KMR Enterprises of Texas

KMR Enterprises of Texas Professional and Affordable: KMR Enterprises of Texas has been building tomorrows dreams - today since 1982. Let us help design and build yours now!

08/28/2026

Family of Friends Biblical Studies, Friday, August 28th, 2026


Who Is Jesus? – Today, through Creeds, Confessions, and the Words of God, we will understand and Boldly Answer This Question.

“Who do you say that I am? Matthew 16:15. Jesus asked His disciples this question at a pivotal moment in His ministry and in their lives.

People in Jesus' day had many opinions. Some said Jesus was John the Baptist. Others thought He was Jeremiah or Elijah come back to life.

Peter confessed on behalf of the other disciples, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “On this rock (Peter’s confession) I will build My church.” Matthew 16: 13 – 18

13. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14. They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15. “But what about you? He asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17. Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.


Since that day, the Church’s primary task has been to confess who Jesus is and why He matters in our personal Salvation and the Salvation of the whole world.

It does so in response to God’s Word and for the sake of gathering the Church around that answer that Peter boast, and now we too, as the pillars (believers in God and His Son Jesus), boast with much rejoicing and assurance.

In the early church, many held that the Son of God was not fully God, but a powerful creature.

In response, the Nicene Creed confesses on the basis of 1 Corinthians 8: 6 that the Son of God -- along with the Father and Holy Spirit – is true God and the Creator of all things.
6. Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.


The Apostles’ Creed emphasizes the historical, physical reality by confessing that Jesus “suffered,” and “was crucified, died and was buried.”


The Athanasian Creed addresses Jesus’ identity by confessing His relationship to the Father and the Holy Spirit while affirming His divinity and humanity.



Reading God’s Word

Reading the Bible can, at times, seem overwhelming; understanding the Bible, at times, may seem difficult; but the more we read, the more we seek to learn, the more we understand, the more its words open our eyes, our hearts, our minds, and our lives.

It becomes our refuge, a place where we seek and find God and see the evidence of His love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness of all our sin.
It is our assurance of everlasting life in the kingdom of God.

It is our assurance that God is always with us, always taking care of us, always listening to our prayers, always loving us, and always forgiving us.

Its words are the very words of God and the words of life.

God wants us to hear, understand, and believe His Word, and His Spirit works through it to enable us to do God’s will with rejoicing.

The first challenge in reading God’s Word is simply to open the Bible: The devil delights in distracting us with other activities or priorities that may seem more urgent, exciting, or important.

So, we must resist him, take time to sit down, and have a relationship with God through His Holy Word.

The Bible is about forgiveness and a life in Jesus!

To use and interpret the Bible rightly, we must know what it is actually about and why God gave it to us.

The main subject of Scripture is Jesus Christ, and the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that come to us through Him.

John 20: 24 – 31

24. Now Tomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus first came to them. 25. When the other disciples told him that they had seen the Lord, he declared, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”
26. A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28. Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29. Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30. Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples (500 followers who had been with Him from the beginning of His ministry), which are not recorded in this book. 31. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


Scripture interprets Scripture.

Context is essential for understanding language.

When overhearing one end of a phone conversation, it is difficult to fully understand the words you hear because you miss the other half.

In the same way, faithfully interpreting Scripture depends on hearing the full message.

When reading the Bible, we need to ask: What is the context here? How do other passages of the Bible clarify my understanding of this passage?

The Scripture immediately surrounding a passage is a key starting point for interpretation. What situation is being addressed or described? What event or discussion has just taken place? What follows after?

Other Scripture written by the same author also helps in interpretation.

Each human author used his own writing style and unique emphasis: To better understand a passage in St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, it helps to look elsewhere in Romans and then to Paul’s other letters.

The following may help you understand the Scripture Author’s place, time, and events of their writings:

The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by 40 different human authors over 1,500 years, believed to be inspired by God.

While early church tradition and Jewish history attribute specific books to prominent figures like Moses, David, Solomon, and the Apostle Paul, modern critical biblical scholarship generally views many texts as composite works compiled anonymously over centuries.

The breakdown below outlines both the traditional attributions and modern scholarly consensus for each biblical book.

________________________________________
The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible)

The Pentateuch / Torah (Books of the Law)

• Genesis: Traditionally attributed to Moses. Modern scholars view it as a composite text from multiple anonymous sources (often categorized as J, E, D, and P).
• Exodus: Traditionally attributed to Moses.
• Leviticus: Traditionally attributed to Moses.
• Numbers: Traditionally attributed to Moses.
• Deuteronomy: Traditionally attributed to Moses (except for the final verses detailing his death).


