Galatians 3:21 asks, “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”

That verse settles the issue. If any law could have given life, righteousness would come by the law.

The Bible declares that no such law exists.

The law was never designed to give eternal life. The law reveals sin. Romans 3:20 says, “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” The commandments function like a mirror. A mirror can show dirt on the face, yet it cannot wash the face clean. The law exposes guilt, yet it cannot remove guilt.

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God’s standard is perfect righteousness. James 2:10 states that whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. One violation makes a person a lawbreaker. No human being has kept the law perfectly. Every conscience testifies to failure. Every heart knows its own sin.

The purpose of the law is explained further in Galatians 3:24. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The law instructs and convicts. It leads the sinner to the realization that he cannot save himself. The law drives a man to Christ because it shuts the door to self-righteousness.

If righteousness could come by obedience, then the death of Christ would have been unnecessary. Galatians 2:21 makes this clear. “For if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” The cross proves that human effort is insufficient. The Son of God would not have suffered and died if moral improvement could secure salvation.

Many attempt to combine grace and law. They claim salvation begins with faith and is maintained by obedience. The Bible, however, separates justification from works entirely. Romans 4:5 says, “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” God justifies the ungodly through faith, not through effort.

The inability of the law to save does not make the law sinful. The law is holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). The problem is not with the standard but with the sinner. Flesh cannot produce the righteousness that God requires. Only the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ satisfies divine justice.

Anyone trusting in obedience, religious performance, sacraments, or moral reform is still standing under the law’s condemnation. The law can diagnose the disease but cannot remove it. Salvation comes only through faith in the One who fulfilled the law perfectly and bore its penalty on the cross.

Galatians 3:21 makes the matter unmistakable. If there had been a law that could give life, righteousness would come by that law. Since no such law exists, life must come another way. That way is Jesus Christ.

The law cannot save you but Jesus Christ can.

In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus did not say He was a way among many. He said He is the way. He did not say He teaches truth but that He is the truth. He did not say He shows life but that is the life.

Christ’s last statement in this verse settles the matter. “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” No exception is offered. No alternative route is suggested. No secondary path is allowed. If anyone comes to the Father, it must be through Jesus Christ alone.

This exclusivity is not arrogance. If sin separates man from God, then only a perfect sacrifice can bridge that separation. The Bible teaches that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Man’s problem is not ignorance. Man’s problem is guilt. A guilty sinner cannot remove his own guilt through effort, religion, or sincerity.

Acts 4:12 proclaims the same truth. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Salvation is not found in a system, in a church, or in good works. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ.

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Jesus did not come merely to inspire mankind. He came to die in the place of sinners. First Corinthians 15 declares that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. If there were many ways to heaven, the cross would have been unnecessary.

The death of Christ proves that no other payment could be accepted.

The doctrine of many paths undermines the gospel itself. If Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism, or any other religion provides a valid path to God, then the exclusive claims of Christ are false. The Bible leaves no room for such compromise. Either Jesus tells the truth, or He does not. Christianity does not stand alongside other religions as one option among many. It stands alone because Christ stands alone.

God’s exclusivity in salvation is not cruelty. It is mercy. God has provided a clear way of escape through His Son. He has not hidden the path but revealed it plainly. The invitation is extended to all. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). The offer is universal, however the way is singular.

The real question is not whether there are many ways to heaven. The real question is whether you will believe the One who said He is the way.

Eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.

No man cometh unto the Father, but by Him.

In many generations the strongest examples of virtue were men and women who feared God, honored truth, and served others. Today, society often celebrates those who display charisma but not character. Many of the most visible figures lack humility, purity, and courage. Scripture warns that when a people forget God they begin to praise what God condemns.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness” — Isaiah 5:20

A nation that admires the wrong people places itself on dangerous ground.

Modern culture often honors entertainers, influencers, and public figures who reject righteousness. Many of them boast in sin, mock holiness, and promote rebellion against God.

Yet young people are told to admire them.

The Bible shows that this pattern is not new. Israel once asked for a king so they could be like the nations around them. They admired Saul because he was tall and impressive to the eye. The Lord reminded Samuel, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth. For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

God evaluates heroes differently than the world does.

True heroes are those who walk in righteousness. The world may celebrate a person for a season, but only the righteous leave a legacy that blesses others. Real courage belongs to those who fear God more than man. Daniel stood firm in Babylon. Elijah confronted idolatry. Paul preached Christ in the face of persecution. These men did not win applause from their culture. They won the approval of God.

