The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) Matthew opened his Gospel by identifying Jesus with a specific title: “Son of David.” That phrase appears repeatedly throughout the Gospels, not by accident. It ties Jesus directly to the covenant promises God made regarding David's line, promises that included a coming Messiah who would reign forever and bring healing and restoration to God's people. This title for Jesus appears m

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25) The Greek word translated perfect here means complete, whole, lacking nothing. The law of liberty is another name for the Word of God, the message that sets you free rather than binding you up. James described Scripture as a complete, freeing message and one that already contains everything you

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (James 1:23-24) James told believers to think of God's Word as a mirror, but not the kind hanging on your bathroom wall. It doesn't show you your face. It shows you who you already are in Christ, the identity that became yours the moment you were born again. So when y