The simple answer that every child learns in church, in Sunday School, and in other children’s programs is that our only Mediator is the Lord Jesus Christ who was sent to us to redeem us from our sins by substituting himself in our place, paying the penalty for our sins and imputing to us his… Read More
Tag: Jesus Christ
Are You Pursuing Personal Gain or Serving Christ?
“I have no one who is as like-minded, who is sincere in his concern toward you, for all strive after their own aims, not those of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 2:20-21) If you recall, towards the beginning of this book, Paul writes that there are many around him preaching the gospel out of pretense and for… Read More
Come Out of the Closet!
“Now, I want you to know, brothers, that which has happened to me is rather for the advancement of the Gospel, so that it became known to the whole of the Praetorium and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ and many of the brethren, being persuaded in the Lord through my… Read More
Having Been Filled
“having been filled with the fruit of righteousness because of Jesus Christ to the glory and honor of God.” “Having been filled…” Notice the language that this verse begins with. We do not “fill” ourselves but we are filled. It is God’s work in us from the beginning to the end. We take no credit,… Read More
My Fear…
“For God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:8) What a beautiful line this is as he expresses his desire to be with the Philippian believers. His desire is to be with them and the desire is great. This is more than a man… Read More
Grace and Peace to you…
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:2) When you greet others who are Christians, how do you greet them? Do you have a sincere wish for them that God would give them grace and peace or do you greet them begrudgingly, perhaps because of something that… Read More
Bondservants of Christ
“Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.” (Philippians 1:1) Philippians is one of Paul’s later letters, written while in Prison in Rome (c.f. 4:22), and towards the end of his life. This places the letter as having been… Read More
Destroyed, Forever and Ever…
“The wicked sprout like weeds, And all who do iniquity blossom; To be destroyed, forever and ever.” (Psalm 92:8 [verse 7 in English translations]) Paul writes in Romans 9:21-23 that God has created the wicked as vessels of wrath for the purpose of pouring out his power upon in destruction. The psalmist speaks in… Read More
Am I Missing Something?
Normally I try and stay out of the fray when it comes to the frenzy around popular scandals and sensationalistic stories. Maybe I should make more social commentaries than I do, but guess that I would rather immerse myself more deeply in God’s word and trust people to have a little common sense that can… Read More
Embezzled Grace
“Nevertheless, love those who are hostile to you — do good and lend money without disappointing anyone — and your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is benevolent to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be compassionate just as much so as your Father is compassionate” (Luke… Read More
Blood Atonement: Genesis 20:16
“And to Sarah he said, ‘Behold, I have given a thousand pieces of silver to your brother. Behold it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you and to all that you may be found to be in the right.’” (Genesis 20:16) In many cases, this is the… Read More
The Conversation
“Some weather we’ve been having, isn’t it?” “Did you see the game last night?” “Did you read the paper this morning, with crime going up and unemployment going up, what is this world coming to?” “Did you hear what those democrats did?” Conversations, we all have them every day and usually they are had around… Read More
What is Truth?
“Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth.” (John 17:17) “Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?’ And saying this, he again went outside to the Jews and said to them, ‘I do not find any ground for a complaint with him.’” (John 18:38) “Your righteousness is righteous forever! And your law is truth.”… Read More
David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 7)
“When I remember you on my couch, in the night watches, I mediate upon you.” (Psalm 63:7 {Psalm 63:6 in English Bibles}) David begins this passage with a conditional clause. In the Hebrew, this particular conditional clause (with the conjunction ~ai (im)), reflects the idea of a realizable condition. In other words, this is… Read More
