Audio Sermons – Berean Bible Society: Recent Episodes
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Are Christians to submit to the government? What are the “higher powers” that Paul refers to in Romans 13?
These verses challenge the Christian to live a life pleasing to God even when we are persecuted. As believers, we are called not to think of our benefit but to prefer the other. We should seek not to elevate ourselves … Continue reading →
What is love? Is it a feeling? Does the Greek help define love as many Bible teachers suggest, or is it more complex? If “Creator” is inadequate to describe God, then we must ask if love could ever be defined … Continue reading →
The apostle warns believers “not think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly.” Pride has been an issue of mankind from the beginning. As Paul moves from teaching doctrine to practical application, his first … Continue reading →
Paul uses marriage as an example or illustration of how believers are no longer under the dominion of the law.
As believers, we are faced with a daily decision on whom to serve; sin or righteousness (Christ). What is the difference between sin and sins?
In answering if Christians should continue in sin, so God’s grace abounds, Paul explains that when the Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ’s death (and life), we have become dead to sin and should walk in the newness of life.
Romans 6 describes our baptism into Christ as being identified into Christ’s death, and because of this, we are dead to sin. What is this baptism? Is it water baptism, that when performed, often quotes these verses, or is the … Continue reading →
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. The end of Romans chapter 5 sums up Paul’s teaching on identification, but before moving on, chapter 6 has Paul continuing this teaching by talking about baptism.
We know that we are justified because Christ took our place on the cross, but how is this substitution possible? How is it that someone else can cover my sins? The answer is imputation. The rest of chapter 5 explains … Continue reading →
The believer’s hope to be with the Lord also means we shall never experience God’s wrath, and Romans 5 tells us this and so much more
Romans 5:2-5 speaks about our standing before God and that we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Why can the believer rejoice in tribulations? Because of the hope of the glory to come and knowing our … Continue reading →
Having established that justification is by faith, Paul now, in chapter 5, describes some of the many benefits we have. We have peace with God, and we have access to God. These and everything we have is through the Lord … Continue reading →
Our faith gives glory to God, and our disbelief calls Him a liar. Abraham gave God glory by believing, and “therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”
The apostle Paul teaches that neither the law nor circumcision are necessary for the righteousness of God today.
Paul describes how King David was justified by faith and that God’s blessing came to Abraham before he was circumcised.
The 4th chapter of Romans has Paul continue his teaching that salvation is by faith only and is for those that believe God. To prove this does not violate God’s practice or principles, Paul uses 2 of Israel’s greatest forefathers … Continue reading →
Paul asks a rhetorical question but one that succinctly concludes what he has been saying since chapter 1. That man can only be saved by God’s righteousness, and therefore, “where is boasting” (in ourselves.
Paul has made a legal case showing all are guilty before God and will now make a legal case for how God can be both just & the justifier.
God is righteous and had revealed that through the Mosaic Law, “but now” the Apostle Paul explains that “the righteousness of God without the law” has now been revealed. This study also explains that our faith IN CHRIST only matters … Continue reading →
Paul conclude the chapter by continuing to show the Jew is guilty before God and the law can not save him
These verses continue Paul’s teaching that all (both Jew & Gentile) are guilty before God. He affirms what James 2:10 & Deut 27:26 point out; those with the law NEED to be doers of the law or be guilty before … Continue reading →
Todays’ study looks at the day of wrath (vs. 5), which is The Day of the Lord/Tribulation, and the righteous judgment of God. God is no respecter of persons.
Romans 2:1-5 speaks on those who would speak against others for their immortality while denying their own. Hypocrites not knowing they bring condemnation on themselves. Religion, philosophy, good morals can never do what God is offering: forgiveness of sins and … Continue reading →
Romans 1 concludes with a list of sins man chose rather than retaining their knowledge of God.
