Saved by Whom for What?
Ephesians 2:8-9 says,
Read more...For by grace you have been saved by faith through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (NASB).
All our Righteousnesses, part 2
Two Questions
Let's begin with a question. Isaiah 64:6 KJV: Are "All our righteousnesses" "as filthy rags"?
Isaiah says, Yes. Then question two: Is it impossible, in this age, for us fallen humans, to do righteous acts?
Let's study.
Read more...The Life which I Now Live
Today, a most precious message.
Background
Join me at Galatians 2:16. Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch but began to backslide. The tradition was that Jews were not permitted to eat with Gentiles. God had revealed that Jews and Gentiles all need salvation through Christ. Jews were neither superior to Gentiles nor vice versa. Christ unites us all, no matter our ethnicity.
Read more...Jesus and Postmodern EMTs
Scenario
The scene: an automobile accident. People are badly injured. Soon, the EMTs-(Emergency Medical Technicians) arrive. But these are postmodern EMTs. Surveying the carnage, the EMTs begin to deconstruct what has happened. They decide that three main possibilities explain the accident scene:
Read more...Gifts for Souls
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever (John 14:16).
Today is communion Sabbath. Often we don't take seriously Jesus' gifts to us. His death on the cross meant He went away to the Father in heaven. But the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary opened the way for Him to send the Holy Spirit to us in the fullest way.
Read more...All our Righteousnesses, part 1
Today we begin a short new series: "All our Righteousnesses." Can humans have any righteousness? What is righteousness? Is everything we do tainted? Is any of what we do meritorious? What is and is not sin? Are we born sinners?
The starting place is always, What does the Bible teach? We find the word "sinner" or "sinners" more than 60 times in the Bible. Perhaps we have assumed we are born sinners. But let us turn to these texts and see what they say.
Read more...Jesus: an Introduction
Some may not understand the communion service. What is it about? Perhaps you have curious friends but you're not quite sure how to explain what we are doing?
Lend yourself to a simple, three part explanation. Here come the three headings:
- The Life of Jesus (His humanity)
- The Death of Jesus
- The Life of Jesus (His divinity)