Author: Gospel Folio Press

Pilate’s question has never been answered, because the Lord Jesus did no evil; rather, He always did what pleased the Father (Jn. 8:29). The Bible describes Him as “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners”, “without blemish and without spot”, “pure”, and “perfect” (Heb. 7:26; 1 Pet. 1:19; 1 Jn. 3:3; Heb. 5:9). Being the incarnate Son of God, He was and is incapable of sinning. His impeccability makes our salvation unassailably secure. —Keith Keyser

God’s grace does not condone sin. God’s grace introduces us to a life of discipleship and teaching at the feet of our Lord. Ungodliness, lusts, worldly desires, irreverence and disregard of God must be rejected. Grace encourages us to cultivate sensible, righteous, reverent lives. Let us not bring God’s grace into disrepute by godless living. The goal should be, “that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 5:16). —Donald L. Norbie

Abram departed from God’s presence at Bethel to resolve his trial in Egypt. Choosing not to follow God’s path will always have consequences. Yet, God intervened to bring Abram back to the very place where he first enjoyed communion with God. He was not restored to a lower position after his failure, but into full fellowship. This encourages all those who have erred from the path of righteousness to go back to where they went wrong, and to call upon the Lord. Full restoration and fellowship will be found there. —Warren Henderson

John expected to see a Lion and instead saw a Lamb. The significance of this verse is a great help in the understanding of the whole book. The Messiah of Israel, the Lord of the Churches, is revealed as Judah’s Lion, the Root of David. All the promises made to Israel are going to be realized by the Sovereign (Lion) and based upon the Sacrificial (Lamb). What an incentive to worship! —Les Rainey

As these two downhearted people were travelling, an unknown “Visitor” joined them. He drew out their hearts until they cried out, “but we trusted, we were hoping.” So often when our way is shrouded, we too cry out, “O Lord, I was trusting, I was hoping”. But even in their loneliness, fear and discouragement, there was One who was walking with them. Eventually in His own time He revealed Himself to them (v. 31). No matter your situation, He is still walking with you and will reveal Himself in His way, and in His time. —Jim Comte

The behaviour of the Jews, God’s chosen people, should have caused the Gentiles to worship Him. Instead their behaviour caused people to blaspheme God! I have noticed two reactions of people towards Christians: the first is, “If that’s Christianity, I want nothing to do with it!” The second, “I want what that person has!” What reaction is my testimony producing among those watching me?—David Croudace

Love gives. This is the central characteristic of love: it gives and goes on giving. “Beloved if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11). Do we have this type of love for our family in God? —R. E. Harlow

When David sang his lamentation over Saul and Jonathan’s death (II Samuel 1:17-27), three times he said, “How are the mighty fallen” (vv 19, 25, 27). His greatest grief, it appears, was the loss of his best friend, Jonathan. But he includes his enemy, Saul, in that lament (vv17, 23, 24). This was the same Saul that repeatedly tried to kill him; the same one that had a bounty on his head. But despite all the turmoil that Saul caused him, David was gracious to him in death. May we all be so gracious in the lives, and deaths, of those who have harmed us. —N. Craig Funston

The faith of the saints in Thessalonica was well known (1:8). And with that faith came love because God Himself taught them to love one another. This is not something that can be taught by man; to love as Christ loved requires divine intervention in our lives. Such brotherly love is an encouragement to saints and a powerful, indeed unarguable, Gospel to sinners. —Roy Hill