A counselor was trying to help a man who had come forward during an evangelistic meeting. “I’m a Christian,” the man said, “but there’s sin in my life, and I need help.” The counselor showed him 1 John 1:9 and suggested that the man confess his sins to God. “O...
There’s a “broken wall” concerning salvation and God’s grace. If salvation were on the basis of merit, it would not be by grace. Grace implies God’s sovereign choice of those who cannot earn and do not deserve His salvation (Ephesians 1:4-7 and 2:8-10). God saves us completely on the basis...
First Timothy 2:1 mentions four terms related to talking to our Heavenly Father: supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks. Supplications carries the idea of “offering a request for a felt need.” Prayers is the commonest term for this activity, and it emphasizes the sacredness of prayer. We are praying...
If you serve a master, you can expect to receive wages. Sin pays wages—death! God also pays wages—holiness and everlasting life. In the old life, we produced fruit that made us ashamed. In the new life in Christ, we have the capacity to produce fruit that glorifies God and brings...
Many Christians have the mistaken idea that obedience to God’s will produces “smooth sailing.” But this is not true. As God’s people, we are on the sea in the midst of a storm. Yet Jesus Christ is in heaven making intercession for us, He saw the disciples when they were...
The great American statesman Daniel Webster was dining in Boston with a group of distinguished men, some of whom had Unitarian leanings. (The Unitarians deny the Trinity and the deity of both the Son and the Spirit.) When the subject of religion came up at the table, Webster boldly affirmed...
A friend told me about a church officer on the mission field who was causing great problems in the church. Whenever the missionary was in the village, the officer lived a godly life; but whenever the missionary left, the man would behave as though he were controlled by Satan. Finally...
Earnest is a fascinating word. In Paul’s day it meant “the down payment to guarantee the final purchase of some commodity or piece of property.” Paul used the term in writing to the Ephesian Christians: “Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our...
Satan is still alive and busy, but he is disarmed. He can do only that which is permitted by God (Job 1:12; 2:6). But because Satan is the author of sin and sin brings death, in this sense Satan exercises power in the realm of death. Satan uses the fear...
A group of church members were discussing their new pastor. “For some reason,” said one man, “I really don’t feel at ease with him. I believe he’s a good man, all right—but something seems to stand between us.” Another member replied, “Yes, I think I know what you mean. I...