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What is the Grace Bible?

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What is the Grace Bible? The Grace Bible is your grace-based, easy-to-read, new covenant study Bible.

Unlike other study Bibles that burden you with guilt and leave you confused, the Grace Bible has good news on every page. It’s your new covenant guide to the abundant life that is ours in Christ.

Here are three facts you probably don’t know about the Grace Bible:

Fact 1: Amazon nearly killed the Grace Bible

I have published over a dozen books on Amazon with no problems, but for some reason Amazon didn’t want anything to do with the Grace Bible. Not at first.

I think I encountered someone on a bad day and they red-flagged me. This person said they weren’t going to publish the Grace Bible and gave no reason for not doing so. I had no idea what the problem was, but the Grace Bible, like baby Moses, nearly died in infancy.

After three months, the Amazon peeps changed their mind, and the Grace Bible was launched. The Amazon people have been helpful ever since.

Fact 2: The Grace Bible is growing fast

In year one, we launched the first book in the series (1-3 John & Jude). In year two, we launched two more books (1-2 Peter and James), and then two more this year (Galatians and Ephesians). Next year we are on track to releasing three books. By the grace of God we’re getting faster which is a good thing, because the Bible is huge and full of treasure.

Fact 3: The next two installments are available for pre-order

I am excited to announce the release dates for the next two installments in The Grace Bible series. Both books are available for pre-order on the Kindle store now. Both books will also be available in paperback and hardcover.

God’s hand has been on this project since the beginning, and I give him all the glory. Even though the series is still new, Grace Bibles are being read by believers all over the world. Thanks to the generosity of our partners, boxes of Grace Bibles have been distributed to church leaders in Africa and elsewhere.

The Grace Bible is unique. As far as I know, there is no study Bible like it.

If you want to grow in grace or read scripture through the lens of the new covenant, the Grace Bible is the study Bible for you.

What Amazon reviewers are saying about The Grace Bible:

  • “A verse by verse wonder!”
  • “By is far the best commentary Bible”
  • “Do yourself a favor and get this now and get it for your friends as well”

What is the Grace Bible?

by

What is the Grace Bible? The Grace Bible is your grace-based, easy-to-read, new covenant study Bible.

Unlike other study Bibles that burden you with guilt and leave you confused, the Grace Bible has good news on every page. It’s your new covenant guide to the abundant life that is ours in Christ.

Here are three facts you probably don’t know about the Grace Bible:

Fact 1: Amazon nearly killed the Grace Bible

I have published over a dozen books on Amazon with no problems, but for some reason Amazon didn’t want anything to do with the Grace Bible. Not at first.

I think I encountered someone on a bad day and they red-flagged me. This person said they weren’t going to publish the Grace Bible and gave no reason for not doing so. I had no idea what the problem was, but the Grace Bible, like baby Moses, nearly died in infancy.

After three months, the Amazon peeps changed their mind, and the Grace Bible was launched. The Amazon people have been helpful ever since.

Fact 2: The Grace Bible is growing fast

In year one, we launched the first book in the series (1-3 John & Jude). In year two, we launched two more books (1-2 Peter and James), and then two more this year (Galatians and Ephesians). Next year we are on track to releasing three books. By the grace of God we’re getting faster which is a good thing, because the Bible is huge and full of treasure.

Fact 3: The next two installments are available for pre-order

I am excited to announce the release dates for the next two installments in The Grace Bible series. Both books are available for pre-order on the Kindle store now. Both books will also be available in paperback and hardcover.

God’s hand has been on this project since the beginning, and I give him all the glory. Even though the series is still new, Grace Bibles are being read by believers all over the world. Thanks to the generosity of our partners, boxes of Grace Bibles have been distributed to church leaders in Africa and elsewhere.

The Grace Bible is unique. As far as I know, there is no study Bible like it.

If you want to grow in grace or read scripture through the lens of the new covenant, the Grace Bible is the study Bible for you.

What Amazon reviewers are saying about The Grace Bible:

  • “A verse by verse wonder!”
  • “By is far the best commentary Bible”
  • “Do yourself a favor and get this now and get it for your friends as well”

What is the Grace Bible?

by

What is the Grace Bible? The Grace Bible is your grace-based, easy-to-read, new covenant study Bible.

