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Why do I Need a Bible Commentary?

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“Why does anyone need a commentary to tell them what the Bible ‘really’ means?”

This question was put to me by someone on Facebook. It’s a fair question and it was followed by another:

“Isn’t God’s word clear enough on its own?”

The short answer is “no.” If the Bible was clear, we would all agree about everything in it and the church would be a shining beacon of peace and unity. If the Bible was clear, there wouldn’t be 40,000 denominations and we wouldn’t have 400 different English translations.

In truth, the Bible is clear; the problem lies with us. We don’t have the original manuscripts on which the Bible is based, and if we did, most of us would not be able to read them.

If the Bible seems unclear it is because our translations of it were written hundreds of years after the original texts in languages that did not exist at the time. Consequently, it’s easy to be confused by strange verses like this:

Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (Matthew 24:28)

Do you know what that verse means? Most people wouldn’t have a clue, and this makes them susceptible to bad teaching. “It’s about moral corruption and God’s judgment on America.” “Jesus will return like a vulture.” “It’s about the rise of false Christs who are like carrion.”

This vulture quote from Jesus has been used to justify all sorts of wacky end-times stuff. But a decent Bible commentary will examine the translation (Jesus wasn’t talking about vultures) and the context to reveal what Jesus really was talking about.

How commentaries help

A good Bible commentary helps us understand scriptures by providing the context. It’s the context that provides the meaning. Consider this verse:

Women should remain silent in the churches. (1 Corinthians 14:34)

Do you know what that verse means? Many people think they do, yet there is little agreement.

On the basis of this verse, some say women can’t preach or teach in church. Others say women can teach children, but not men. A few say that women should remain tight-lipped during church services.

Then there are those who swing the other way. Paul was a misogynist, they say. His words were for another time and place. Women couldn’t speak in church then but they can speak now. Which means we can dismiss any scripture we don’t like as “out of date” and “not for us.”

Which is the thin edge of a bad wedge.

The man who wrote this verse – the apostle Paul – would have shuddered to see how we misinterpret his words. Paul not only encouraged women to speak, teach, sing, and prophesy in church, he expected it (Rom. 12:6–7, 1 Cor. 12:7, 14:5, 31). He was no misogynist. He was a champion of equality who named and praised women leaders.

It’s easy to misread this verse if you don’t know the context. Read the verse in isolation and you’ll miss the meaning.

Why did Paul say women should remain silent? He didn’t. He was repeating a question put to him by the Corinthians (“Should women remain silent?”) before giving them an emphatic answer (“No!”).

The first letter to the Corinthians is full of questions and answers like this, as any good commentary will tell you.

Why do I need a Bible commentary?

A good commentary will help you make sense of the Bible. It will turn the lights on and make things clear. Like a key, it will unlock doors to insight and understanding.

But only if it’s a good commentary.

A good commentary is one that reveals the good news of God’s goodness. A good commentary uses the written word to reveal the Living Word.

The Bible is like no other book ever written. Its purpose is to reveal the Author to humanity, and it accomplishes this using a variety of literary forms (psalms, poems, prophecies, letters, histories, etc.). The whole Bible was written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have life in his name (see John 20:31).

Like the Bible itself, a good commentary inspires you to believe in Jesus and experience life in fellowship with him. Sadly, many commentaries fail this test.

Instead of promoting faith, they encourage dead works. Instead of inviting you to rest in the finished work of Christ, they force you to work. Instead of preaching the good news, they proclaim bad news, and the result is you are left anxious and insecure.

There are hundreds of commentaries and study Bibles and most of them, I’m sad to say, are riddled with mixture. They have good bits, but they also preach dead works and condemnation. They mix medicine with poison leaving you sick and anxious.

Thankfully, there is a simple test to determine whether the commentary you are using ministers life or death.

—

Get answers to your questions about God and grace.

Check out the latest progress report for the Grace Commentary.

Want more? Check out the growing list of ebooks, classic sermons, bonus articles, and study notes found in Paul’s Library (Patreon).

Why do I Need a Bible Commentary?

by

“Why does anyone need a commentary to tell them what the Bible ‘really’ means?”

This question was put to me by someone on Facebook. It’s a fair question and it was followed by another:

“Isn’t God’s word clear enough on its own?”

The short answer is “no.” If the Bible was clear, we would all agree about everything in it and the church would be a shining beacon of peace and unity. If the Bible was clear, there wouldn’t be 40,000 denominations and we wouldn’t have 400 different English translations.

In truth, the Bible is clear; the problem lies with us. We don’t have the original manuscripts on which the Bible is based, and if we did, most of us would not be able to read them.

If the Bible seems unclear it is because our translations of it were written hundreds of years after the original texts in languages that did not exist at the time. Consequently, it’s easy to be confused by strange verses like this:

Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (Matthew 24:28)

Do you know what that verse means? Most people wouldn’t have a clue, and this makes them susceptible to bad teaching. “It’s about moral corruption and God’s judgment on America.” “Jesus will return like a vulture.” “It’s about the rise of false Christs who are like carrion.”

This vulture quote from Jesus has been used to justify all sorts of wacky end-times stuff. But a decent Bible commentary will examine the translation (Jesus wasn’t talking about vultures) and the context to reveal what Jesus really was talking about.

How commentaries help

A good Bible commentary helps us understand scriptures by providing the context. It’s the context that provides the meaning. Consider this verse:

Women should remain silent in the churches. (1 Corinthians 14:34)

Do you know what that verse means? Many people think they do, yet there is little agreement.

On the basis of this verse, some say women can’t preach or teach in church. Others say women can teach children, but not men. A few say that women should remain tight-lipped during church services.

Then there are those who swing the other way. Paul was a misogynist, they say. His words were for another time and place. Women couldn’t speak in church then but they can speak now. Which means we can dismiss any scripture we don’t like as “out of date” and “not for us.”

Which is the thin edge of a bad wedge.

