Faith
The Life of Faith
The Christian life has been likened to running in a race. The writer to the Hebrews said, Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was…
What is Repentance?
Imagine the horrifying experience of driving on the wrong side of a busy road, and then to be confronted with a sign, “Wrong Way, Go Back”. The sign is designed to warn you of the potential danger ahead and the necessary action to be done so as to avoid the potential harm. Though such a sign may be startling, it is actually very gracious and helpful.
Getting the Gospel Right
Getting the gospel right is critical. The word “gospel” comes from the Greek word euangelion, which literally means “good news”. It is good news because it contains the message of God’s salvation to sinful man. It contains the declaration of deliverance from sin. If we are going to get the gospel right, it is essential that we understand the…
The Five Solas
On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses (written in Latin) to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This historical event was not the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, but was a means that started discussions and debates about the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church’s indulgences. After a series of events, Luther’s discussion…
Christ first, Family second, Church third – Really?
Christian, what place does the Lord Jesus Christ have in your life? Many have given a common answer indicating the order of priority, “Christ is first” and then they add, “my family is second, and the church is third”. Now I understand what most people mean…
Resources for Spiritual Growth – Part 1
Back in Deuteronomy 7:1-11, Moses gave the Israelites the mandates for their inheritance of the land of Canaan. There were specific things that they were to do. They were to eliminate their enemies (Deut. 7:1-4) because they opposed the holiness of God. Though these enemies were in the land, they were to remove them. In addition to removing the people, they were to also…
How to Strengthen your Faith
At times the Christian does get discouraged and become despondent. They have not lost their faith, as this was a divinely given gift. However, their faith can be weakened and therefore in need of strengthening. The child of God at times will have “little faith” (Matt. 14:31) and ought to desire to have a growing faith (cf. 2 Thess. 1:3). Though a believer can…
Why the Right Kind of Faith is Important
Do you have faith? Many will answer “yes!” I often hear people talk about having faith. Faith in others, faith in themselves, faith in circumstances, and even faith in nothing! So here is the second and more important question, do you have saving faith? What I mean by that is, does your faith become the means in which you take hold of complete forgiveness of…
Who are You? Chosen by the Father
Who are you? That is an interesting question and will have all sorts of answers depending on the individual and context. But if I was to ask the more precise question, who are you in the sight of God, this reduces the variety of answers. Ephesians 1:3-14 tells us who the Christian is in the sight of God. Consider what these verses say. The purpose of this post isn’t…
The Lord is King
Things around us can change quickly. Various changes can unsettle people and cause unrest, fear, disillusionment or even disappointment in the behaviour of others. In Australia there has been a lot going on the political scene concerning the leadership of our nation. It is important that even at times like this – regardless of what happens on the political front…