These verses tell us that it is foolishness to give the glory that belongs to God to anyone or anything else. Not only is it foolish, but it also brings the wrath of God. When a person chooses not to … Continue reading →
God has declared His power and authority through creation; anyone who denies it is rejecting Him and has no excuse.
Our study today discusses God’s wrath and how even it declares His righteousness. To truly understand God’s grace, we must have some understanding of His wrath. We look at the different kinds of wrath the Bible describes.
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and therein is the righteousness of God revealed. Our study brings us to a look at the power of God and His word. How is a man justified?
The first of Paul’s epistles in the canon, he declares a message of peace from God and repeats in every epistle thereafter. A great truth for the believer; as believers, we have peace with God.
We continue our look into the apostleship of Paul and the gospel he was separated unto.
Summary: Paul was about to be executed in prison (2:9;4:6), and Timothy was fearful (1:7) he’d be next. Paul told him not to have “the spirit of fear” caused by fear of punishment under the law (Rom.8:15) because Timothy was … Continue reading →
Summary: The Lord already had 12 apostles, so why’d He call Paul to be one (1:1)? The answer has to do with “the promise of life” (v.1)—eternal life—God made us “before the world began” (Tit.1:2,4). God created the angels to … Continue reading →
Summary: Paul met with James (v.18), who had clearly replaced Peter as head of the 12 apostles, and head of the Jewish kingdom church. This shows the saints were no longer filled with the Spirit (Acts 2:4), and that the … Continue reading →
Summary: Once Paul got away from the hugs of the elders (20:37cf.21: 1), he found a ship (v.2) and launched with it (v.3). The Spirit spoke through some prophets to tell him not to go to Jerusalem (v.4 cf. 20:22,23). … Continue reading →
Summary: The sheep in a “flock” (v.28) would be lost without a shepherd, and the Greek word translated shepherd is also translated pastor. Some say only Jews are sheep, but that was only true under the law, when Gentiles … Continue reading →
Summary: “Elders” (v.17) were leaders. Peter was the elder of the kingdom church, but he wrote to others (IPet.5:1). The elders here were leaders in the grace church in Ephesus. Paul reminded them he’d served with “humility” (v.18,19). It’s … Continue reading →
Summary: Paul didn’t decide to leave Ephesus (v.1) because the “uproar” that Satan instigated (Acts 20:23-41) ran him out of town. He left because he knew his work in Asia was done (Acts 19:9,10). So he actually planned to … Continue reading →
Summary: When it looked like Paul and his fellowworkers in the Lord’s work were about to be killed (Acts 19:23-40), a city official “appeased” the murderous mob (v.41). Since they wanted the apostles dead, he probably appeased them by … Continue reading →
These Jews who rejected Paul (v.8) were the ones who begged to hear more (18:19,20), but evidently they still didn’t want to hear the lowly carpenter was their Christ. So they hardened their hearts (cf.IIChron.36:11-13) against the truth, and … Continue reading →
Summary: Apollos was from Alexandria (18:24), home of the world’s largest library. But being a bookworm of the Bible is what made him “mighty in the Scriptures.” Then, when he heard of “the baptism of John” (v.25), he knew … Continue reading →
Summary: These unsaved Jews took Paul to court (v.12) and charged him with worshipping God “contrary to the law” (v.13). In the past, unsaved Jews charged Paul with worshipping God contrary to Roman law (17:7). But if that’s what they … Continue reading →
Summary: Corinth (v.1) spanned the Isthmus of Corinth, so it had a sea-port on two coasts. That gave it twice the commercial traffic of other seaports, and twice their wealth. Paul didn’t want them to think he was after … Continue reading →