The man who wrote this verse – the apostle Paul – would have shuddered to see how we misinterpret his words. Paul not only encouraged women to speak, teach, sing, and prophesy in church, he expected it (Rom. 12:6–7, 1 Cor. 12:7, 14:5, 31). He was no misogynist. He was a champion of equality who named and praised women leaders.

It’s easy to misread this verse if you don’t know the context. Read the verse in isolation and you’ll miss the meaning.

Why did Paul say women should remain silent? He didn’t. He was repeating a question put to him by the Corinthians (“Should women remain silent?”) before giving them an emphatic answer (“No!”).

The first letter to the Corinthians is full of questions and answers like this, as any good commentary will tell you.

Why do I need a Bible commentary?

A good commentary will help you make sense of the Bible. It will turn the lights on and make things clear. Like a key, it will unlock doors to insight and understanding.

But only if it’s a good commentary.

A good commentary is one that reveals the good news of God’s goodness. A good commentary uses the written word to reveal the Living Word.

The Bible is like no other book ever written. Its purpose is to reveal the Author to humanity, and it accomplishes this using a variety of literary forms (psalms, poems, prophecies, letters, histories, etc.). The whole Bible was written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have life in his name (see John 20:31).

Like the Bible itself, a good commentary inspires you to believe in Jesus and experience life in fellowship with him. Sadly, many commentaries fail this test.

Instead of promoting faith, they encourage dead works. Instead of inviting you to rest in the finished work of Christ, they force you to work. Instead of preaching the good news, they proclaim bad news, and the result is you are left anxious and insecure.

There are hundreds of commentaries and study Bibles and most of them, I’m sad to say, are riddled with mixture. They have good bits, but they also preach dead works and condemnation. They mix medicine with poison leaving you sick and anxious.

Thankfully, there is a simple test to determine whether the commentary you are using ministers life or death.

—

Get answers to your questions about God and grace.

Check out the latest progress report for the Grace Commentary.

Want more? Check out the growing list of ebooks, classic sermons, bonus articles, and study notes found in Paul’s Library (Patreon).

Reading the Bible with Humility

by

The number one reason why we have trouble growing in grace, is we don’t have a teachable heart. “Repent and believe the good news,” said Jesus. That’s not just for unbelievers; that’s for all of us.

Jesus is saying let go of what you used to believe and receive what the Lord wants to give you now.

Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. (Proverbs 9:9)

The wise and the righteous are teachable. They have learned how to receive. But sometimes we can be slow learners.

On occasion, Jesus rebuked the disciples for being slow to believe (Luke 24:25). It’s not that they had turned into atheists. They were just not where Jesus wanted them to be. The same can be true of us.

Do you have a teachable heart?

One of the ways we grow in grace is through reading scripture. But what happens when you come to a verse that is hard to understand? How do you respond when you encounter “tricky” scriptures? Like this one:

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:5)

This seems like a heavy verse. “If I covet my neighbor’s iPhone, I could go to hell!” When you run into a verse like this, you have three options:

  1. Ignore it or put it in the “too hard basket”
  2. Try and figure it out with your mind
  3. Ask the Holy Spirit for insight

The first two options are poor choices. To ignore the bits of the Bible we don’t understand is to miss out on all God wants to tell us.

And trying to make sense of scripture with your mind (i.e., your flesh), is a recipe for disaster, because the natural mind cannot grasp spiritual revelation (1 Cor. 2:14). Your mind will cast about for principles and lessons and come up with all sorts of bad conclusions.

To illustrate, here are two bad conclusions you might draw from Ephesians 5:5:

  1. “Do bad things and I won’t go to heaven.” This is not true. Just as we are not qualified by our good works, we are not disqualified by our bad works. We are saved by grace and justified by faith (Gal. 3:24, Eph. 2:8).
  2. “Do bad things and I’ll still be saved, but I will lose my inheritance. I will be an eternal pauper.” This is also not true. An inheritance is a gift given to heirs, not a reward for good behavior. Your inheritance in Christ is a gift of grace.

These conclusions are faithless and unspiritual. We know this because they promote dead works (“I’d better not misbehave”) and unbelief (“I need to work for my inheritance”). Too many people have been side-tracked and side-lined by bad teaching like this.

What is the best way to respond to scriptures we don’t understand? With honesty and humility. We start by saying, “I don’t know what this verse means.” And then we go to option 3 – we ask the Holy Spirit for insight.

The greatest Teacher

The Holy Spirit is the best Teacher you will ever meet. Since the Holy Spirit authored the Bible, he can easily explain it.

I ask the Lord for insight all the time. Sometimes a spiritual insight will come within seconds. Other times I’ll go for a “walk and talk” with the Lord. But in my experience, the Lord freely gives insight and understanding. You just need to ask (see Matt. 7:7).

Sometimes when I’m praying about a scripture, a single word will leap off the page. Let’s take another look at that tricky verse:

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:5)

In this scripture, a key word is “inheritance.” Paul is talking about people who have no inheritance. People who are not heirs of God.

Do you see? He is not talking about badly behaving Christians, but unbelievers. Unbelievers do not have an inheritance in the kingdom, but Christians do.

Like a key, the right word can unlock a whole verse. The next thing that will happen is the Holy Spirit will bring other scriptures to mind. He will use scripture to confirm the revelation he is bringing to our hearts.

“I see it. Paul is not saying Christians can lose their inheritance or be cast out of the kingdom. He’s saying the same thing that he says in other places. Unbelievers who practice the deeds of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19–21). ‘Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?’ (1 Cor. 6:9).”

And so we come to the spiritual conclusion, which is this: Unbelievers have no inheritance in the kingdom of God. This is not because God has anything against them, but because they refuse to receive what he is offering. By rejecting the grace that could be theirs, they reject the inheritance that is ours in Christ.

Sidebar: That’s the bad news. The good news is that the moment someone responds to God in faith, they are adopted into his family and become fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:15–17). There is no entry test, no induction process, and no probationary period. The transfer from Adam’s family into God’s is as sudden as the break of day. And this is wonderful news for immoral people and people who covet their neighbor’s iPhones.

