Daily Bible Verse - 10/31/2007 - James 2:19

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

You believe that God is one You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

James 2:19

Commentary

demons believe. Even fallen angels affirm the oneness of God and tremble at its implications. Demons are essentially orthodox in their doctrine (cf. Matt. 8:29,30; Mark 5:7; Luke 4:41; Acts 19:15). But orthodox doctrine by itself is no proof of saving faith. They know the truth about God, Christ, and the Spirit, but hate it and them.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Jas 2:19). Nashville: Word Pub.

Did you know?
Mark 1:24 records that as Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, a demon-possessed man stood and cried out, "What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!" Mark 3:11 says that "whenever the unclean spirits beheld Him, they would fall down before Him and cry out, saying, 'You are the Son of God.' " One demon inside a man possessed by legions of unclean spirits called out, "What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" (Mark 5:7).

MacArthur, J., F. (1997, c1988). The Gospel according to Jesus : What does Jesus mean when he says "follow me". Includes index. (Electronic ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Academic and Professional Books, Zondervan Pub. House.

Daily Bible Verse - 10/30/2007 - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Commentary

in Christ: Paul is presenting the results of Christ's death for the believer and the believer's death with Him (v. 14). Because believers are united with Jesus both in His death and resurrection, they participate in the new creation. That is, they receive the benefits of being restored by Christ to what God had originally created them to be (Gen. 1:26; 1 Cor. 15:45-49).
All thingshave become new: A believer's life should change, because he or she is being transformed into the likeness of Christ (3:18). Instead of living for oneself, a believer lives for Christ (v. 15). Instead of evaluating others with the values of the world, a believer looks at this world through the eyes of faith (v. 16).

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (2 Co 5:17). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Did you know?
Moral reform is a frustrating and ultimately impossible task.Moralism aims at an unattainable goal: the improvement of society without any transformation of people's souls. The leopard cannot change his spots. Sinners cannot reform themselves. And therefore society as a whole cannot be truly reformed unless people are made new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

MacArthur, J. (2002). Can God bless America? : The Biblical pathway to blessing (87). Nashville: W Pub. Group.