousness and provide a moral framework for human behaviour. However, no one can follow them perfectly, highlighting our inherent sinfulness and failure to meet God's standards. The commandments were not given with the expectation of perfect compliance; rather, they were intended to reveal our inability to keep them, affirming our need for a Savior. Salvation does not hinge on flawless observance of these laws, but on God's grace and faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law. The purpose of the Ten Commandments is to prove our need for Jesus Christ, who provides forgiveness, grace, and eternal life to t...

In Romans, Paul tells of the "abundance of grace" and "the gift of righteousness" (Rom.5:17) bestowed by God to those who believe in His Son for salvation. The Bible tells us that no one is blameless before God without this gift of grace. Paul writes, "There is none righteous, not even one," showing his empathy for those trying to establish their own righteousness (Rom.10:3), which is futile without saving grace. He points to Abraham, who "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness" (Rom.4:3). This foreshadowed Christ's atoning death, through which righteousness is now declared and offered to all. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom.5:8), and "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2Cor.5:21). This righteousness, however, is a gift accessed through faith, for "the one who does not work but believes in Him w...

In the verses in the image, Paul speaks of the faith of Christ, not merely faith in Christ. This concept refers to Christ's own faithfulness and trustworthiness, not His personal beliefs. Faith has two aspects: the objective, which is trust in another, and the subjective, which is being trustworthy oneself. If I have faith in you, you should keep faith with me; you should be trustworthy. Paul mentions "the faith of Christ" 7-times in his letters to highlight Christ's worthiness of our trust. For instance, in Gal.3:22 and Phil.3:9, the emphasis is on believing because Christ is worthy of trust. Christ's faithfulness, proven by His death and resurrection, precedes and underpins our faith in Him. It's this trustworthiness that assures us He can "save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him" (Heb.7:25), just as Paul reassured the jailor in Philippi, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Act.16:31). __________...

Contrary to popular belief, a church is not just a building for worship. Biblically, 'church' denotes a congregation of people. For instance, Act.19:32 uses it to describe a confused mob, unaware of their purpose for gathering. Sadly, this could reflect the state of many churches today, but the point is that a church represents the people, not the building. " The Church of God," as mentioned in the Bible, was purchased by the blood of Christ (Act.20:28). Paul refers to the current church as "the Body of Christ" (1Cor.12:27; Eph.1:22-23), entry to which is through faith in Jesus, not baptisms and other rites. Paul writes, "By one Spirit, we are all baptized into one body" (1Cor.12:13), and in Rom.12:5, "we, being many, are one body in Christ." Many have been on church rosters for years without grasping this truth. They have trusted their Church membership and traditions for salvation. Crucially, it's as simple as whether we have tru...

In the Book of Romans, God uses the phrase "There is no difference" twice, once in Rom.3:22-23 and once in Rom.10:12-13. The first phrase in question speaks to the universal guilt of humanity, encompassing religious Jews, godless Gentiles, refined moralists, and uncivilized barbarians alike. The first three chapters examine their respective privileges and duties, weighing their arguments with due consideration. The verdict drawn is unequivocal: all are equally culpable, having sinned and fallen short of God's glory. The same phrase, when used a second time, pertains to salvation.  It underscores the abundance of God's mercy towards all who call upon His name, promising salvation to those who do so. God's impartiality is evident in both sin and salvation: all are equally accountable for sin and likewise, all have equal access to salvation. The rich, educated, devout, uneducated, or immoral—none are excluded. Christ's sacrifice was for all, enabling everyone t...

Many Christians believe that when Christ ascended to heaven, He stopped speaking. However, Paul reveals that the things he wrote were the "commandments of the Lord", 1Cor.14:37. After Israel's rebellion, God temporarily set aside Israel, and raised up a new apostle, Paul. From heaven, Christ gave Paul a new revelation concerning His heavenly ministry to the Body of Christ, Gal.1:11-12. Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles, Rom.11:13. Paul's words, as revealed to Him by Christ, are spoken of as "commandments." When God commands something, He expects us to obey it. In past dispensations, commands were given that were valid then, but not for today's obedience. For example, the Bible commands man to eat only fruit and veggies, then allows for meat with fruit and veggies, then certain foods to be eaten, and finally, all food can be eaten. Thus, it is essential to determine which commands God would have us obey today. Paul's epistles are the commandmen...

  Paul told grace believers to “quit you [or act manly] like men, be strong” (1Cor.16:13) and to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might” (Eph.6:10). We must not succumb to fear nor surrender to Satan who wages spiritual warfare against us. We must be strong! God’s power is accessed “by His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph.3:16). We cannot overcome Satan with our strength alone, but we can prevail by allowing God's words to work within us. How do we strengthen our inner “new man” in Christ? Paul instructs us to equip ourselves with “the whole armour of God” (Eph.6:11). This armour is the spiritual walk that comes from obedience to the Word within us. It will lead us in (v.14), living and sharing the gospel (v.15), protecting our minds through faith in God’s Word (v.16), living in the confidence of our eternal hope (v.17a), using the Scriptures to cut through Satan’s lies (v.17b), and being constant in prayer (v.18). Friends, surrounded yourselves by the 'words' o...