But we’re talking about teachable hearts.

Pride hinders learning

As you can imagine, I meet a lot of people who ask questions about the Bible. I have noticed that when I help people see the treasures of grace hidden in scripture, they respond in one of three ways:

  1. Some refuse to receive it
  2. Some say, “That’s what I thought. I knew this already.”
  3. Others say, “Thank you, Jesus”

Guess which group most reminds me of the slow-believing disciples? It is the second group. It’s the people who pretend that they knew it all along.

I want to say, “If you already knew the answer, why did you ask the question?”

The problem with pretending we know all the answers is that it’s a form of pride, and pride hinders our spiritual growth.

We need to approach the Bible with humility, with an attitude that says, “I don’t have it all figured out, but I trust the Holy Spirit to lead me.” That’s the sort of heart that receives revelation.

Then when the lights go on, don’t say, “I knew this already.” Instead say, “Thank you, Lord, for teaching me something new about yourself and your ways.”

—

Draft chapters for my forthcoming book on the Parables of Jesus are available now on Patreon:

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Reading the Bible with Humility

by

The number one reason why we have trouble growing in grace, is we don’t have a teachable heart. “Repent and believe the good news,” said Jesus. That’s not just for unbelievers; that’s for all of us.

Jesus is saying let go of what you used to believe and receive what the Lord wants to give you now.

Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. (Proverbs 9:9)

The wise and the righteous are teachable. They have learned how to receive. But sometimes we can be slow learners.

On occasion, Jesus rebuked the disciples for being slow to believe (Luke 24:25). It’s not that they had turned into atheists. They were just not where Jesus wanted them to be. The same can be true of us.

Do you have a teachable heart?

One of the ways we grow in grace is through reading scripture. But what happens when you come to a verse that is hard to understand? How do you respond when you encounter “tricky” scriptures? Like this one:

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:5)

This seems like a heavy verse. “If I covet my neighbor’s iPhone, I could go to hell!” When you run into a verse like this, you have three options:

  1. Ignore it or put it in the “too hard basket”
  2. Try and figure it out with your mind
  3. Ask the Holy Spirit for insight

The first two options are poor choices. To ignore the bits of the Bible we don’t understand is to miss out on all God wants to tell us.

And trying to make sense of scripture with your mind (i.e., your flesh), is a recipe for disaster, because the natural mind cannot grasp spiritual revelation (1 Cor. 2:14). Your mind will cast about for principles and lessons and come up with all sorts of bad conclusions.

To illustrate, here are two bad conclusions you might draw from Ephesians 5:5:

  1. “Do bad things and I won’t go to heaven.” This is not true. Just as we are not qualified by our good works, we are not disqualified by our bad works. We are saved by grace and justified by faith (Gal. 3:24, Eph. 2:8).
  2. “Do bad things and I’ll still be saved, but I will lose my inheritance. I will be an eternal pauper.” This is also not true. An inheritance is a gift given to heirs, not a reward for good behavior. Your inheritance in Christ is a gift of grace.

These conclusions are faithless and unspiritual. We know this because they promote dead works (“I’d better not misbehave”) and unbelief (“I need to work for my inheritance”). Too many people have been side-tracked and side-lined by bad teaching like this.

What is the best way to respond to scriptures we don’t understand? With honesty and humility. We start by saying, “I don’t know what this verse means.” And then we go to option 3 – we ask the Holy Spirit for insight.

The greatest Teacher

The Holy Spirit is the best Teacher you will ever meet. Since the Holy Spirit authored the Bible, he can easily explain it.

I ask the Lord for insight all the time. Sometimes a spiritual insight will come within seconds. Other times I’ll go for a “walk and talk” with the Lord. But in my experience, the Lord freely gives insight and understanding. You just need to ask (see Matt. 7:7).

Sometimes when I’m praying about a scripture, a single word will leap off the page. Let’s take another look at that tricky verse:

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (Ephesians 5:5)

In this scripture, a key word is “inheritance.” Paul is talking about people who have no inheritance. People who are not heirs of God.

Do you see? He is not talking about badly behaving Christians, but unbelievers. Unbelievers do not have an inheritance in the kingdom, but Christians do.

Like a key, the right word can unlock a whole verse. The next thing that will happen is the Holy Spirit will bring other scriptures to mind. He will use scripture to confirm the revelation he is bringing to our hearts.

“I see it. Paul is not saying Christians can lose their inheritance or be cast out of the kingdom. He’s saying the same thing that he says in other places. Unbelievers who practice the deeds of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19–21). ‘Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?’ (1 Cor. 6:9).”

And so we come to the spiritual conclusion, which is this: Unbelievers have no inheritance in the kingdom of God. This is not because God has anything against them, but because they refuse to receive what he is offering. By rejecting the grace that could be theirs, they reject the inheritance that is ours in Christ.

Sidebar: That’s the bad news. The good news is that the moment someone responds to God in faith, they are adopted into his family and become fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:15–17). There is no entry test, no induction process, and no probationary period. The transfer from Adam’s family into God’s is as sudden as the break of day. And this is wonderful news for immoral people and people who covet their neighbor’s iPhones.

But we’re talking about teachable hearts.

Pride hinders learning

As you can imagine, I meet a lot of people who ask questions about the Bible. I have noticed that when I help people see the treasures of grace hidden in scripture, they respond in one of three ways:

  1. Some refuse to receive it
  2. Some say, “That’s what I thought. I knew this already.”
  3. Others say, “Thank you, Jesus”

Guess which group most reminds me of the slow-believing disciples? It is the second group. It’s the people who pretend that they knew it all along.

I want to say, “If you already knew the answer, why did you ask the question?”

The problem with pretending we know all the answers is that it’s a form of pride, and pride hinders our spiritual growth.

We need to approach the Bible with humility, with an attitude that says, “I don’t have it all figured out, but I trust the Holy Spirit to lead me.” That’s the sort of heart that receives revelation.

