Monthly Archives: October 2022

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.  2 Timothy 1:12

We believe that 2 Timothy was Paul’s last sacred, inspired writing including in Scripture. According to church tradition, Paul was martyred soon after this epistle was composed. There is a great deal of comfort found in this letter. I want to focus on the latter half of chapter 1, verse 12 today.

“For I know whom I have believed”

Paul was totally confident in His belief in Christ even as he faced the end. No amount of persecution could shake his trust in Jesus. Even death itself could not cause him to lay aside his beliefs. He knows who he believes in and he will not let it go.

We have the some hope today. We can trust Christ no matter the persecution and trials we face. We should be confident that Christ has saved us, sanctified us, and will secure us for the rest of our lives and for all eternity.

“and am persuaded that He is able”

Paul has an unshakeable trust that God will keep His promises. He had experienced the resurrected Christ and it changed his life forever.  He was totally sure that God was able to do what He said He would do.

Our faith should be just as strong. God is able to keep His commitments to us. We need not give in to fear and worry. He is able!

“to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day”

Paul understood that God could keep His covenant of grace until the very end. On the day of judgement, Paul know He would be vindicated for what He believed.

Our day of vindication will come as well. We will see Him face to face and it will be worth it all. Trust in the Lord and live for Him dear Christian. You will not be ashamed or regret it!

Tony French

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Matthew 5:18

The Word of God is enduring. The Words of our Savior make this point clear. Not even the smallest part shall pass away, “all will be fulfilled.”

When we say the Bible is inspired, we mean that, while God used human writers, He directed His Word, guarded His Word, and guided the biblical writers to give us His eternal truth. It is a miracle revelation of God to us.

The Bible is authoritative and binding upon us because it has God as its final author. We may not always like what it says. Nonetheless, we are all accountable to what it says. Let us give thanks for the enduring, inspired Word of God.

God bless you and have a great week!

Tony French

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.  Ephesians 2:14-16

The cross is key to our theology as Christians. We are saved by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We are reconciled to God through the cross. We are brought into Christ’s body through the cross. The cross is central to our faith.

As we observe this week, may we never forget what Christ accomplished on the cross. He died for us so that we may be forgiven. Even though we have sinned and deserved nothing, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).  God’s love was shown in the greatest possible way at the cross. May we ever be grateful for the cross of Jesus Christ.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame,
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross.
Till my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

George Bennard

Tony French

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:17

The Bible is our foundation for belief and the rule of our faith.  The Scriptures are miraculous, inspired, and authoritative in our lives as kingdom citizens. (2 Thessalonians 3:16-17) 

Jesus teaches us about the importance of the Word of God in this lesson. We will only examine four verses in this study. But, they are chocked full of eternal truth that we need to learn. Be excited about the truth of God’s Word this week!

Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. Jesus is the fulfillment of the entirety of the Old Testament.  It all points to Christ.

Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial law by actualizing all of its types, symbols, sacrifices, and religious activities. Christ is our Passover Lamb. Christ is the Scapegoat who removes our sin. Jesus is the Lamb of God. He is the bread of life, the light of world, and the water that fulfills our spiritual thirst.

Jesus encapsulated the civil law for us as well. Jesus suffered the punishment for our sins and our crimes against God. Jesus absorbed God’s holy justice for us so that we could receive salvation.

Jesus fulfilled the moral law by abiding by it perfectly when He was here on earth.  He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and achieve the perfect morality that allowed Him to the perfect sacrifice that would propitiate our sin. (1 John 2:2)

The Old Testament has value for Christians in our time. It speaks of Jesus. He is the perpetual fulfillment of the Old Testament.

Tony French

¹² But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,¹³ so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;¹⁴ and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. ¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:¹⁶ The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; ¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. ¹⁹ For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.²¹ For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.²² But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.²³ For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. ²⁴ Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.²⁵ And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,²⁶ that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Philippians 1:14-26

In this passage, Paul is thankful for the preaching of the gospel. The Apostle is thankful and grateful for gospel proclamation no matter the motivation of the preacher. We ought to be thankful as well.

