In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul warns them of men who claim to be apostles but are “false apostles, deceitful workers” (2 Corinthians 11:13). By contrast, Paul had demonstrated the authentic signs of apostleship among them (12:12). Paul was not like those who claimed to be apostles but were not, and he points … [Read more…]
“But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you … [Read more…]
After Jesus had spoken the parable of the sower, he said “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:9) Barring something like a birth defect or accident, all men have ears. But all do not have ears to hear. Jesus tells us the problem is not in one’s physical ear but in … [Read more…]
“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Hebrews 11:4). The Lord did not respect Cain and his offering, and Cain was very angry, and his face was gloomy. “So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you … [Read more…]
“Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26:8-9). Paul had imprisoned and beat Christians. He had punished them often and far and wide, compelling them to blaspheme. Why? Because “I myself … [Read more…]
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel … [Read more…]
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4). Our hope is that which is laid up for us in heaven: “that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7). Only those born … [Read more…]
One memory of high school freshman English class is this: Miss Harrison spent the first two weeks dictating the rules of the class, and she endured many questions from her students. But there was one she came to despise: “What if….?” Expressing her disapproval, she would reply, “Tsk, what if?” She was in essence replying … [Read more…]
“Do all things without murmurings and questionings: that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life” (Philippians 2:14, ASV). Webster defines “murmur” as a low, muttered complaint … [Read more…]
Every parent has probably heard the question from their child, “Do I have to?” While the question can simply be an inquiry of the necessity of doing a thing, it more often reflects the attitude of wanting to get by with doing as little as is possible. The Bible teaches us that this attitude is … [Read more…]