Historical Books

Joshua: Traditionally attributed to Joshua. Scholars debate its composition and link it to Deuteronomy.
________________________________________

Judges: Traditionally attributed to the prophet Samuel. Scholars view it as an anonymous collection compiled during the Babylonian exile.
________________________________________

Ruth: Traditionally attributed to Samuel. Scholars date it to the post-exilic period by an anonymous writer.
________________________________________

1 & 2 Samuel: Traditionally attributed to Samuel, Nathan, and Gad. Modern scholars consider it a multi-layered anonymous compilation.
________________________________________

1 & 2 Kings: Traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah. Academics attribute it to anonymous Deuteronomistic historians.
________________________________________

1 & 2 Chronicles: Traditionally attributed to Ezra. Scholars attribute it to an anonymous author known as "the Chronicler."
________________________________________

Ezra & Nehemiah: Traditionally written by Ezra and Nehemiah. Scholars often group them with Chronicles as the work of the anonymous Chronicler.
________________________________________

Esther: Traditionally attributed to Mordecai or internal temple records. Scholars consider it an anonymous historical novella.
Wisdom & Poetry

Job: Attributed variously to Job, Moses, or Elihu. Scholars view it as an anonymous work.
________________________________________

Psalms: A collection of hymns traditionally attributed to King David (73 psalms), alongside Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses. It is an anthology assembled over centuries.
________________________________________

Proverbs: Chiefly attributed to King Solomon, with specific sections credited to Agur and Lemuel.
________________________________________

Ecclesiastes: Traditionally attributed to King Solomon ("the Teacher"). Modern linguistics date it much later to an anonymous post-exilic writer.
________________________________________


Song of Solomon: Traditionally attributed to King Solomon.
Major Prophets

• Isaiah: Traditionally attributed to the prophet Isaiah. Critical scholars identify at least three distinct authors or schools spanning different centuries (Proto-, Deutero-, and Trito-Isaiah).

• Jeremiah: Written by the prophet Jeremiah, dictated to his scribe Baruch.

• Lamentations: Traditionally attributed to Jeremiah. Scholars view it as anonymous mourning poetry.

• Ezekiel: Written by the prophet Ezekiel.

• Daniel: Traditionally attributed to Daniel. Mainstream scholars date its final form to the 2nd century BC.



The 12 Minor Prophets

These books are traditionally and scholarly attributed to the respective prophets named in their titles:
• Hosea
• Joel
• Amos
• Obadiah
• Jonah (Scholars debate whether the prophet wrote it or is simply the subject of it)
• Micah
• Nahum
• Habakkuk
• Zephaniah
• Haggai
• Zechariah (Chapters 9–14 are often attributed by scholars to later anonymous writers)
• Malachi
________________________________________

The New Testament

The Gospels and Acts

The texts themselves are formally anonymous, but early church tradition heavily assigned them to specific figures.]

Gospel of Matthew: Traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), the tax collector and apostle.
________________________________________

Gospel of Mark: Traditionally attributed to John Mark, recording the memoirs of the Apostle Peter.
________________________________________

Gospel of Luke: Written by Luke, the physician and travel companion of Paul.
________________________________________

Acts of the Apostles: Written by Luke as a direct sequel to his Gospel.


The Pauline Epistles

These letters explicitly claim authorship by the Apostle Paul. Scholars broadly agree on seven of them (Undisputed), while debating the others.

• Romans (Undisputed Paul)

• 1 & 2 Corinthians (Undisputed Paul)

• Galatians (Undisputed Paul)

• Philippians (Undisputed Paul)

• 1 Thessalonians (Undisputed Paul)

• Philemon (Undisputed Paul)
• Ephesians & Colossians (Debated; traditional Paul)

• 2 Thessalonians (Debated; traditional Paul)

• 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus (Pastoral Epistles; traditionally Paul, widely considered pseudonymous by critical scholars)



General Epistles & Prophecy

• Hebrews: Author unknown. Historically attributed to Paul, but its polished Greek style leaves its author anonymous (suggestions include Apollos, Barnabas, or Luke).

• James: Attributed to James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church.

• 1 & 2 Peter: Traditionally attributed to the Apostle Peter. Critical scholars strongly question 2 Peter's authenticity due to its late style.

• 1, 2, & 3 John: Traditionally attributed to the Apostle John.

• Jude: Attributed to Jude, the brother of Jesus.

• Revelation: Written by John of Patmos, traditionally identified as the Apostle John.


Testament interprets Testament

The Old Testament tells of God’s perfect creation and our first parents' tragic fall into sin and death.

It reveals God’s care for His creation, His lordship over history, His wrath and devastating acts of punishment provoked by human sins.

