Tag: The Gospel

Bible Studies

I AM THE DOOR Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements – 3

Loring Schultz

“Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep………. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:7, 9 ESV

Photo by Michael Windsor on Unsplash

We call our dwelling places home, whether an apartment, a dorm room, a house, or a recently purchased condo all of them have a main door for entrance. Upon going through the door and entering we find peace, security, and safety in the dwelling of our own home. 

In Jesus’ day shepherds would lay across the entrance (or gate) of the sheep pen during the night to guard the sheep, protecting them from danger and unwanted visitors. Within the confines of the sheep pen, their home, the sheep had safety and security. The door was being guarded.

In Jesus’ third ‘I am’ statement of His salvation message Jesus says, ‘I am the door.’ He is the entrance or the gate we must go through to be assured of eternal life in heaven. Entrance to an eternal home in Heaven is only through Jesus Christ and no one else or any effort on our part. In 2024 many people may find this statement intolerant. But these are Jesus’ words, and He says to all of us, ‘If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.’ and only there.   

Looking forward to arriving at our earthly homes and entering through the door, we find the comforts, peace and security we have anticipated. And we can be assured of another home we will have for a much longer time than our short stay here on earth, that time is eternity, which does not end. May we look with greater anticipation to arrive at that home. Perhaps you do not have the assurance you will have a home of peace, comfort and security after this life? Romans 10:13 says, “For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’” (nlt) There is no other way to eternal life in heaven with God the Father except going through Jesus Christ, the door.

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Read: John 10:7-10 esv – So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, – Bible Gateway

Bible Studies

The Last Passover – The First Lord’s Supper

Loring Schultz

“When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the twelve disciples.” Matthew 26:20 NLT

Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash

The last meal Jesus had with His disciples on the night before His crucifixion is known to many as the Last Supper. We have all seen that painting of that historic event. Jesus is seated in the center with the disciples gathered around Him on both sides. He will proceed to break the bread passing it to His disciples, representing His body, and then passing the cup representing His shed blood. But that is not how the meal started.

The gospel of Matthew tells us, “On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?’” (Mt.26:17 nlt) Jesus was in the habit of celebrating the Passover along with the Jewish community remembering God’s deliverance of Israel from their bondage in Egypt. This was the yearly observance as instructed by the Lord and explained by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy. (Dt.16:1-8) Jesus participated in this Passover meal with His disciples in that upper room that evening. Luke 22:15 expresses Jesus’ anticipation in having this meal with them. “Jesus said, ‘I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.’” (nlt) John MacArthur notes, “He wanted to prepare them for what was coming.”

Jesus would be crucified the next day as a sacrifice for sin. During the meal Jesus took bread and broke it into pieces giving it to His disciples saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” (Mt.26:26 nlt) He then took a cup of wine and gave it to His disciples telling them to drink from it explaining, “for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.” (Mt.26:28 nlt) Jesus carefully explained to them His time had come for His purpose was to lay down His life, His body being broken, and His blood shed for the remission of sin. (Heb.9:22)

The evening started with the Passover meal remembering God’s deliverance of the Jews as He saw the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the doorposts. It was symbolic of Jesus’ soon to be shed blood on the cross of Calvary for our sin. Jesus finished the meal by instituting a new covenant through His blood and a new observance for all those who believe in His name, the Lord’s Supper. Jesus said, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1Cor.11:26 esv) May we always remember our Lord’s death each time we gather for Worship.

Read: Matthew 26:17-29 NLT – The Last Supper – On the first day of – Bible Gateway

Bible Studies

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE: Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements- 1

Loring Schultz

“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35 NLT

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            Each of the four gospel writers in the New Testament portray Jesus in a manner to stress a certain characteristic of the Son of God. The gospels together create a perfect portrait of Jesus. Matthew’s main focus is on Jesus as the Jewish Messiah and King. Mark, writing to a mostly a Roman Gentile audience focuses on Jesus the servant. Luke with a much broader Gentile audience portrays Jesus as the Son of Man, focusing on His humanity. The apostle John writes to prove the deity of Jesus so that all may believe Jesus is the Son of God, and that believing they may have life in His name. Included in John’s gospel is the seven ‘I Am’ statements Jesus made. We will look at these statements over the next seven weeks.