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God’s people must resist the pressure to admire what the world exalts. Believers are called to honor things that are pure, lovely, and of good report. Paul wrote, “If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). The Christian measure of greatness does not come from popularity. It comes from obedience.

Parents must teach their children that the greatest heroes in history were servants of God. Moses chose “to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). David stood against Goliath because he trusted the Lord. Ruth followed truth when her culture offered an easier path. Esther risked her life to protect her people.

These are virtues worthy of admiration. These are examples a nation should honor.

The church must lead the way by celebrating those who shine the light of Christ. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). The greatest citizens are those who bring glory to God through lives marked by faithfulness.

A nation does not rise because it produces celebrities. It rises because it produces servants with clean hands and pure hearts. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:3-4).

When a nation’s heroes are no longer heroic, God’s people must refuse to drift with the culture. We must return to the heroes of the Bible and to the qualities God calls praiseworthy. Let the world chase applause. Let Christians pursue faithfulness.

Our admiration should be shaped by the Word of God. Our example should be the Lord Jesus Christ, who “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). A nation that honors righteousness can still find hope. A nation that admires wickedness cannot stand.

May God raise up a generation that loves virtue more than fame, and truth more than applause.

This article is shared again from our other publication, The Faithful Patriot, because we believe its message is worth hearing by as many readers as possible.

It is my prayer that this article was a blessing to you.

Victorious in Christ,
— Shawn F. Parker
Editor & Contributor, The Redeemed Report

However, the Bible presents a very different picture of God’s character and His dealings with mankind.

The Bible teaches that God is holy, righteous, and just. The Bible also teaches that God is loving, merciful, and longsuffering. Any doctrine that portrays God as arbitrarily creating souls for eternal torment must be tested carefully against the whole counsel of the Bible. God does not contradict His own revealed nature.

The Word of God is clear that God does not delight in the death of the wicked. Ezekiel 33:11 records the Lord saying, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” A God who takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked is not a God who secretly ordains their damnation from eternity past.

Scripture consistently presents hell as a place prepared for the devil and his angels, not as a destination God desires for mankind. Jesus Himself declared this in Matthew 25:41. Hell exists because of sin and rebellion, not because God delights in condemning souls. Men go to hell because they reject the light they are given, not because God refuses them salvation.

The Bible plainly states that God desires all men to be saved. First Timothy 2:3–4 says that God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” This statement is not hidden in symbolism or limited to a secret group. It reflects God’s revealed will toward humanity. A doctrine that teaches God secretly wills the damnation of most men directly contradicts this verse.

Second Peter 3:9 further confirms this truth by declaring that the Lord is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Repentance is commanded because it is possible. God does not command the impossible or mock sinners with invitations He never intends to honor.

Some appeal to the idea of election to argue that God chooses individuals for hell. The Bible teaches election, yet it never teaches election to damnation. Election in the Bible is always connected to purpose, service, or salvation in Christ, never to condemnation apart from choice. Men are condemned because they are sinners who reject God’s truth, not because they were selected for destruction.

Romans chapter one explains why men are lost. The Bible says that God reveals Himself through creation and conscience. Men suppress that truth, reject it, and turn to unrighteousness. God then gives them over to their chosen rebellion. Condemnation follows rejection, not predestination to evil.

Jesus Himself made it clear that men are responsible for their unbelief. He said in John 5:40, “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” The problem is not that men cannot come but that they will not come. Responsibility is placed squarely on human rejection, not divine refusal.

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The doctrine that God chooses some for hell undermines the gospel invitation. The Bible repeatedly calls all men to repent and believe. The gospel is preached to every creature because salvation is genuinely available to every sinner. A limited invitation contradicts the Great Commission and empties evangelism of its urgency and sincerity.

Salvation is provided for all through the death of Jesus Christ. First John 2:2 says that Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. His sacrifice is sufficient for every man, even though it is only applied to those who believe. God does not restrict the payment. Man restricts himself by unbelief.

• God’s justice is upheld because no one is condemned apart from sin.

• God’s mercy is upheld because salvation is offered freely.

• God’s love is upheld because Christ died for all.

• God’s righteousness is upheld because judgment falls only on those who reject the truth.

The Bible presents a God who saves willingly and judges righteously.

Hell is real. Judgment is certain. Responsibility is personal. God does not choose men for hell. Men choose sin, reject Christ, and refuse the light they are given. The blame for damnation never rests on God’s decree. It rests on man’s unbelief.

