As we continue thinking about the CONFIDENCE we have in our salvation, we realize the confidence comes from the power of God. Most of those who lack this confidence are trusting entirely in themselves and their own obedience. I could pull a bunch of Scriptures out of context and claim my salvation is dependent only upon my faith...but the end of that argument says I must be perfect. Indeed, I must be perfect as Christ said I should be (Matthew 5:48), but it's not going to be by my own doing.

But then my salvation IS dependent upon my obedience to Him. I must be trusting and trying to obey as best I can. I hate it when I mess up. I am genuinely sorry for my si Read More »

You can have confidence in Christ. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You can KNOW you are in a right relationship with Him. DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN CHRIST? Take some time to read through 1 John today, if you can. It seems, after reading 1 John, there is not much of an excuse for a Christian to say, "I don't know if I'm saved or not." John's main message to Christians is you KNOW these things!

1. You know Christ if you keep His commandments. If we walk in the light as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

1 John Read More »

1 Peter 1:1-2
To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Those who are Christians have been chosen (1) according to the foreknowledge of God, and (2) by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Today, let us consider a third point in this verse:

We are chosen to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood.
&l Read More »

1 Peter 1:1-2
To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughtout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Yesterday we discussed being "chosen according to the foreknowledge of God." Today, let's look at the second statement which partains to God's choosing us: "chosen...by the sanctifying work of the Spirit."

We are chosen by the sanc Read More »

The fact that we are chosen by God to be Christians is a completely legitimate and true teaching in Scripture. There are many verses which teach this. However, this teaching has been taken out of context and twisted. Let's examine 1 Peter 1:1-2 for a moment:

To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughtout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

We are c Read More »

A Christian is an ALIEN, a foreigner in a country to which he doesn't fully belong. Peter wrote his first letter to "those who reside as aliens" in Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1). He also said, "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul." (1 Peter 2:11). We are strangers in this world. We don't fit; we don't belong. Those 'round about us are entrenched in evil and sin. The world is "surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you" (1 Peter 4:4). A Christian is not comfortable in this land be Read More »

It's difficult to forget the past. In fact, at one level it's impossible. There are things in my past I would love to forget, but they are still back there in the recesses of my memory bank. They come up from time to time to haunt me. There are also things I love to remember about my past, things I hope to remember forever. But there is a principle in the New Testament which tells us to Forget the Past by putting the past behind us. Paul puts it this way in Philippians 3:13-14: "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on to Read More »

Last night my brother, Joel, spoke on his work for the Lord in South Africa. I was asked to make the closing remarks, and I mentioned that I was proud of him and the work he's doing. After we closed our service I felt bad that I had not focused on praising Jesus Christ in my closing remarks. After all, He is the focus of our lives, CERTAINLY the focus of our worship! So I was wondering if my focus was off last night. Did I praise a MAN in place of praising my LORD?

But then I was reading in Philippians this morning, and I ran across this passage:

Philippians 2:25-30
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Paul's letter to the Philippians has a lot to say about the mind and attitude of a Christian. In Philippians 1:27 he wrote, "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." In chapter 2, Paul continued this theme: "Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose" ( Read More »

What do you want on your tombstone? If you were to write, in a short sentence, what folks would read every time they pass your grave, what would it be? Maybe it would be something simple like, "A good woman." It might be a catchy jingle, a simple poem, or a Scripture.

Take a moment to really think about what kind of message you want to proclaim at your death.

I think Paul gave us a hint at what he wanted for an epitaph in Philippians 1:19-20: "I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that Read More »