False Christian teachings, trends….
This post contains two 9-minute excerpts about the following 1 John texts. Pastor Jeff Mayfield preached the initial message and pastor Kevin DeYoung, the second. 1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. If the Holy Spirit has shown you that you love the world too much, then the words of these men will be helpful.
While my friend and I were reading through Philippians yesterday, we looked at a commentary to better understand Philippians 2:12 and 13. The parts that we were interested in understanding better were: work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; and it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. If you’re not clear on the meaning of these statements, then your questions will be answered in this post.
The brief commentary excerpt in this post is to enable a believer to better understand why his Christian walk is difficult. Furthermore, it is to help him see that the obstacles he encounters do not derive from other people, but from spiritual forces. A link is provided to all of Calvin’s sermons on Ephesians from the YouTube site, Christian Sermons and Audiobooks.
The following are subheadings form Dr. MacArthur’s study Bible on Bible study, for those who want to improve their Bible reading in this new year: WHO CAN STUDY THE BIBLE? WHAT ARE THE BASICS OF BIBLE STUDY? ERRORS TO AVOID; GAPS TO BRIDGE; PRINCIPLES TO UNDERSTAND; WHAT NOW?
In the 7 minute video of this post, Pastor Matt offers a few suggestions to help parents teach Christian basics to their children.
Do we make progress in our Christian lives? Do we grow? These questions are always useful, but especially so at certain times. A Saturday night, a communion Sunday, a birthday, the end of a year – all these are seasons that should cause us to think and make us look within. Time is flying quickly. Life is quickly fleeing away. The hour is daily drawing nearer when the reality of our Christianity will be tested and it will be seen whether we have built on the rock or on the sand (Matthew 7:24-27). Certainly it is wise for us to examine ourselves from time to time and take account of our souls. Are we progressing in spiritual things? Are we growing in holiness?
The following short passage from The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, by Jeremiah Burroughs, is being posted to show two basic things about afflictions that God sends into the lives of Christians to fashion them to the image of His Son: 1), how one should respond and 2), what an affliction might look like. Burroughs stated more than once in his book that God routinely sends affliction into the lives of His children, Burroughs calls that “being in the school of Christ.”
The apostle Paul’s comments to the Galatians in 3:3-5, Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? And Proverbs 2:1-5, particularly verse 5, are used, along with a comment from the diary of Jonathan Edwards that provides an experiential comprehension of Gal. 3:3, to discuss that very common problem that Paul confronted so long ago. This post is an isolated moment, or a meditation from my ongoing struggle with sin and learning to walk with the Lord
GOD BEGINS TO DEAL WITH HIS PEOPLE WHILE THEY ARE YET IN SIN. He does not make promises of purification to them upon condition that they cleanse themselves; but He comes to them according to the riches of His grace, even when they are dead in trespasses and sins. He finds them in all their defilement, rebellion, and iniquity, and He deals with them just as they are. His grace stoops to the ruin of the fall and lifts us up from it. If the covenant of grace did not deal with sinners as sinners I should be afraid to come to Christ; but…
The following description of idolatry is the best I have ever read. The author discusses the passage of scripture surrounding verse 31; his description of idolatry explains fully why God called them to loathe themselves. Furthermore, if you have been wanting a clear definition of ‘repentance,’ then, knowing the contents of this post will enable you to be much closer to that; or if you have been wondering what is wrong with your repentance, then the answer may lie herein. However, if you have read the other 3 parts to this mini series, then you realize that only God can bless you with such repentance. Stay in His means of grace, and do as is stated in Proverb 2:1-10, seek His truth like one seeks gold and silver, and cry out to him for understanding…