Above all, it reveals God’s mercy, patience, and faithfulness to generations of His chosen people Israel and His promise to send, through them, a Savior for all peoples.

The entire Old Testament precedes the birth of Christ, some of it by more than a thousand years. Yet Jesus says that they “bear witness about Me:

John 5: 39 – 40

39. “You (Jesus talking about the Scribes and Pharisees) diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Just as the Old Testament should be read in light of the New, so also many New Testament passages are best understood against the backdrop of the Old.

The Bible’s chief goal must not be lost: To proclaim Jesus as Savior and to draw sinners to eternal life through faith in Him.



God, the Holy Spirit, helps us.

Since the Bible is the very Word of God, our efforts to understand it should begin and continue with humble prayer.

The Holy Spirit called us by the Gospel, and He will enlighten our study of the Word. This is truly a divine work, but it is also a gradual, lifelong work.

God’s Holy Spirit helps us not only as we read the Bible individually, but also together with fellow believers.

God’s Spirit is at work, giving us understanding of God’s Word, and builds us up until we all attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.

Ephesians 4: 14 – 16

14. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by the wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.



My prayer for all of us is that we welcome the Holy Spirit of God into our lives, our hearts, minds, body and soul – not as a housekeeper, but as head of our lives, of our thoughts, dreams, acts, words and aspirations – That we obey and follow His every command, growing stronger in our faith and in our witness before all those God places in our path: Remembering and acting only as a child of God, an heir to His kingdom.
Amen.



Today’s hymn is # 496
Holy Spirit, Light Divine
Stanzas 1 through 5


1. Holy Spirit, light divine,
Shine upon this heart of mine;
Chase the shades of night away,
Turn the darkness into day.

2. Let me see my Savior's face,
Let me all His beauties trace;
Show those glorious truths to me
Which are only known to Thee.

3. Holy Spirit, power divine,
Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;
In Thy mercy pity me,
From sin's bo***ge set me free.

4. Holy Spirit, joy divine,
Cheer this saddened heart of mine;
Yield a sacred, settled peace,
Let it grow and still increase.

5. Holy Spirit, all divine,
Dwell within this heart of mine;
Cast down every idol throne,
Reign supreme, and reign alone.

08/27/2026

Family of Friends Biblical Studies, Thursday, August 27th, 2026


The Power of the Sacrament of the Altar --
How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things!

Certainly, it's not just eating and drinking that do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”

These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main things in the Sacrament.

Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say:

“Forgiveness of sins.”


The Central Thought

Jesus’ words make eating a morsel of bread (or wafer) and taking a sip of wine a great and gracious feast rather than an empty ceremony.


Why should we take Jesus at his word:

Mark 4: 35 – 41

35. That day when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side,” (of the lake).
36. Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.
37. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
38. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39. He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be Still! Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm.
40. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41. They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”


• Nothing is impossible with Jesus, for He is God, the second part of the Trinity, our Triune God, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit; who was with God in the beginning and by His (Jesus’) word, the whole world was created.

Because every word of Jesus is the word of God, as Christians, we confess that the words of our Lord Jesus do just what they say. “What Christ Jesus lips say, and speak, so it is!”

Because these words of institution do what they say, there should be no doubt in our minds that the bread and wine are Jesus’ body and blood.


Does everyone who eats and drinks the Sacrament also receive forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation?

No! All who eat and drink in the Sacrament receive Christ’s body and blood and are offered the benefits He has promised. But it is only through faith in Christ Jesus’ words that we receive the benefits offered in our Lord’s Supper, the forgiveness of sins.


Sinning Against the Body and Blood (1 Corinthians 11:26-29)

The Apostle Paul warns that taking communion (the bread and the cup) without active faith or proper reverence does not bring a blessing; rather, it brings spiritual consequence.


26. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
29. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.



Faith as the Requirement for Eternal Life (John 6:40, 54)

While Jesus states that eating His flesh and drinking His blood is tied to salvation, the Gospel of John explicitly frames this "eating and drinking" as an act of believing:

• "For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life.”

John 6: 40 – 58

35. Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”


How, then, should we eat and drink the Lord’s Supper?

We should eat Christ’s body and drink His blood, confidently believing that He was delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification.

Trusting in His saving work, we receive His body and blood, given to us under the bread and wine, as the guarantee of our forgiveness.

Romans 4: 22 – 25

22. This is why “It was credited to him as righteousness” 23. The words ‘It was credited to him” were written not for Abraham alone, 24. But also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness – for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

1 Corinthians 10: 16 – 17

16. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17. Because there is one loaf, we, who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 26

23. For I (Paul) receive from the Lord what I also passed on to you (us): The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you, do this in remembrance of me.” 25. In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death (and resurrection) until he comes again in glory on the last day.