The gospel remains gloriously simple. Jesus Christ died for sinners, rose again, and offers eternal life to all who believe. God is not hiding salvation from the many to give it to the few. God is calling all men everywhere to repent. The question is not whether God is willing to save.

The question is whether man is willing to believe.

If something in this article confused you or you have any questions or encouragement, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Victorious in Christ,
— Shawn F. Parker
Editor & Contributor, The Redeemed Report

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 1:6

The Work He Began

Few verses carry as much assurance as this one. Paul’s confidence wasn’t in the Philippians themselves, but in the God who began His work within them. The same God who started their salvation would see it through to completion. God never abandons His projects.

Our faith may waver, our zeal may fade, and our circumstances may change but His purpose remains steady. The work of salvation didn’t begin with us, and it will not depend on us to finish it. The strength of your salvation isn’t your grip on God, but His grip on you.

Notice Paul says, “Being confident of this very thing.” Confidence is not arrogance, it’s assurance rooted in God’s faithfulness. When your confidence is in yourself, discouragement is inevitable whereas when your confidence is in Christ, perseverance is inevitable.

Our job is not to control the outcome but to remain surrendered to His process.

Many people assume the difference between faith alone and faith plus works is small. Some believe Jesus is the Savior while also believing obedience, baptism, perseverance, or moral reform must be added to secure salvation. This view feels reasonable to the natural mind. It sounds balanced and responsible. The Bible, however, makes it clear that adding works to faith does not strengthen the gospel. It replaces grace with law and Christ with self-effort.

The Bible plainly teaches that salvation is a gift, not a reward. Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “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.” The passage does not leave any room for works. Salvation is entirely of grace, entirely through faith, and entirely apart from works. If works are added, grace ceases to be grace.

Romans 4 reinforces this truth using Abraham as the example. The Bible says that Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness (Romans 4:3). The passage then explains that if righteousness comes by works, it becomes a debt owed by God rather than a gift given by grace. Romans 4:5 declares, “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” God justifies the ungodly, not the reformed, not the obedient, not the deserving.

Some attempt to soften this doctrine by saying works are not the cause of salvation but the proof of it. The Bible never teaches that works validate faith before God. In fact, the Bible says that God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

Faith is counted for righteousness the moment it is placed in Christ. Works follow salvation as a result of new life, not as evidence required to complete justification. Mixing proof language into justification confuses sanctification with salvation and places the believer back under law.

Galatians was written to address this exact error. The churches had begun with faith in Christ, yet were later told that obedience to the law was necessary to remain saved. However, Galatians 2:21 states, “If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” If even one work is required, Christ’s sacrifice is declared insufficient.

Also, James chapter two is often cited to argue for faith plus works. James is not addressing how a sinner is justified before God. He is addressing how faith is demonstrated before men.

The danger of faith plus works is not merely doctrinal confusion. It creates false assurance and false condemnation at the same time. Some trust in their obedience and never truly trust Christ. Others doubt their salvation because their works feel insufficient. God never intended salvation to rest on the unstable ground of human effort.

Salvation rests entirely on the finished work of Jesus Christ. He lived the perfect life the sinner could not live. When a sinner believes on Him, righteousness is imputed instantly and permanently. Eternal life is given, not earned, and kept by God’s power, not man’s consistency.

This question matters eternally because it determines where trust is placed. Faith alone places trust in Christ. Faith plus works places trust partly in self. Either Christ saves completely, or He does not save at all. The gospel is not Christ plus effort. The gospel is Christ alone.

If you are trusting anything other than Jesus Christ for your salvation, you are not resting in grace. Salvation is not found in religion, obedience, baptism, church membership, or perseverance. Salvation is found in a Person. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Nothing more is required. Nothing else is accepted.

Jesus saves!

If something in this article confused you or you have any questions or encouragement, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Victorious in Christ,
— Shawn F. Parker
Editor & Contributor, The Redeemed Report

“For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” — Philippians 1:5 (KJV)

Fellowship in the Gospel

Paul’s joy was in-part because the believers at Philippi weren’t passive listeners but active partners. From the very beginning, they shared in his mission: praying, giving, and standing with him when others turned away.

