Category Archives: Commentary

The Bridge Commentary is a running verse by verse breakdown of the Books of the New Testament including word definitions, significant historical background and comments.

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The Hypocrisy of Prejudice; The Man with the Gold Ring: James 2:2-4

The Epistle of James

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The Bridge Commentary consists of four sections: Definitions, Background, Questions, and Comments.  The Definitions section explains all significant Greek words found in all the verses of this passage. The Background section contains material which will help to frame the passage in its 1st-century setting. The Questions section includes queries you may want to ask of the text. Finally, the Comments section contains observations of the verses sorted in word or phrase order.

The entire second chapter of James addresses two areas: the hypocrisy of partiality or prejudice (James 2:1-13) and the life-altering alliance between faith and works  (James 2:14-26). In the first area, using a real-life incident between a rich and poor man, James disassembles the sin of prejudice, as it existed among the congregation.

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Why We Should Listen to the Word of God in the Person of Jesus

The Book of Hebrews

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You Can Know God's Will if You Listen to Jesus.

It is almost impossible to talk and listen at the same time. If we do most of the talking, we cannot hear God speaking to us. In When I Relax I Feel Guilty, author Tim Hansel notes: An American Indian was in downtown New York, walking with his friend who lived in New York City. Suddenly he said, “I hear a cricket.” “Oh, you’re crazy,” his friend replied. “No, I hear a cricket. I do! I’m sure of it.” “It’s the noon hour. There are people bustling around, cars honking, taxis squealing, noises from the city. I’m sure you can’t hear it.” “I’m sure I do.” He listened attentively and then walked to the corner, across the street, and looked all around. Finally, on the corner, he found a shrub in a large cement planter. He dug beneath the leaves and found a cricket. His friend was astounded. But the Cherokee said, “No. My ears are no different from yours. It simply depends on what you are listening to. Here, let me show you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of change.… And he dropped it on the concrete. Every head within a block turned. “You see what I mean?” he said as he began picking up his coins. “It all depends on what you are listening for.” In a church filled with a variety of sounds, the truth rings clear when we close our mouths and train our ears to listen for God’s Word.1

For more on the Book of Hebrews please see the following post: How to Unravel the Puzzle Which Is God’s Will

[Tweet “You have to look into God’s Word with precision and effort. Lazy people get very little from God.”]

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How to Unravel the Puzzle Which Is God’s Will

The Book of Hebrews

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Finding God's WIll Can Be at Times Like Working a Puzzle.

Have you ever heard of the open window method in seeking God’s will? You put your Bible by a window and the pages blow and you put your finger on a verse. One man did that and pointed to the verse, “Judas went and hanged himself.” Not a very good life verse, and he did it again. This time he put his finger on the verse that said, “Go and do thou likewise.” The third verse he found said, “Whatsoever thou doest, do quickly.” 1 As you can tell from this illustration, this is not a very good method to ascertain God’s will. Here are some Bible thoughts along this line to help you in your journey.

[Tweet “Jesus style Spirit life is a big puzzle of which there are many pieces.”]

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Why the Calling of God on Your Life Takes Time

The Epistle to the Galatians

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God has a calling on your life.

I came across this amusing story which as a nice application in the area of our calling in God.

The commanding officer was furious when nine GIs who had been out on passes failed to show up for morning roll call. Not until 7 p.m. did the first man straggle in. “I’m sorry, sir,” the soldier explained, “but I had a date and lost track of time, and I missed the bus back. Being determined to get in on time, I hired a cab. Halfway there, the cab broke down. I went to a farmhouse and persuaded the farmer to sell me a horse. I was riding to camp when the animal fell over dead. I walked the last ten miles, and just got here.” Though skeptical, the colonel let the young man off with a reprimand. However, after him, seven other stragglers in a row came in with the same story—had a date, missed the bus, hired a cab, bought a horse, etc. By the time the ninth man reported in, the colonel had grown weary of it. “Okay,” he growled, “now what happened to you?” “Sir, I had this date and missed the bus back, so I hired a cab .” “Wait!” the colonel screeched at him. “don’t tell me the cab broke down.” “No, sir,” replied the soldier. “The cab didn’t break down. It was just that there were so many dead horses in the road, we had trouble getting through.” 1

The point is that sometimes there are obstacles that you have to traverse, bumps in the road that you have to climb on and over in order to realize your calling from God. Overcoming these bumps take time and in God, you just have to learn to respect the process.

For more on the book of Galatians see the following posts: Do You Look Like the Galatians?

Upcoming Series for the Light on Life Podcast: Gospel Truths on Healing

[Tweet “Paul was busy in ministry teaching and building the church before he got over into his calling.”]

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Why Your Miracle Testimony Gives Glory to God

The Epistle to the Galatians

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Your Miracle Testimony Is Important

A rather pompous-looking deacon was endeavoring to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. “Why do people call me a Christian?” the man asked. After a moment’s pause, one youngster said, “Maybe it’s because they don’t know you.”1 This is not the way to live. Our miracle testimony should give glory to the God who saved us. It should be evident.

For more on the book of Galatians see the following posts:

Do You Look Like the Galatians?