My prayer for all of us is taken from today’s Bible Study:
Lord Jesus Christ, You have given us Your body and blood under bread and wine that we may know with certainty that our sins are forgiven by Your atoning sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary.

Grant us so to eat Your body and drink Your blood, trusting in Your words that we may receive what You declare – the forgiveness of sins – and so live in You even as You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.



Today’s hymn is # 563
Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness
Stanzas 1 through 6

1. Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.


2. Bold shall I stand in that great day,
Cleansed and redeemed, no debt to pay;
Fully absolved through these I am
From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.


3. Lord, I believe Thy precious blood,
Which at the mercy seat of God
Pleads for the captives' liberty,
Was also shed in love for me.


4. Lord, I believe, were sinners more
Than sands upon the ocean shore,
Thou hast for all a ransom paid,
For all a full atonement made.

5. When from the dust of death I rise
To claim my mansion in the skies,
This then shall be my only plea:
Jesus hath lived and died for me.


6. Jesus, be endless praise to Thee,
Whose boundless mercy hath for me,
For me, and all Thy hands have made,
An everlasting ransom paid.

08/25/2026

Family of Friends Biblical Studies, Tuesday, August 25th, 2026

The Benefits of the Sacrament of the Altar

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?


These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given to us through these words.

For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

Question:

Since Jesus forgave all sins on the Cross of Calvary, why do we take the Sacrament of the Altar for the forgiveness of these same sins?


NIV Bible search:

In Christian theology, the distinction lies in the difference between how forgiveness was won and how it is delivered to the believer.

1. The Cross Wins Forgiveness:


On the cross, Jesus paid the full penalty for all human sin, achieving what theologians call objective justification. This was a definitive, once-and-for-all historical event.

Hebrews 10:12 (NIV):

"But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God."

1 John 2:2 (NIV):

"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

2. The Sacrament Distributes Forgiveness:


While forgiveness was earned for everyone on Calvary, the Sacrament of the Altar (Holy Communion) is a means of grace—a specific vehicle God uses to personally deliver, distribute, and apply that forgiveness to an individual in the present moment.

During the Last Supper, the night He was betrayed, Jesus explicitly tied the sacrament to forgiveness:

Matthew 26: 26 - 28 (NIV):

26. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27. Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.


3. An Everyday Analogy


Think of the cross as a massive central reservoir that holds an endless supply of clean water for an entire city.

The Sacrament of the Altar is the pipe and faucet that brings that water directly into your home so you can personally drink it.

The water was already secured at the reservoir, but you still need it delivered to you.

When believers receive the sacrament, they are not asking Jesus to die again; instead, they are receiving the ongoing, personal assurance that the benefits of His death are applied directly to them, strengthening their faith and comforting their conscience.


Why does Jesus say in verse 28: 28. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

In Matthew 26:28, Jesus uses the word "many" (translated from the Greek pollōn) rather than "all" to fulfill Old Testament prophecy and emphasize the actual community of believers who receive His salvation, without limiting the ultimate availability of His sacrifice.

Theologians and biblical scholars generally explain this choice of words through three main lenses:


The Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy

Jesus is directly echoing the language of Isaiah 53, specifically the prophecy of the Suffering Servant.


• Isaiah 53:11b states:

"by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities."


• Isaiah 53:12b states:

"For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."


By using "many," Jesus explicitly identifies Himself as this prophesied Servant who pours out His life as a guilt offering.



A Hebraic Idiom Meaning "The Multitude"


In Semitic languages and first-century Jewish idiom, "many" (rabim in Hebrew) often contrasts with "one" or "a few," rather than with "all."

• In this linguistic context, "the many" refers to the vast, inclusive multitude of humanity.

• It signifies an immense, countless number of people spanning all nations and generations, moving far beyond just the small group of disciples sitting at the Last Supper.


Theological Distinctions

Christian traditions view the interplay between "many" and "all" through different theological frameworks, though they harmoniously point to the necessity of faith:


• Universal Availability, Conditional Reception:

Many scholars note that while Christ's sacrifice is sufficient to save all people (as stated in verses like 1 John 2:2

“Many will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord, who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves.

And 1 Timothy 2:5-6a, 5. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6a. who gave himself as a ransom for all men,

Salvation is only effective for "many" -- specifically, those who choose to repent, believe, and accept His covenant.


• The Covenant Community:

The phrase is set within the context of a "covenant."

A covenant involves a specific group of people (believers in Christ Jesus) who enter a relationship with God.

