Maturing as Christians

First, Jesus reminds us that the Holy Spirit is coming “in His name” as His replacement, at His request, and thus His work is to make Jesus known to us. Next, the Holy Spirit will “remind” these disciples of everything Jesus has ever said. Further, Jesus said the Spirit would “teach” them, i.e., He would unfold the meaning and the implication of His words. Lastly, Jesus said, the work of the Holy Spirit is to “impart the peace” which only He can give. ~Dr. Robert L. Taylor, T

Apart from Jesus, a person carries the full weight of their guilt, mortality, and future alone. Jesus explicitly stated that His peace is entirely different from the fragile peace the world offers (John 14:27). It’s not news that we live in a world that gives us much to worry about. Living in such a stressful world, we need a way to experience genuine peace. That peace is Jesus Himself! He’s the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). ~Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Expositor, Writ

Being vulnerable is only dangerous in the presence of predators! In other words, vulnerability is a beautiful, God-designed state of human connection and dependence that only becomes harmful when exposed to sinful, exploitative forces. God created us to be vulnerable with Him and one another, but sin introduced spiritual and human "predators" (like Satan, false teachers, and abusers), necessitating wise discernment. With God’s discernment, Judas’ kiss will never be mistaken f

Understanding the contrast between God as Father and imperfect earthly fathers is one of the most powerful steps in fully appreciating His fatherhood. Many people project the wounds, absences, or conditions experienced with human parents onto God, but the Bible presents God as the perfect Father who repairs and transcends those flaws. Human fathers may offer love based on performance, grades, behavior, or career choices. God as Father offers a love rooted entirely in His char

Let’s look at the term, “Abba, Father.” It’s a term that expresses intimacy. In the New Testament, Jesus addresses God as “Abba” (Mark 14:36)—an intimate term of endearment similar to “Papa” or “Daddy.” In Romans 8:15, Paul writes that the Holy Spirit allows believers to cry out “Abba, Father!” in their own hearts. This is one of Scripture's most beautiful verses about the believer’s relationship with God through faith in Jesus. It describes how God has changed every believer

The phrase "in Christ" describes the literal, spiritual union between a believer and God. Rather than just a metaphor for following teachings, it signifies that a believer's spiritual identity is genuinely placed inside of Jesus, allowing God to view them through Christ's righteousness. Jesus describes this literal unity saying, "I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:20). Instead of a distant, transactional obedience, a literal relationship forms, em

Understanding these realities means shifting your perspective to see yourself as God sees you—holy, loved, and living your daily life from that secure position. New Spiritual Inheritance: You are adopted as a child of God, given eternal life. (Ephesians 1:3-5). Unconditional Love & Grace: You are placed in a realm where nothing can separate you from God's love. (Ephesians 1:4, Romans 8:38-39). Victory Over Sin: The power of sin and death no longer has mastery over you, and yo

In the Bible, "in Christ" realities refer to the spiritual truths and promises that become true for a believer the moment they trust in Jesus. It describes a literal, spiritual realm where a believer now lives. Complete Transformation: A believer becomes a "new creation." Your old spiritual identity (inherited from Adam) is gone. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Total Forgiveness & Justification: All your sins are canceled, and you are declared completely righteous before God. (Romans 3

In the Bible, the Fatherhood of God means that believers are adopted into God's spiritual family, moving from a position of fear and condemnation to one of intimate, loving relationship. John teaches us, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1). It represents a secure eternal identity where God acts as a perfect, loving pr

We read, “But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more” (Psalm 71:14). The psalmist also says, He will increase in praise! This catches our attention. He does not say he will try to hold on. He does not say he will manage to survive. He uses the language of someone who has learned to offer back to God appreciation for His mighty works on his behalf. Praise is not dependent on the situation being resolved. Praise is not something we offer only