Christ

The Nature of Sin

The Nature of Sin

There are many expressions in the Bible that define sin. Some include: missing the mark or aim, overpassing or trespassing of a line (to transgress), disobedience to a voice, falling where one should have stood upright, ignorance of what one ought to have known, diminishing of that which should have been rendered in full measure, non-observance of a law, lawless or anarchy (complete disregard for the law), and debt, failure in duty, and not meeting one’s obligation to God. The Bible also uses iniquity, godlessness, wickedness, unbelief, unrighteousness, injustice, and unholiness to define sin.

The Fruit of The Spirit

The Fruit of The Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of our character as we live a holy life dedicated to the Lord. It is the character of Christ produced by the Spirit of Christ within us and is the greatest treasure of the believer. We read: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23); “(The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:9-10); “Now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).

The Works of God

The Works of God

Scripture is clear regarding God’s Divine purpose in the creation. He is omniscient and knows every detail of humanity and the nations from the beginning through the end. All God’s works are sovereignly governed according to His plans and purposes. As we read: “God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne” (Psalm 47:8); “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,' Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:10-11).

Resisting God's Will

Resisting God's Will

It is written, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35 & 38-39). “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Knowing the Will of God

Knowing the Will of God

I often hear Christians talk about following the Will of God over the Will of man. It’s a strange word, often used to express someone’s futurity about their express desire.[i] Sometimes I feel like I’m in a wrestling match with God— “I want to buy that new sports car. No, you can’t have it.”

In this context, God’s Will appears arbitrary and maybe even selfishly motivated. Is He the grand arbitrator up in the sky? My response to the car question: “Why can’t I have it?” “Because I said so. Next question, please?”

Mystery of the Gentiles

Mystery of the Gentiles

The Apostle Paul spoke of several mysteries in his epistles to the church. These mysteries were in essence, God’s hidden wisdom concealed from humanity, until the time He would choose for its revelation;[i] as it is written, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

The New and Everlasting Covenant

The New and Everlasting Covenant

I often hear Christians say, “we are no longer under the Law.” True, I reply. You’re a Gentile. You were never under the Mosaic Law, to begin with. So, if the Gentiles have nothing that legally binds them to the Old Covenant, why do they make such a big deal about not being under it? The answer might surprise you. Let’s find out.

Should I Keep Kosher?

Should I Keep Kosher?

There has been much written about why the Lord gave Israel laws separating the clean from unclean, the holy from the unholy, generally categorized in Judaism as the “laws of Kashrut.” Interesting, the Lord’s categorization predates the Mosaic Law, as it is written, “You [Noah] shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female” (Genesis 7:2, NKJV).

The Natural and Spiritual Realms

The Natural and Spiritual Realms

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he talks about the physical resurrection of the body— “[For] Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8, NKJV). Paul’s evidence lay in the accounts of more than five-hundred credible witnesses.

God's Firstborn

God's Firstborn

The term firstborn is used extensively throughout the Bible, and God makes it clear that He holds a unique interest and affection for those who are His firstborn, whether of man, plant, or the animal kingdom. It is written, “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine, because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord’” (Numbers 3:11-13).