"Many" defines the actual group of people who become part of this new covenant community through faith.

NIV Bible - "Many are called, but few are chosen."

In the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, Matthew 22:14 is translated as: "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

The more traditional wording you quoted—"For many are called, but few are chosen “comes from the King James Version (KJV).


The Context: The Parable of the Wedding Feast


Jesus speaks this line at the absolute conclusion of the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1–14). In the story, a king throws a massive wedding banquet for his son:


• The First Invitation:

The originally invited guests refuse to come, ignoring the servants or even attacking them.


• The Wide Invitation:

Furious, the king sends his servants into the streets to invite absolutely anyone they can find—both good and bad—until the hall is full.


• The Wedding Clothes:

During the feast, the king spots a guest who isn't wearing the proper wedding garments provided for the occasion.
When the man offers no explanation, the king has him thrown out into the darkness.


• What Does the Verse Mean?

The parable uses the wedding to illustrate how people respond to God's kingdom.


• "Many are invited/called":

This represents the broad, universal invitation of the Gospel. God's offer of salvation is extended widely to everyone across the world.


• "Few are chosen":

This points to those who truly accept the invitation with genuine faith.

In the context of the story, entering the kingdom requires being "clothed" appropriately. Theologians interpret this as being clothed in Christ's righteousness rather than relying on one's own terms.


o Essentially, Jesus is highlighting that while the invitation to salvation is given to vast crowds, only those who sincerely respond, repent, and receive Him are chosen to remain.


NIV Bible Search - Since Jesus forgave all sins on the Cross of Calvary, why do we take the Sacrament of the Altar for the forgiveness of these same sins?

In Christian theology, the distinction lies in the difference between how forgiveness was won and how it is delivered to the believer.


1. The Cross Wins Forgiveness


On the cross, Jesus paid the full penalty for all human sin, achieving what theologians call objective justification. This was a definitive, once-and-for-all historical event.


• Hebrews 10:12 (NIV):

"But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God."


• 1 John 2:2 (NIV):

"He (Jesus) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."



2. The Sacrament Distributes Forgiveness


While forgiveness was earned for everyone on Calvary, the Sacrament of the Altar (Holy Communion) is a means of grace—a specific vehicle God uses to personally deliver, distribute, and apply that forgiveness to an individual in the present moment.


• Matthew 26:28 (NIV):

During the Last Supper, Jesus explicitly tied the sacrament to forgiveness: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."



An Everyday Analogy


Think of the cross as a massive central reservoir that holds an endless supply of clean water for an entire world.

The Sacrament of the Altar is the pipe and faucet that brings that water directly into our home so we can personally drink it.

The water was already secured at the reservoir, but we still need it delivered to us.

When believers receive the sacrament, they are not asking Jesus to die again; instead, they receive the ongoing, personal assurance that the benefits of His death are applied directly to them (us), strengthening our faith and comforting our conscience.



In the Sacrament, we receive the greatest treasure, God’s free grace, the forgiveness of all sin.

Our Lord’s words assure us that this treasure “Is passed along and made our very own” when we receive His body and blood.


As Christians, we confess that the forgiveness of sins won by the death of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary is now delivered to us in the body and blood of Christ. This is the most important gift we can receive.



My prayer for all of us is that we hear the words of our living Lord and Savior and believe:

1 Peter 2: 24
Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed.


Matthew 26: 28

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

John 6: 40

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”


John 15: 12

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

Luke 7: 50b.

“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Amen.


Today’s hymn is # 922
Go, My children, with My blessing
Stanzas 1 through 4


1. Go, My children, with My blessing,
Never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you;
You are My own.
In My love’s baptismal river
I have made you Mine forever.
Go, My children, with My blessing–
You are My own.

2. Go, My children, sins forgiven,
At peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you,
What I can cure.
Here you heard My dear Son’s story;
Here you touched Him, saw His glory.
Go, My children, sins forgiven,
At peace and pure.

3. Go, My children, fed and nourished,
Closer to Me;
Grow in love and love by serving,
Joyful and free.
Here My Spirit’s power filled you;
Here His tender comfort stilled you.
Go, My children, fed and nourished,
Joyful and free.

4. I, the Lord, will bless and keep you
And give you peace;
I, the Lord, will smile upon you
And give you peace:
I, the Lord, will be your Father,
Savior, Comforter, and Brother.
Go, My children; I will keep you
And give you peace.

Address

Spring, TX
77373

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 6pm
Thursday 8:30am - 6pm
Friday 8:30am - 6pm
Saturday 8:30am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when KMR Enterprises of Texas posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to KMR Enterprises of Texas:

Shortcuts

Share

Category