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Christ and the Cross

King David, “the man after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22), wrote prophetically concerning the sufferings and death of the Lord Jesus Christ in Psalm 22 about one thousand years before  Christ’s first advent. The prophet Isaiah predicted the vicarious sacrifice of Christ (Isaiah 53) some seven hundred years before His first advent.  The sufferings and death of Christ were “substitutionary,” meaning that Christ died “in the place of sinful mankind.“ In other words, the death of Christ on the Cross was on mankind’s behalf. Christ’s death satisfied all the demands and requirements of God’s justice. Since God is holy and righteous, He cannot condone […]

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Be Risen With Christ

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1,2). The “if” in verse 1 means since. Now reads “Since you have been raised with Christ.” The theme of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossian Christians is the pre-eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the text says it loud and clear. Christians are to be “heavenly-minded” people especially in a godless, corrupt, immoral, Christ-rejecting world.  Heaven is the Christian’s eternal home. By […]

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Great Christian Virtues

In his second letter, written to Christians, the apostle Peter is exhorting them to supplement their faith with seven characteristics that are beneficial to Godly living. He says, “Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7).  Peter gives sound reason for doing this. “Make every effort,” means it is of utmost importance to apply these characteristics to your faith. The results will be a more effective witness and service for God. Christian characteristics are […]

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Believing is seen!

Is it possible to know and love someone you have never seen? For the Christian, yes! It is absolutely possible. Referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, Peter says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and full with glory.” (1 Peter 1:8). God has revealed in the Scriptures everything that is vital for us to know about Jesus Christ, including His conception, birth, earthly life and teachings, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and His second advent. If we believe God’s Word we must […]

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If God is for us . . .

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31,32). One of the greatest joys and satisfactions of accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior is the full assurance that we are eternally secured in God for the present and for all eternity. The apostle Paul goes to great lengths to assure us that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of […]

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Have You Tried Prayer?

Many years ago there was a bumper sticker that read, “Why worry when you can pray.” This statement should not be taken lightly. People who sincerely believe in the power of prayer will tell you prayer and worry do not mix. Here’s the reason. It’s either I’m going to worry and not pray, or I’m going to pray and not worry. Prayer will keep me from worrying or worrying will keep me from praying. The Scriptures have much to say and teach about prayer. Prayer is God’s means of His people communicating with Him. He said, “Call to me and I will answer […]

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THE KING IS COMING …

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1Thessalonians 4:16-18). The grand theme of the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church, […]

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Hope in God

Have you ever got to a point in your life where an unwelcome or unpleasant change of circumstances made you feel hopeless and helpless, and perhaps God has abandoned you? These situations do occur. Trials and burdens of various kinds can oppress and distress us  at times. In such circumstances, one may be tempted to throw up one’s hands in despair and wonder, why me? I can’t take it anymore. Where is God when I need him most? Suffice it to say  it may be human to feel that way. However, from God’s perspective it is not the right way to think […]

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These Times, These Days

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4).  In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul lays out a very detailed account of conditions that will actually take place during the “last days.” It’s as if Paul was writing in the 21st century in which we are currently living, instead of A.D. 67 the […]

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Past, Present, Future

The past is gone. The present is now. The future is ahead. “Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note, today is the only cash you have — so spend it wisely.”  (Kay Lyons Stockham).   What can be learned from these three tenses? A lot. “The past is history, tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift—that’s why they call it the present.” (Mike Ditka).   The past is exactly what it says. The past is history. It has already occurred, and can’t be brought back. We may learn something from the past, but attempting to “re-live” it is pointless as […]