I’m repeating a Bible study that I’ve done at least three times prior to this time. It’s a great study that covers so many passages of scripture and makes you dig deep into God’s Word. It accomplishes exactly what any great Bible study should do.

This morning I hit, once again, week 4 of the study, and I wanted to share that week’s journal entries from October 2023. It is mostly scripture taken from the NLT version, but condensed to what I truly wanted to focus on at that time. I’ve underlined passages that stood out to me and will copy it here just as it is written in the entry and highlight in blue what I underlined in the journal.

10-1-23 1 Peter 3:8b-12 NLT

“Be tender hearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing.* That is what God has called you to do, and He will bless you for it. If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns His face against those who do evil.”

10-2-23 2 Peter 1:3-11 NLT

“By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life…. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires… make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement (add to) your faith with… moral excellence + knowledge + self control + patient endurance + godliness + brotherly affection + love for everyone. The more you grow like this the more productive and useful you will be…. Work hard to prove you really are among those God has called and chosen…”

Now, go back and read just the blue words. That is a condensed version of God’s instructions for what He wants us all to do.

This Bible study has several references to verses in the book of James. Here are two verses from James that shows us… God does require us to try to accomplish the things listed above.

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17 (NIV)

And

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26 (NIV)

Bible Studies that point out the truths of scripture and show that… although we are saved by grace, we can’t continue to sin after salvation and pull out the grace card… are the kind of Bible studies we should be looking for.

We are called to a very high standard of living. A standard that includes “moral excellence, knowledge, self control, patient endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love for everyone”.

James also says, “… don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (verse 4:4b NIV) So that grace card won’t work. You become an enemy of God when you choose to follow the world’s ways after salvation instead of being obedient to God’s Words.

The Christian life is not easy! The standards are high.

But the rewards are worth it.

Are you involved in a great Bible study right now that you would like to share?