Many object to a conception of grace that includes conditional obedience. They say, “That’s not grace because something is being done to earn it.” Is that really what is happening? This objection fails to grasp the point that grace may be given subsequent to and as a result of obedience to commanded action. The assumption in this objection is that all actions done in response to God’s grace entail merit, but that assumption is not true.
Grace is unmerited favor. The word favor means to do something for someone out of goodwill. Unmerited means that the favor was not earned. God has done something out of goodwill for the entire world, and the world certainly did not earn it much less deserve it. What did God do? He gave His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
If we can memorialize a service members death for his comrades and nation once a year, then how much more appropriate is it to memorialize Jesus’ death once a week. He died not just for one country, but for all. He died, not just for His friends, but for His enemies. It is from Jesus that we learn to value such sacrifices.
To deny self means to trust God to provide for our needs (Philippians 4:19). It does not mean: 1) to live in denial of truth, 2) to neglect myself through asceticism (Colossians 2:20-23), 3) to regard myself with hatred and cripple myself psychologically, 4) to wait on others to the neglect of my dependents (1 Timothy 5:8). It means being a living sacrifice by trusting in God to guide my life no matter what comes my way. It means taking the gospel to others even though many will refuse it. It means loving God and loving my neighbor as myself.
Buster hung his head and put his tail between his leg when he needed something. Otherwise, he was surly, blustery, and uncooperative. Some people are like Buster. They only want what will help them in the moment but are not willing to alter their behavior to bring lasting change. They will take a handout but won’t substantially change their lives.
Where would we be without mothers?! They are to be honored and cherished as we seek to live according to God’s holy command. Jesus loved His mother and cherished her so much that while he was writhing in pain on the cross, He mustered the strength to ask the apostle John to take care of her after His death. He believed in the fifth commandment, honor your father and mother, and did not let His pain prevent Him from doing that.
There is something much worse than being a super-spreader of a virus: being a super-spreader of sin. One spreads sin by committing sin and teaching others to do so (Deuteronomy 20:18). Others see the sin and want to commit sin too (Galatians 5:9).
In Psalm 11:3, David reiterates a question his advisers were asking him, “If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?” This psalm was written prior to Absalom’s rebellion while he was building power. David’s advisors were worried that Absalom was eroding David’s popularity and support among the people. They were right! David’s responded in Psalm 11:4-5, “The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.”
Like the coffee bean, we may need to crack and be boiled a few times before we are ready to serve. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David all cracked, but God used their cracks to brew up some amazing service. For the Christian, God will send trials his way too. When we undergo these tests, our hard heartedness is cracked and broken so that God may live deeper in our lives. Christians are boiled through fiery trials that test our faith (1 Peter 4:12).
The Gospel is simple. God gave his word in an easy-to-understand way so that everyone could do it. Paul wrote, “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3,4). If we read what Paul wrote, we can understand what he understood. Why do not more people understand and obey the gospel if it is so simple? Pride blinds them against the simple truth! God made it simple “That no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:29).
God has always demanded holiness of those who would approach Him. The reason is clear--He is holy. Thus, those who would come into His presence and have fellowship with Him must be holy (Heb. 12:14; Rev. 21:27; 1 John 1:6-10). The apostle Peter penned these words: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16).
Baptism is a biblical subject, but one about which many have questions. As with most biblical subjects, there are those whose beliefs argue against the beliefs of others, and there are those who, honestly, have real concerns, and serious questions. Let us see if we can find the answers from the Word of God.
The walking dead are all around us, living in darkness, seeking after fleshly things. Mindlessly, they wander, stumbling and groping, lost, and headed to hell. Before being quickened (made alive; Eph. 2:1), we were all among the dead who walked according to the world (Eph. 2:2-7).
Evangelism is important because all need to hear the GOOD NEWS: "Jesus loves ME!" This IS good news! That is what evangelism is, "bringing good news," and that is what Christians do. We seek to tell people about Jesus, who can bring them from the despair of being downtrodden to the delight of being lifted up, from the depths of darkness to lovely light, and from death in sin to life in the Savior. By evangelism, we can help the lost to escape the shackles of doubt, fear, uncertainty, and crippling discouragement.
Peter knew that the gospel stayed the same, but people change. This is why he wrote to remind them even though they knew it and were established in it. Life has a way of pulling us in many different directions. As we live, we experience joys, heartaches, pleasures, and pains. The powerful emotions that well up within us because of these things change our behavior and our thinking. God wanted us to have something solid to hold onto for all time. That is why He gave us the Bible.
Instead, preachers should enjoin those who so behave to turn their attentions and efforts toward Jesus Christ. They should have the attitude of John the Baptizer who said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). They should think about the teaching of the apostle Paul when he said, “so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20). Preachers are servants of Jesus Christ, and the focus should be on Christ and His will for the lives of people.
Jesus died so that we may live for Him (1 Thessalonians 5:10)! He wants us to have lives of peace, love, grace, and joy. That was His original intention from the outset.
The church is not a pack of useless playing cards packed away with other memorabilia never to see the light of day again. God did not buy us for that reason. He bought us so that we could be used for His glory and be zealous for good works. Let’s not be useless souvenirs, but useful citizens in God’s kingdom.
Our discontents originate from self’s desires relative to decisions that we choose. We do not want to live with the consequences of our choices!
There are several illustrations given within the New Testament that exemplify the limited authority of the Old Testament. Let’s look at a few of those illustrations.