Then when the lights go on, don’t say, “I knew this already.” Instead say, “Thank you, Lord, for teaching me something new about yourself and your ways.”

—

Draft chapters for my forthcoming book on the Parables of Jesus are available now on Patreon:

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How to Find a Grace Bible Church?

by

Back when I was a brand new pastor, there was one kind of phone call I got more than any other.

“Hi Paul, do you have the number for John (or Jane or Joe)?”

I thought people would ring me for counseling or to draw upon my wisdom. But most of the time they just wanted someone’s number. All those calls at all hours – it used to drive me bonkers.

“You know we have a church directory, right?”

“Yeah, but I lost it.”

I understand why people rang me. Being the pastor meant I was the most connected guy in the church. I was a glorified switchboard operator.

I don’t get those kinds of calls anymore. Instead, I get messages like this: “Hi Paul, can you recommend a grace-based church in Wichita (or Muncie or Dusseldorf)?”

I like helping people, but I confess that questions like these leave me a bit exasperated.

“You know I live in New Zealand, right? I don’t know anyone in Wichita.”

I understand why people ask me. I’m a grace guy. If anyone knows where the grace churches are, it ought to be me, right?

I’m sorry to disappoint you, but my knowledge is limited. I don’t have a list of grace churches. (However, my friend Ted Nelson does. It’s called Locate Church Ministries. Check it out. You might get lucky.)

Perhaps a more better question to ask is…

What is a grace Bible church?

A grace Bible church is one that reveals the unconditional love of God and proclaims the gospel of grace. A grace church does not put guilt and shame on people, but it reveals the grace that sets them free.

If you are the observant type, you can look for the 8 signs of a church that gets grace and 8 signs that it doesn’t. But these checklists won’t help much if you live in a small community with few churches.

How to find a grace Bible church?

Every church is a grace church to one degree or another. The trick is to find a church that doesn’t dilute grace with other things, like law and dead works.

The simplest way is to look for a church that feels like family. “God sets the solitary in families” (Ps. 68:6, NKJV). Churches that get grace become knitted together in love (Col. 2:2). Or maybe it’s the other way around. Churches that are knitted together in love, attract the grace of God.

In either case, a church that is established in grace will not feel like a business, a platoon, or a scout group. It will feel like family.

What makes a church a family? Now that’s the $64,000 question. The short answer is families show unconditional love and acceptance, they are real and empowering.

If you have found a church that loves and accepts you and helps you to walk in grace and work out the gifts that God has given you, rejoice, because you have found your spiritual home.

And if you can’t find a church like that, then sow what you want to reap. Love and accept others, especially those who are different from you. Help others grow in grace and walk in the gifts God has given them.

Be the church you are looking for.

—

Got a question about a scripture? The Grace Commentary has more than 10,000 entries with new material added weekly.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How to Find a Grace Bible Church?

by

Back when I was a brand new pastor, there was one kind of phone call I got more than any other.

“Hi Paul, do you have the number for John (or Jane or Joe)?”

I thought people would ring me for counseling or to draw upon my wisdom. But most of the time they just wanted someone’s number. All those calls at all hours – it used to drive me bonkers.

“You know we have a church directory, right?”

“Yeah, but I lost it.”

I understand why people rang me. Being the pastor meant I was the most connected guy in the church. I was a glorified switchboard operator.

I don’t get those kinds of calls anymore. Instead, I get messages like this: “Hi Paul, can you recommend a grace-based church in Wichita (or Muncie or Dusseldorf)?”

I like helping people, but I confess that questions like these leave me a bit exasperated.

“You know I live in New Zealand, right? I don’t know anyone in Wichita.”

I understand why people ask me. I’m a grace guy. If anyone knows where the grace churches are, it ought to be me, right?

I’m sorry to disappoint you, but my knowledge is limited. I don’t have a list of grace churches. (However, my friend Ted Nelson does. It’s called Locate Church Ministries. Check it out. You might get lucky.)

Perhaps a more better question to ask is…

What is a grace Bible church?

A grace Bible church is one that reveals the unconditional love of God and proclaims the gospel of grace. A grace church does not put guilt and shame on people, but it reveals the grace that sets them free.

If you are the observant type, you can look for the 8 signs of a church that gets grace and 8 signs that it doesn’t. But these checklists won’t help much if you live in a small community with few churches.

How to find a grace Bible church?

Every church is a grace church to one degree or another. The trick is to find a church that doesn’t dilute grace with other things, like law and dead works.

The simplest way is to look for a church that feels like family. “God sets the solitary in families” (Ps. 68:6, NKJV). Churches that get grace become knitted together in love (Col. 2:2). Or maybe it’s the other way around. Churches that are knitted together in love, attract the grace of God.

In either case, a church that is established in grace will not feel like a business, a platoon, or a scout group. It will feel like family.

What makes a church a family? Now that’s the $64,000 question. The short answer is families show unconditional love and acceptance, they are real and empowering.

If you have found a church that loves and accepts you and helps you to walk in grace and work out the gifts that God has given you, rejoice, because you have found your spiritual home.

And if you can’t find a church like that, then sow what you want to reap. Love and accept others, especially those who are different from you. Help others grow in grace and walk in the gifts God has given them.

Be the church you are looking for.

—

Got a question about a scripture? The Grace Commentary has more than 10,000 entries with new material added weekly.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How to Find a Grace Bible Church?

by

Back when I was a brand new pastor, there was one kind of phone call I got more than any other.

“Hi Paul, do you have the number for John (or Jane or Joe)?”

I thought people would ring me for counseling or to draw upon my wisdom. But most of the time they just wanted someone’s number. All those calls at all hours – it used to drive me bonkers.

“You know we have a church directory, right?”

“Yeah, but I lost it.”

I understand why people rang me. Being the pastor meant I was the most connected guy in the church. I was a glorified switchboard operator.

I don’t get those kinds of calls anymore. Instead, I get messages like this: “Hi Paul, can you recommend a grace-based church in Wichita (or Muncie or Dusseldorf)?”

