Quote: “It is more important to be occupied with Jesus than to be occupied for Jesus.” – J Dwight Pentecost. Amen to that! Being occupied with Jesus daily in worship, prayer, Bible reading and study makes being occupied for Jesus a glorious blessing, not a task or some kind of obligation. I’m noticing an increase of Christian ministers and workers leaving the church, publicly declaring they’ve lost their faith and belief in God. Some questions worth considering: How much faith and belief did they have to begin with? What is their concept of God? Who is Jesus Christ? What is their belief of the Bible? Is it God’s word, man’s word, or a mixture of both? What is the gospel of Jesus Christ? What is repentance? Continue reading “Be more Occupied With Jesus than For Jesus”
Don’t Unhitch the Old Testament from Your Faith
I see a popular US preacher got himself into hot water with fellow Christians on social media recently, saying Christians need to, “unhitch the Old Testament from their faith.” It would be wrong to judge him on that statement without knowing the full context in which he said this, but it seems that is exactly what they’ve done. I listened to the context in which he stated it and I agree with him. Why? Essentially he was saying Christians are called to live by faith in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, not by trying to keep Old Testament laws. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works (deeds, doing), lest anyone should boast Ephesians 2:8-9.
Continue reading “Don’t Unhitch the Old Testament from Your Faith”
Divine Accomplishment and Human Achievement
Quote: “There are only two religions in the world: Divine accomplishment and human achievement. Divine accomplishment is true biblical Christianity; every other religion is some form of human achievement.” John MacArthur. Biblical definition of atonement: ‘reconciliation of the guilty by divine sacrifice.’ Biblical Christianity teaches that atonement for sins is made possible only through trusting in the divine sacrifice and Person of Jesus Christ on our behalf. No human atonement for sins therefore, can ever be acceptable to God. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16. Continue reading “Divine Accomplishment and Human Achievement”
The Coronavirus Chaos
A fellow Christian and I were discussing the coronavirus chaos recently. He said he was trying to figure out how much of the mainstream media reporting on it was true, how much was half true and how much was far from true. “It’s so difficult to know who to believe,” he said. “I don’t know what to believe.” His concern was for his employees as well as himself. I suggested he take nothing from the media at face value and to take his deepest concerns to the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you Matthew 6:36. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me Psalm 50:15. Continue reading “The Coronavirus Chaos”
A Dress Rehearsal
In relation to the current world-wide coronavirus pandemic, a Christian pastor on You Tube said recently, “This is a dress rehearsal for what is coming.” What did he mean? Was he saying there’s another one of greater intensity following on the heels this of one? Not particularly, he was referring to what is to come upon the world at the close of this age. When does this age close? It closes when Jesus Christ comes to remove the biblical church from the earth. When will that be? Nobody knows; it could be anytime. In Bible Christian terms this event is known as the rapture – a term not directly mentioned in the Bible, but caught up together is mentioned and it means the same thing. Continue reading “A Dress Rehearsal”
Power and Blessing, Victory and Spiritual Freshness
Quote: “Power and blessing, victory and spiritual freshness are the portion of those who cleave to the Lord alone.” – H A Ironside. Therein lies the answer for anyone asking why Bible Christians will reject any philosophy or belief system that clashes with biblical revelation. They know if they embrace that which does clash with it, it won’t be long before they’ll embrace something else, then something else and something else! The result then? 1). They’ll no longer be cleaving to the Lord alone. 2). Loss of power. Loss of blessing. Loss of victory. Loss of spiritual freshness. Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven Psalm 119:89. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life John 6:63. Continue reading “Power and Blessing, Victory and Spiritual Freshness”
The Visitation of God
Quote: “The visitation of God comes either in salvation or condemnation; it comes one way or another. Every one of us will experience the visitation of God. God will show up in your life for salvation, now, and forever, or for judgment in the future, and forever.” – John MacArthur. In what way does the visitation come? The most common way is through gospel proclamation. A gospel messenger is the mouth-piece (or writer!) for the proclamation but it is God Himself who does the actual speaking. “You can’t convert me,” I’ve been told copious times through the years. My response? “I’m not here to convert, I’m here to proclaim. What happens now you’ve heard the gospel is between yourself and God.” Continue reading “The Visitation of God”
A Conditional Promise from Jesus
A conditional promise from Jesus: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid John 14:27. In other words, meet the Lord’s conditions and this promise is forthcoming. What conditions must one meet? Believe. Trust. Obey. “If only I could,” someone says. Well, to believe, trust and obey are simply choices; there’s no need for argument, no need for debate. If you get caught up in those, you forfeit the promises. Lack of belief, trust and obedience in the Lord’s promises is the primary reason the entire world is riddled with fear right now, but it’s also the primary reason why many Christians are in the same boat! Continue reading “A Conditional Promise from Jesus”
The God of Hope vs The god of no hope
Secular meaning of hope: ‘to cherish a desire with anticipation; to want something to happen or be true.’ It has been said that people can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only a few seconds without hope. The current coronavirus mainstream media hype seems to confirm the “hope” part of that statement. Should the food and toilet paper the panic-stricken crowd are presently stockpiling temporarily run dry, such hope may be gone for them. How sad it is to see people flocking like sheep to the supermarkets, based on fear-driven media hype. Such a shallow meaning of hope is the secular one! “False hope” is more accurate! Continue reading “The God of Hope vs The god of no hope”
Moral Goodness is Not Enough in The Eyes of God
Question: Why is it that people take delight in attacking born again Christians who openly declare their stand for Jesus Christ? Answer: The Holy Spirit of God convicts them that they are not right before Him. That’s right! Deny it as they most certainly will, that is the primary reason. In reality however, it is Jesus Christ they’re attacking, not us. Deny that too, as they will, but that will be the charge the Lord Jesus faces them with on the day they stand before Him to give an account of their earthly lives. There is a secondary reason why they attack us; it’s their way of telling themselves they’re just as morally good as we are. What better way of elevating their own moral goodness than to pull down ours? Continue reading “Moral Goodness is Not Enough in The Eyes of God”