The Bible itself ought to shape what we believe from start to finish. It should govern every aspect of our behavior. It should frame our entire perspective on life. In other words, if we simply start by affirming what Scripture says about itself, the rest of our worldview should fall into place, with the Bible as the source and touchstone of all we believe. This is the crucial, foundational starting point in developing a biblical worldview.*

* God’s Sufficient Word, copyright 2022 by John MacArthur – Grace to You, Panorama City, CA – page 2.

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore,
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love, and pow’r.

I will arise and go to Jesus;
He will embrace me in His arms.
In the arms of my dear Savior,
Oh, there are ten thousand charms!

Come, ye thirsty; come and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify,
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.

I will arise and go to Jesus;
He will embrace me in His arms.
In the arms of my dear Savior,
Oh, there are ten thousand charms!

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.

I will arise and go to Jesus;
He will embrace me in His arms.
In the arms of my dear Savior,
Oh, there are ten thousand charms!

Joseph Hart, pub.1759 – copyright status is public domain

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

(To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.)

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Psalm 40

Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. Ecclesiastes 9:17 NKJV

God is an author. He gave us a book called the Bible. It is the most printed and published book of all time. Nothing else comes close. In atheistic countries people are dying to read it. In our country we are trying to purge it. You should read it while you can. If you do, read a good translation. Leave the paraphrases alone. You will want to know exactly what He said, not what someone thinks He said.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Revelation 1:2

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest (reveal) myself to him.

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest (reveal) thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. John 14:21-24

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha (accursed). I Corinthians 16:22

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:16&17

For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12&13

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Proverbs 30:5

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

This blog will lead you to Jesus Christ. What you do when you get there is between the two of you.

He (God) turneth the rivers into a wilderness, and the water springs into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. Psalm 107:33&34

Most of the right or correct decisions Christians make in life should be made in spite of how we feel.

The just shall live by faith, not by feelings.

Faith is a firm persuasion or conviction brought about by hearing the Word of God.*

*W.E. Vines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words – Copyright 1984, 1996, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7

The spirit of fear conveys timidity or dread. It is to shrink from dangerous or difficult circumstances; to be hesitant, fearful. The spirit of fear affects our ability to do right. It manifests itself first in our thoughts which become manifest or visible in our actions or lack of thereof. The spirit of fear is not from God.

But God has given us a spirit of power. A spirit of power comes from confidence in His Word.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. II Timothy 1:12

But God has given us a spirit of love. Love (biblical love) is the remedy for fear.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. I John 4:18

But God has given us a sound mind. A sound mind is a mind corrected and disciplined by the living Word.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

True Christians see and hate sin within themselves. Only when we are made alive in Christ are we able to truly feel the weight of our iniquity.

John MacArthur – Grace Partners 7-16-2024