Unlike other study Bibles that burden you with guilt and leave you confused, the Grace Bible has good news on every page. It’s your new covenant guide to the abundant life that is ours in Christ.

Here are three facts you probably don’t know about the Grace Bible:

Fact 1: Amazon nearly killed the Grace Bible

I have published over a dozen books on Amazon with no problems, but for some reason Amazon didn’t want anything to do with the Grace Bible. Not at first.

I think I encountered someone on a bad day and they red-flagged me. This person said they weren’t going to publish the Grace Bible and gave no reason for not doing so. I had no idea what the problem was, but the Grace Bible, like baby Moses, nearly died in infancy.

After three months, the Amazon peeps changed their mind, and the Grace Bible was launched. The Amazon people have been helpful ever since.

Fact 2: The Grace Bible is growing fast

In year one, we launched the first book in the series (1-3 John & Jude). In year two, we launched two more books (1-2 Peter and James), and then two more this year (Galatians and Ephesians). Next year we are on track to releasing three books. By the grace of God we’re getting faster which is a good thing, because the Bible is huge and full of treasure.

Fact 3: The next two installments are available for pre-order

I am excited to announce the release dates for the next two installments in The Grace Bible series. Both books are available for pre-order on the Kindle store now. Both books will also be available in paperback and hardcover.

God’s hand has been on this project since the beginning, and I give him all the glory. Even though the series is still new, Grace Bibles are being read by believers all over the world. Thanks to the generosity of our partners, boxes of Grace Bibles have been distributed to church leaders in Africa and elsewhere.

The Grace Bible is unique. As far as I know, there is no study Bible like it.

If you want to grow in grace or read scripture through the lens of the new covenant, the Grace Bible is the study Bible for you.

What Amazon reviewers are saying about The Grace Bible:

  • “A verse by verse wonder!”
  • “By is far the best commentary Bible”
  • “Do yourself a favor and get this now and get it for your friends as well”

What is the Grace Bible?

by

What is the Grace Bible? The Grace Bible is your grace-based, easy-to-read, new covenant study Bible.

Unlike other study Bibles that burden you with guilt and leave you confused, the Grace Bible has good news on every page. It’s your new covenant guide to the abundant life that is ours in Christ.

Here are three facts you probably don’t know about the Grace Bible:

Fact 1: Amazon nearly killed the Grace Bible

I have published over a dozen books on Amazon with no problems, but for some reason Amazon didn’t want anything to do with the Grace Bible. Not at first.

I think I encountered someone on a bad day and they red-flagged me. This person said they weren’t going to publish the Grace Bible and gave no reason for not doing so. I had no idea what the problem was, but the Grace Bible, like baby Moses, nearly died in infancy.

After three months, the Amazon peeps changed their mind, and the Grace Bible was launched. The Amazon people have been helpful ever since.

Fact 2: The Grace Bible is growing fast

In year one, we launched the first book in the series (1-3 John & Jude). In year two, we launched two more books (1-2 Peter and James), and then two more this year (Galatians and Ephesians). Next year we are on track to releasing three books. By the grace of God we’re getting faster which is a good thing, because the Bible is huge and full of treasure.

Fact 3: The next two installments are available for pre-order

I am excited to announce the release dates for the next two installments in The Grace Bible series. Both books are available for pre-order on the Kindle store now. Both books will also be available in paperback and hardcover.

God’s hand has been on this project since the beginning, and I give him all the glory. Even though the series is still new, Grace Bibles are being read by believers all over the world. Thanks to the generosity of our partners, boxes of Grace Bibles have been distributed to church leaders in Africa and elsewhere.

The Grace Bible is unique. As far as I know, there is no study Bible like it.

If you want to grow in grace or read scripture through the lens of the new covenant, the Grace Bible is the study Bible for you.

What Amazon reviewers are saying about The Grace Bible:

  • “A verse by verse wonder!”
  • “By is far the best commentary Bible”
  • “Do yourself a favor and get this now and get it for your friends as well”

Blessed With Every Blessing

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Back in the 1980s, I smuggled Bibles into China. I can remember the tears of joy that Chinese believers shed had when they received their first Bibles. Until they got a Bible, Chinese believers mostly relied on copied bits of scripture.