Summary: “Superstitious” (v.22) means excessively devoted, as the Athenians were to their idols (cf.v.16). They’d park an “altar” (v.23) in front of each idol to sacrifice to it (Ezek.6:13). But the one Paul found had no idol, for it was … Continue reading →
Summary: How important is it to search the Scriptures (v.10,11)? Even the prophets who wrote the Scriptures searched them (I Peter 1:10,11), as did angels (v.12 cf. Eph.3:10). “Noble” (Acts 17:11) refers to noblemen (Acts 24:3), and Luke wrote … Continue reading →
Summary: Paul’s same old routine involved entering a city and making a beeline for the synagogue (v.1). But he didn’t pass over Amphipolis and Apollonia because God told him He hadn’t chosen any of those people to be saved. … Continue reading →
Summary: The jailer was usually sleeping at midnight, but grace had him washing Paul’s back (v.25cf.v.33). But how’d Paul baptize him? The prison wasn’t likely to have a tub big enough to immerse him, and the river was outside … Continue reading →
Summary: Paul and Silas probably prayed to get out of prison (16:25), but the reason Luke says the prisoners heard them is that they probably also prayed for the rulers who sentenced them, the men who beat them, and … Continue reading →
Summary: Satan knew that Lydia’s salvation (v.14,15) was the start of something big, because he’d seen God call Paul to her home country (v.9,10). So the devil had his empire strike back by sending a demon-possessed girl in Paul’s … Continue reading →
Summary: After God gave Paul a vision telling him to go to Macedonia (v.9,10), he went “straight” there (v.11). And he must have been examining his method of going from one small town to the next, and realized he’d … Continue reading →
Al describir las calificaciones de un pastor (Tit. 1:6-8), el apóstol Pablo dejó la más importante para el final, diciendo que un pastor siempre debe ser “Reteniendo la palabra fiel tal como ha sido enseñada, para que también pueda exhortar … Continue reading →
Summary: Now that the Bible is complete, the Spirit speaks only through the Book He wrote. But here (v.6), He spoke either audibly or by a vision (cf.v.9). Two years later, the Spirit did let Paul preach in Asia … Continue reading →
Summary: Timothy was already a “disciple” (v.1), so how can Paul call him his “son” (ITim.1:2), a name reserved for men he led to Christ (cf.Phile.1:10)? Paul led Tim to the Lord during his first visit in Acts 14:6,7. … Continue reading →
Summary: Now that the Jewish kingdom church has written Paul’s new Gentile converts to say they didn’t have to keep the law, they “dismissed” the men they sent to deliver the letter (v.30). Once they read it, the Gentiles … Continue reading →
Summary: We know we can trust the decision James makes here because he was not a usurper who illegitimately replaced Peter as head of the kingdom church, as some say. Paul calls him an apostle (Gal.1:18,19), and the Spirit … Continue reading →
Summary: Peter presented such an unanswerable argument to the council that it left them speechless, and Paul began to speak (v.12). Since “the Jews require a sign” (ICor.1:22), Paul told them about the signs God wrought among the Gentiles. … Continue reading →
Summary: After Paul spent 13 years telling Gentiles they didn’t have to be circumcised to be saved, some Jews said otherwise (v.1). Paul objected, so they sent him to Jerusalem to ask the apostles about it (v.2). Paul went … Continue reading →
Summary: These Gentiles thought Paul was a god, but Paul was “scarce” able to keep them from sacrificing an animal to him anyway (v.18). That’s religion for ya! Religion loves to worship God—as long as He doesn’t have the … Continue reading →
Summary: The healing of this lame Gentile that comes at the beginning of Paul’s new ministry among the Gentiles is a type of it. Before Paul, Gentiles couldn’t walk in a way that would please God (IThes.4:1) because only … Continue reading →
Summary: After the Gentiles in Antioch heard and believed the gospel, they glorified the Word (v.48) by believing it (cf.IThes.3:1). And since “glorify” means praise (cf. Ps. 50:23), you glorify and praise the Word when you believe it as … Continue reading →