The word fellowship here means more than friendship, it means partnership and a shared commitment to the same cause. They didn’t merely agree with Paul’s message but they joined him in spreading it. No one should be sitting out on witnessing and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every believer has a part to play. Not everyone is called to preach, but everyone is called to pray. There is no excuse for inactivity when the throne of grace is always open.Now, also notice that the Philippians’ devotion wasn’t momentary. Their fellowship began “from the first day” and continued faithfully. That phrase reveals consistency and the kind of steady loyalty that strengthens the church through every season.

Paul saw in them a love that lasted.

The world calls unity agreement but we see that Paul calls unity fellowship in the gospel. True unity isn’t built on shared opinions or personalities but on a shared Saviour.

When believers make the gospel their center, divisions lose their power. Paul’s heart overflowed with gratitude because these people didn’t just love him but that they loved the mission.

Fellowship is born when we love the same Lord and labor toward the same end.

“Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.” — Philippians 1:4

Praying with Joy

Prayer is often born out of pain or need, but Paul shows it can also overflow with joy. Though imprisoned, he writes that every prayer for the Philippians is offered “with joy.”

This is no forced optimism. Paul’s joy is not in his chains, but in his Christ and in the believers he loves. He remembers them, not with complaint, but with celebration. Each time their faces come to mind, his heart lifts in prayer instead of sinking in sorrow.

That is what grace does: it turns memory into prayer and prayer into praise. Notice that there’s no inconsistency in Paul’s devotion. “Always” and “every” show that prayer wasn’t a passing thought but a continual habit.

For Paul, intercession wasn’t something done out of duty, but out of affection. His prayers were personal, not perfunctory. When we love people deeply, we pray for them differently. We pray not just when they’re in crisis, but as a continual act of gratitude.

We also see that Paul’s joy was inclusive. There were no favorites and no forgotten faces. The same man who had once persecuted the church now carried its members in his heart. True grace produces inclusive gratitude and a love that prays for all. It’s easy to pray for those we enjoy, but we should pray for everyone God has joined to us with joy.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,” — Philippians 1:3

Every Remembrance

The letter to the Philippians begins not with correction, but with gratitude. Every memory of the Philippian believers stirred thankfulness in his heart. When Paul thought of them, he didn’t dwell on their faults or failures but instead he rejoiced in them. What a difference it makes when we choose gratitude over criticism, when our memories are filtered through grace rather than grievance.

Joy often begins with remembering whom God has placed in your life. Gratitude has a way of turning recollection into worship. I love that Paul’s gratitude isn’t generic but actually it’s personal. He doesn’t simply say, “I’m thankful for you.” He says, “I thank my God.”

Every act of gratitude becomes an act of worship when directed toward the One who gave us the blessing. When you remember someone who helped you, prayed for you, or stood by you, do you stop to thank your God for them? Paul’s heart was anchored in that habit. Every remembrance became a reason to rejoice.

Not some remembrances but every one. Even painful ones were touched by providence. Paul had known hardship in Philippi: imprisonment, persecution, and misunderstanding. Yet even those memories led him to thanksgiving because he saw God’s hand in it all.

Mature joy doesn’t ignore the past but understands that God can use it to His purposes. The same memories that once hurt us can, through God’s healing, become reasons for worship.

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 1:2

Grace Before Peace

Paul’s letters often begin this way, but it’s no casual greeting. “Grace” and “peace” aren’t just kind words, they have meaning are the essence of the gospel.

Grace always comes first. Before there can be peace with God, there must be grace from God. The order is important. Grace removes guilt and peace replaces it. Grace reconciles and peace restores. Without grace, peace is an illusion.

The world calls temporary comfort “peace,” numbing the soul with entertainment, wealth, or self-assurance. The peace the world offers depends on what’s happening around you whereas the peace of God depends on what’s happening within you.

It is impossible to have peace with God apart from grace, for grace is what makes peace possible. Grace removes the enmity that sin created. The cross is where that hostility was ended. Only through Jesus Christ can the sinner and God stand face to face without wrath between them. Many today claim to have the peace of God without ever having made peace with God. But you cannot have the peace of God until you’ve met the Prince of Peace Himself.

The peace of God does not begin in positive thinking or emotional balance. The world’s peace is shallow and passing, but the peace born of grace is eternal, because it’s rooted in reconciliation, not distraction.

Now, notice the source that Paul mentions. Grace and peace come from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. They can’t be earned, bought, or bargained for. They can only be received. This greeting from the Apostle Paul isn’t filler, it’s vital to the Christian life. Paul didn’t start this letters with “grace and peace” by habit but by design. He knew that without grace, there is no peace, and without Christ, there is no grace. Everything in the Christian life flows from what God has done, not from what we do.

