The question, “Does it really matter?” is becoming the motto for our modern society. We used to have moral beliefs, but “Does it really matter anymore?” At one-time people had a strong conviction about ungodliness and sin but, “Does it really matter that much?” In the past, we had faith in the Bible and its teaching but, “Does the Bible really matter anymore?” To God, IT REALLY DOES MATTER A LOT! Notice several areas in which it does matter.
Read MoreA person must also be ashamed of their sinful past. Too often, people who have lived a life of sin go around bragging about the “sins” they used to commit. Sin should be something that causes us great shame, not gives us an avenue to boast (Rom. 6:21). How sad it is when we reach a point that we can no longer blush over sin (Jer. 8:12).
Read MoreThe Book of Lamentations has often been referred to as Israel’s funeral sermon or eulogy. In this Book, Jeremiah laments the ultimate destruction and death of Israel as they go into captivity for their sins. Yet, during this sad and depressing time, we find some incredibly beautiful verses about God’s love.
Read MoreBeing a child of God has many blessings that come with that privilege but one of the richest is the forgiveness we receive through Christ. Sometimes I wonder if we really understand the remission and removal of sin that occurs in the mind of God. The Prophet Micah gives us a very graphic picture of how God removes sin from our lives. Micah says, ““He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). To understand the complete removal of sins that occurs when one obeys the Gospel it would be profitable to explore Micah’s words a little more in depth.
Read MorePeace is one of the most treasured commodities for any society. For many, many years’ people have prayed, died and lived for peace. Jesus often spoke of the idea of peace. Yet, it was a little different than how we think of peace today. Today, we think of peace as military safety. Or, we think of it as financial security. Sometimes, we even feel like we have peace when the home security alarm is working well and the stock market is soaring.
Read MoreWe live in a world that is full of doubt and worry. What will the stock market do tomorrow? Will the gas prices rise again? How will our country stay safe in these times of terror? Many of these questions are really unknown to us. Yet, when it comes to a person’s eternal salvation, he can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is saved.
Read MoreThe Book of Lamentations has often been referred to as Israel’s funeral sermon or eulogy. In this Book, Jeremiah laments the ultimate destruction and death of Israel as they go into captivity for their sins. Yet, during this sad and depressing time, we find some very beautiful verses about God’s love.
Read More“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). One of the great themes of the Bible is God’s loving mercy toward sinful man. As the Apostle Peter noted, if it were not for God’s mercy we would have no hope in this life. Notice some of the great statements about God’s mercy found in the Bible.
Read More“Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you’" (Acts 24:25). His mind was made up. Paul was going to Rome to appeal to Caesar. Yet, along the way Paul had a once in a lifetime opportunity to speak to such wicked men as Agrippa and Felix. If you could speak to some of the world’s most powerful leaders today about the gospel, what would you say? Let us consider Paul’s three major points to Felix.
Read MoreSome of the most beautiful words of our Lord are recorded in Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." This beautiful language encourages our spirits in several ways.
Read MoreLook around and you will see that we live in a world plagued by suffering. The amount of people dying with such dreaded diseases as cancer, and AIDS is at an epidemic high. Many people around the world are literally starving to death right now. Others are in the midst of emotional and psychological turmoil and suffering. As we see the suffering that occurs in our world, we are naturally made to ask the question, “WHY?”. Why does human suffering occur?
Read MoreBeing a Christian is the most blessed life one could ever live! Jesus said, “I came that you may have life and that you may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). What a true privilege it was to have been called Christians first at Antioch (Acts 11:26). Today, it is not less of a privilege and blessing to be a Christian. Notice a couple of blessings that come from being a Christian.
Read More“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous main avails much” (James 5:16). Since prayer is such an important part of the Chrisitan life, it only makes sense the more I know about prayer the more it can benefit me and those in my prayer life. Here are some basic details Paul gives Timothy about prayer in 1 Tim. 2:1ff…
Read MoreThe Holy Spirit says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins” (Heb. 9:22). The Old Testament Levitical system was a very bloody system (Lev. 1-5). For every sin of every kind there was a blood sacrifice to be offered (Lev. 4:1-12). Yet the Scripture records that the blood of all those bulls and goats could never really take away sin (Heb. 10:3-4). How thankful we should be that Jesus was willing to shed His blood once for all for sin so that the sin problem would have a permanent solution (Heb. 10:12). Notice just how important the blood of Christ is to our salvation.
Read MoreWhen watching television, reading the newspaper, or listening to the radio sometimes it is hard to separate fact from fiction. Of course, the only way to do this is to analyze the facts and the source to ascertain if what is said is true. The same is true four some people’s religion. Some people talk a good talk but do they have true religion. James deals with true religion and teaches us how to separate fact from fiction in James 1:26-27.
Read MoreThe most important question ever asked is “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30, 2:37). Everyone who believes in God must ask this question at one time in his or her life. Truly, no other source is better able to answer this question than the word of God, for it is able to save and sanctify the souls of men (James 1:21; Jn. 17:17, 8:32). Therefore, what does the Bible teach one must do to be saved?
Read MoreWhen the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). This question Jesus asked arose from a discussion of persistence in prayer. This question of the Lord is designed to provoke an evaluation of our faith. The Apostle Paul said, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5). How can we make sure the Lord finds faith when he comes? Let me offer a couple of things we can do to ensure faith.
Read MoreThe Bible clearly teaches that God has a day prepared when He will judge all men. To the idolatrous people in Athens, Paul declared that God “…has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31). For many people this will be the saddest day of their life. They did not prepare spend their life preparing for this day. As a result, they will be lost (Matt. 25:1-10). To others, this will be the most wonderful day of their life. They spent their life preparing for this day and were ready to go to Heaven (Matt. 25:23). For The Day of Judgment to be a happy day for us we must understand the nature of this day. Let us consider several biblical characteristics of The Judgment Day.
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