17 Summary: I often hear from people who follow Moses. They tell me I should too, by keeping the sabbath and the diet laws of the law of Moses. But our apostle Paul (Rom. 11:13) says we are not under … Continue reading →
Summary: God’s word of salvation always went to Jews in the Old Testament, and even in the New Testament (Acts 3:12,26). God had a plan to save the Gentiles, but it involved saving Israel “first” (Acts 3:26), then using … Continue reading →
Summary: Sorcerers (v.6) were like magicians (cf.Ex.7:10,11). But Bar-jesus is also said to be a “false prophet” (Acts 13:6), so he probably practiced the kind of religious sorcery that “bewitched” the Galatians (Gal.3:1), i.e., false doctrine. And that’s sad, … Continue reading →
Summary: Sorcerers (v.6) were like magicians (cf.Ex.7:10,11). But Bar-jesus is also said to be a “false prophet” (Acts 13:6), so he probably practiced the kind of religious sorcery that “bewitched” the Galatians (Gal.3:1), i.e., false doctrine. And that’s sad, … Continue reading →
Summary: Sorcerers (v.6) were like magicians (cf.Ex.7:10,11). But Bar-jesus is also said to be a “false prophet” (Acts 13:6), so he probably practiced the kind of religious sorcery that “bewitched” the Galatians (Gal.3:1), i.e., false doctrine. And that’s sad, … Continue reading →
Summary: The “John” here (v.13) is John Mark, who wrote the gospel of Mark. He went with Paul to minister to his physical needs (v.5), but probably thought Paul would go around healing blindness, not inflicting it (v.11), so he … Continue reading →
Summary: The “John” here (v.13) is John Mark, who wrote the gospel of Mark. He went with Paul to minister to his physical needs (v.5), but probably thought Paul would go around healing blindness, not inflicting it (v.11), so he … Continue reading →
Summary: The “John” here (v.13) is John Mark, who wrote the gospel of Mark. He went with Paul to minister to his physical needs (v.5), but probably thought Paul would go around healing blindness, not inflicting it (v.11), so he … Continue reading →
Summary: Soldiers in ancient times were responsible for their prisoners with their lives (IKings20:39; Acts16:26,27), so there was “no small stir” when they learned Peter escaped (v.18). They were right to be stirred, for Herod “examined” them (v.9) by … Continue reading →
Summary: Peter was sure he was about to be killed like James (v.2), but he was able to sleep (v.6), because he was comforted by verses like Psalm 3:2-5; 4:6-8. But just knowing your Bible doesn’t bring peace automatically. … Continue reading →
Summary: The Roman Empire was experiencing a famine (11:27-30), and pagans like Herod thought the gods caused famines, so he naturally blamed the God of the Jews, and took it out on them (12:1). The Jewish church seemed immune … Continue reading →
Summary: Most Christians wrongly divide the word (IITim.2:15) by saying, “The Old Testament is for the Jews, the New Testament is for us.” But much of the New Testament is for the Jews too! Matthew 1:21 says the Lord would … Continue reading →
Summary: Israel’s high priest Hilkiah was looking for money in the temple to pay the men repairing the temple (22:1-7) when he found a Bible (v.8). He read it, then read it to Israel’s king (v.9,10). Calling it “a” … Continue reading →
Summary: Joshua began to rehearse Israel’s history in Shechem, for that’s where the nation got started. It’s the spot where the father of Israel first entered Canaan (Gen.12:1-5). So this history lesson marked a fresh start, a chance to … Continue reading →
Summary: Joshua called for a meeting of Israel’s leaders (23:1,2), reminded them of how good God had been to them (v.3-5), and told them that “therefore” they should have the “courage” to obey God and not turn to the … Continue reading →
Summary: God had given these two and a half tribes permission to live on the wrong side of the Jordan, so it seemed to make sense to have their own altar (v.10). But the other tribes were willing to … Continue reading →
Summary: Offering your daughter as a reward (15:16) was not unheard of (ISam.18:17,25). Caleb’s daughter is a type of the bride of Christ. God was married to Israel (Isa.54:1-10), but when they began to worship other gods, God considered … Continue reading →
