When Paul wrote about pressing on toward the mark, he obviously used the analogy of running a race. He often used the illustration of running in a race to teach us how Christians should live. Here are a few of the similarities that he points out. A Christian must run lawfully if he wants to […]
As we press toward the goal in order to make it to heaven, the Word of God must be a central part of our lives. The truth is, without it, we cannot go forward. Pressing on toward the goal involves doing the will of God and His will can only be found in one place—the […]
While pressing toward the goal involves definite actions, it begins with our minds. If we are to finish the spiritual course that we are on, we must first be determined to do so. Pressing toward the goal demands a strong and healthy spiritual mindset. Paul delivers one of the great teachings on the importance of […]
Even after Paul had accomplished more than most for the cause of Christ, he still felt there was much more for him to do. He had room for growth in his life and he fully planned to do something about it. Philippians 3:12–14 (ESV) 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already […]
Is baptism necessary for salvation? The Bible’s answer is yes. Peter could not have been clearer when he wrote about it in his first epistle. 1 Peter 3:21 (ESV) 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a […]
So far this week, we have seen that a person must hear the Word of God, believe in Jesus, and repent of his sins to be saved, but there is more. After repenting, a person must be willing to confess Christ. We are not specifically told why this is necessary but probably to demonstrate that […]
The third action that must be taken by one who wants to become a Christian is to repent of his or her sins. This is extremely important. All the faith in the world will not help a person who refuses to repent. Jesus Himself spoke of the importance of this. Luke 13:3–5 (ESV) 3 No, […]
In last night’s blog, I emphasized the importance of hearing the message about Jesus Christ. While that is the first step in being saved, it is not nearly enough. One must accept the truth about Jesus to become a child of God. Without believing in Jesus there is no hope of eternal life. John 8:24 […]
The salvation of our souls is only possible because of the grace of God. The Bible makes this abundantly clear. Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one […]
As we started up our Thursday morning Bible study at Brown Street yesterday, I was reminded by one of the comments made in class of how thankful we should be for the local church. Are you thankful for your local? You should be! The local church is made up of the people of God, and […]