Gospel Living

To the choirmaster. Of David. 1            In the LORD I take refuge;             how can you say to my soul,              “Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2            for behold, the wicked bend the bow;             they have fitted their arrow to the string             to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; 3            if the foundations are destroyed,             what can the righteous do?” When danger arises, a natural inclination is to flee.  Indeed, there may be times in which strategic retreat is the wis...

38  They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39  And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40  And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41  Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42  And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43  And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. Jesus, the disciples, and Jairus walk alone toward the house, and Jairus has been wondering what Jesus could do.  He’s with Jesus in faith that something could be done for his precious little girl, bu...

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.   (1 Cor 6:9-11) Scripture provides hope to the thousands of former homosexuals, for they, like the rest of us sinners, have found undeserved freedom and forgiveness in Christ.  God's glorious gospel provides the light that burns away the darkness in our hearts (2 Cor 4:3-6). Unfortunately, the god of this world loves to deceive people, trying to keep them in darkness.  He fools them into embracing a Romans 1:18-32 mentality, prompting many to become entrenched in their dark deeds and, in turn, promise to ot...

(HT: DGBlog ) From Pastor John's sermon, “ Songs that Shape the Heart and Mind ” (May 25, 2008): If you read the Psalms only for doctrine, you’re not reading them for what they are. They are psalms, songs, poetry. They’re musical, and the reason human beings express truth with music and poetry is to awaken and express emotions that fit the truth. One of the reasons the Psalms are deeply loved by so many Christians is that they give expression to an amazing array of emotions. Listen to this list of emotions I pulled together: Loneliness: “I am  lonely  and afflicted” ( Psalms 25:16 ). Love: “I  love  you, O Lord, my strength” ( Psalms 18:1 ). Awe: “Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in  awe  of him” ( Psalms 33:8 ). Sorrow: “My life is spent with  sorrow ” ( Psalms 31:10 ). Regret: “I am  sorry  for my sin” ( Psalms 38:18 ). Contrition: “A broken and  contrite  heart, O God, you will not despise” ( Psalms 51:1...

Truth. (HT: Justin Taylor )

(From Letters of John Newton ) My Dear Friend, I must leave a line to tell you that we sympathize with you and your wife in your severe trial. (The death of an infant.) But, at the same time, I rejoice exceedingly in the Lord's goodness, enabling you to be resigned and satisfied with His will, despite all the feelings and pinchings of flesh and blood. If you can now believe and say, "He does all things well"--with what transport would you say it, if the whole plan of His wisdom and love was unfolded to your view? He will condescend to unfold it to you hereafter--and it will fill you with admiration. It is an affliction, to be cordially rejoiced in, when the Lord, who cares for us--intimates His will by the event. Healing and wounding are equally from His hand--and are equally tokens of His love and care over us! "The Lord gives--and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" Job 1:21 You are in the wise and merciful hands of One who prescrib...

We have two major celebrations—Christmas and Easter. The two are vitally interwoven, as the reason Jesus came that Christmas morn is proclaimed in the Resurrection. In this second part of two-part series concerning Christ's humanity, consider whether it was important for Jesus to be a real person rather than a fictional ideal. If you haven't read part one, you can do so  here . _________________________________________ The importance of His humanity for us Paul Enns writes, “ Christ came in the ‘likeness of sinful flesh’ ….  He did not come in the mere likeness of flesh—then He would not have been truly human ….” [1]  Christ’s literal presence in first-century Palestine is vital to the Christian faith. If he did not come in flesh, then the hope of Christianity evaporates. The Old Testament expected a man, not a distant, impersonal deity. He was the Victor coming as  the seed of the woman  (see  Gen 3:15 ). He was, in the classic Christmas verse of...

The final installment of our adaptations from John Richard Sampey, “Psalms, Book of,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T7141 Refreshment with the thought of life everlasting (Psa 16:8–11) God’s face after death is better than worldly wealth (Psa 17:13–15) Assurance of a fellowship with God that cannot be broken (Psa 73:23-26) Faith in the future life (Psa 49)

Adapted from John Richard Sampey, “Psalms, Book of,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T7141 Out of the Depths of... ...persecution and slander, Psalm 31 ...suspense and anxiety, Ps 77 ...the jaws of death, Ps 116 ...sadness, bodily weakness, and loneliness, Ps 88 ...depths of disaster and defeat, Ps 60; 74; 79 and 89

In summary, Demarest describes the Christian's hope of coming glory in these four stages: The " intermediate state " of the saints after death.  Angels escort bodiless believers to heaven (Luke 16:22). Though bodiless, believers will retain their personal identities (Matt 17:3) and will enjoy fellowship with other believers, being "at home with the Lord" (2 Cor 5:8).  Though this is not yet the complete state of glory, it is heaven . The resurrection of the saints' transformed bodies at Christ's Second Coming (Tit 2:13).  Our bodies will be redeemed (Rom 8:23, cf. v. 11).  This is the imperishable body (1 Cor 15:54).  Our present troubles are nothing compared to this coming state (2 Cor 4:16–18)! The vindication of the saints before the judgment seat of Christ, who will examine their works as evidence of faith, gratitude, and love (Rom 14:10–12; 1 Cor 3:12–15; 2 Cor 5:10).  He exposes the believers' hearts, and He will praise them accordingl...

Faithful reader Jae requested that I place my notes online from the youth meeting last week.  I've tried to make this a two-week version of a presentation I posted here back in August , so long-time readers (both of you) may recognize the similar material.    Here is the basic outline from the new presentation.  "Gospel" Old English word meaning “good news.” gōd spell (“good tale,” “good talk”—Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed.). In fact, we might as well say “I believe the Good News” This is not just any “good news” It’s the G ood N ews to the world! It is a message of God’s glory, and that His glory may be enjoyed by us. If there is good news , then… The bad news: Isa 59:2: Your iniquities have separated “ you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear .” Rom 3:10–12: “ None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become...

We have two major celebrations—Christmas and Easter. The two are vitally interwoven, as the reason Jesus came that Christmas morn is proclaimed in the Resurrection. In this second part of two-part series concerning Christ's humanity, consider whether it was important for Jesus to be a real person rather than a fictional ideal. If you haven't read part one, you can do so here . _________________________________________ The importance of His humanity for us Paul Enns writes, “ Christ came in the ‘likeness of sinful flesh’ …. He did not come in the mere likeness of flesh—then He would not have been truly human ….” [1] Christ’s literal presence in first-century Palestine is vital to the Christian faith. If he did not come in flesh, then the hope of Christianity evaporates. The Old Testament expected a man, not a distant, impersonal deity. He was the Victor coming as the seed of the woman (see Gen 3:15). He was, in the classic Christmas verse of Isaiah 9:6, a “ child … born...