So when you read this greeting, don’t skim it. Understand that this is not just Paul’s wish but it is God’s offer to everyone that comes to Him.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
— John 19:30

From a human perspective, the crucifixion looked like defeat. The disciples had scattered, the crowds had turned, and Rome’s soldiers believed they had crushed another alleged Messiah. Yet as Jesus lifted His voice for the final time, the heavens heard not a sigh of surrender, but a shout of victory.

“It is finished.”

Jesus did not say, “I am finished.” He said, “It is finished.” It was not a cry of resignation, but of accomplishment. The mission of redemption was complete. The plan of salvation, decreed before the foundation of the world, had reached its perfect fulfillment.

So, what exactly was finished?

1. The Sufferings of Jesus Were Finished.
   The agony, both physical and spiritual, was now complete. The wrath of God had been poured out, and Jesus had borne it all. The darkness that covered the land was giving way to light.

2. The Ceremonial Law Was Fulfilled.
   All the sacrifices, shadows, and symbols of the Old Covenant found their fulfillment in Him. Every lamb that had been slain pointed to this moment. Hebrews 10:12 declares:

   “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.”

3. The Price of Redemption Was Paid.
   Sin’s debt was canceled. The handwriting of ordinances that was against us was nailed to His cross (Colossians 2:14). Justice was satisfied and mercy was extended to all.

4. The Power of Satan Was Broken.
   At the very moment Satan thought he had won, his defeat was sealed. Through death, Christ destroyed him that had the power of death (Hebrews 2:14).
   The serpent’s head was crushed beneath the heel of the crucified Savior.

5. The Prophecies Were Fulfilled

   Every promise, every foreshadowing, every sacred whisper from Genesis to Malachi found its fulfillment in Christ. From the bruised heel in Genesis 3:15 to the suffering servant in Isaiah 53, prophecy after prophecy converged at Calvary.
   Jesus Himself said in Matthew 5:17:

   “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

6. The Separation Between God and Man Was Ended

   The instant Jesus cried “It is finished,” the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). That veil had long symbolized mankind’s distance from God as a barrier between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. When it tore, Heaven declared that through the blood of Christ, the way into the presence of God was now open.

   “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” — Hebrews 10:19

7. The Justice of God Was Satisfied

   God’s holiness demanded payment for sin and His love provided it. Christ’s death fully satisfied divine justice so that forgiveness could be freely offered without compromising God’s holiness.

   “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” — Psalm 85:10

8. The Mission of the Son Was Completed

   Every word the Father had given Him to say, every miracle He had been sent to perform, every step toward redemption all had been accomplished. In John 17:4, Jesus prayed:

   “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

“It is finished.”

All of man’s striving to reach God ends here. All of sin’s power to condemn ends here. All of the Old Covenant sacrifices, prophecies, and promises find their fulfillment here. What began in the Garden, when man fell and God promised that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head, ends at the cross with the cry of a Victor.

Through that cry, heaven rejoiced and salvation was secured forever.

“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 15:57

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was not announcing an ending, but a beginning: the beginning of grace, of forgiveness, of eternal life. The door to paradise was open, and the work of redemption would never need to be done again.

Conclusion of The Seven Sayings from the Cross

Thank you so much for following along with this series. I really hope it was as much a blessing to you reading it as it was to me writing it. Each word from the cross reminds us that the gospel is not a story of sorrow, but of victory.

As we close this study, I pray the words of Jesus continue to echo in your heart: words of forgiveness, compassion, surrender, and victory. May they shape how we live, how we love, and how we look to the future.

This series may be finished, but there are many more studies to come. There are more journeys through the Bible and more opportunities to see the fingerprints of God in every verse and every page.

Until then, may the Cross remain your anchor, the Word your guide, and the risen Christ your everlasting hope.

Victorious in Christ,
— Shawn F. Parker
Editor & Contributor, The Redeemed Report

As we head into the new year, I wanted to start a verse-by-verse read-through of one book of the Bible. I decided on Philippians. Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi was written from a prison cell, yet it overflows with gratitude, peace, and contentment. It reminds us that Christian joy is not a product of circumstance, but a posture of the heart that finds its rest in Christ alone.

Over the next several months, we’ll walk through this book one verse at a time. Each week’s post will linger over a single verse, exploring what it meant then and what it means now. My prayer is that these brief meditations help you see that every word of God is alive and rich with meaning.

