Tag Archives: salvation

The Most Important Thing In Life

Posted on May 12, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

(Luke 14:25-33 KJV) And there went great multitudes with Him: and He turned, and said unto them, [26] If any [man] come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. [27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple. [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]? [29] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish [it], all that behold [it] begin to mock him, [30] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. [31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? [32] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an {ambassador}, and desireth conditions of peace. [33] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that FORSAKETH NOT ALL THAT HE HATH, he cannot be My disciple.

What Is The Most Important Thing In Your Life?

If Jesus were a modern day preacher, He would have the greatest thing in His life. If Jesus were a Joel Osteen or a Creflo Dollar or Benny Hinn, or one of these charismatic preachers in a modern American Church, He would have all He wanted. Did you read that?

there went GREAT MULTITUDES with Him

Jesus had a huge following. He could be a MEGACHURCH Pastor. Cities are emptying out. People hear that Jesus is coming, and they pour out to be with Him. But Jesus didn’t care about the crowd. He cared about the people, cared about their souls. But for Jesus – He was more about saving souls and growing the Kingdom of God than He was about packing stadiums…. Continue reading →

Posted in Luke, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bible, christianity, Faith, Following Christ, God, God Is Faithful, gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love God, salvation | Leave a comment

Parable Of The Wheat And Tares

Posted on May 12, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

(Matthew 13:24-30 KJV) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: [25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. [26] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. [27] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? [28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? [29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

What did Jesus come to this earth to do? In Matthew chapter 12 Jesus had just been through a series of battles with the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the organized Church in Israel. They didn’t call it a “Church”. They called it a Synagogue (synagōgē), which meant “a formal gathering of Jews that offered prayers and listened to the exposition of the Old Testament Scriptures. Assemblies were held on the Sabbath, the last day of the week”. In other words, it was a Church – except they did not worship Jesus. The Pharisees criticized Jesus because:

He allowed His disciples to pick, shuck, and eat corn on the Sabbath
Jesus healed people on the Sabbath
The Pharisees claimed that Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebub
Jesus chastised them for committing the unpardonable sin
Jesus claimed the Pharisees were a generation of evil vipers
Jesus refused to satisfy their demand for “a sign”
Jesus said they were wicked, demon possessed houses
And Jesus claimed only those who love Him were His family

Everything Jesus did, the Pharisees attacked. So as we come to this chapter, Jesus begins to speak in parables: Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew, Parables of Jesus, Sermons Preached | Tagged Being fruitful, Bible, Faith, Following Christ, Fruit, fruit of Christian, fruit of salvation, fruit of sin, fruitfulness, God Is Faithful, Jesus, parables, salvation, tares, wheat | Leave a comment

His Mercy Endures Forever

Posted on May 8, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

The last time I was in this Psalm, it was in 2016 – and on a Wednesday night – about 10 years ago. I think it’s time we looked at this Psalm again. I was reading it the other day with a friend, and it struck me how great this Psalm is. In fact, the Jews called this “The Great Hallel Psalm”. It is written like a responsive reading. Every single one of the 26 verses ends with:

His MERCY endureth forever

Word Study: The word translated MERCY is the Hebrew ḥeseḏ (pronounced kheh’-sed). It is translated 149 times as “mercy”, but 30 times as “lovingkindness” and 40 times as “kindness”. The New American Standard translates the word as “faithfulness”, and the Legacy Standard as “lovingkindness”. One source notes that ḥeseḏ refers to faithful, enduring love rooted in commitment, not emotion. A loyal devotion expressed through proper action.

The Christian – like ancient Israel – is in a Covenant Relationship with God. God takes His covenant relationship seriously – and expects us to do the same. As we break this Psalm down, I’m going to ask you to do as Israel would have done. In Israel, the Cantor… Continue reading →

Posted in Psalms, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bible, christianity, Faith, Following Christ, God, God Is Faithful, God's mercy, gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love God, mercy, salvation | Leave a comment

Lazarus And The Rich Man

Posted on May 5, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells us a story about two men. One is rich, the other is poor. If this is a parable (some say it is, some say it’s not), then this is the only parable where Jesus uses a person’s name (Lazarus). Regardless as to whether it is a parable or a true story, this text tells us what Jesus believed about life and death.

