For if you do these things, you will never stumble…
Summary: Peter uses a common word for a common experience to remind us of the consequences of common (worldly) behavior.
Continue reading “2 Peter 1:10b — Flip Flops”2 Peter 1:10b — Flip Flops
2 Peter 1:9b — Bee Business
…forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Summary: Our little brains seem to have a limited capacity for remembering the good things people have done for us.
Continue reading “2 Peter 1:9b — Bee Business”2 Peter 1:6a — Self-Control
… and to knowledge, self-control;
Summary: Without knowledge, we have no reason to use self-control. Without faith, we cannot know what knowledge to believe and use.
Continue reading “2 Peter 1:6a — Self-Control”Titus 3:9 (e) — Worse Things
… because these are unprofitable and useless.
Summary: Paul has constructed example of both the profitable and unprofitable. He stops short of comparing that which is unprofitable to sin, but does feel strongly that such behavior should be avoided.
Continue reading “Titus 3:9 (e) — Worse Things”Titus 3:5 (b) — The Laugh Test
He saved us … not because of righteous things we had done …
Summary: Knowing why God saves us is important. Knowing why he should not save us is also important.
Continue reading “Titus 3:5 (b) — The Laugh Test”Titus 3:5 (a) — Tortoise and Hare
When … God our Savior appeared … he saved us …
Summary: Paul speaks from a godly perspective. If we see his words only from a human perspective, we risk losing everything worth having.
Continue reading “Titus 3:5 (a) — Tortoise and Hare”Titus 3:3 (f) — Two Towns in Hell
We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Summary: Malice and envy are at the root of hating others. Paul explains this so we remember and understand what our Lord has saved us from.
Continue reading “Titus 3:3 (f) — Two Towns in Hell”Titus 3:3 (e) — The Road to Freedom
At one time we too were … enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.
Summary: The road to freedom is a beautiful adventure. The end of the road is the beginning of a new life in heaven. Meanwhile, here on earth, we can be free of the shackles of the desires of the flesh.
Continue reading “Titus 3:3 (e) — The Road to Freedom”Titus 3:3 (d) — Going Astray
At one time we too were … deceived …
Summary: Being a demon is hard work. You cannot force people to leave God’s Light, you have to tempt them. Fortunately for the demons, their work is made easier when we turn our back on God.
Continue reading “Titus 3:3 (d) — Going Astray”Titus 3:3 (c) — God’s Rules
At one time we too were … disobedient …
Summary: Obedience is hard for humans. It requires us to submit to God’s authority and we tend not to like doing that. Yet God’s rules are not all that hard to comply with, if only we would.
Continue reading “Titus 3:3 (c) — God’s Rules”