This series isn’t meant to rush you through a commentary. It’s an invitation to sit with the text and to let the Word shape your pace, still your mind, and stir your affection for Jesus. Together, from wherever we are, we’ll share in the same fellowship of joy that bound Paul and the church at Philippi.

Victorious in Christ,
— Shawn F. Parker
Editor & Contributor, The Redeemed Report

Philippians 1:1

“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.” — Philippians 1:1

Servants of Jesus Christ

Prior to Paul speaking of joy, unity, or peace, he begins with identity: “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ.”

Before Paul ever calls himself an apostle, he calls himself a servant. The letter opens not with rank but with reverence. From a Roman prison cell, Paul reminds us that joy begins not in freedom but in faithfulness. He doesn’t lead with his credentials or authority, but his submission to Christ.

That’s the starting point of true Christian joy: not what we achieve, but Whose we are.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians was written from a Roman prison, yet it overflows with thanksgiving. How can a chained man rejoice? Because he knows he isn’t Rome’s prisoner but that he’s Christ’s servant.

We also see that Paul writes in this first verse “to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi.”

• Notice the order: in Christ, then in Philippi. Their location in the world mattered less than their position in Christ. That’s true for us as well. You might be “in Florida,” “in transition,” or “in trouble,” but if you are in Christ, you are safe, secure, and seen.

• Notice the people: Paul writes to all the saints in Christ Jesus. Our sainthood is not achieved by our labor but it is bestowed to us through His love.

The happiest Christian is the one who’s already given the pen of his life to Christ and said, “You write the story.”

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”
— John 19:28

The One who spoke rivers into being now asks for a drink. The One who told the Samaritan woman, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst,” now thirsts Himself. This is the paradox of the cross: that the Fountain of Living Waters running dry for the salvation of man.

His words remind us that the suffering of Jesus was not symbolic or distant but was real, physical, and complete. He was fully God, yet fully man and in that moment, His body cried out with the same thirst that every human being would feel under such torment.

John is careful to tell us why Jesus spoke these words: “that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
Hundreds of years earlier, David had written in Psalm 69:21:

“They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

Even in agony, Jesus was consciously fulfilling the Word of God. Nothing in His suffering was accidental. Every word, every moment, and every pain had purpose. When He said, “I thirst,” He was not merely expressing pain, He was declaring that God’s promises were being satisfied down to their smallest detail.

The Gospels reveal that Jesus refused the earlier offer of vinegar mixed with gall, which was a crude painkiller given to crucified men (Matthew 27:34). He would not dull His suffering. He chose to endure the full weight of the cross, feeling every pain and bearing every sorrow for our sake. Now, near the end, He accepts the vinegar. This was not to ease His suffering, as that was almost done away now, but to fulfill the scriptures.

“I thirst” also reminds us that our Savior truly understands human frailty. He was hungry, tired, and now thirsty. He knows what it is to feel weakness. As quoted in our previous study, Hebrews 4:15 says,

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

When you are weary, when you feel abandoned or empty, remember this: the Son of God entered into that same experience. He knows what it means to thirst and because He knows, He can comfort.

The sixth saying may be the shortest, but it is among the most profound. It proves that Jesus was no phantom or distant deity untouched by suffering. He felt pain. He felt dryness. He felt the full cost of bearing sin in a mortal body.

The One who thirsted upon the cross now offers living water to all who come to Him.

“If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” — John 7:37

He thirsted, that we might never thirst again. He was deprived, that we might be filled. He was emptied, that we might overflow. At the cross, humanity and divinity met and, through Christ’s own thirst, our souls found satisfaction.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” — Philippians 2:9-10

The gifts have been opened, the wrapping paper is gone, and another Christmas came and went. However, one thing remains unchanged: the name that Christmas was all about. The name of Jesus does not belong to December 25th, December, or even a season.

His name is from everlasting to everlasting.

The same name that filled the shepherds with wonder, that made angels sing, and that startled kings still carries power today. Centuries have passed, kingdoms have fallen, languages have changed, yet His name has not lost its strength.

Philippians 2 tells us that God has “highly exalted Him.” The baby in the manger became the man on the cross, and the man on the cross became the risen Lord. All authority is in His hands and every knee will bow before Him one day.

That’s the persistence of this name: it endures through time, through trial, and through every heart that has ever whispered it in prayer. When life grows quiet after the celebration, when loneliness or sorrow creep back in, the same Jesus who came still abides. His presence does not fade with the calendar, it persists forever.

