Through the Bible for Skeptics and Seekers

John writes to a leader in the church who has been opening his home to those traveling. In those days showing someone hospitality meant giving that person a platform as other believers would come to meet and hear from those visiting. For this reason, John reminds Gaius not to open his home to false teachers who were spreading lies and dangerous teaching. Who we listen to determines the direction w...

The Apostle John encourages believers who were dealing with false teachers who had deceived some. He affirms those still following Jesus and loving others. The false teachers were trying to convince the believers that Jesus was not actually on earth physically but only spiritually. This was influenced by a Greek idea that the spirit is good but the body is bad. They were denying the truth of what...

Those who follow Jesus trust Him by obeying His commands. Because we have the Spirit of God we can live new lives. We can rescue others who have fallen into sin and help them. We can pray with effectiveness knowing God will guide us to accomplish His purpose. John wrote this so that we may know that if we believe we will have life in Jesus. All who want this life can have it! God is inviting us in...

We can discern the trustworthy teachers from false ones by how the person describes Jesus and by how they live their lives. God is love, and Jesus demonstrated His love by laying down His life for us. That is how followers of Jesus are to live. Once we surrender our lives to follow Jesus, the Spirit of God comes to live within us. With God’s help, we can live more sacrificially by dying to ourselv...

Followers of Jesus do not have to live the same way they used to live. How someone lives his or her life demonstrates to the world whether they have a relationship with Jesus or not. Are you trying to overcome sin or are you choosing to continue to live the same way you did before your relationship with Jesus began? Are you loving your brother or are you holding a grudge or giving into bitterness?...

Followers of Jesus trust Him and obey Him. We cannot say we follow Jesus and and not obey His commands. We cannot say we love God and hate our brother. The Jewish authors of the Scriptures use an interesting communication technique to make their point. For example, they will say something like: “if you are not doing this, then you are a liar” Then they will remind their readers “But that is not wh...

The Apostle John was an eyewitness of Jesus. He writes to believers going through a challenging season. Some had wandered away from their faith. Some were teaching their own version of spirituality. Some were living like the world. He reminds them that making those decisions are not consistent with who they are in Christ. When we make a mistake, God is faithful and just and will forgive. We can li...

One day Jesus will return and make all things right! When He returns, He will eradicate all evil. God operates on a different time frame as for Him “a day is like 1000 years and a 1000 years is like a day.” God is patient not wanting anyone to perish. He is giving us the time to turn to Him, and then one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth. In light of Jesus’ imminent return, we need to...

Peter addresses the presence of false teachers and prophets within the Christian community. They offer a false idea of freedom that actually is destructive. They lead others astray with their false teachings and immoral lifestyles. Peter gives examples from the Old Testament of God's judgment on those who engage in sinful behavior, emphasizing that God knows how to rescue the godly and to puni...

The apostle Peter urges believers to grow in their faith and live a godly life. We have everything we need to do so because we have access to God’s divine nature! He emphasizes the importance of adding virtues to one's faith, listing qualities like goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. These virtues are seen as a pathway to becoming more lik...

Peter encourages the overseers of the churches to care well for those in their church family. To all believers, he reminds us of the importance of humbling ourselves. The proud will fall, but those who humble themselves will be lifted up! We may suffer in this world, but one day all will be judged. God will make all things right. There will be justice. Those in Christ will be seen in light of the...

Peter reminds these followers of Jesus who were suffering tremendous persecution to take heart knowing that Jesus suffered in order to accomplish His mission for us. Even though circumstances may be tragic and some are being killed for their faith, those who die in Christ are no longer in pain. They heard the message of Jesus, responded in faith, and they are now in the presence of God! We can bri...

Peter breaks through stereotypes in order to guide those who follow Jesus to live differently than the world lives. For women married to an unbelieving husband should not try to argue them into the Kingdom of God but honor and respect them remembering that their beauty comes from within. For men, they should also treat women with respect as well even if they may be physically smaller or physically...

Peter uses phrases that may make us feel uncomfortable. He uses phrases like "submit to your masters," "submit to the authorities," and "abstain from sinful desires." It is important to remember that God is on the side of those who are oppressed as demonstrated throughout the Scriptures. He is the God who freed the enslaved Israelites. There is an entire letter in the...

The apostle Peter offers hope and encouragement for a group of believers experiencing persecution. They have a hope in Jesus that can help them endure. Suffering can actually help them grow to become more pure and holy. The word “elect” means they are chosen by God. This does not mean others are rejected. Other passages declare that “all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” When we rea...

The apostle Peter wrote to believers in Asia in what is now known as Türkiye. These Christ-followers were being persecuted and suffering for their faith. He wrote them to give them hope and guidance on how to live a godly life in a pagan world. He shared one of the most remarkable ideas: when we follow Jesus we are given all we need for life and godliness. We have the capacity to experience the di...

James rebukes wealthy people who were causing others to suffer. He encouraged those who were suffering to persevere. God never promised a life without suffering but to be with us in our suffering. If you are overwhelmed with guilt or fighting an illness, we are to come to others for help and prayer. The prayer of person right with God is effective! #NewTestament #BibleCommentary #ScriptureAnalysis...

When we covet we have impure motives. When we do this we are aligning ourselves with the ways of the world. Rather than being proud we need to humble ourselves so that God can lift us up. James encourages followers of Jesus to avoid destruction through slander, judging, and other sins but instead submit to God and resist the devil. When we come near to God, we will discover His presence drawing ne...

James warns us that the tongue is a dangerous part of the body that remains difficult to tame. An untamed tongue can do a great deal of damage like how a tiny spark can become a forest fire. Followers of Jesus should avoid selfish ambition, bitterness, and envy. Instead we should seek God for His wisdom which is “pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial...

We should not show favoritism by treating those who are wealthy differently than those who have very little. Followers of Jesus love our neighbors as we love ourselves. When we refuse to do the right thing, it’s like breaking all of the law. Faith without works is dead. We cannot earn our way into God’s presence. Jesus often rebuked the religious leaders because they believed they deserved God’s b...

The half brother of Jesus and leader of the church in Jerusalem was one of the first martyrs for his faith. James shares wisdom for how to live in our broken world. He shares that we should have a different perspective when facing trials. Some trials come because we live in a fallen world, but God can bring good from this such as developing perseverance. We can avoid trials by not falling into tem...

The author of Hebrews ends the letter with important reminders on how followers of Jesus should live. We are to love each other as brothers and sisters, to show hospitality to strangers, to live pure lives by keeping our marriage bed pure, to avoid the love of money but remaining content, and to remember our leaders by imitating their faith. We can trust God because He will never leave us nor fors...

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Cons...

In Hebrews 11 we discover one of the most succinct definitions of faith along with several heroes of faith - men and women who trusted God and lived out what they believed. Some experienced the blessing they hoped to experience on this side of eternity. Others were persecuted or even killed because of their faith. They received what God promised on the other side of eternity. Here’s the definition...

“And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all… For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬, ‭14) Because we can enter into God’s presence and because Jesus gave His life for us, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings… Let us hold...