God’s Love Poured Forth
by Zane Hodges, excerpted from the January-February 2013 edition of Grace in Focus Romans 5:5. Now expectation does not result in shame, because the love of God is poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. The expectation that is produced in us through enduring our trials and […]
Are You Blameless and Above Reproach?
originally published in the July-August, 2014 edition of Grace in Focus Elders are to be Blameless There are only seven uses of the Greek word anenkletos (blameless, above reproach, irreproachable) in the New Testament. Three of these uses refer to one of the requirements of an elder (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:6) or a deacon […]
Be like the Bereans
by Bob Wilkin, excerpted from an article originally published in the November 2007 edition of Grace in Focus The Principle Stated After a short ministry in Thessalonica, Paul moved on to Berea due to Jewish opposition. Again he went to the synagogues of the Jews. This time he was warmly received: “These [Jewish unbelievers in […]
The Call to Live in Light of the Coming World, 2 Peter 3:10-13
by Zane Hodges, excerpted from his commentary on 1 Peter 3:10. In the Greek text the word translated will come stands first in the sentence and is clearly emphatic. The false teachers will insist that the day of the Lord will not come, but—says Peter—it will! What is especially striking here is that Peter passes […]
The Testimony of Nathaniel: Jesus is the Son of God, the King of Israel, John 1:47-51
By Zane C. Hodges, excerpted from his book, Faith in His Name: Listening to the Gospel of John. John 1:47-48: Before Nathaniel can say anything to Jesus, or ask questions about His connection with Galilee, Jesus Himself speaks. His words affirm that Nathaniel has the integrity that ought to be the possession of anyone who […]
No Small Problem, Revelation 2:11
by Zane Hodges, originally published in the March 1991 edition of Grace in Focus “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Rev 2:11) If someone says to me, “His request presented me with no small problem,” I know exactly what he means. The person who made the request of him had […]
God Wishes None Should Perish—2 Peter 3:9
by Zane Hodges, originally published in the July/August 2009 edition of Grace in Focus The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 Peter’s point, of course, is that what […]
Sweeter than Honey (Psalm 19:7-13)
by Ken Yates In my last blog, I discussed how God has revealed things about Himself in creation. The first part of Psalm 19 talks about this revelation, which is often called “general revelation.” It must be said that there is a limit to what a person can know about God from creation. You certainly […]
For the Sake of His Name
originally published in the July/August 2015 edition of Grace in Focus The expression “for My [or His] name’s sake” occurs eleven times in the New Testament, in all four Gospels (seven times), Acts (once), John’s first and third epistles (once each), and Revelation (once).1 It is not found at all in the epistles of Paul, […]
Read your Bible
by Art Farstad, originally published in the January 1993 edition of Grace in F Many have heard the story of the man whose devotional reading consisted of cracking his Bible at random and reading the first verse his finger touched. One morning this was his verse for the day: “And Judas went out and hanged […]