,‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” The coming of the Son of God into the world was the coming of the “Son of David,” the promised King.

The gospel was promised in holy writings inspired by God; and the gospel is unfolded and preserved for us in holy writings inspired by God. 

Paul is saying that he was set apart from the time before he was born. That’s amazing. You know why that’s amazing? Because the detour between the setting apart and the Damascus road is horrendous, isn’t it? He’s a murderer. He’s a hater of Christians. He’s a persecutor of the church

If you’re a Christian today, you are doubly owned by God. You are owned by virtue of creation and you are owned by virtue of purchase. You are doubly not your own — doubly his. He owns you. 

Greed has corrupted this culture, from the least to the greatest: all are tainted with this lust for what they don’t deserve. The prophets and priests are no better. Their lives reek with deceit.   Jeremiah 6:13

True beauty, purpose, and satisfaction in marriage come when we reflect the true nature of the One that satisfies us completely and eternally Jesus Christ.   By his life and death, Jesus displays the center of marriage as self-sacrifice.

Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]
1Peter 4:8-10

But if you reject the one who speaks from heaven and, like Esau, prefer the fragile, shaky kingdom of this world, then you will meet the consuming fire of God as destruction and not deliverance.

There are many that are on the way to heaven who yet walk but half-heartedly and lamely in it. Such are apt to discourage one another and hinder one another; but it is their duty to take courage, and act by faith, and so help one another forward in the way to heaven.

To be tormented and to go on in sin without a rebuke, is a sad sign of separation from God; The Bible says, such are bastards, not sons. They may call him Father, because they are born in the light of the church, but they are the counterfeit offspring of another father, not of God, Heb. 12:7, 8.