Many of us take the Bible for granted. We don’t really read it. We skim our favorite bits and ignore the rest. If a scripture seems tricky or the language is archaic, we just skip ahead to something we understand.

Which is a shame, because Paul did not say “Parts of scripture are useful for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). We need all of it.

Imagine you lived someplace where there were no Bibles. If you only had access to one book of the Bible, which would you pick? For me it would be a choice between the Gospel of John and the Epistle to the Ephesians. Or Romans. And Psalms. I can’t choose.

But for the sake of argument, let’s say I picked Ephesians. Why Ephesians? Ephesians has been called the crown of Paul’s writings. It is an epistle full of pictures of a great God who has poured out his grace and favor upon us.

I feel qualified to say this because I have just finished writing a verse-by-verse commentary for the entire letter. While writing The Grace Bible: Ephesians, I was often amazed at how much treasure was contained in even the smallest verses. Consider this example:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Eph. 2:3)

Let’s take a minute to look at these words closely.

“God and Father.” Everything Paul says in his breath-taking letter begins with a revelation of our God and Father and what he has done for us. God blessed us (Eph. 1:3); God chose us before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4); God predestined us to be his sons (Eph. 1:5); God redeemed us from captivity and forgave all our sins (Eph. 1:7).

Ephesians is not about what you must do for God, but what God has done for you, and what you can do because of what he has done. Because he has redeemed you, you can live free. Because he has blessed you, you can bless others. Because he has revealed his eternal plan, you can live with purpose.

“Blessed.” There are three blessed words in this verse: blessed be (eulogetos) means God is praiseworthy; blessed us (eulogeo) means God speaks words of favor and prospers us; and blessing (eulogia) means bountiful favor. We bless God because he has blessed or favored us with every kind of spiritual blessing. We praise him because he is an awesome God who has done awesome things.

“Has blessed us.” God has abundantly provided everything we need for life and godliness (Php. 4:19, 2 Pet. 1:3). He has blessed us with forgiveness (Eph. 1:7), salvation (Eph. 1:13), the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), and an inheritance (Eph. 1:11). He has adopted us (Eph. 1:5), empowered us (Eph. 1:19), and built us into his holy habitation (Eph. 2:22).

We don’t need to beg and pound the gates of heaven to convince God to bless us. Our part is to acknowledge every good thing that is already ours in Christ Jesus (Phm. 1:6). Our part is to receive by faith that which God has already provided.

“Spiritual blessing.” The blessings of God originate in the heavenly or spiritual realm which means they are unmarred by this fallen world. God’s blessings are heavenly remedies for worldly woes. The blessings of God are not earned through service to the Lord or works of charity or by making donations. They are given to us freely by grace and received by faith.

“Heavenly places.” The spiritual realm is the geography of angels and demons. This realm includes the heavenly kingdom, where Christ sits enthroned (Acts 7:55, Eph. 2:6). It also includes the broader heavenly realm, where spiritual warfare takes place (Eph. 3:10, 6:12). “Heavenly places” should not be confused with the natural heavens or the starry sky. The spiritual realm is just as real as the physical realm, but the two realms are distinct.

“In Christ.” All of God’s blessings are received and experienced through our spiritual union with the Lord. “In union with Christ you have become rich in all things” (1 Cor. 1:5, GNB).

The word union does not appear in many English Bibles, but our union, or fellowship, with the Lord is mentioned hundreds of times in scripture. It is found in phrases like, “God with us,” “Christ in you,” “in Christ,” “with Christ,” “with him,” and “in him.” Like a branch on a vine, the believer is one with the Lord (John 15:5). “You are in me and I am in you” (John 14:20). Our union with the Lord is intimate, unbreakable, and the means by which we experience the abundant life that flows from the fullness of his love.

Selah.

I have just given you six entries or insights into part of one small verse. In my new book, there are nearly 700 entries covering every verse and phrase in Ephesians. The Grace Bible: Ephesians comes out at the end of August, but advance review copies are available now on Patreon and on the E2R Supporters’ page.

Blessed With Every Blessing

by

Back in the 1980s, I smuggled Bibles into China. I can remember the tears of joy that Chinese believers shed had when they received their first Bibles. Until they got a Bible, Chinese believers mostly relied on copied bits of scripture.

