Posts from May 2025

1119 of 19 items

Avoiding the Bondage of Bitterness

by Don Wright

This week, I am considering five important points found in Hebrews 12:15-17.   Here is the passage. Hebrews 12:15-17 (ESV) 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually […]

Failing to Obtain the Grace of God

by Don Wright

This week, I want to consider five important points the Hebrews writer made in Hebrews 12:15-17.   Here is the passage. Hebrews 12:15-17 (ESV) 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that […]

Saved by Grace (Look at What Man Should Never Do)

by Don Wright

This week, we have been probing the great words of Paul in Ephesians 2:8.  We have seen that we are saved by grace rather than by meritorious works.  Our salvation is a gift from God and something that we should be thankful for every day.  As a result of how our salvation came to be, […]

Saved by Grace (Look at What God Has Given)

by Don Wright

Salvation is a gift given by God.  Paul teaches this clearly in Ephesians 2:8.  A gift is “something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation” (Merriam-Webster’s 11th Collegiate Dictionary).  That is what God did for us.  He gave us the gift of salvation.  He did not do it for compensation, but out of […]

Saved by Grace (Look at What Man Does Not Have to Do)

by Don Wright

After pointing out that we are saved by grace through faith, Paul emphasizes that salvation is not of our own doing (Ephesians 2:8).  It is very important that we understand this, but what does Paul mean by it?  First, we need to understand what Paul is not teaching.  He is not teaching that there is […]

Saved by Grace (Look at What Man Must Do)

by Don Wright

Paul teaches us that we have been saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8). However, we have a part in our salvation, not because God needed our help, but because He desired effort on our part.  Sure, God could save us without any action taken on our part at all, but that was not God’s will.  Paul […]

Saved by Grace (Look at What God Has Done)

by Don Wright

Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved…” (Ephesians 2:8).  Thank God for His grace.  Grace refers to God’s unmerited favor and emphasizes the unearned and undeserved nature of our salvation.  God saves man out of the goodness of His heart.  The Psalmist once said, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for His is […]

Better Things (Inheritance)

by Don Wright

God promised Israel the land of Canaan as an everlasting (age-lasting) inheritance. Joshua 14:9 (ESV) 9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ This was a great […]

Better Things (Hope)

by Don Wright

We are looking this week at the “better things” we enjoy under the dispensation of Christ, especially when compared with the Mosaic Dispensation.  We have a better covenant, a better sacrifice, and a better High Priest; in fact, we have a better priesthood altogether.  This leads to a fourth thing that we have that is […]