            Bread is a staple food item that sustains nourishment to our physical bodies. Other staple food products would include; milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry and other various meat products. But bread seems to have cornered the market (pun intended) on what foods are necessary to stock up on before an approaching snowstorm in my part of the Untied States along with milk and eggs.

            Physical hunger has been satisfied, physical bodies were nourished, and lives sustained for thousands of years by the bread provided for us through the baking process. Our bodies need food to survive. Many people who were in the crowd when Jesus fed the five thousand followed after Him the next day and Jesus rebuked them saying “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. (Jn.6:26 nlt)

            The followers were only thinking of the physical, the here and now, much like we do today. Jesus then proceeded to tell them to believe in Him. He was the bread of God which came down from heaven and gives life to the world, in which they responded “always give us this bread.” (Jn.6:33-34) Again, only thinking in physical terms, the same is true today.

            Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.” Those who accept Jesus (the bread of life) for Salvation will receive the nourishment needed to sustain eternal life. This is the first of seven “I AM” statements that Jesus made in the Gospel of John concerning His deity and the message of Salvation. Have you received “Jesus the bread of life?”

Read: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206%3A22-51&version=NLT

A Christian Perspective

DECORATION DAY

Loring Schultz

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 KJV

Photo by Justin Casey on Unsplash

In the United States, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. The day is set aside to remember and honor those who have given all in the service of their country. It was known as “Decoration Day” in its beginning shortly after the American Civil War. Fellow soldiers would decorate the graves of their fallen comrades with flags, flowers and wreathes. The tradition continues to this day. These decorated graves signify that each individual is not forgotten, but remembered and honored for their sacrifice in the protection and maintaining the freedom of their fellow citizens.

Many people visit the grave-sites of their departed loved ones and heroes year after year honoring their memory. But there is one particular grave-site that is visited by thousands of people year after year, and yet they do not come to decorate for remembrance. That is due to the fact that the grave is empty. It is known as the garden tomb in Jerusalem, where Jesus was laid after His death on the cross. They come to wonder in amazement and worship the Lord Jesus Christ who rose from the dead and is alive today in Heaven and seated at the right hand of God the Father.

As we remember those who have given their lives, by paying the ultimate sacrifice for freedom; let us also be reminded of the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His death provided freedom from the bondage of sin, and because He lives, all those who call upon His name will also live. 

Bible Studies

“Clever Christianity” The Parable of the Shrewd Manager: Parables of Jesus

Loring Schultz

 “The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.” Luke 16:8 NLT

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            This week’s parable comes directly from life itself, an earthly story where all the characters are unjust and corrupt. How can we derive a heavenly meaning with such deception? With our sinful minds this is not possible, but Jesus is telling the story.

            A rich business owner had a manager working for him who ran the operation. The manager had authority over the business as granted by the owner. He was trusted in all areas of the business including financial terms, acting as an agent for the owner. It was reported to the owner that his manager was wasting his money. Jesus doesn’t give us the exact details of the mismanagement only that he was wasteful to the point the owner demanded an accounting. “So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’” (Lk.16:2 nlt) The manager, realizing his position was about to come to an end, worked his status as a trusted agent to his advantage one more time.

            As Jesus describes, the manager acted shrewdly. He had a plan and said, “Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.” (Lk.16:4 nlt) He secured his future with the means he had afforded to him although unjustly. The manager arranged a meeting with his boss’s clients and adjusted their bills to a lower amount which he had the authority to do. They would be grateful for the reduced payment and most likely will remember him when he was unemployed. Not unlike how business is done in 2024, people acting shrewdly to line their own pockets taking care of number one, themselves.