Many of us take the Bible for granted. We don’t really read it. We skim our favorite bits and ignore the rest. If a scripture seems tricky or the language is archaic, we just skip ahead to something we understand.

Which is a shame, because Paul did not say “Parts of scripture are useful for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). We need all of it.

Imagine you lived someplace where there were no Bibles. If you only had access to one book of the Bible, which would you pick? For me it would be a choice between the Gospel of John and the Epistle to the Ephesians. Or Romans. And Psalms. I can’t choose.

But for the sake of argument, let’s say I picked Ephesians. Why Ephesians? Ephesians has been called the crown of Paul’s writings. It is an epistle full of pictures of a great God who has poured out his grace and favor upon us.

I feel qualified to say this because I have just finished writing a verse-by-verse commentary for the entire letter. While writing The Grace Bible: Ephesians, I was often amazed at how much treasure was contained in even the smallest verses. Consider this example:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Eph. 2:3)

Let’s take a minute to look at these words closely.

“God and Father.” Everything Paul says in his breath-taking letter begins with a revelation of our God and Father and what he has done for us. God blessed us (Eph. 1:3); God chose us before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4); God predestined us to be his sons (Eph. 1:5); God redeemed us from captivity and forgave all our sins (Eph. 1:7).

Ephesians is not about what you must do for God, but what God has done for you, and what you can do because of what he has done. Because he has redeemed you, you can live free. Because he has blessed you, you can bless others. Because he has revealed his eternal plan, you can live with purpose.

“Blessed.” There are three blessed words in this verse: blessed be (eulogetos) means God is praiseworthy; blessed us (eulogeo) means God speaks words of favor and prospers us; and blessing (eulogia) means bountiful favor. We bless God because he has blessed or favored us with every kind of spiritual blessing. We praise him because he is an awesome God who has done awesome things.

“Has blessed us.” God has abundantly provided everything we need for life and godliness (Php. 4:19, 2 Pet. 1:3). He has blessed us with forgiveness (Eph. 1:7), salvation (Eph. 1:13), the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), and an inheritance (Eph. 1:11). He has adopted us (Eph. 1:5), empowered us (Eph. 1:19), and built us into his holy habitation (Eph. 2:22).

We don’t need to beg and pound the gates of heaven to convince God to bless us. Our part is to acknowledge every good thing that is already ours in Christ Jesus (Phm. 1:6). Our part is to receive by faith that which God has already provided.

“Spiritual blessing.” The blessings of God originate in the heavenly or spiritual realm which means they are unmarred by this fallen world. God’s blessings are heavenly remedies for worldly woes. The blessings of God are not earned through service to the Lord or works of charity or by making donations. They are given to us freely by grace and received by faith.

“Heavenly places.” The spiritual realm is the geography of angels and demons. This realm includes the heavenly kingdom, where Christ sits enthroned (Acts 7:55, Eph. 2:6). It also includes the broader heavenly realm, where spiritual warfare takes place (Eph. 3:10, 6:12). “Heavenly places” should not be confused with the natural heavens or the starry sky. The spiritual realm is just as real as the physical realm, but the two realms are distinct.

“In Christ.” All of God’s blessings are received and experienced through our spiritual union with the Lord. “In union with Christ you have become rich in all things” (1 Cor. 1:5, GNB).

The word union does not appear in many English Bibles, but our union, or fellowship, with the Lord is mentioned hundreds of times in scripture. It is found in phrases like, “God with us,” “Christ in you,” “in Christ,” “with Christ,” “with him,” and “in him.” Like a branch on a vine, the believer is one with the Lord (John 15:5). “You are in me and I am in you” (John 14:20). Our union with the Lord is intimate, unbreakable, and the means by which we experience the abundant life that flows from the fullness of his love.

Selah.

I have just given you six entries or insights into part of one small verse. In my new book, there are nearly 700 entries covering every verse and phrase in Ephesians. The Grace Bible: Ephesians comes out at the end of August, but advance review copies are available now on Patreon and on the E2R Supporters’ page.

Out today: The Grace Bible – Galatians

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The latest installment in the Grace Bible series has just been released. It’s called The Grace Bible: Galatians and you can get it on Amazon.

