G O D

The WHOLE Bible is about GOD! Many, many Christians, down through time, have become “Jesus” worshippers to the exclusion of God the Father, especially during and after the “hippie” era. I lived through it. Some would say, “Yes, but they generated interest in Jesus.” Yes they did... some good, but a lot bad. Bad because it was from a wrong perspective and motive. The “Jesus” movement took away from God. But that’s another sermon.

Sound Doctrine

(J.C. Ryle, 1879) published by Grace Gems 

1 Timothy 6:3, "The doctrine which is according to godliness . . ." 

Sound doctrine is useless--if it is not accompanied by a holy life! It is my firm impression that we need a thorough revival of Scriptural holiness. I have had a deep conviction for many years, that practical holiness and consecration to God are not sufficiently attended to by modern Christians. Worldliness has eaten out the heart of vital piety in too many of us. The subject of personal godliness has fallen sadly into the background. The standard of Christian living has become painfully low in many quarters.

Inane Things

Yeah... that word nails it for me. It means, “lacking significance, meaning, or point: silly, empty, insubstantial; devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character, a lack of any significant or convincing quality.” ~Merriam-Webster

Inane things... the conversation of the world.

A Fundamental Problem

Through a recent exchange of “semantics” I believe I have just had a revelation of a fundamental problem within the Christian church as a whole. It is that we do NOT submit to the Truth of the Word of God. Duh!
Why not?

Lord and God

A reality of the Old Testament was God’s dealings with the Hebrews. Beginning with calling out one man, Abraham who was called out of the race of men, since there was not yet a “race” of Jews. God worked to bring about a righteous holy people for Himself who would (should) evangelize the world. We’ve all heard the phrase “the best laid plans of mice and men” and in this case God too... “do often go astray.” Yes, indeed! But God is not surprised or foiled... all part of the plan.

Understanding

I came away from church this past Sunday with the distinct impression that we (the corporate church in the world) do not really understand. It wasn’t “church” that was disappointing... it was the bible teaching, but I’ll confess, I could be cynical, or I’m naïve and only think I’m cynical.

Jew and Gentile in the Bible

The Old Testament was (for the Jew) God’s prophetic message of redemption and
restoration to Israel as a Kingdom of priests. It was God’s plan for Israel to become a holy nation to then go and reconcile the rest of the world to God. But they, with exceptions, rebelled continually against God’s Sovereignty. They never had the faith in God that He would accomplish what He promised. Israel repeatedly rejected God’s rule over them in their sin of unbelief. The Old Testament record is of God dealing primarily with the Jews only. In the 2000 years from Abraham, Gen. 12, to Acts 7, few Gentiles were saved, Eph. 2:11-12.