Let us pray for the preaching and teaching of the gospel message. May Christ’s life, death, and resurrection be trumpeted from the rooftops until everyone has heard the good news. Three prayer requests for the preaching and teaching of the Bible shall end this post.

1) Christian, let us pray that Jesus will be preached faithfully. We pray that the pulpits of God’s church will resound with truth week after week as the people of God gather and worship. We pray that the preaching and teaching of the church will be faithful to the Scriptures and faithful to the truth of God’s Word.

2) Believer, may we pray that Jesus will be preached powerfully. Nothing should overshadow the proclamation of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul tell us in 1 Corinthians 1:18, For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. May God’s power rest upon all who announce the good news to every sinner.

3) Child of God, we ought to pray that Jesus will be preached purposefully. Paul said He sought to preach nothing but Christ and Christ crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2) May Jesus be lifted up deliberately by His people so that all sinners can be drawn unto Him. (John 12:32)

Tony French

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” 

Matthew 7:24-27

Building on the right foundation is vitally important. The foundation determines the strength and durability of the structure. The same is true for our lives as well.

You are building your life on a foundation. We all are. Jesus said there are only two foundations on which to build your life. One is the solid rock of Christ while the other is the shifting sands of the world. Upon which foundation is your life being constructed? The contrast could not be clearer.

**One foundation is steady, the other is unsteady.

**One foundation will withstand the storms, the other will succumb to the storms.

**One foundation is eternal, the other is earthly.

**One foundation leads to eternal life, the other leads to eternal ruin.

Are you building your life on the foundation of Jesus Christ? Have you turned from your sins and received salvation through the forgiveness Christ gives? Do you believe that Christ lived for you, died for you, and rose again just as He promised? If not, believe and trust in Christ. Begin to build your life on the solid rock. You won’t regret it.

Tony French

I was lost—Jesus found me!

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:4-7

I was spiritually blind—Jesus opened my eyes!

The blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Matthew 11:5

I was separated from God—Jesus reconciled me!

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Romans 5:10

I was headed for Hell—Jesus saved me and now I am headed for Heaven!

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:1-3

Christ has done all of these things for me. He can do the same for you! If you haven’t already, will you trust Him today?

Tony French

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

Light exposes the truth so all can see. The truth of the gospel is we are sinners, we need a savior, Christ is our Savior, and eternal life is given to those who believe and trust in Jesus. Every person on earth needs to be exposed to this truth. We are not to hide the gospel, we are to shine it for all to see.

Light is meant to shine. We do not hide light in our homes, we use light to help see the truth. We also shine the light of the gospel so our friends, family, and neighbors can see the truth. The ultimate goal of shining the light of the truth is the glorification of God. As people see our good works through our relationship with Christ, they glorify God in heaven.

Be the salt that God desires you to be. Shine the light so others may see Jesus and be saved. You’ll be blessed if you do!

Commit to read these verses throughout this week. Commit to pray for your own spiritual condition so that you would grow in purity, peacefulness, and persistence in following Christ.

Seek an opportunity to shine the light and share the gospel this week. Seek an opportunity to invite someone to church.

Tony French

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We are reminded today about what awaits the Believer in Christ. The Apostle Peter tells us that we have an inheritance through Christ’s work upon the cross and His resurrection. He then goes on to describe the inheritance we have in Christ. Let’s be encouraged as we examine this topic this week.

**Our inheritance is imperishable. It will never spoil or decay. Our inheritance in heaven will not rust or rot. Praise be to Christ our Lord!

**Our inheritance is pure. No defilement of any kind will ever mar our Heavenly home. What a contrast. In our society, everything is stained and corrupted by sin and rebellion. However, the dwelling place of God’s people is pure, holy, and undefiled. Christ alone is worthy!

**Our inheritance is eternal. Our inheritance will remain long after everything else has passed away. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

**Finally, our inheritance is reserved. We have a reservation for Heaven through Christ’s saving work. It cannot be taken away or destroyed and nothing can keep us from our reserved place in Heaven.  Christ alone is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise!

Tony French