Why do we need another book on Galatians?

Like every pastor, I have preached on Galatians countless times. It’s the standard sermon on why we need to stay free from the law.

But here’s something odd.

While writing this book, I browsed numerous commentaries and found none that was free from mixture. Every one of them preached law, including those that claimed to be preaching grace!

It was bizarre. Every commentary on a book warning us about the dangers of law, preached law. The only difference was some preached a lot of law while others preached a little.

To the best of my knowledge, The Grace Bible: Galatians is the only 100% grace-based study Bible available. If you want a verse-by-verse study tool that is totally free from law, this is the book you need.

I already know the dangers of the law. Why should I read Galatians?

Galatians is about so much more than the fight to stay free. It’s about the new life we have in Christ and how to live it.

I thought I knew Galatians back-to-front. It wasn’t until I dived deep that I realized just how much treasure is in this book. With the Lord’s help, I found many nuggets I had never noticed before.

The Grace Bible: Galatians is available in several formats, including: compact paperback, easy-to-read hardcover, and Kindle.

Why not grab copies for your pastor, small group, friends and family.

Gems from Galatians

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Galatians is a small but precious epistle. It is full of treasures. It has 149 verses and in my forthcoming book, The Grace Bible: Galatians, I unpack every one of them.

Here’s a taste:

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20)

I have been crucified with Christ. My old self – the one that was concerned with rules and sin – died with Christ (Rom. 6:3). It is no more.

Many Christians are trying to crucify the flesh or their old self, but the good news declares, “You died.” This is just about the most important thing that happened to you, yet many Christians are ignorant of it. They do not know that when they were baptized, or placed into Jesus, his history became their history. His death and resurrection are your death and resurrection (Rom. 6:4). The old has gone and the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17).

It is no longer I who live. The self-serving person you once were no longer lives.

Once upon a time, Saul had been a zealous Pharisee intent on destroying the church. But when he met the Lord, that person died and a new person, Paul the beloved son of God, was born.

No longer. Paul repeats the “no longer” phrase to emphasize the change between the old and the new. Your old self no longer lives (Gal. 2:20). We are no longer under the guardianship of the law (Gal. 3:25). You are no longer a slave but a son (Gal. 4:7).

Christ lives in me. The Spirit of Christ dwells within the believer (John 14:17, 1 John 4:13).

Christianity is not a religion of rules and rituals. Christianity is Christ living in you. This is the beating heart of Paul’s message. Because Christ lives in you, you are holy and righteous. Because Christ lives in you, you can be free and fruitful. Christ is not just your Savior and Healer. Christ is your Life (Col. 3:4).

In the flesh. In this earthly body.

Faith in the Son of God. The primary call to action of Galatians is to live by faith in Jesus (Gal. 3:11). We receive the gospel by faith (Gal 3:2), we are justified by faith (Gal. 2:16), and we are adopted into the family of God by faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26). Real life comes from trusting the Lord.

The King James Version and other translations translate this verse as the “faith of the Son of God”. (The KJV also refers to “the faith of Jesus Christ in Galatians 2:16 and 3:22.) We who have been justified by the faith of Jesus Christ (Gal 2:16) now live by the faith of Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:20). If this was Paul’s meaning, we can say that we were justified and declared righteous because Jesus was faithful unto death, and we are empowered to live in Christ because he is, and will always remain, faithful.

Son of God. Jesus is the Christ (the anointed one; Gal. 1:1), and the Lord (supreme above all; Gal. 1:3), but ultimately, he is the Son of God. His relationship to God the Father defines him (and us; Gal. 3:26).

Who loved me. The love of God is revealed to us through his Son Jesus Christ (see entry for John 17:26).

Manmade religion portrays God as capricious. “Sometimes he loves you, sometimes he doesn’t.” But the gospel of grace declares God’s love for you is constant and shadowless (Ps. 136, Jas. 1:17).

Religion prostitutes the love of God by putting price tags on his affection. “You have to earn his favor.” But the gospel of grace declares that God loved you while you were a sinner and nothing can separate you from his love (Rom. 5:8, 8:38–39).

Religion demands that you impress God with the fervency of your love, but the gospel of grace inspires you to trust in your heavenly Father who loves you without limit (Eph. 3:17–19).