I like helping people, but I confess that questions like these leave me a bit exasperated.

“You know I live in New Zealand, right? I don’t know anyone in Wichita.”

I understand why people ask me. I’m a grace guy. If anyone knows where the grace churches are, it ought to be me, right?

I’m sorry to disappoint you, but my knowledge is limited. I don’t have a list of grace churches. (However, my friend Ted Nelson does. It’s called Locate Church Ministries. Check it out. You might get lucky.)

Perhaps a more better question to ask is…

What is a grace Bible church?

A grace Bible church is one that reveals the unconditional love of God and proclaims the gospel of grace. A grace church does not put guilt and shame on people, but it reveals the grace that sets them free.

If you are the observant type, you can look for the 8 signs of a church that gets grace and 8 signs that it doesn’t. But these checklists won’t help much if you live in a small community with few churches.

How to find a grace Bible church?

Every church is a grace church to one degree or another. The trick is to find a church that doesn’t dilute grace with other things, like law and dead works.

The simplest way is to look for a church that feels like family. “God sets the solitary in families” (Ps. 68:6, NKJV). Churches that get grace become knitted together in love (Col. 2:2). Or maybe it’s the other way around. Churches that are knitted together in love, attract the grace of God.

In either case, a church that is established in grace will not feel like a business, a platoon, or a scout group. It will feel like family.

What makes a church a family? Now that’s the $64,000 question. The short answer is families show unconditional love and acceptance, they are real and empowering.

If you have found a church that loves and accepts you and helps you to walk in grace and work out the gifts that God has given you, rejoice, because you have found your spiritual home.

And if you can’t find a church like that, then sow what you want to reap. Love and accept others, especially those who are different from you. Help others grow in grace and walk in the gifts God has given them.

Be the church you are looking for.

—

Got a question about a scripture? The Grace Commentary has more than 10,000 entries with new material added weekly.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Once Saved, Always Saved?

by

Ever broken a promise, failed to keep your word, or been late for an engagement?

Of course you have.

Now you know why many Christians are worried sick that they may disappoint God. After all, isn’t the Bible full of exhortations to hold fast, continue, and endure to the end?

Uncertainty is a faith-killer. If you are uncertain about your eternal position how can you trust God?

If the issue of your eternal security isn’t settled in your heart you’ll lie awake at night wondering whether you are good enough or have done enough to impress him.

And then you’ll set aside grace by taking out a little works insurance just to be safe.

Insecurity about the future is one of the prevailing winds of unbelief that assail the church. If you are insecure and in doubt, know that I write so that you might repent (change your doubting and unbelieving mind) and believe the good news. I write so that you might trust Jesus to finish what he started.

The reason we are even having this discussion is because so many Christians don’t know what makes the new covenant new. They read the Bible through the old covenant mindset that says “Do to be.”

If this is you, let me tell you about Jesus! That old covenant is obsolete. We no longer stand on our brittle promises to him but on his solid promises to us.

Promises, promises

If I could show you just one promise from the Lord that guaranteed your eternal security, would you quit fretting? Would you stop listening to the lies of the confused and trust instead in God’s word? Would one promise from the Faithful One be good enough for you?

Here’s one:

He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)

This scripture obliterates the doubts of the insecure. If you are worried and anxious, you should frame this verse. It will remind you that salvation is not about your faithfulness but his and God is faithful.

And don’t forget who Paul was writing to Christians that many would write off as reprobates. The Corinthians weren’t what you call “good Christians.” Yet Paul sees God’s fingerprints all over them, and he speaks confidently of their future. “Our hope for you is firm” (2 Cor 1:7).

Who called you into fellowship with Christ? God!

Who will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on that Day? God!

Who is faithful? God!

It’s not about you but him. Do you see? If not, here’s another promise you can stand on:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

The word guarantee means a down-payment or pledge, “i.e. part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest.” So either God has nothing but more good stuff planned for you – guaranteed! – or he is a liar.

Are you getting this yet?

I said one promise from the Lord should be enough and I’ve given you two. To settle matters once and for all, here are seven more promises from your heavenly Father that speak directly to your eternal security. Write them on your heart and take them to the bank because they are gold.

If you are a Christian, the chances of you losing your salvation are exactly the same as the likelihood God will violate his promises. Since God is utterly faithful, you can be utterly secure.

Seven promises about your future

For a Christian to lose their salvation and be expelled from the kingdom…

  1. God would have to forsake us, when he said he wouldn’t (Heb. 13:5)
  2. God would have to cast us out, when he said he wouldn’t (John 6:37)
  3. God would have to condemn us, when he said he wouldn’t (Rom. 8:1, 34)
  4. God would have to withdraw his Spirit, when he said he wouldn’t (John 14:16-17)
  5. God would have to remember our sins, when he said he wouldn’t (Jer. 31:34, Heb. 10:17)
  6. God would have to forget that we are his children, when he said he wouldn’t (Is. 49:15)
  7. God would have to blot our names out of the book of life, when he said he wouldn’t (Rev. 3:5)

Good news, no?

“But Paul, what about all those scriptures that say we have to hold fast, continue, and endure to the end?” I cover all those scriptures in the Scripture Index. But let me put your mind at rest right now.

Do you have a need to hold fast? Do you have a need to continue and endure? Do you have a need to overcome, obey, avoid sin, be holy, and persevere? Yes, we all have these needs. But look at this…

My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

How many of your needs will God meet? All of them. How many of your needs must you supply to stay qualified for the kingdom? None of them.

Your part is to receive what God has provided in Christ Jesus. Your part is to say, “Thank you Jesus!” and remain in that place of restful trust.

Anything and everything that needs to be done to see you safe to the end, will be done by him. Trust him. The one who “began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Php 1:6). (See what I did there? Another promise!)

Salvation is not from yourself it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8), and his gifts are irrevocable (Rom 11:29). (Two more promises!)

No doubt there will be some who will tell me I am presenting an unbalanced view, that I have left out important bits of the Bible. What they really mean, though, is God cannot be trusted. He doesn’t say what he means or mean what he says.

