John 1:9 - Anyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God

Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

2 John 1:9

Commentary

A failure to be faithful to the fundamental, sound doctrines of the faith (a proper view of the person and work of Christ, love, obedience) marks a person as having never been born again (1 John 2:23; 3:6-10; 4:20,21; 5:1-3). The word "abide" has the idea of constant adherence and warns that these fundamentals are not open to change or subject to the latest trends or philosophical fads.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (2 Jn 9). Nashville: Word Pub.

"Transgresses" (Gk. parabainō, lit. "run ahead of" or "go before") was used by John sarcastically to criticize the teachers who claimed they had advanced knowledge of Jesus Christ and thus appeared to "run ahead" of the truth spiritually.

Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (2 Jn 9). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Ephesians 5:8 - Live as children of light

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

Ephesians 5:8

Commentary

The believer's position has changed from darkness (sin) to light (righteousness). Believers are to change their walk to correspond to their position in Christ (Rom 12:2).

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Eph 5:7-10). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Darkness / Light

"Darkness" describes the character of the life of the unconverted as void of truth and virtue in intellectual and moral matters (cf. 1 John 1:5-7). The realm of darkness is presided over by the "power of darkness," (Luke 22:53; Col. 1:13) who rules those headed for "eternal darkness" (Matt. 8:12; 2 Pet. 2:17). Tragically, sinners love the darkness (John 3:19-21). It is that very darkness from which salvation in Christ delivers sinners (see notes on John 8:12; Col. 1:13; 1 Pet. 2:9; cf. Ps. 27:1).

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Eph 5:8). Nashville: Word Pub.

John 8:12 - Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

John 8:12

Commentary

The scene now shifts to the treasury of the temple (see v. 20). A multitude was still following Him. He turned to them and made one of the many grand statements as to His Messiahship. He said, "I am the light of the world." Naturally speaking, the world is in the darkness of sin, ignorance, and aimlessness. The light of the world is Jesus. Apart from Him, there is no deliverance from the blackness of sin. Apart from Him, there is no guidance along the way of life, no knowledge as to the real meaning of life and the issues of eternity. Jesus promised that anyone following Him would not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. To follow Jesus means to believe on Him.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Jn 8:12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?

During Tabernacles (The Feast of the Tabernacles), 4 large lamps in the temple's court of women were lit and an exuberant nightly celebration took place under their light with people dancing through the night and holding burning torches in their hands while singing songs and praises. The levitical orchestras also played. Jesus took this opportunity of the lighting celebration to portray another spiritual analogy for the people: "I am the light of the world."

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Jn 8:12). Nashville: Word Pub.

2 Corinthians 4:6 - The glory of God in the face of Chris

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

Commentary

Paul here compares the conversion of a sinner to the entrance of light at the dawn of creation. Originally God commanded light to shine out of darkness. He said, "'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Gen. 1:3). Now Paul is saying here that the same God who originally commanded light to shine out of darkness has shone in our hearts. This is very beautiful. In the first creation God commanded the light to shine. But in the new creation, God Himself shines into our hearts. How much more personal this is! A Scriptural illustration of this is found in the life of Paul himself. On the road to Damascus, God shone in his heart. He realized that the One whom he had hated and who he thought was buried in a Judean tomb was the Lord of glory. From that day he went out to spread the light of the knowledge of the glory of God as it is found in the face of Jesus Christ.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (2 Co 4:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Isaiah 58:13-14 - if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable...

13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

13"If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And (speaking your own word, 14Then you will take delight in the LORD, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Isaiah 58:13-14

Commentary

If God's people respect the Sabbath by abstaining from business or selfish pleasure, if they consider it a delight to honor God's holy day, then they will delight ... in the Lord who gave the day, and He will give them a place of leadership in the earth and the heritage that God promised to Jacob. Nothing can hinder this because the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 

Commentary, p. 64. MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Is 58:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?

After the destruction of the temple, Sabbath observance became an identifying mark of the Lord's people.

Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (Is 58:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 143:10 - may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Psalm 143:10

Commentary

The psalmist not only wanted to know the will of God (v. 8b), he also wanted a heart trained to obey that will. God, after all, was his God, and what could be more proper than for the creature to obey his Creator? Everyone has his ups and downs in life, but not everyone has as rocky a road as David. His desire here is that the Lord's good Spirit will lead him over smoother terrain, free from the extreme forms of danger and disaster to which he had been exposed.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Ps 143:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

James 2:14 - Can such faith save him?

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

James 2:14

Commentary

James is describing the man who has nothing but a profession of faith. He says he has faith, but there is nothing about his life that indicates it. The second helpful key is brought out in the NASB. There, the verse closes with the question "Can that faith save him?" In other words, can that kind of faith save? It is all words, and nothing else.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Jas 2:14). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

James 2:26 - Faith without deeds is dead

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Pues como el cuerpo sin el espíritu está muerto, así también la fe sin obras está muerta.