God’s love changes us. It turns sinners into saints, haters into lovers, church wreckers into church planters. Everything that is good about the good news—his forgiveness, acceptance, and righteousness—is good and true because your heavenly Father loves you. He always has and he always will. God never changes.

Gave himself up for me. The cross proves that God loves you unconditionally.

The sacrificial love of God is the heart of the good news (John 15:13, Eph. 5:2). God did not wait for us to repent or get cleaned up before he loved us. While we were in the filth of our sin and self-righteousness, he came and hugged us. God justifies the ungodly (Rom. 4:5).

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 love endures forever.

—

If you liked that, you will love what I wrote for the other 148 verses! The Grace Bible: Galatians will be released in July, but in next week’s post, I’ll to tell you how you can get an advance copy a month before it goes on sale.

Leaders are readers. Click on the pic to find out what others are saying about the Grace Commentary:

Law + Works + Grace = ?

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The stories we tell ourselves shape our lives.

For example, if you buy into a narrative that says, “The Bible is a book of rules we must obey,” you will find laws to obey on every page.

If you believe, “The Bible teaches us to work for God’s favor,” you will find long lists of things to do.

But read the Bible with mindset of grace, and you will get a completely different picture. You will see what Christ has done your behalf, and how you can reign in life by receiving his abundant grace.

Law, works, or grace. Which narrative are you following?

This is an important question when reading a book like James, because James writes about law AND works AND grace. All three are in his letter.

If you did not know any better, you might think that James was saying you need law plus works plus grace. A little bit of each gives you a healthy balance.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mixing law, works, and grace is like mixing medicines. Or powerful chemicals. It’s a bad idea. In the new covenant, we are under grace, not law (Rom. 6:14–15). The law is good, but it’s no good for the believer (1 Tim. 1:9).

Yet virtually every book and sermon I have read or heard on James preaches mixture. “You need a little law + a little grace + a lot of works,” and the result is confusion and dead works.

Let me give you some examples:

  • Most commentators say James wrote to Christians, yet in places James calls his readers sinners, adulterers, and friends of the world. He says things like, “you commit murder” (Jas. 4:2). Strong words. You are not an adulterous murderer, are you? Yes, James wrote for believers, but he also wrote for unbelievers. (He says so in chapter 1.) One letter, two messages, and if you don’t know which is which you’ll be confused.
  • James said no one can tame the tongue (Jas. 3:8). It’s impossible. Yet many commentators say things like, “Watch your words and tame your tongue.” They contradict James and promote dead works. We don’t need to try harder, we need a new heart and a new tongue.
  • James wrote about a crown of life. Those who preach works dangle that crown like a carrot. “Endure trials and earn that crown.” But James says the crown is given to those who love the Lord (Jas. 1:12). It’s a gift, not a reward. Big difference.
  • The most famous scripture in James is “faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:17). The works preachers love this verse, while faith preachers are left wringing their hands in confusion. “James is talking about works of service,” they say. Or “this isn’t a salvation issue.” Yet the context is clearly salvation (Jas. 2:14), justification (Jas. 2:21, 24–25), and being made right with God (Jas 2:23). Either way, you better get busy for Jesus. Which means faith = works. Apparently.

See the problem? Read James with anything other than a grace lens and you’ll come away condemned and confused. You will think we need a little law and a lot of works to supplement God’s grace:

  • You will watch every word lest you complain and come under judgment (Jas. 5:9).
  • You will feel a need to work to prove that your faith is not useless (Jas. 2:20).
  • You will think that God’s forgiveness is conditional and you need to confess your sins to get it (Jas. 5:15–16).

Or…

You could ditch those mixed-up messages and get yourself a grace-based commentary that reveals the “greater grace” of God that runs all through James’ letter (Jas. 4:6).

Just saying.

My new book The Grace Bible: James has just been released. It is 100% grace based guaranteed.

The Grace Bible: James will help you find the gold that is in James’ letter, and will protect you from toxic mixture. It is available now on Amazon and other good booksellers.

The Study Bible You’ve Been Waiting For

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Do you know how to use a Bible commentary? A commentary is a kind of explainer. It tells you what the scriptures mean.

Or to be precise, it tells you what the commentator thinks they mean.