Physical death is not the end of life, but the entrance into another life. Your next life can be a great life, or a miserable life. The decisions you make in this life will effect what happens in your next chapter!

Let’s read the parable:

(Luke 16:19-23 KJV) There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Continue reading →

Posted in Parables of Jesus, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bible, christianity, Christians love, doing good, Faith, Following Christ, God, God Is Faithful, gospel, Jesus, love, love enemies, love God, love Jesus, salvation | Leave a comment

The Journey Of Faith

Posted on May 5, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 15:11-32. Last Wednesday we started studying Jesus’ Parable of Two Sons:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And JESUS said, A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS

The younger son goes to his father and demands his inheritance. This son then begins to wander, gets in a bad situation because he has departed from his father, and begins to suffer and starve. I believe the younger son is a picture of a young Christian. And if I were to summarize this whole parable, I believe …

The Parable shows the faithfulness of God as well as the journey of faith that each believer must go through.

Salvation is not a “one and done”. I often hear of places in America where there are “great revivals”. In California’s 7,750 people were baptized in one day at Huntington Beach May 3, 2025. Called “The Largest Water Baptism In U.S. History”, the reporter wrote:

“The first person baptized Saturday was a 71-year-old woman, Joanne, who told organizers she had considered baptism for 40 years but kept procrastinating. “We now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Francey said as the woman entered the ocean. “We pray that you would rise up out of these waters with a new nature and a new life.”

In another place in California called Pirates Cove some 2100 were baptized in one day at the “Third Annual Jesus Revolution Baptism” on August 17, 2025. The article said:

“Harvest Christian Fellowship’s Senior Pastor Greg Laurie reports, “We had an incredible day yesterday at the 3rd Annual Jesus Revolution Baptism. We baptized 2,100 people in a single day! Can you believe that? Add that number to the last two years, and in just three years we’ve baptized 8,600 people!” Continue reading →

Posted in Parables of Jesus, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bible, christianity, Faith, Following Christ, God, God Is Faithful, gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love God, parables, salvation | Leave a comment

The Parable Of Two Sons (1)

Posted on May 2, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Every time I come to a parable of Jesus, I learn more things about Jesus AND MYSELF. Sunday night we studied the most difficult parable Jesus ever gave, the Parable of the Cheating Business Manager (Luke 16:1-13). Tonight we’re going to look at the LONGEST PARABLE Jesus ever told. It is often called The Parable Of The Prodigal (Wandering) Son. It’s found in Luke chapter 15. Please turn there. Read with me:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And he said, A certain man had TWO SONS:

Most Bibles have in the heading to this parable, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”. As a result, most Pastors, myself included, have preached this parable as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” (though no modern person knows what “Prodigal” means. Here’s what I learned when I studied it:

The word “Prodigal” is found in the Bible right next to the word “Purgatory”. It’s just not there.

Jesus introduces this parable by saying, “A certain man had TWO SONS”. And the truth is, neither son is a prize winner. Jesus leaves the parable open to many applications. Where I’ve often seen the parable used (and I’ve preached it this way myself), the characters are:

A “CERTAIN MAN” is God
The “YOUNGER” son is a lost person
The “ELDER SON” (vs 25) is a believer… Continue reading →

Posted in Parables of Jesus, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bible, Carnal Christians, christianity, Faith, faith in God, faithful God, faithfulness, Faithfulness of God, Following Christ, God, God Is Faithful, Jesus, love God, salvation, wandering Christians | Leave a comment

A Question Of Power

Posted on April 29, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Mark 11:27-33 (KJV) And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, THERE COME TO HIM THE CHIEF PRIESTS, and THE SCRIBES, and THE ELDERS, 28 And say unto {Jesus}, BY WHAT AUTHORITY DOEST THOU THESE THINGS? And WHO GAVE THEE THIS AUTHORITY TO DO THESE THINGS? 29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The BAPTISM OF JOHN, was [it] from heaven, or of men? Answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 32 But if we shall say, Of men; THEY FEARED THE PEOPLE: for all [men] counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. 33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

A Rebuking Parable To A Foolish Question

When Jesus spoke a parable (Greek parabole), it was always in reaction to something someone said to Him. Parabole means to lay alongside. It taught a spiritual truth by comparing it to a physical story. In His parables, Jesus taught, but at other times rebuked or corrected. We’re going to look at a rebuking parable today.

