The practicality of Christianity—in being credited with the righteousness of Christ—teaches us to humbly acknowledge our need for continued character development by the power of His Spirit.
Read MoreThese things, in the context of our opening verse, show the world in a state of darkness, in great need of the Spirit of God to move upon it.
Read MoreGod’s sovereignty over all was well-emphasized in Hebrew culture: all things that come, good and bad, are from God. They were taught of His love and desire to bless, His encouragement to be obedient, and also the connection between disobedience and calamity.
Read MoreThe sun, moon, and stars are rich with symbolism. They represent the people of God shining for Him in a dark world.
Read MoreLike the growing concentric circles from a pebble tossed in a lake, multitudes departed from the apostolic gospel. Bible teachings were perverted. Tradition and scholastic teachings led to corrupted doctrines.
Read MoreGod wants to save everyone, but people render themselves vulnerable to deceptions if they reject a teaching from the Lord, as this opens the door to a counterfeit teaching.
Read MoreOur sworn enemy works incrementally, over time. Open persecution had only caused the church to grow. This subtle form of attack was (and is) infinitely more dangerous and deadly to souls.
Read MoreThey did not catch the symbolism right away, but Jesus encouraged their faith (and ours!) when He addressed the enormous “elephant in the room” . . .
Read MoreRome’s fall was the result of multiple internal problems; it was carved up from within by ten tribes, warring factions, symbolized by the feet and toes described as partly of iron and partly of clay.
Read MoreWe must never think that we have “arrived” as followers of Christ. Each of us is on a journey, and every marker of growth and understanding reveals yet another defect in our character that the LORD yearns to gently lift away – as we allow Him to do His work – and replace it with a greater revelation of Himself.
Read MoreIncredibly, Cestius abandoned the siege for no apparent reason. Every Christian safely exited the city and the surrounding Judean hills, praising God for His providence.
Read MoreWhen Jesus spoke the parable of the landowner to the hard-hearted religious leaders – it was a re-telling of Isaiah 5:1-7 – the religious leaders answered regarding what should be done: They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably…” Unwittingly, they had pronounced their own impending judgement.
Read MoreThere is a parallel between the churches, seals, and trumpets laid out for us in Revelation. John’s visions were given to guide all of Christ’s followers – beginning in the days of the Apostolic church and leading all the way up to His return.
Read MoreWhat a joy to read of Manasseh’s restoration, revealing the readiness of our loving, gracious God to forgive, cleanse, and restore!
Read MoreIn addition to the silent declaration of His love for us expressed in the sheer beauty of creation, He tells us of His love, using plain words.
Read MoreThe “take away” as we walk through the mine field of false teachings put forth in the name of Christ is to trust God’s word over what the majority says. We are to trust God’s word over our own emotions. His word is to be trusted over traditions that effectively minimize the saving message of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and present role as High Priest. Every teaching must be tested by the Bible.
Read MoreThe word of God also tells us about specific aspects of the showdown that we will encounter in the last days. An important point . . . relates to the word gathered . . .
Read MoreFrom the book of Genesis to the present, and all the way through to the second coming of Jesus Christ, the devil’s most successful deception against us is spiritualism. The idea that “you shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4) lays the very foundation of Satan’s battle plan all the way through to the final showdown . . .
Read MoreThe original beauty of Eden will be restored, and earth will be inhabited by the redeemed, restored people of God. Our earth, made new, is to be the home of the capital city of the Universe, the New Jerusalem!
Read MoreThe ministry of Jesus on this earth brought with it a brighter light than before… light that continues to shine upon the Christian’s greatest hope: eternal life with our beloved Savior. This is the very same plan divinely agreed upon before time began. It has never changed or altered.
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