The shepherds returned to their fields after that holy night. The angels went back to glory. Life resumed. Yet something had changed. The world would never be the same again, for the name of Jesus had entered it.

So let it be the same for us. Let us return to our routines, our work, and our daily lives but not the same as before. Let the joy of that name follow us into every ordinary moment. Let it shape how we speak, how we serve, and how we live.

Jesus Christ is persistent and this is also true of anyone who believes on Him. Us believers will have everlasting, persistent life. The Bible says in John 11:25-26,

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

Reader, do you believe in Jesus Christ? Not just historically or that He exists, but do you trust in Him and His finished work on the cross to save you from your sins? Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation. At Christmas we love to tell the story of Jesus being born in a manger but what’s needful today to be discussed is what Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection accomplished for you.

What is the gospel of Jesus Christ? I could tell you in my own words but I like the Bible’s better. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 says:

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that 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:”

Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Without which, we would have no hope. So, do you know Jesus Christ? Do you believe the gospel?

We’ve spent the past few days discussing Jesus coming into this world, specifically because He wanted to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10,

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

It is as simple as that to be saved.

As we close this Christmas series, I pray the name of Jesus stays as real to you in January as it was in December. Seasons change, but the Saviour remains. As we step beyond Christmas, may that blessed name continue to shape your days, steady your heart, and strengthen your faith.

Victorious in Christ,
— Shawn F. Parker
Editor & Contributor, The Redeemed Report

The shepherds were the first to hear the news. Heaven itself opened above their fields as angels filled the sky, proclaiming:

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” — Luke 2:11

Notice that word: Saviour. That’s what made this birth unlike any other. Babies enter the world every day, but only one entered it carrying the weight of redemption on His shoulders.

We now will read a verse just prior to this one that tells us just how powerful this Saviour is. In Luke 2:10 we read:

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

Notice that phrase: to all people. With Christ’s birth also came the promise of good news, that great joy would come to all people. Not for one nation only. Not for the wealthy or the wise. Not for the religious elite or the powerful. The angel’s message was not limited to a select few or certain elect (sorry, Calvinists!), it was a declaration meant for the entire world.

So when we read, “to all people,” remember this: that includes you. No matter your past, no matter your failures, Christ came for you. The Bible says:

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” — Romans 10:13

So while the world celebrates with lights and laughter, let us celebrate with gratitude that the angel’s message was not just “unto you is born a child” but “unto you is born a Saviour.” Salvation is personal. It’s not enough that He came into the world, but He must come into your heart.

If you know Jesus, rejoice and be merry this morning.
If you don’t know the Lord, call on Him today.

This is the true joy of Christmas: not that Christ was born in Bethlehem, but that He came to save and has the power to.

Dear reader, as you gather with family, may the name of Jesus fill your home with peace. May His joy linger long after the day is over, and His salvation remain the greatest gift you’ve ever received. Tomorrow, we’ll close this series with Part Three.

So, Joseph thought to quietly break off the betrothal. While he was thinking on these things, we read in Matthew 1:20-23:

“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Can you imagine Joseph waking from that dream with the weight of the words spoken to him still ringing in his ears? The very name he was commanded to give this child was the same Name by which the world would one day bow. This Son, whom he would cradle in his arms, was the salvation of all mankind.

Now, the angel didn’t leave Joseph guessing as to what was happening. He didn’t say, “Mary will have a son, name Him whatever you wish.” He gave a name, JESUS, and a reason: “for He shall save His people from their sins.” In that single sentence, it was revealed both the identity and the mission of the Child. The name Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation.”

The world celebrates Christmas with lights and laughter, but heaven celebrated it with purpose. This was not merely the birth of a baby but the arrival of our Saviour. This Christmas, remember that the beauty of Bethlehem is not in who came to see Him, but in why He came. The name Jesus still carries power, still offers pardon, and still brings peace with God. There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

While it’s true that December 25th is not the day our Lord was born, the world has deemed it a day we should take to pause and remember the miracle that changed all of history. Truthfully, every day should be Christmas for the believer and a celebration that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”

If Christ had not come, there could be no cross. If He had not been born, He could not have died for our sins. The cradle and the cross are forever linked with one beginning what the other would finish. Without Jesus entering this world, He could not have been both fully God and fully Man. Without being both, He could not have bridged the infinite gap between a holy God and sinful men.

