Bart Byl on Revelation 1:12-18.

Jesus emerged from the tomb victorious, and with the keys of death tied to his belt. His banner now flies over the enemy’s stronghold, and he can lock and unlock its black gates at will. Therefore, though we grieve, we don't grieve without hope.

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Bart Byl on Mark 2:13–17.

Series: Jesus in Action (The Gospel of Mark)

The only people who are excluded from Jesus’ grace are the ones who pretend they don’t need Jesus. All he asks you to do is hold out your hand and receive the gift of forgiveness and welcome—and he will receive you.

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Bart Byl on Mark 2:1–12.

Series: Jesus in Action (The Gospel of Mark)

The story of the Christ's healing of the paralyzed man teaches us that our greatest need is for forgiveness. Matthew Henry once remarked, "Pardon of sin strikes at the root of all diseases." Christ’s healings are sacraments of forgiveness.

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Bart Byl on Mark 1:14–28.

Series: Jesus in Action (The Gospel of Mark)

Jesus exercises authority over everyone. He calls the disciples, he teaches the crowds, he even casts out demons. His authority demands a response: will we obey or disobey?

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Bart Byl on Mark 1:1–13.

Series: Jesus in Action (The Gospel of Mark)

Jesus appears as the cloud of smoke by day and the pillar of fire by night, leading his people to the promised land.

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Bart Byl on Psalm 145.

David praises God the King for his greatness, which is especially expressed in his goodness to his people and to all that he has made. We join David in his praise, as part of the chain of generations passing down the tradition of the Lord’s mighty deeds on our behalf.

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Bart Byl on Romans 13.

Paul urges the Roman Christians, as part of their socio-ethical response to God’s mercies, to submit to the government and to love one another, living as though coming salvation had already arrived. This teaching was intended to shape Paul’s audience, and us, as people who do good in wider society, to love our Christian family, to ‘put off’ shameful behavior and to ‘put on’ Christ.

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Bart Byl on Romans 11:1-32.

God has not rejected Israel. They have been temporarily hardened while the Gentiles join with God’s people, and once this is complete, they will be gloriously restored, to the praise of God’s sovereign mercy.

Our inclusion in God’s people is not based on our works of the law, ethnic superiority, or even self-generated faith—it hinges entirely on the sovereign mercy of God in Christ.

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Bart Byl on John 1:1-5, 14, 18.

When the divine Son becomes man, he became the bridge of communion between God and man.

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Bart Byl on Romans 8:28-30.

Paul wanted Christians who are discouraged by suffering to know that God is actually using their afflictions to bring about something awesome he had always planned: shaping them to reflect Jesus and thereby bring glory to him.

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