            The owner, though outsmarted, revealed his character by commending his manager for his wittiness. “The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd.” (Lk.16:8a nlt) And this is where Jesus turns this earthy story of dishonest rascals into a heavenly meaning. Jesus says, “And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.” (Lk.16:8b nlt) Jesus makes the comparison between non-Christians and Christians on how they use earthly resources for the future and to gain friends. The unbelievers of this world do a better job. Jesus now gives us the lesson, “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” (Lk.16:9 nlt)

Photo by Andre Ouellet on Unsplash

            Jesus noted that the unjust and corrupt of this world are smart enough to use their resources to make friends and plan for the future benefiting themselves. Christians today should do the same, but to benefit others. Clever Christianity is using our earthly resources for more than earthly matters but also heavenly ones. We are to use our resources honestly and wisely to help others, to gain friends, to lead others to Christ populating heaven so when we arrive, they will welcome us. And the Lord will commend all clever Christians for using what He has given us to serve Him.

Read: Luke 16:1-9 NLT – Parable of the Shrewd Manager – Jesus – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Leaving Them All Behind

Loring Schultz

“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.’” Ruth 1:16 NLT

‘“Yes,’ Jesus replied, ‘and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.’” Luke 18:29-30 NLT

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Our current society has helped drive families apart with a self-interest attitude towards others, it’s a ‘me first’ society. Over time some families are restored but there needs to be forgiveness and a complete ‘same mind’ agreement for reconciliation. Many families struggle with problems in the home, forcing some to abandon their family, leaving them all behind. Societal ills make up most family break-ups today, but believe it or not, a deep faith in God and trusting in His Son Jesus for salvation made up the rest.

The book of Ruth gives us one of the earliest pictures of someone leaving their family to serve the Lord God of heaven. Ruth, a Moabite woman, became a widow at a young age. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, was returning to her homeland in Judah from where she, her husband and their two sons left due to a severe famine. Ruth wanted to return with Naomi back to Israel. She had a great love for her mother-in-law, but also a great love for God. Perhaps Ruth saw something in Naomi even through the bitterness of her sorrow of losing her husband and two sons that caused Ruth to say, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” (Ruth1:16b nlt) Ruth left her family behind to serve and worship God.

Jesus confirms there is a cost in following Him. In speaking to His disciples Jesus acknowledged there will be those who leave their families for the sake of the gospel, but they will be richly rewarded. Some will leave in pursuit of ministry work for Christ, but some others will be forced to leave their families who have rejected them for following Christ. If you are in this latter group know that Jesus understands, for He was also rejected by His family. Continue to follow Jesus, pray for your family, and don’t look back.

Read: Ruth 1:1-18 NLT – Elimelech Moves His Family to Moab – In – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

A Little Straight Talk

Loring Schultz

“After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.’ And the disciples were filled with grief.’” Matthew 17:22-23 NLT

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

There comes a time in everyone’s life when a little straight talk is needed. The best way to handle this is to give it to them straight. Important matters needing attention should not be dismissed due to not wanting to hurt or offend someone. When one is mature enough to handle the truth, an honest conversation from one who is trustworthy will be beneficial helping them to go forward in life.

Jesus’ disciples needed a little straight talk. It is not that Jesus was not forthright in speaking to them. In manners they were able to understand, Jesus explained everything to them plainly. Jesus didn’t ignore His disciples’ questions answering them in their ability to comprehend. When Jesus spoke in parables to the people, He then privately explained them to the disciples. But when the disciples began to realize that Jesus was truly the Messiah, the time had come for some straight talk. Jesus was about to tell them of His betrayal, His death, and His resurrection; His mission.

It was difficult for the disciples for accept this especially Peter who ‘took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.’ (Mt. 16:22 nlt) Sometimes straight talk is hard to handle but it is necessary. In Peter’s case and in ours as hard as it is to accept, Jesus’ mission on earth was to live a perfect life and to lay it down by being betrayed, crucified, and rising from the dead so that we may have eternal life with Him. It has been said, ‘a little straight talk never hurt anyone’, and in fact this straight talk saves everyone who believes.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16 nlt)

Devotionals

Sealed for Freshness

Loring Schultz

“When you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV

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An assortment of food products come in a vacuum sealed package to ensure freshness. Instructions are marked on the package to keep sealed after opening to maintain freshness as long as possible. But once it is opened, it will never go back to its original state of freshness. And eventually the product will lose all its nutritional value and taste around the expiration date. Most packages also contain a warning not to be used if the seal is compromised in any way. The contents cannot be trusted to be authentic and may be spoiled or tampered with. When the time comes to consume the product, we want to be sure it is as fresh as when it was first sealed.