Which means if your commentary was written by someone with an old covenant mindset, you’ll get an old covenant interpretation of the Bible.

Since I read the Bible through a grace lens, readers have long been asking me to write a Bible commentary. For years I said no. Who’s got that kind of time?

But then I realized that I have been writing a commentary all along. I just didn’t know it. So I took my disparate articles, notes and books and organized them into an online tool called The Grace Commentary.

The Grace Commentary is a useful tool, but some people want a physical book they can mark, highlight and giveaway.

Enter, the Grace Bible.

The first installment (1–3 John & Jude) came out last year, and the second installment (1–2 Peter) was released this Easter. But the book I most wanted to write was the third installment: The Grace Bible: James.

It has just been released.

Why am I excited about The Grace Bible: James? Because James may be the most misunderstood book in the Bible.

Faith plus works? Did James understand grace? Should his book even be in the cannon?

I am convinced that James understood grace as well as anyone. James wrote so that we might have a revelation of “the greater grace” of God. But you might not see the grace in James, especially if you are using an old covenant commentary.

The Grace Bible: James could be the most important book I’ve written and I am super excited to share it with you.

If you have trouble seeing the grace in James, I encourage you to get The Grace Bible: James today.

“The Grace Bible is a breath of fresh air and a MUST for every pastor and believer in rightly dividing scripture.” – Ben Dailey, lead pastor, Calvary Church, Irving, TX

One more thing. I have heard people say they will wait until the entire Grace Bible series is finished and then get the whole book. This is a mistake. At this stage, I have no plans to do the entire New Testament.

Each book in the Grace Bible series is a standalone title. If you only get one book, get The Grace Bible: James.

If you get James, you’ll get grace. If you don’t, you won’t.

The Grace Bible: James is available now in paperback, hardcover, and various ebook formats. A sample chapter and endorsements can be found on the Grace Bible website.

Is it God’s Will for You to Suffer (1 Peter 4:19)

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“Paul, why are you writing a Bible commentary? There are so many.”

It’s true. There are many Bible commentaries out there. But as far as I know, there are no grace-based commentaries. Instead, there are commentaries that mix grace with works leaving you confused, anxious, and uncertain.

Let me give you an example:

Those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. (1 Peter 4:19)

What does it mean to suffer according to the will of God? Your answer to that question reveals whether you are established in grace.

Read the verse in context and we’ll see that the suffering Peter is talking about is the fiery ordeal of persecution (1 Pet. 4:12). He’s writing to believers who were enduring a painful and unjust trial because they were Christians.

Some lost their property, while others lost their lives. And apparently this was God’s will. God was behind their suffering.

Or was he.

Any time we go through trials and hardships, we may be tempted to ask, “Lord, why are you doing this to me? Do you want me to suffer? Is this your will?”

These are weighty questions that deserve serious answers. So we turn to our favorite study Bible or commentary to unpack this verse and this is what we find:

  • Some commentators, like Matthew Henry, say “All the sufferings that befall good people come upon them according to the will of God.” So yes, it is God’s will for you to suffer.
  • Others write lengthy essays that say nothing of substance.
  • A few change Peter’s words or they wriggle out of answering the question.

Depending on who you read, you will come away feeling either confused, really confused, or condemned. You certainly won’t find any comfort.

I know this because I have read many books and commentaries on the passage above and NOT ONE of them did anything to encourage or strengthen my faith. The consensus seems to be that God either wants you to suffer or he allows it because he’s mysterious and sovereign and his ways are higher than your ways.

It makes me shake my head.

Let me put your mind at ease right now: It is NOT God’s will for you to suffer, be persecuted, or mistreated for being a Christian. Peter says no such thing.

Let’s take a closer look at his words:

Those who suffer according to the will of God…

The key phrase here is the will of God, which is one of Peter’s favorite phrases. He uses it repeatedly. He says the will of God is for you to walk in newness of life by putting your faith in his Son Jesus (1 Pet. 4:2, 6).

To suffer for the will of God is to suffer for being a Christian. That’s it. Peter says so three verses earlier:

If anyone suffers as a Christian… (1 Peter 4:16)

To suffer according to the will of God is to be persecuted for your faith. It’s being bullied because you are in the will of God. So obviously God is not the one persecuting you. A just God cannot inflict unjust suffering.