Summary: In our last study, we saw the Canaanite nations gather to fight against Israel in a battle that typified the final battle of history, the battle of Gog and Magog. So there are no more descriptions of battles … Continue reading →
Summary: After hearing Joshua conquered Jericho and Ai (v.1), Jabin is so scared, he asks 5 other kings to help him attack Israel (v.2-5). Since they numbered as many “as the sand of the sea” (v.4), this upcoming battle … Continue reading →
Summary: Adonizek feared the Gibeonites joined Israel to make them-selves strong enough to attack him. And Gibeon was already a “great” and “mighty” nation (v.2), so strong the king of the country of Gibeon felt safe living there, making … Continue reading →
Summary: Upon hearing of Israel’s conquest of Jericho and Ai, some of Canaan’s kings sought to fight them (v.1,2), but the Gibeonites tried to fool them into thinking they didn’t live in Canaan (v.3-6). “Clouted” means patched in a makeshift … Continue reading →
Summary: The battles that the Jews fought in Joshua are types of some mop-up battles that saved Jews will fight after the battle of Armageddon. They will begin when, at the “end” of Antichrist’s career, tidings out of the … Continue reading →
Summary: Joshua could see that the city of Jericho was heavily locked down (v.1), but God asked him to look at the fear that caused them to lock it down and “see” it as already conquered (v.2). When Joshua … Continue reading →
Summary: The Jews needed circumcising (v.2) because they’d stopped it in the wilderness. God led them with a pillar (Ex.13:21), and sometimes moved them suddenly, “at night” (Num.9:17, 21), and newly circumcised boys shouldn’t be moved. But God waited … Continue reading →
Summary: These two and a half tribes (v.12,13) raised cattle, so they asked Moses if they could live on the cattle-country side of the Jordan, instead of the side God wanted Israel to live on. Joshua reminded them that … Continue reading →
In Chapter 3, God parted the Jordan River so the Jews could cross it to enter the Promised Land. God instructed that Israel’s priests lead them across, carrying the ark of the coven-ant, the presence of God in the Old … Continue reading →
Summary: God was about to part the Jordan for the people of Israel, and “hereby” they could know He’d defeat the giants for them as well. Their fathers saw Him part the Red Sea, but the Jews were like … Continue reading →
Summary: “Shittim” (v.1) is where the Jews married pagan women one year earlier (Num.25:1). God had warned them that if they did that, they’d start worshipping pagan gods and He would curse them (Deut.7:1-4). So why’d they do it … Continue reading →
Summary: The word “token” here (v.13) means a sign you’ll keep your promise, as it does in Genesis 9:11-13. God gave the world a token that He’d spare the world the judgment of any future universal floods, and Rahab … Continue reading →
Summary: Moses appointed those “officers” (v.10 cf. Deut.1:3,15) but they recognized Joshua was their new commander. “Victuals” (v.11) are food (cf.Mt.14:15,16). They couldn’t pre-pare manna for a trip (Ex.16:19,20), but the manna ceased when they reached the border of … Continue reading →
Summary: Joshua was Moses’ “minister” (v.1), the man he picked to defeat the first enemy Israel encountered (Ex.17:9-13). That made him the natural choice to succeed Moses, for Israel’s next leader would have to be a warrior to rid … Continue reading →
Summary: The Galatian legalizers wanted them circumcised (v.12) to obligate them to keep the law (cf.5:3), “to make a fair show in the flesh” (v.12)—a fair religious show, like the “shew” of the law (Col.2:20-23), a show Paul calls … Continue reading →
Summary: The Galatians were “taught in the word” by their teachers (6:6), but weren’t communicating any money to them (cf. Phil.4:15) to repay them. God always wanted the spiritual leaders who teach the Word paid (Deut.24:8 cf.12:19), with money … Continue reading →