The wisdom of God’s Word encourages us to prosper on earth but not as an end unto itself. This world and its goods are passing away, but we are to be faithful with what we have until we win our heavenly rest. Our eyes will see Christ, and our true treasure in heaven will finally… Read More »
Imagine a grown man intentionally acting like a baby, wearing diapers and crying like an infant. Some people actually do. In reading the news about a situation with this behavior, I learned a new term: paraphilic infantilism—acting like a baby as an adult. Now imagine a newborn Christian who does not grow but remains in… Read More »
Romans 5:12–21 teaches an amazing reality—as Christians, we are no longer under sin and death but under grace and have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:1–14 then explains that, since we are united to Christ who died to sin and now lives to God, so also we should no longer sin but… Read More »
If we are no longer under the law, does that mean that we can live any way we want, sinning as we please? Paul asks this question in Romans 6:15, only to give an emphatic answer—“By no means!” Then, in Romans 6:16 he asks another question to explain his answer further. The basic thought is… Read More »
Romans 5:12–21 describes an amazing reality for believers. We were once sinners in Adam, under the reign of sin and death. Now, however, we have received the grace of God and free gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ. We have been declared righteous by God, and grace reigns over us, leading to eternal life through… Read More »
Going through a trial is a difficult part of life. Even in a trial, the Lord commands us, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Obeying this command can be hard to do. So, here’s a quick quote commenting on Philippians 4:4 to encourage anyone going through a trial right now. Circumstances change; prosperity and… Read More »
Some passages timelessly encourage believers in the midst of trials. What follows is a quick look at three such passages—Romans 5:3–5, James 1:2–4, and 1 Peter 1:6–9. We briefly examine their common themes to encourage us today. Trial Both James and Peter speak of “trials” (peirasmos), a word that can focus on the aspect of… Read More »
James 1:2–4 states, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James’s main command is, “Count it all joy,” “it” being “when… Read More »
Who does the Bible identify as a friend? What is friendship? Words like friend, friendship, or friendly in our English Bible stem from multiple words in the Hebrew and Greek. Below is a survey of these words, leading to a definition of friendship. Though this survey does not include every angle from which to view… Read More »
The lyrics of the Christmas carol “In the Bleak Midwinter” lull us into the chill of a winter gone by: In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago. Our experience can… Read More »