False Christian teachings, trends….
The 5-minute video of this post is on self-denial. It is defined by Wilhelmus A Brakel, who wrote a work titled, The Christian’s Reasonable Service. In his work, the part on self-denial consists of several parts, of which the following video reading is the first. The other sections are noted below the video; also, a link to the Kindle version of A Brakel’s 4-volume work at Amazon.
There are two devotional readings on this 5-minute video. The first, titled, It Is I, is Christ comforting the believer and telling him of the source of his afflictions and comfort. The playlist from which this video came is linked because it contains 40 other videos that are about spiritual struggles; spiritual darkness; affliction; learning to lean on Jesus; prayer; self-denial defined; and other things that all born-again believers need to understand and / or will experience.
In the 3-minute video of this post, John MacArthur talks about the origins and impact of the self-esteem cult on America. [I worked in the field of psychology for over 20 years before I was born again, and I have to say that after having become familiar with the contents of the Bible, his words are biblical and worthy of considering. One major reason a Christian’s worldview be as MacArthur described, is that Christ called us to deny self, not exalt self.]
There are two brief videos in this post, each are sermon excerpts of pastor Tim Conway sermons. The first provides a useful picture of the problem of repentance and the second a graphic depiction of hell. Each will slap you startle you with a dose of biblical reality. We all tend to backslide on occasion, even the great warrior king and poet, David backslid. I believe many Christians are grateful for his failure, as it demonstrated to all who read the Bible that God is merciful and forgiving; and sinners may start walking with God again, even after great failures. The videos provide warnings and encouragement for such as are in need of these.
This post provides comments from two sources on Philippians 1:21. It is a very popular verse, but I formerly had a vague conception of its meaning. I decided to read commentaries on it today and thought I’d share those for others who also do not know exactly what riches it contains.
The Christian walk and self-denial from Calvin’s Institutes by Dr. J. Mayfield
If you’re a Christian and want to know some important aspects of the Christian life, then hearing from the Institutes of the Christian Religion is
This section of the Institutes discusses the depravity of the hearts of mankind. It is titled, Everything Proceeding from the Corrupt Nature of Man Damnable.