The birth of Christ is more than a footnote of a holiday season, it is the foundation of redemption. God wrapped Himself in flesh so that one day He could wrap us in His grace.

So yes, while December 25 is not the date Jesus was born, it marks the truth that matters most: Jesus came.

The Bible plainly states that God does not lie, nor is lying compatible with His nature.

“God, that cannot lie” — Titus 1:2

If God cannot lie, then lying cannot be His will. Truth is not just something God prefers. Truth is who God is. When believers knowingly speak falsehoods, even in the name of tradition or sentiment, they step away from reflecting His nature.

Parents are given a sacred trust. Children are commanded to learn truth from their mother and father, not fantasy presented as reality. When a child asks direct questions and receives deliberate false answers, trust is quietly undermined. Even if the lie is eventually “revealed,” the lesson learned is that deception is acceptable if it feels good or preserves a moment. The Bible never presents truth that way.

Jesus Himself draws a sharp line between truth and lies. He identifies Satan as the source of deception, saying:

“He is a liar, and the father of it” — John 8:44

Lies do not originate from innocence or imagination. They originate from the same source that has always sought to distort truth. That should give every Christian parent pause before participating in a story that requires sustained, intentional deception.

Some argue that Santa is just pretend, but children are not told it is pretend. They are told he is real. They are instructed to behave differently because of him. They are corrected, warned, and even disciplined using him as a moral authority. That is not imagination but indoctrination into believing a falsehood as truth.

This is not about being harsh or joyless. It is about grounding joy in reality rather than fantasy. Children do not lose wonder when they are told the truth. They gain something far better: confidence that their parents value honesty and that God’s Word can be trusted without embellishment.

If God cannot lie, and if lying is contrary to His nature, then it cannot be His will for parents to lie to their children. Truth matters, especially in the small, formative moments that shape how a child understands the world, their parents, and ultimately, God Himself.

Christmas has largely shifted away from Christ and toward a fictional figure who demands more attention, obedience, and affection than the Lord Jesus Christ ever receives during the season.

Santa is presented as omniscient (“he sees you when you’re sleeping”), a moral arbiter (“he knows if you’ve been bad or good”), and a rewarder (“he brings gifts”). Those attributes belong to God alone.

“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins.” — Jeremiah 17:10

Yet many children today learn to fear disappointing Santa more than disobeying God, and to obey for gifts rather than out of love for truth.

Santa trains children to:

• Be good for reward, not because righteousness is right

• Believe a lie for the sake of tradition

• Associate joy with getting, not with Christ

“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” — Mark 7:7

Christmas today has become a season of:

• Materialism instead of meditation

• Fantasy instead of faith

• Stress instead of sanctification

Even the wise men didn’t give gifts to each other. They gave gifts to Jesus.

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.” — Matthew 2:11

Santa doesn’t add to Christmas. He replaces Christ in the hearts of many homes.

This isn’t about hating joy or being harsh with children. It’s about refusing to dress up a lie and calling it harmless, while the truth of Christ quietly fades into the background.

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” — 1 John 5:21

“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”
— John 19:26–27

As Jesus hung on the cross, with nails in His hands and thorns upon His brow, He looked down and saw His mother standing among the few who remained.

Mary had once held Him as a child and now she watched Him die as her Saviour. In the midst of unfathomable agony, Jesus’ concern was not for Himself but for her.
His body was broken, yet His heart was still tender.

By addressing her as “Woman,” Jesus was not being cold or distant. In that culture, it was a term of respect and was actually the same title He used at the wedding in Cana (John 2:4).

It showed dignity, not detachment.

Even as He accomplished the redemption of the world, He fulfilled the personal duty of a son. He ensured that His mother would be cared for after His death, entrusting her to His beloved disciple John. John 19:27 says,

“From that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

This moment reveals that divine love does not overlook human need. Our Saviour was not so consumed with the salvation of the world that He forgot the sorrow of one woman. He noticed the tears of Mary while carrying the weight of mankind’s sin. That same compassion still flows today. Hebrews 4:15 reminds us:

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.”

The cross shows that God’s love is both vast and personal. This saying of Jesus on the cross reminds us that true holiness never hardens the heart but softens it. The Lord has a tender heart and if He, in His suffering, could think of others, how much more should we in our comfort care for those who suffer?

Let us learn from His example: love is not measured by what we feel but by what we faithfully do. Even when the world presses in, compassion must remain at the center of the Christian heart.

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” — Luke 6:36