In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” Matthew 7:12

In the verse above, Jesus gives us a general rule on how to treat people. We’re not to treat people the way they treat us, we’re to treat people the way we would like them to treat us. This is how the Christian is to live.

This is a golden rule indeed! It doesn’t simply forbid petty malice, revenge, cheating and deceit. It does much more. It prevents the need to lay down endless little rules for our conduct in specific cases.

It sweeps away the whole debatable ground with one mighty principle. It shows us a balance and measure, by which everyone may see at once how they should act.

Is there something we wouldn’t like our neighbor to do to us? Then let us always remember that this is the thing we ought not to do to him. Is there a thing we would like our neighbor to do to us? Then this is the very thing we ought to do to him.

- J. C. Ryle

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Bible Study Planet

- When you are sad, call on John 14

- When you don’t feel loved, call on Romans 8:38-39

- When you have sinned, call on 1 John 1:8-9

- When you are facing danger, call on Psalm 91

- When people have failed you, call on Psalm 27

- When God feel far from you, call on Psalm 139

- When your faith needs encouraging, call on Hebrews 11

- When you are scared, call on Psalm 23

- When you are worried, call on Matthew 6:25-34

- When you are hurt, call on Colossians 3:12-17

- When you feel no one is on your side, call on Romans 8:31-39

- When you are seeking rest, call on Matthew 11:25-30

- When you are suffering, call on Romans 8:18-30

- When you feel you’re failing, call on Psalm 121

- When you pray, call on Matthew 6:9-13

- When you need courage, call on Joshua 1

- When you are in need, call on Philippians 4:19

- When you are hated because of your faith, call on John 15

- When you are losing hope, call on 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

- When you are seeking peace, call on John 14:27

- When you want to do good works, call on John 15

- When you want to live a happy life, call on Colossians 3:12-17

- When you don’t understand what God is doing, call on Isaiah 55:8-9

- When you want to get along with others, call on Romans 12:9-21

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Bible Study Planet

The Fall of Satan

Before he fell, Satan was known as Lucifer. Lucifer means “light bearer” or “morning star”. He is not God’s equal but, like all beings, he is simply a creation of God and must submit to His sovereignty. (Ps 148:1-5; Col 1:16)

Lucifer held an exalted position in heaven. He may have been a cherub. (Ezk 28:14) Cherubs are high-ranking angels whose ministry involves, in some way, guarding the Lord’s holiness.

But Lucifer wasn’t satisfied with simply being in the presence of God’s throne. He became filled with pride (1 Tim 3:6) and desired a throne of his own, one exalted above God’s. (Isa 14:13) He wanted to be like the Most High (Isa 14:14).

Lucifer wasn’t alone in his quest to be his own god. He convinced one-third of the heavenly host to join him in his rebellion. (Rev 12:4) But God is omniscient (1 Jn 3:20) and omnipotent (Rev 1:8) no being can oppose Him. Lucifer’s war was lost before it even began. His fate is sealed. (Gen 3:15; Rev 20:10)

We tend to think that people reject God because they don’t know Him but that isn’t always true. Lucifer and his followers lived every moment before God yet they choose to hide their faces from Him. It isn’t enough to simply have knowledge of who God is, we must also be willing to come to Him on His terms and call Him our Lord. (Jam 2:19; Rom 6:16)

And so Lucifer and his followers turned against God. Angels who remained loyal to the Lord were the holy or elect angels (Matt 25:31;1 Tim 5:21) while those who choose to follow Satan became known as demons. (Matt 12:24)

Lucifer, the morning star, had fallen. Satan, the adversary, was born.

What Demons Do

Satan took his war against God to a new battlefront – the heart of man. He tempted Adam and Eve to sin (Gen 3:1) which led to man being spiritually separated from God. (Rom 6:23)

As Satan’s time runs short he and his demons increase their activity. (Rev 12:12) These activities involve opposing the plan of God (Dan 10:13) and leading people away from Christ. (1 Cor 10:20)

They appeal to man’s spiritual desires by disguising themselves as “angels of light” (2 Cor 11:14), seducing many with wicked doctrine, (1 Tim 4:1) and drawing them into a form of godliness which has no power to save. (2 Tim 3:5)

Demons can sometimes afflict people with various physical conditions (Matt 9:33; Mark 5:2-16) though it’s very important to note that Scripture distinguishes between natural and demonic illness (Matt 4:24; Mrk 1:32). They attempt to delay the answers to godly prayer (Dan 10:13) and draw nations into war (Rev 16:14).

Demons attempt to snare believers in sin (1 Tim 3:7). When they sin, Satan acts as their accuser (Rev 12:10).

No Need To Fear

God responded to this attack by promising to send a One who would restore that tarnished relationship and crush Satan (Gen 3:15). Jesus Christ, God the Son, was that One. At His death on the cross Christ defeated Satan. (Heb 2:14) Man’s relationship with God was restored, the countdown to Satan’s final judgment began. (John 4:16; Rev 20)

Christians have no need to fear Satan. When we resist his temptations, he flees (Jam 4:7), when he attacks, we are kept by the power of God (1 Pet 1:5), when he accuses, Christ defends us (1 Jhn 2:1).

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Bible Study Planet

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes… (Rom 1:16)

From the Greek word evangelion, the “gospel” literally means “good news.” In ancient times, the evangelion would be proclaimed from city to city to celebrate the accession of the new king to the throne upon the death of the old.

And that is exactly what is being proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus: the gospel is the joyful proclamation of the reign of Christ , who lived and died and rose again to glory.

I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:1-4)

The gospel is the most powerful message of human liberation that has ever been proclaimed on earth. It is a message filled with the power of God to bring about the very thing it proclaims: freedom from bondage of our own sinfulness, freedom from fear of death, freedom to live boldly in the assurance of God’s love for us.

Learn more about the gospel: A Look At The Gospel (and how it works)

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Bible Study Planet

1. Praying In Jesus’ name means we depend on Jesus for access to God

The way to heaven is blocked up by our sins. There is no access for a sinful person to God without a Mediator.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jhn 14:6)

Jesus Christ is that Mediator. Jesus came down from heaven, died for sinners, and gathers them to himself by His effectual calling.

“If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 Jhn 2:1)

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Eph 3:12)

“Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb 4:14,16)

2. Praying In Jesus’ name means we depend on Jesus for acceptance of our prayers

After Jesus intercedes for us by His work on the cross, he then tells us to go to his Father in his name, and ask what we need. He also gives us His Spirit to help us with our prayers.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 Jhn 5:14)

“I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 16:23)

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Rom 8:26)

3. Praying In Jesus’ name means we depend on Jesus for a gracious answer

We don’t always get the answer to prayers we want but we will always receive whatever we need to accomplish God’s will in our lives through Jesus.

“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” (Jhn 14:13)

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4:13)

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Bible Study Planet