I disagree.

Through the death and resurrection of his Son, God shouts to the human race, “I am for you and I will do whatever it takes to win you back to myself!” I believe him. I choose to stand on his promises to us. I encourage you to do likewise.

Saint, you are one with the Lord. His future is your future. Since Jesus isn’t going to get kicked out of the kingdom, it can’t happen to you. You may fall asleep on the job, but the one who watches over you never slumbers (Ps 121:3-4).

Be confident. Be secure. Be at peace.

—

More articles about your eternal security:

And just for good measure, here is a list of 130 scriptures guaranteeing your eternal security.

Once Saved, Always Saved?

by

Ever broken a promise, failed to keep your word, or been late for an engagement?

Of course you have.

Now you know why many Christians are worried sick that they may disappoint God. After all, isn’t the Bible full of exhortations to hold fast, continue, and endure to the end?

Uncertainty is a faith-killer. If you are uncertain about your eternal position how can you trust God?

If the issue of your eternal security isn’t settled in your heart you’ll lie awake at night wondering whether you are good enough or have done enough to impress him.

And then you’ll set aside grace by taking out a little works insurance just to be safe.

Insecurity about the future is one of the prevailing winds of unbelief that assail the church. If you are insecure and in doubt, know that I write so that you might repent (change your doubting and unbelieving mind) and believe the good news. I write so that you might trust Jesus to finish what he started.

The reason we are even having this discussion is because so many Christians don’t know what makes the new covenant new. They read the Bible through the old covenant mindset that says “Do to be.”

If this is you, let me tell you about Jesus! That old covenant is obsolete. We no longer stand on our brittle promises to him but on his solid promises to us.

Promises, promises

If I could show you just one promise from the Lord that guaranteed your eternal security, would you quit fretting? Would you stop listening to the lies of the confused and trust instead in God’s word? Would one promise from the Faithful One be good enough for you?

Here’s one:

He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)

This scripture obliterates the doubts of the insecure. If you are worried and anxious, you should frame this verse. It will remind you that salvation is not about your faithfulness but his and God is faithful.

And don’t forget who Paul was writing to Christians that many would write off as reprobates. The Corinthians weren’t what you call “good Christians.” Yet Paul sees God’s fingerprints all over them, and he speaks confidently of their future. “Our hope for you is firm” (2 Cor 1:7).

Who called you into fellowship with Christ? God!

Who will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on that Day? God!

Who is faithful? God!

It’s not about you but him. Do you see? If not, here’s another promise you can stand on:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

The word guarantee means a down-payment or pledge, “i.e. part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest.” So either God has nothing but more good stuff planned for you – guaranteed! – or he is a liar.

Are you getting this yet?

I said one promise from the Lord should be enough and I’ve given you two. To settle matters once and for all, here are seven more promises from your heavenly Father that speak directly to your eternal security. Write them on your heart and take them to the bank because they are gold.

If you are a Christian, the chances of you losing your salvation are exactly the same as the likelihood God will violate his promises. Since God is utterly faithful, you can be utterly secure.

Seven promises about your future

For a Christian to lose their salvation and be expelled from the kingdom…

  1. God would have to forsake us, when he said he wouldn’t (Heb. 13:5)
  2. God would have to cast us out, when he said he wouldn’t (John 6:37)
  3. God would have to condemn us, when he said he wouldn’t (Rom. 8:1, 34)
  4. God would have to withdraw his Spirit, when he said he wouldn’t (John 14:16-17)
  5. God would have to remember our sins, when he said he wouldn’t (Jer. 31:34, Heb. 10:17)
  6. God would have to forget that we are his children, when he said he wouldn’t (Is. 49:15)
  7. God would have to blot our names out of the book of life, when he said he wouldn’t (Rev. 3:5)

Good news, no?

“But Paul, what about all those scriptures that say we have to hold fast, continue, and endure to the end?” I cover all those scriptures in the Scripture Index. But let me put your mind at rest right now.

Do you have a need to hold fast? Do you have a need to continue and endure? Do you have a need to overcome, obey, avoid sin, be holy, and persevere? Yes, we all have these needs. But look at this…

My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

How many of your needs will God meet? All of them. How many of your needs must you supply to stay qualified for the kingdom? None of them.

Your part is to receive what God has provided in Christ Jesus. Your part is to say, “Thank you Jesus!” and remain in that place of restful trust.

Anything and everything that needs to be done to see you safe to the end, will be done by him. Trust him. The one who “began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Php 1:6). (See what I did there? Another promise!)

Salvation is not from yourself it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8), and his gifts are irrevocable (Rom 11:29). (Two more promises!)

No doubt there will be some who will tell me I am presenting an unbalanced view, that I have left out important bits of the Bible. What they really mean, though, is God cannot be trusted. He doesn’t say what he means or mean what he says.

I disagree.

Through the death and resurrection of his Son, God shouts to the human race, “I am for you and I will do whatever it takes to win you back to myself!” I believe him. I choose to stand on his promises to us. I encourage you to do likewise.

Saint, you are one with the Lord. His future is your future. Since Jesus isn’t going to get kicked out of the kingdom, it can’t happen to you. You may fall asleep on the job, but the one who watches over you never slumbers (Ps 121:3-4).

Be confident. Be secure. Be at peace.

—

More articles about your eternal security:

And just for good measure, here is a list of 130 scriptures guaranteeing your eternal security.

Once Saved, Always Saved?

by

Ever broken a promise, failed to keep your word, or been late for an engagement?

Of course you have.

Now you know why many Christians are worried sick that they may disappoint God. After all, isn’t the Bible full of exhortations to hold fast, continue, and endure to the end?

Uncertainty is a faith-killer. If you are uncertain about your eternal position how can you trust God?

If the issue of your eternal security isn’t settled in your heart you’ll lie awake at night wondering whether you are good enough or have done enough to impress him.

And then you’ll set aside grace by taking out a little works insurance just to be safe.

