Here are some things that Jesus told His disciples as they listened to Him:

I. Disciples Continue in the Word

Jesus is delighted with and takes note of those who seek to know the Bible and strive to follow it. He looks for those who whole-heartedly will follow Him. By His statement, Jesus reveals those whom He considers to be real believers and those who are not.

II. Discipleship Is Necessary to Know the Truth

Although the Bible is readily available to many people, a large number of those with a Bible really do not understand its teachings. They also miss the spiritual meanings because they either are not saved or are not in tune with the Holy Spirit.

These verses plainly show that obeying God’s truth is necessary to correctly understand the Bible. Jesus said this to those who had believed on Him, so He is not talking about how to be saved. Grasping the real meaning of the Bible requires more than just a grammatical and historical interpretation – although that helps.

III. Knowing the Truth Brings Spiritual Freedom

Spiritual freedom comes from understanding the truth of the Word. Freedom comes when you:

1. Understand that it is not necessary to follow the Law for salvation, because Jesus paid for all your sin.

2. Know that the Bible guarantees Heaven for believing what Jesus did for you on the Cross – and no more (John 3:16,17).

3. Take advantage of the access to the Father (prayer) that Jesus purchased for you (Hebrews 10:19).

4. Get victory over sin (day-by-day) because the Holy Spirit now lives in you (Ephesians 1:13,14).

5. Study the Bible and use the many promises in it to enable you to live for God.

6. Salvation removes the guilt of past sin

7. And much more.

Are you daily learning more of God’s truth that sets you free?

I have the privilege of talking to many people about spiritual matters. It is amazing to me, with Bibles in most homes, how few people there are who have actually read it through.

God has given to man a supernatural Book, one that reveals the truth about our existence, God, our future, and most important, how we can have eternal life and live with God forever. Many churches proclaim the passages every week to help people understand it. Also, many churches even encourage their people to bring their Bibles with them because they want the people to see that what they are teaching is really in God’s Book.

In the above verses, Jesus was talking to people who had the Scriptures and had memorized much of it. Yet, they were unwilling to believe what the Book plainly told them.

Many people are like that still today. Some even read the Bible but fail to accept its simple truth about salvation.

The great truth is that salvation cannot be earned. This is plainly stated in Ephesians 2:8,9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Note that salvation is the gift of God. Gifts are free.

The gift that God gave to give us salvation is the gift of His Son. John 3:16 says it very well: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Thank God, His Son Jesus, paid the full price for what we owe.

If you are not yet a believer, call on God in prayer now, asking Him to forgive you and save you – because Jesus paid your full price. Read the verse again in the paragraph right above this one.

The psalmist opens its most magnificent chapter of the Psalms with the primary precept found in it – that those who seek to obey God are blessed. Most likely, nearly all believers have discovered that God does bless when they begin their walk of living so as to please Him. The concept that obedience brings His blessing is important to remember to keep us going on for Him. It must be remembered because many Bible characters ofteny ran into opposition from the world when they decided to do things God’s way.

This would clearly include people such as Able who would not compromise on the sacrifice God really wanted, and Joseph, who was determined to remain pure. Hebrews 11 mentions other godly people who would not accept deliverance, even from terrible persecutions and death. They did it because they were willing rather to die pleasing God with their lives rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

This verse takes in a lot more than just the present circumstances. It also considers eternity. Though we may not always be blessed in the here and now, there is no doubt, says the Psalmist, that they are blessed, who walk in the law of the Lord – the Bible. God’s blessing does not always result in material blessings, but He does promise sufficient provisions, inner peace, joy, power over sin, fellowship with Him, and much more.

Every believer needs to determine to walk in light of His blessing. It is true even if it should only come in eternity.

David knew very well what lay within his heart. The inclinations he faced – as well as every other human – was not good and always tend to lead away from God when followed.

Because he knew that it was possible that those inclinations and temptations would lead away from God, he asked God to help him get victory over “any iniquity.” He did not want any sin to dwell in his heart.

Beyond seeking to get victory over sin, David desired to live the way God wanted. This is much more than merely keeping commandments and not doing certain things.

It would involve fellowship with God. Religion is not enough, not only will it not save the soul, but it also cannot enable one to please God.

God wants personal fellowship with you. This was God’s purpose in creating man in the first place. Unfortunately, so many professing Christians are satisfied with mere duty and gaining Bible knowledge than fellowship, All are important.

