The final judgment described in Revelation 19 demonstrates the holy love of God. Many today resist the idea of God as judge, but when they do so, they are left with a one-dimensional God—a sappy, sanitized deity whom they can easily manage. He nods and winks at our behavior, much like a kind elderly man...

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John wept at the thought of no one being able to open the scroll “or even to look in it” (Rev. 5:3). Imagine what must have gone through his mind in that moment. No one will be able to bring about the happy ending to this war-torn world of suffering. No one will be able...

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The letters to the seven churches are filled with insight into what constitutes a faithful Christian congregation. In the first four, we see several important emphases. In the letter to Ephesus, we’re reminded of the need for a passionate, right relationship with God from which good works flow (and without which good works are dead)....

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Revelation begins and ends with blessing. We see blessing in the beginning in verse 3, where the author blesses the one who “reads aloud the words of this prophecy.” And we see blessing at the end in Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the...

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Bible commentators often point out the similarities between Jude’s and Peter’s epistles. Like Jude, Peter often spoke about our common salvation. First Peter 1:3-5 points out that God has given us “new birth” into His family through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Amazingly, by the grace and power of God, our spiritual DNA...

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Understanding the depth and breadth of the gospel cannot happen until we have received Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as payment for our sin. It is the result of a lifelong journey that starts with God’s love and begins because of God’s initiative. The apostle John was able to speak about God’s love on...

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The Letter to Philemon is a short letter. Paul was succinct and direct in his brotherly exhortation to Philemon. Paul opened by identifying himself as a prisoner for Christ, and he identified Philemon as a fellow worker in the Lord, one who provided space in his home for the gathering of the church in his...

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There’s nothing more humbling than being on a boat in the middle of a large body of water. You come to realize the level of faith you have in that boat to keep you safe. It’s convicting to grasp how often we can place our trust in something that is made by human hands and...

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Paul was able to give his defense before Festus. Paul’s accusers knew they couldn’t get what they wanted as long as the trial was in the Roman court system. This helps us reflect on Jesus’ trials and how execution was granted by Pilate. Jesus’ execution was not only because of the pressure applied by Jesus’...

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Paul expressed how much joy the Philippian believers’ gospel partnership brought him and reminded them that their sovereign and faithful God would keep them to the end (1:3-6). He prayed that God would cause their love to increase so they would stay pure and blameless, full of the fruit of righteousness (vv. 9-11). That’s what...

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