Why Bumbling Believers Are Yet Part of the Family of God

Why Things Never Go Right for Some

Why You’re Bored in Church and How to Overcome It

The Truth About the Enormous Problem of Itching Ears

Beware of Abandoning Jesus and Know How to Spot the Signs

[Tweet “Comparing one person’s sins to another is futile. We were all lost in whatever way we took.”]

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More on Revelation and Building the Kingdom of God

The First Epistle to the Corinthians

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You must revelation from God's Spirit to be a wise master builder.

There is nothing like nature to unfold truth about God. Nature is constantly shouting to us about the wisdom and the power of God. It gives a sense of awe and mystery to life. Even atheists cannot fully escape this. God’s revelation in nature is like an orchestra performing a concert. Some people who come to listen hear only the instruments as they express the melody and harmony of the music. But others who come are familiar with the composer and know the words that go with the music. These hear more than the music. In much the same way, only those who have a personal relationship with the Creator through Jesus Christ can really see in all of creation the fullness of what God intended to communicate through it.1 Seeing is part of knowing and knowing is part of building. Those who are God lover’s possess a deep desire to build His Kingdom. How do we do that exactly? Growing the Kingdom starts with growing you.

[Tweet “Anything built on the foundation of God has revelation from His Spirit as an essential element.”]

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Why Living Revelation from the Spirit of God Is Important To Your Life

The Gospel of Matthew

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Revelation of who God is starts by allowing Jesus in.

God in nature has revealed Himself, as it were, inarticulately and indistinctly; but, in His Son, He has revealed Himself as a man declares his inmost thoughts, by distinct and intelligible speech. Jesus is to the Father what speech is to us; He is the unfolding of the Father’s thoughts, the revelation of the Father’s heart.1 So says, Spurgeon. Along with this line, Jesus asked his disciples a compelling question. The answer required revelation from God. Do you know the answer to this question?

[Tweet “All revelation starts with the correct answer to this Jesus question, ‘Who do men say that I am?'”]

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Perfect Church? Why There Is No Such Thing

The Epistle to the Galatians

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Is this the perfect church?

Nice picture of a church in Cavtat, Croatia, don’t you think? But, does a nice location make for a perfect church? In last week’s blog, we took a look at a few of the problems which Paul dealt with in the churches he had influence in. We were able to see how Paul didn’t cast people aside who were imperfect in their walk with Christ. In Today’s post, we follow up on this thought about imperfections by looking at the subject ‘Why There Is No Such Thing as a Perfect Church.’

[Tweet “There will never be a perfect church on planet earth, that is until Jesus comes back.”]

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Why Bumbling Believers Are Yet Part of the Family of God

The Epistle to the Galatians

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In today’s post, I want to address the issue of ‘bumbling believers’. I use the term with respect as I have visited the ‘Bumbling Believers Club’ many times throughout over forty years of walking with God. Have you ever bumbled things in God? Have you ever stumbled, mishandled, and generally messed things up? I know I have. Is there any help for us bumblers? Thank God there is. When all the dust settles, there is Jesus standing right there to help pick us up. All we can do then is raise our hands and say, ‘Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for His mercy. Thank God for His blood which cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

[Tweet “Sometimes the problem is us. We are at times our own greatest enemy.”]

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Whose Approval Is Important to You, God or Man?

The Epistle of Galatians

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A young man once studied violin under a world-renowned master. Eventually, the time came for the student’s first recital. Following each selection, despite the cheers of the crowd, the performer seemed dissatisfied. Even after the last number, with the shouts louder than ever, the talented violinist stood watching an old man in the balcony. Finally, the elderly one smiled and nodded in approval. Immediately the young man relaxed and beamed with happiness. You see, the man in the balcony was his teacher, and thus the applause of the crowd had meant nothing to him until he had first won the hearty approval of his master. 1 Are you seeking the approval of your Master, the Lord Jesus Christ?

[Tweet “We all have to ‘prove’ out the will of God for our lives and then make the decision to do only it.”]

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Why Things Never Go Right for Some

The Epistle of Galatians

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Will Durant, on his seventieth birthday, says regarding the mixed blessing of a long life: “To live forever would be about the greatest curse imaginable!” 1 Unfortunately, Will Durant had it wrong. The greatest curse is dying without knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord. Many come to the end of their lives realizing they had not fulfilled their purpose in life. That’s a sad day. Your purpose is to know God, to walk with God and to build the kingdom of God. Because people don’t yield to these truths, they experience what will Durant described as the curse of life. There are reasons why things don’t go right in life as they should. Sometimes things it’s because people have chosen the wrong path. They have chosen to believe the wrong gospel. In this week’s blog, let’s take a look at how Paul pronounced a curse on a particular area of wrong choice.

[Tweet “Paul pronounces a curse or the absence of the blessing on those who preach a different gospel.”]

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More of What Is the Ministry of Reconciliation

The Epistle of 2nd Corinthians

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In last week’s post on 2 Corinthians 5, we asked the question ‘Have you ever wondered what believers in Jesus should be involved in? What should our focus be?’ We saw in Second Corinthians that one of our roles is the ministry of reconciliation. According to the Word, every believer has this ministry. What we are endeavoring to learn is what is that ministry and how can we fulfill it? We left off in verse nine showing the strong connection between this ministry and the promised glorified body Jesus has waiting for us.

[Tweet “Preaching the gospel to the world doesn’t mean ‘Shove the gospel down everyone’s throat you meet.”]