But this He said concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed into Him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:39 What does it mean that “the Spirit was not yet” in John 7:39? It’s a question few Bible readers would ever consider asking. That’s because few
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Have you ever realized that believing in Jesus has a goal beyond your personal salvation? God has a goal and the Lord has a direction. It’s preparing Christ’s bride for His wedding (Rev. 19:7-9). For example, the most familiar chapter on salvation, John 3, not only speaks of our receiving eternal life to be born again (3:16, 3, 6) but
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As believers in the Lord Jesus, we need to strengthen our faith in Him. One very helpful way to do this is to muse upon the many Bible prophecies concerning Christ. Reflecting on the details of Christ’s life recorded in the Old Testament prophecies, hundreds of years before He came, fills us with faith. In this way, we uplift our appreciation for
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“Thanksgiving”—it’s an expression very familiar to many believers. But does your understanding of it match the revelation found in God’s word? Also, how does thanksgiving apply to your Christian life? To some, “thanksgiving” may be mainly associated with a yearly feast. To others, it may be related to the practice of giving thanks before a
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“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21) It’s a famous quote from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians. But is it merely a slogan to us…or something we experience personally in our Christian life? To Paul, living Christ was a life or death matter. For him to
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Believing into Christ to be born anew and an effective baptism are only the beginning of a vital Christian life. Whether you flourish in your Christian life after receiving the Lord Jesus, really depends on whether you build up certain vital practices in your daily living. By giving careful attention to these points you will be helped to progressively
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Whether you’ve received the Lord Jesus five days ago or fifty years ago there is still much more for you to experience and enjoy! By believing in Jesus Christ you’ve obtained an inexhaustible treasure that awaits your discovery and experience. It’s somewhat like buying a new electronic device. It’s rightfully yours. But, you might not yet know even half of
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“How spacious is your Christ?” Does this sound like a strange question? It shouldn’t…if we’re enlightened to see God’s desire from His word. God wants Christ to be everything to us. But unfortunately, many believers today have only a limited appreciation for Christ’s vast dimensions. That’s why the apostle Paul prayed for our strengthening. In Ephesians 3:18-19 he prayed that we, “May be
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Reading and studying the Bible can render you tremendous benefits. It can surely change your life. But it depends on your focus. In fact, it can be difficult to sustain a Bible reading habit if you don’t know and appreciate God’s hidden purpose within it. It is true that what you’ll get from your Bible reading can vary greatly depending on how you come
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I can still remember sitting behind the backstop on the athletic field at my junior high school. It was an ordinary lunch time and I was there talking with my friend Scott. I had just gotten up the courage to share the gospel with him for the first time using a gospel booklet. I don’t think
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