Page 9 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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FIFTY-TWO KEY PASSAGES OF THE BIBLE
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be so that we have no reason to be proud about some
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. achievement. In fact, the only way to be saved is by
—2 TIMOTHY 3:16,17, page 1094 grace, and grace means “unmerited favor.” God gra-
ciously saves us. It isn’t because we have earned,
If we ever hope to become spiritually strong and to deserved, or achieved it. In fact, Paul tells us that our
do good works that glorify God, it all starts with teach- salvation is “that not of yourselves.” “That” refers to
ing that confronts our sin and wrong thinking and the entire previous statement of salvation—not only
then instructs us on how to walk in a righteous path. the grace, but the faith. Although we are required to
We find the truth that eliminates error, that brings believe for salvation, we are also dead in trespasses
truth and correct belief, and sets us in the path to and sins, so we can’t believe. It’s impossible for us to
righteousness in “all Scripture.” All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God and is profitable for that. do that. Therefore, it isn’t just the grace that comes
Scripture brings us the sound teaching, the divine from God; it is also the faith. The whole work of sal-
instruction that tears down what is wrong, builds up vation is a miracle of God. We receive the Lord Jesus
what is right, and puts us in the path of instruction to Christ, but it is God who awakens us and gives us the
live a righteous life so that we can become mature and power and the understanding and the faith to do just
equipped to do the works that honor God. All that. None of us can boast about any of it. God’s grace
Scripture is given by inspiration of God. It is, in the is preeminent in every aspect of salvation.
Greek, “God-breathed.” Scripture is literally “out of Week 12
the mouth of God.” When you read the Bible, you are
reading the very Word of God. God breathed it out; And you, being dead in your trespasses and the
men wrote it down. And it is that powerful, living uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive togeth-
Word of God that brings to us the truth that equips us er with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having
for every good work. wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was
against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken
Week 10 it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.—
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; COLOSSIANS 2:13,14, page 1026
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the sim- The language of these verses picks up on the legal
ple; the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the concepts in the ancient world. When a person was
heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlight- crucified, the list of their crimes was nailed to the
ening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring cross to demonstrate to everyone the reason they
forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righ- were there. With that imagery, the apostle Paul says
teous altogether.—PSALM 19:7–9, page 127 the indictment against us as sinners, the handwriting
These verses contain six titles about the Scripture. of the laws we had broken, was taken and nailed to a
As the law of the Lord, it is God’s standard for man’s cross. But we didn’t have to die for them because
conduct. As the testimony of the Lord, Scripture is Jesus was nailed there under our sins.
God’s self-disclosure that describes who He is. As the We were dead in sins. We were without cleansing.
statutes of the Lord, it is the doctrines and principles But we’ve been forgiven all our trespasses. We’ve
the Lord wants us to know. As the commandment of been taken out of death and made alive because Jesus
the Lord, it is the binding and authoritative mandate was nailed under our sins. He paid the penalty. Our
God gives to us. As the fear of the Lord, it is a manual crimes have been nailed to the Cross so that the
on appropriately fearing and worshiping God. And as whole world could see the violations are placed on
the judgments of the Lord, the Scripture provides for Jesus Christ, the sinless One, who satisfies the just
us the verdicts of God Himself. wrath of God for us. And this is why there are so many
These verses also tell us that Scripture is perfect songs and hymns written about the Cross, because
and totally transforms the inner person. It is sure and we can never stop singing its praises.
reliable and makes the simple wise. It is right, mean-
ing a right path as opposed to a wrong path, and Week 13
brings joys to the heart. It is pure or translucent and “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
makes things clear; even the dark things become baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
understandable. It is clean—without flaw or blem- and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all
ish—and is not subject to cultural interpretation things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with
because it is everlasting. And it is true, absolutely you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.—
righteous. What an amazing Book! MATTHEW 28:19,20, page 163
Week 11 If you ever wondered what our responsibility is in
the world, here is the answer. Go and make disciples
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and of all nations. Jesus said that to the apostles, but the
that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, Great Commission extends to all of us. We are to
lest anyone should boast.—EPHESIANS 2:8,9, page 983
make disciples of Christ from all the nations. In fact,
These verses gather together all of the elements in the Greek the only verb here is “make disciples.”
necessary to understand the work of salvation. It is by The rest of the verb forms are participles that modify
grace…through faith…the gift of God, not of works, the main verb. Going, baptizing, and teaching are

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