Insecurity about the future is one of the prevailing winds of unbelief that assail the church. If you are insecure and in doubt, know that I write so that you might repent (change your doubting and unbelieving mind) and believe the good news. I write so that you might trust Jesus to finish what he started.

The reason we are even having this discussion is because so many Christians don’t know what makes the new covenant new. They read the Bible through the old covenant mindset that says “Do to be.”

If this is you, let me tell you about Jesus! That old covenant is obsolete. We no longer stand on our brittle promises to him but on his solid promises to us.

Promises, promises

If I could show you just one promise from the Lord that guaranteed your eternal security, would you quit fretting? Would you stop listening to the lies of the confused and trust instead in God’s word? Would one promise from the Faithful One be good enough for you?

Here’s one:

He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)

This scripture obliterates the doubts of the insecure. If you are worried and anxious, you should frame this verse. It will remind you that salvation is not about your faithfulness but his and God is faithful.

And don’t forget who Paul was writing to Christians that many would write off as reprobates. The Corinthians weren’t what you call “good Christians.” Yet Paul sees God’s fingerprints all over them, and he speaks confidently of their future. “Our hope for you is firm” (2 Cor 1:7).

Who called you into fellowship with Christ? God!

Who will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on that Day? God!

Who is faithful? God!

It’s not about you but him. Do you see? If not, here’s another promise you can stand on:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

The word guarantee means a down-payment or pledge, “i.e. part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest.” So either God has nothing but more good stuff planned for you – guaranteed! – or he is a liar.

Are you getting this yet?

I said one promise from the Lord should be enough and I’ve given you two. To settle matters once and for all, here are seven more promises from your heavenly Father that speak directly to your eternal security. Write them on your heart and take them to the bank because they are gold.

If you are a Christian, the chances of you losing your salvation are exactly the same as the likelihood God will violate his promises. Since God is utterly faithful, you can be utterly secure.

Seven promises about your future

For a Christian to lose their salvation and be expelled from the kingdom…

  1. God would have to forsake us, when he said he wouldn’t (Heb. 13:5)
  2. God would have to cast us out, when he said he wouldn’t (John 6:37)
  3. God would have to condemn us, when he said he wouldn’t (Rom. 8:1, 34)
  4. God would have to withdraw his Spirit, when he said he wouldn’t (John 14:16-17)
  5. God would have to remember our sins, when he said he wouldn’t (Jer. 31:34, Heb. 10:17)
  6. God would have to forget that we are his children, when he said he wouldn’t (Is. 49:15)
  7. God would have to blot our names out of the book of life, when he said he wouldn’t (Rev. 3:5)

Good news, no?

“But Paul, what about all those scriptures that say we have to hold fast, continue, and endure to the end?” I cover all those scriptures in the Scripture Index. But let me put your mind at rest right now.

Do you have a need to hold fast? Do you have a need to continue and endure? Do you have a need to overcome, obey, avoid sin, be holy, and persevere? Yes, we all have these needs. But look at this…

My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

How many of your needs will God meet? All of them. How many of your needs must you supply to stay qualified for the kingdom? None of them.

Your part is to receive what God has provided in Christ Jesus. Your part is to say, “Thank you Jesus!” and remain in that place of restful trust.

Anything and everything that needs to be done to see you safe to the end, will be done by him. Trust him. The one who “began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Php 1:6). (See what I did there? Another promise!)

Salvation is not from yourself it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8), and his gifts are irrevocable (Rom 11:29). (Two more promises!)

No doubt there will be some who will tell me I am presenting an unbalanced view, that I have left out important bits of the Bible. What they really mean, though, is God cannot be trusted. He doesn’t say what he means or mean what he says.

I disagree.

Through the death and resurrection of his Son, God shouts to the human race, “I am for you and I will do whatever it takes to win you back to myself!” I believe him. I choose to stand on his promises to us. I encourage you to do likewise.

Saint, you are one with the Lord. His future is your future. Since Jesus isn’t going to get kicked out of the kingdom, it can’t happen to you. You may fall asleep on the job, but the one who watches over you never slumbers (Ps 121:3-4).

Be confident. Be secure. Be at peace.

—

More articles about your eternal security:

And just for good measure, here is a list of 130 scriptures guaranteeing your eternal security.

Once Saved, Always Saved?

by

Ever broken a promise, failed to keep your word, or been late for an engagement?

Of course you have.

Now you know why many Christians are worried sick that they may disappoint God. After all, isn’t the Bible full of exhortations to hold fast, continue, and endure to the end?

Uncertainty is a faith-killer. If you are uncertain about your eternal position how can you trust God?

If the issue of your eternal security isn’t settled in your heart you’ll lie awake at night wondering whether you are good enough or have done enough to impress him.

And then you’ll set aside grace by taking out a little works insurance just to be safe.

Insecurity about the future is one of the prevailing winds of unbelief that assail the church. If you are insecure and in doubt, know that I write so that you might repent (change your doubting and unbelieving mind) and believe the good news. I write so that you might trust Jesus to finish what he started.

The reason we are even having this discussion is because so many Christians don’t know what makes the new covenant new. They read the Bible through the old covenant mindset that says “Do to be.”

If this is you, let me tell you about Jesus! That old covenant is obsolete. We no longer stand on our brittle promises to him but on his solid promises to us.

Promises, promises

If I could show you just one promise from the Lord that guaranteed your eternal security, would you quit fretting? Would you stop listening to the lies of the confused and trust instead in God’s word? Would one promise from the Faithful One be good enough for you?

Here’s one:

He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)

This scripture obliterates the doubts of the insecure. If you are worried and anxious, you should frame this verse. It will remind you that salvation is not about your faithfulness but his and God is faithful.

And don’t forget who Paul was writing to Christians that many would write off as reprobates. The Corinthians weren’t what you call “good Christians.” Yet Paul sees God’s fingerprints all over them, and he speaks confidently of their future. “Our hope for you is firm” (2 Cor 1:7).

Who called you into fellowship with Christ? God!

