Nobody enjoys suffering, but that does not mean that there is no value in it. Suffering can sometimes be helpful. The Psalmist realized this. Psalm 119:67 (ESV) 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word…. 71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn […]
If you have been following this blog, you know by now that the book of Romans is about being justified by faith. When you are justified, you are declared not guilty in heaven’s court. Your sins are washed away by the blood of Christ and righteousness is imputed to you (Romans 4:22-24). Many benefits come […]
In my last blog, I emphasized being justified by faith. This is the theme of Paul’s epistle to the saints at Rome (Romans 1:16-17). Not only is faith a requirement to attain justification, but those who are justified by faith must continue to live lives of faith. Galatians 2:20 (ESV) 20 I have been crucified […]
The first nine verses of Romans 4 are some of the most comforting words that have ever been written, that is, to those who understand their true meaning. Sadly, they are also a source of false security for those who misunderstand them. Some take Paul to mean that we are saved by faith alone, apart […]
The Bible is full of exhortations and admonitions to live in peace with our fellow man, beginning with the seventh beatitude given by Jesus in the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5:9). Paul also encourages us to be at peace when he wrote, “If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably […]
We should never stop being thankful for God’s plan of salvation. It is a plan that never could have been imagined by man. Paul said, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Paul […]
Having a firm grasp of who we are is always healthy as Christians. The problem is the easiest person to deceive is ourselves. This is why the Bible encourages us to examine ourselves. When we are aware of our weaknesses, we can both overcome them and strengthen ourselves as servants of God. One thing we […]
In Romans chapter two, Paul continues to demonstrate the need for justification by proving that all are under sin. In the last section of chapter one, Paul showed that the Gentiles were sinners (Romans 1:18-32). Now, in Romans two, Paul turns his attention to the Jews. While the Jews would certainly be very accepting of […]
We live in a religious world that has gone soft. Many preachers and teachers of the gospel are telling people that there is no hell, that is, no eternal punishment. Why are they teaching this? It is because the idea of God punishing people is not palatable to many today. As a result, they simply […]
Paul was a gospel preacher. That means exactly what it sounds like. He did not just talk about preaching the gospel, he did it. He preached the gospel because he knew he was called to do so. 1 Corinthians 9:16 (ESV) 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. […]