James 2:26

Commentary

James compares faith to the human body. He likens works to the spirit. The body without the spirit is lifeless, useless, valueless. So faith without works is dead, ineffective, worthless. Obviously it is a spurious faith, not genuine saving faith. To summarize, then, James tests our faith by our answers to the following questions. Am I willing like Abraham to offer the dearest thing in my life to God? Am I willing like Rahab to turn traitor to the world in order to be loyal to Christ?

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Jas 2:26). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The body (Gk. sōma) represents faith (Gk. pistis). Breathing (works) demonstrates the body is alive. Works demonstrate that faith is alive.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Jas 2:26). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

3 John 1:11 - Do not imitate what is evil but what is good

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

3 John 1:11

Commentary

The proof of our commitment to God is that we personally reject evil and embrace a life patterned after that which is good. The idea of has not seen God is explained more fully in 1 John 3:4-9. The lifestyle that we exhibit is a direct reflection of the extent to which we have seen God. If we were to see God perfectly, we would never sin. Our sin is a result of a faulty vision of God. Therefore, the Scriptures encourage us to look at Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:16-18; Heb. 12:2, 3), for the day when we see Him perfectly will be the day that we will be like Him (1 John 3:2, 3).

Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S. 3 Jn 11

Romans 3:19-20 - Through the law we become conscious of sin

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:19-20

Commentary

Paul clearly stated the purpose of the Law was to create awareness of sin (v. 20). Paul realized that no one can succeed in completely keeping the Law.

Thomas Nelson, Inc: Woman's Study Bible . Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Ro 3:19

Justified - A legal term used of the defendant in a trial, justified means "declared righteous." No one will be declared righteous by doing what God requires in the Law. This is confirmed by the fact that the Law was not given to justify sinners but to expose sin (v. 19).

Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S. Ro 3:20

Ecclesiastes 7:20 - There is not a righteous man on earth

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.

Ecclesiastes 7:20

Commentary

The fact that this verse begins with for shows that it is vitally connected with what precedes. But what is the connection? The connection is that we all need the benefits of the wisdom that the Preacher has been describing, because we are all imperfect. There is no one who is absolutely righteous in himself, who invariably does good and who never sins. Generally verse 20 is taken to teach the universality of sin.

MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Ec 7:20

Ecclesiastes 5:12 - The sluggard's craving will be the death of him

The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.

The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work; All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Ecclesiastes 5:12

Commentary

There are few things so satisfying in life as sleep following a hard day's work, but the greedy rarely enjoy decent rest.

Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S. Ec 5:11-12

"Across town, the rich man is having a fitful night worrying about the stock market and swallowing antacid to calm the churning sea of dyspepsia that is in his stomach."

MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Ec 5:12

Proverbs 21:25-26 - The sluggard's craving will be the death of him

The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.

The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work; All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Proverbs 21:25-26

Commentary

The longing of the lazy man kills him; he is devoured by his own passions because he will not expend the energy to fulfill them. Verse 26 describes further the insatiable greed of the lazy person by contrasting it with the generosity of the righteous.

Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S. Pr 21:25

Proverbs 11:25 - A generous man will prosper

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered.

Proverbs 11:25

Commentary

These proverbs (11:24-27) should shape our attitudes toward wealth: it should be shared. Stinginess may lead to poverty. Generosity has the opposite effect.

Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S. Pr 11:24-27

Psalm 96:2 - Sing to the LORD, praise His name

Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.

Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.

Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

Psalm 96:2

Commentary

Worshipers are called to sing a new song to the Lord who is exalted above all gods (vv. 4, 5; 1 Chr. 16:23-33). Other gods are mere idols, but the Lord is the Creator. Therefore, all people are to worship the Lord, give to Him the honor due His name, and bring to Him their offerings (Ps. 96:7-9). They are to proclaim the universal rule of the righteous Judge among the nations (v. 10).

Thomas Nelson, Inc: Woman's Study Bible . Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Ps 96:1

1 Samuel 12:24 - Be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

1 Samuel 12:24

Commentary

Samuel assured the people that he would not forget to pray for them. For Samuel, a lack of prayer was a moral compromise, a sin. In fact, his life illustrates the importance of prayer (7:5; 1 Thess. 5:17; James 5:16). Although he was leaving his official duties as judge over Israel, Samuel promised to continue to teach the people.

Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S. 1 Sa 12:23-24

2 Peter 1:16 - We did not follow cleverly invented stories

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

2 Peter 1:16

Commentary

False teachers were claiming that Jesus' resurrection and return, as well as the Holy Spirit's indwelling of believers, were all cunningly devised fables. Peter countered their faith claims with an eyewitness account. Peter himself had actually seen the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. These are the twin themes of this letter: the power of Jesus available for holy living and the coming of Jesus as the glorious hope of each believer.

Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S. 2 Pe 1:16