Who will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on that Day? God!

Who is faithful? God!

It’s not about you but him. Do you see? If not, here’s another promise you can stand on:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

The word guarantee means a down-payment or pledge, “i.e. part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest.” So either God has nothing but more good stuff planned for you – guaranteed! – or he is a liar.

Are you getting this yet?

I said one promise from the Lord should be enough and I’ve given you two. To settle matters once and for all, here are seven more promises from your heavenly Father that speak directly to your eternal security. Write them on your heart and take them to the bank because they are gold.

If you are a Christian, the chances of you losing your salvation are exactly the same as the likelihood God will violate his promises. Since God is utterly faithful, you can be utterly secure.

Seven promises about your future

For a Christian to lose their salvation and be expelled from the kingdom…

  1. God would have to forsake us, when he said he wouldn’t (Heb. 13:5)
  2. God would have to cast us out, when he said he wouldn’t (John 6:37)
  3. God would have to condemn us, when he said he wouldn’t (Rom. 8:1, 34)
  4. God would have to withdraw his Spirit, when he said he wouldn’t (John 14:16-17)
  5. God would have to remember our sins, when he said he wouldn’t (Jer. 31:34, Heb. 10:17)
  6. God would have to forget that we are his children, when he said he wouldn’t (Is. 49:15)
  7. God would have to blot our names out of the book of life, when he said he wouldn’t (Rev. 3:5)

Good news, no?

“But Paul, what about all those scriptures that say we have to hold fast, continue, and endure to the end?” I cover all those scriptures in the Scripture Index. But let me put your mind at rest right now.

Do you have a need to hold fast? Do you have a need to continue and endure? Do you have a need to overcome, obey, avoid sin, be holy, and persevere? Yes, we all have these needs. But look at this…

My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

How many of your needs will God meet? All of them. How many of your needs must you supply to stay qualified for the kingdom? None of them.

Your part is to receive what God has provided in Christ Jesus. Your part is to say, “Thank you Jesus!” and remain in that place of restful trust.

Anything and everything that needs to be done to see you safe to the end, will be done by him. Trust him. The one who “began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Php 1:6). (See what I did there? Another promise!)

Salvation is not from yourself it is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8), and his gifts are irrevocable (Rom 11:29). (Two more promises!)

No doubt there will be some who will tell me I am presenting an unbalanced view, that I have left out important bits of the Bible. What they really mean, though, is God cannot be trusted. He doesn’t say what he means or mean what he says.

I disagree.

Through the death and resurrection of his Son, God shouts to the human race, “I am for you and I will do whatever it takes to win you back to myself!” I believe him. I choose to stand on his promises to us. I encourage you to do likewise.

Saint, you are one with the Lord. His future is your future. Since Jesus isn’t going to get kicked out of the kingdom, it can’t happen to you. You may fall asleep on the job, but the one who watches over you never slumbers (Ps 121:3-4).

Be confident. Be secure. Be at peace.

—

More articles about your eternal security:

And just for good measure, here is a list of 130 scriptures guaranteeing your eternal security.

Because of His Great Love

by

When I read a book in the Bible, I like to list my favorite verses and words in that book. As you may know, I spent much of the past year diving deep into Ephesians. My favorite words from Ephesians pretty much all came from this one verse:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us… (Ephesians 2:4).

It’s a small verse, easily missed. But it contains enough truth to change the world. I want to look at two words, three words, and then five words from this passage. The two words are…

But God

These two words are surely the Bible’s most redemptive phrase.

The Savior was crucified, but God…. (Acts 2:24, 13:30).

We were dead in our trespasses and sins, but God….

We were lost and without hope, but God is rich in mercy.

Thank God for but God!

If you are lost and in trouble, but God is good news. If you are a believer, but God means God has the last word (Rom. 8:28).

No matter how bad things get, our Father is the hope we cling to. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26).

Rich in mercy

Some imagine God to be miserly, but he is merciful. He abounds in compassion towards us. Whatever your need, learn to see God as your abundant Supply.

Mercy is different from grace, but God abounds in both. He is rich in grace (Eph. 1:7, 2:7, Jas. 4:6), and rich in mercy (Luke 1:58, Eph. 2:4, Jas. 5:11, 1 Pet. 1:3). He is the God of all grace (1 Pet. 5:10), and the Father of all mercies (2 Cor. 1:3).

At this point we may ask, “God, why are you so good to me? Why are you merciful? How can you accept someone like me?”

To these sorts of questions Paul gives a five-word answer.

Because of his great love

Some people have trouble accepting God’s mercy and grace because they have not grasped the great love of God.

“Why did you send your Son to rescue me? Why are you not holding my sins against me?”

The answer is “because of his great love with which he loved us.” Indeed, this is the answer to just about every question we might have about God.

Why did God create Adam and Eve? Because of his great love.

Why did God give us free will, knowing it would cost him everything to fix our mistakes? Because of his great love.

Why are sunsets beautiful? Why is the universe so big? Why do we have daffodils? Because of his great love.

God will never make you jump through hoops to earn his love. He won’t love you any more if you succeed, and he won’t love you any less if you fail. If you lead millions to Christ, or none at all, he will love you just the same. There is nothing you can do to make him love you more, and nothing you can do to make him love you less.

His great love endures forever.

I have given you two words, three words, and five words from this amazing passage. I want to leave you with one more word.

Great

In the New Testament two words are translated as great. One is megas, which means big, and the other is polys, which means many. The latter word is used here. God’s love for you is not a narrow, one-flavor kind of love, but a multifaceted, many-sided, all-the-colors-of-the-rainbow and all-the-words-in-the-dictionary kind of love. God’s love for you reaches so far in so many directions that it surpasses all knowledge (Eph. 3:17–19).

If some people have trouble believing the gospel of grace, perhaps it is because they are unfamiliar with the greatness of their Father’s love toward them.

Why does God have great mercy and great grace for you? Because of his great love.

—

If you liked this, you will love The Grace Bible: Ephesians.

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