Paul says believing the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ for salvation results in being sealed by the Holy Spirit. This occurs immediately upon our conversion. Our inheritance of eternal life is secure by the promise of the Holy Spirit. We cannot lose our salvation, and it will be as fresh and new as in the day we first accepted Christ as we enter the glories of heaven. We are sealed as a security mark is put over an enclosed envelope. The seal represents possession, security, and authenticity. The Holy Spirit also serves as a Christian identification mark. We are in Christ. Our salvation is secure.

Perhaps you struggle with the security of your salvation thinking you have done or could do something that would forfeit your place in heaven. It is true we all still sin even after we are saved, but God is faithful and just to forgive us of those sins. (1 Jn.1:9) And it is vital for you to know that you were sealed by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of your salvation. It is real and will last for eternity. You do not need to worry about the seal coming off the secure envelope or the freshness seal being broken on the package. You can never lose your salvation by being contaminated by a broken seal or unsealed envelope. You are sealed for freshness.

Read: Ephesians 1:3-14 ESV – Spiritual Blessings in Christ – Blessed – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Continue to Do Good and Don’t Worry

Loring Schultz

“Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.” 1 Peter 3:13-14 NLT

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It goes against logic that someone would suffer for doing good things or standing up for what is right, but it does happen. The sad truth is this is becoming more common in the days we live. However, in our broken world there have always been those who would denigrate those who strive to live godly lives. The apostle Peter in writing to the newly converted Gentiles scattered throughout the world told he them to “Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!” (1 Pt.3:17 nlt) Peter’s words were meant to encourage. It is a fact all Christians will suffer in one way or another during their lifetime by just living as God wants us to live. Peter’s words should encourage us today. Yes, it is better we suffer the consequences for obeying God than to suffer for doing wrong in the eyes of our neighbors.

Christians should not be surprised by the hatred towards those who speak the truth. Jesus, who is the essence of truth and always spoke it, said of those who follow Him, “And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.” (Mk.13:13a nlt) And “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” (Jn.15:18 nlt) Peter, who walk with Jesus as His disciple, tells us not to worry or be afraid of their threats. Perhaps he remembers Jesus saying to him and the other disciples, “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.” (Lk.12:4-5, 8 nlt)

The world will continue to despise anyone who attempts to tell the truth, especially those who claim the truth in Jesus’ name and according to Scripture. This should not discourage us from truth telling, for if all Christians are walking in unison as examples of Christ we are speaking the truth with our lives. Suffering for shining the light of hope in a dark world in the name of Christ will most likely escalate in the years to come, but let Peter’s words encourage us, ‘continue to do good and don’t worry.’  

Devotionals

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Loring Schultz

“And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere” 1 Thessalonians 1:8a NLT

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Un

The town crier from the 18th century, dressed in his red and gold coat with tricorne hat, proclaimed important announcements from the royal court. Ringing his handbell for attention he would then proceed to shout, “Oyez, Oyez, Oyez” which is “Hear Ye, Hear Ye,” a call to be attentive and to be silent. The proclamation would then begin.   

Christians are also town criers, or should be. We are a part of the most royal (Holy) court in serving the Lord God. Our proclamation is the good news of Jesus Christ and it needs to be broadcast in as many ways as possible. What comes to mind for most people is the “street preacher” standing on the corner screaming out the message. Yes, that is one way, but let me suggest another way as well. How about Christians living out their lives in total obedience to Christ. An example for all to see will lead to conversation and opportunity to share the gospel (Good News) to all who inquire.

Paul, the apostle, in writing to the church at Thessalonica commended them for their faithfulness in proclaiming the gospel message. “The word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere even beyond Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Th.1:8 nlt) Their message went a lot further than their local city. Thessalonica was located between major crossroads in the Roman Empire used for travel and commerce. They made sure to not miss an opportunity to live out their lives and say a word or two about the good news of Jesus Christ. We have the same opportunity today with those who cross our paths in the crossroads of life. Hear Ye, Hear Ye!