You need to understand the background. Jesus has ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people celebrate His coming in an event we call Palm Sunday. In a few days Jesus will be crucified on a cross between two thieves. Before His crucifixion Jesus will cast the moneychangers out of the Temple, something that made the scribes and chief priests angry (Mark 11:15-19). Why? Because they were making money off of selling sacrifices to pilgrims during the Feast of the Passover. The next day we see:… Continue reading →

Posted in Parables of Jesus, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bible, Faith, Following Christ, God Is Faithful, Jesus, Jesus Christ, parables, salvation | Leave a comment

The Parable Of The Cheating Steward

Posted on April 29, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Tonight we’re going to look at one of the most difficult parables Jesus ever told. We’ll be in Luke 16:1-13. Most Bible texts will have at the head of this section, “The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward”. We read in verse:

(Luke 16:8 KJV) And the lord commended the UNJUST STEWARD, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Word Study: Jesus called the man the “UNJUST STEWARD”, the Greek
adikia oikonomos, which means “a manager or overseer who does evil or wickedness”. Jesus uses the word adikia four times in the Book of Luke. The first time is in:

(Luke 13:27 KJV) But {The Master of the House} shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all [ye] workers of INIQUITY (adikia).

Here He refers to those who were told to enter into the narrow gate, but refused to come for whatever reason. They made other things more important than coming when Jesus called to salvation because they did other things and made other things more important than salvation. Their works were not necessarily evil (like robbery, murder, rape, etc), but they made what they wanted more important than answering the call of the Master of the House (Jesus). You see, sin is not just a violation of the Ten Commandments, or doing something evil. Sin is to NOT DO WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO as well. Continue reading →

Posted in Parables of Jesus, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bible, christianity, Faith, Following Christ, God, God Is Faithful, Jesus, love God, money is not God, money mongering, parables, salvation | Leave a comment

Be Broken Like Agur

Posted on April 24, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Proverbs 30:1 The words of Agur [āḡûr (pro. aw-goor’)] the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

No one knows who these people really are. We are told in:

1 Kings 4:30-32 KJV Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. 32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

Solomon was the wisest man of his day. But there are others who were wise, “Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol”. My commentary notes that āḡûr (pro. aw-goor’) – his name means “one who gathers or collects” – could have been one of the wise men who lived during Solomon’s reign.

What is interesting about āḡûr (pro. aw-goor’) is that Derek Kidner’s Commentary he notes that both chapters 30 & 31 are from non-Israelites, just like the Book of Job.

When Agur refers to God, he uses the Hebrew אֱלוֹהַּ (‘ĕlôha), rather than Elohim the Triune Name of God. Eloha is singular, and used in the Book of Job (who was from the land of Uz) about 44 times. The Bible tells us that:

2 Peter 1:20-21 (NKJV) … no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for PROPHECY NEVER CAME BY THE WILL OF MAN, but HOLY MEN OF GOD SPOKE[as they were] MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Though he might have been a Gentile (perhaps an Arabian from Massa per Derek Kidner), the words he wrote as he was moved by the Holy Spirit. One of the most overriding principles of Christianity is that … Continue reading →

Posted in Proverbs, Sermons Preached | Tagged Bible, christianity, Faith, Following Christ, God, God Is Faithful, gospel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love God, salvation | Leave a comment

The Bridegroom Comes

Posted on April 22, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Last Sunday night I started preaching on the Parables of Jesus. It is my intention to preach through the parables of our Lord Jesus. If you were not here last Sunday, to recap a parable is a story that illustrates a spiritual principle. About one third of Jesus’ preaching is found in parables.

Word Study: The word “parable” is the Greek parabole, which means “to place or cast alongside”. When Jesus wanted to teach a spiritual principle, He would cast it alongside a physical thing that people were familiar with.

If you were a follower of Christ, the parable REVEALED spiritual truth. But if you were not a follower, and had a heart hardened to God, the parable hid spiritual truth.

You weren’t ready for a parable (see Matthew 13:10-15) until you were willing to submit to and follow Jesus. Jesus always spoke parables in response to things that people were saying and doing around Him. The first two parables deal with old coats and old wineskins.

Matthew 9:14-17 (KJV) Then came to him the DISCIPLES OF JOHN, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved…. Continue reading →