This is obvious, right? Yet many who should know better don’t see it. They wring their hands and say a lot of nonsense that is baloney at best and blasphemy at worst.

Can you imagine Jesus throwing stones at Stephen or flogging Paul? It’s ridiculous. So why do we listen to those who suggest this sort of suffering is the Father’s will?

Let’s look at the next part of that verse:

…entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. (1 Peter 4:19)

If you are going through hard times on account of your faith, you can trust the Creator because he is faithful. He will never leave you or let you down. That’s good news to encourage you.

Now we come to the final part:

…in doing what is right. (1 Peter 4:19)

In the old covenant, doing right meant keeping the rules, but in the new covenant doing right is what we do when we’re living in right relationship with the faithful Creator. It’s putting your faith in the Son of God and living in submission to the will of God.

Right believing leads to right living. When your heart is settled in the faithfulness of God, you will live righteously without any conscious effort. The Righteous One will fill your heart with his righteous desires and bear his righteous fruit in your life.

Put it altogether and Peter is saying something like this:

If you are following God and suffering for it, keep trusting him. He will never fail you. Keep walking in the light of his love and grace.

Peter’s first epistle, when read through the lens of the new covenant, is a huge source of encouragement for the afflicted. It is God’s gift to the persecuted believer, and one of the most incredible letters ever written.

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If you liked this, you will love The Grace Bible: 1–2 Peter. Available now.

Do we need a New Covenant Study Bible?

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The Bible contains the most beautiful, life-giving words. Yet many don’t see them because they’re reading scripture through the wrong lens. Consider the following verse:

If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth… (1 Peter 1:17)

What does that verse mean? Many people have no idea. Or rather, they have the wrong idea because they have been raised with a mindset that says you have to perform and produce to please the Father.

Do you know what that verse means? Maybe you see three words – judges, work, and fear – and come to all sorts of scary conclusions.

“It sounds like there’s some kind of judgment coming so I’d better work hard and be afraid for as long as I live.”

Which sounds horrible. That can’t be right. Can it?

You reach for your nearest study Bible or commentary and find that, no, you’re on the money.

“God is scary, so watch yourself.”

No, no, no! Change your lens. Stop reading the Bible through an old covenant lens of rules and behavior, and put on your new covenant glasses.

If there was such a thing as a new covenant study Bible, it would highlight one word in the passage above: Father.

If you address as Father…

Do you address God as Father? I hope so because God is your heavenly Father. Jesus said so.

But do you believe it? Do you actually call God Father?

Perhaps you don’t think of God in such familiar terms. If you have been raised with an old covenant emphasis on performance, you might see God as a bookkeeper recording your sins or a judge condemning your failures.

In the old covenant, no one addressed the Almighty as Father. But after Jesus, every New Testament writer did.

Calling God Father is what makes the new covenant new.

“But what about the part where it says we are judged for our work?”

Jesus said the only work that impresses God the Father is the “work” of believing in the One he sent (John 6:29). We are judged by our response to Jesus. Did we trust him? Did we rest in his finished work or rely on our own dead works? That sort of thing.

“But if God is our Father, why do we need to conduct ourselves in fear?”

In the new covenant, the fear of God means living in reverence and awe of God. To fear the Lord is to worship him.

Put it altogether and Peter is saying, “If you know God as your heavenly Father, let your conduct on earth be your spiritual act of worship.”

In other words, live in response to the goodness of God. Which is so much better than that scary interpretation.

Read Peter’s letter from cover to cover and you will find that it is full of reasons for worshipping the God we know as Father. We worship the Lord because:

  • he redeemed us from bondage with the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18–19)
  • he has given us rebirth through imperishable seed into new life (1 Pet. 1:23)
  • he has sanctified us by his Spirit (1 Pet. 1:2)
  • he is reserving for us an eternal inheritance (1 Pet. 1:4)
  • he protects us with his mighty power (1 Pet. 1:5)

And that’s just chapter 1! Peter’s two epistles ring with praise to the Lord and all that he has done for us.

If you liked this, you will love The Grace Bible: 1–2 Peter. It’s just been released. Check out the Grace Bible website for details.

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