Close fellowship with our Lord also provides both the desire to serve God and the power to do so. Time spent in the Bible, along with prayer and praise are not an option for strong believers.

Can you with David pray the prayer in the text verse: “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.“

There are many ideas out there about how to be blessed. Some of the strongest blessings are related to the Word of God. 

The above verse is a clear example of this principle. The Bible repeatedly lets it be known that God’s Book is essential to getting His blessing. Despite this, few people claiming to be Christians actually read it every day.

As the verse says, reading is not enough. The believer must also meditate on its teachings. It means to think about what you read and get out of it all you can – like a cow chewing its cud seeking to get all the sweetness out of it.

You also want to pray about what you read, confess sins when the text reveals them, and asking God to help you fulfill the responsibilities and duties mentioned.

Lastly, notice the word “delight.” When your heart is right toward God and His Book, you will delight in it and meditation on it will not be a chore. There are so many marvelous things in God’s Book that it will delight you if you let it. Your time spent in the Word and prayer will become one of your greatest joys.

In the first chapter of the Psalms, God, through David, reveals the kind of person He wants to bless. These blessings are not necessarily earthly or material blessings.

The word “bless” means happy. It is not necessarily the smart person, the handsome or beautiful person, and it is not the charismatic individual.

Instead, the brief chapter reveals that, first, there are some things the blessed person does not do. He or she does not hang out with people who God disapproves of. These people are put into three categories: the “ungodly,” the “sinners,” and the “scornful.” Each of them follows their own desires and plans – none of which God can approve of.

The blessed person does not associate closely with any of these people. Their advice and “wisdom” are contrary to God and His Word. It is because they are not enlightened by God and do not understand the Bible or the way of the Holy Spirit.

When the believer needs direction and advice, they need to go to the Bible for it or to a Pastor – if they really want to be one of those people who God blesses. God has given us Divine advice and guidance for every situation we will face in life. There are plenty of people online or on TV, etc., who want to give their advice, but it will not help you to draw close to God or live victoriously for God.

Proverbs 19:27 tells us: “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” This means do not even listen to advice or counsel that comes from people who do not know God.

If you want to be blessed by God, it becomes necessary to spend time in the Word every day to know what our Lord says about the things we face daily. When you do, you will learn the way He wants you to live for Him.

Do you want to become that person God wants to bless? Are you in the Word every day and in church where the Word is taught regularly?

There is a lot of confusion in the world about Jesus Christ. The biggest question of all is Who is Jesus Christ?

Sadly, even among professing believers there are considerable answers to this question. The biggest reason for this ignorance is a lack of understanding the Bible.

Paul makes the argument in the verses above that the Gospel – that which can save the soul from Hell – is hid from those who need it. The Gospel consists of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for sinners, which is how He paid for our sins and can save the soul. Paul also explains who needs it – “the lost.” That is, those who do not know Christ as their Savior yet.

The “god of this world” is the evil one – Satan. He and his evil cohorts are constantly busy seeking to prevent people from understanding the Gospel, as well as making it so that they never hear it. One of the ways he does this is by keeping people too busy to think about their eternity.

In these two verses, the Apostle also explains that Jesus is God and He wants to give them “light” – which means truth and understanding of the truth.

Have you believed on Jesus Christ yet to be your personal Savior? Or, are you one of the ones that the wicked one has blinded, making you think you have another day – when you may not?

The leaders of Jesus’ day knew that He had not been given Scripture training in one of the formal schools. They were surprised that He could even read the Scriptures, which is evident in the previous verse.

Many people make a similar mistake today – they think that Jesus was just another Teacher or a good man. What needs to be realized is where Jesus learned what He openly taught. He did not invent it, nor did He hear it from some other teacher of the day. No, He was taught it from His Father – Who is God in Heaven.

The fact that God told Him what to say means that His message carries a much heavier weight to those who hear it. The Bible is God’s words, and you can be sure that God does not speak in vain – He expects obedience to His words.

Jesus also gave those who heard Him at that time a way to test His words. He said that if you will do what He said, you can be sure that His words are the truth from God. The proof of their Source is that His words will be confirmed as the truth in your heart as you obey them in faith.

Obedience is also necessary to understand the Bible correctly. The Holy Spirit reveals truth (illuminates) in the Bible as we obey Him. There are many blessings in the Word of God not received by those who only half-heartedly follow the Lord.