What matters in the way you live your life before God? One man answers that what matters in life is not your religious beliefs and practices but that you are a good neighbor and citizen, doing good deeds for others. While practicing good toward others is part of being a Christian, it is not equivalent … [Read more…]
The Calvinistic doctrine of imputed righteousness says that Christ’s perfect obedience is reckoned to us as if it were our own. “To declare that by him alone we are accounted righteous, what else is this but to lodge our righteousness in Christ’s obedience, because the obedience of Christ is reckoned to us as if it … [Read more…]
A Christian is asked, “Why do you want to grow spiritually?” Here are some good answers he may give. Because God commands me to – 1 Peter 2:2 Because I want to obey God and please Him – 2 Corinthians 5:9 Because I have tasted that the Lord is gracious – 1 Peter 2:3 Because … [Read more…]
“Time heals all wounds” is a proverb that suggests that with the passing of time the hurts that we experience will diminish and eventually be healed. We find some truth in the saying when we consider our own experiences in the loss of a loved one; the pangs of that loss decrease with the passing … [Read more…]
“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. … [Read more…]
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by … [Read more…]
The Bible tells us of the necessity of walking in both sincerity and in truth. Sincerity is the quality of being free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy. Truth proceeds from God, and as Jesus prayed to His Father in heaven, “thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Some of Joshua’s parting words to Israel were, “Now … [Read more…]
How are you ears? Our ears need check-ups from time to time. The Bible speaks of uncircumcised ears: “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). These are ears that resist the truth. A person with such ears can become … [Read more…]
Our conscience is a part of our heart, our inner man, that either approves or condemns our actions, whether they be our thoughts, words, or deeds. It may be thought of as similar to a court – a court does not make law but only determines whether behavior has been in accordance with the law. … [Read more…]
“But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the … [Read more…]