January 10, 2009

Three Tabernacles

The Transfiguration of Christ

Luke recorded the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:28-36). Jesus went up on a mountain with Peter, James, and John. The three disciples fell asleep and awoke to find Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah.

This would have been an incredible sight for the disciples – Jesus their Master with two of the great figures of Jewish history. Peter reacted quickly to this scene: “‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not realizing what he was saying” (Luke 9:33).
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January 4, 2009

Bible Reading Plan

Have you made a resolution to spend more time reading your Bible? Or would you just like to have a more structured plan in reading through the word of God?

Bible study is important. But sadly it’s something that we often neglect as time goes on. Even with the work I do in preparing sermons and articles every week, I still always feel like I’m missing something. In all the study and preparation I do, the thing that becomes hard to keep up with is simply reading the Bible.

If you have a busy schedule too, you may well run into this problem as well – habitual reading and casual study of God’s word.
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January 1, 2009

The Passing of Time

Hourglass

God is eternal, having existed before the creation of the universe (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 102:27). Therefore, He is not bound by time as we are. He created time as a framework for our lives.

Naturally, we tend to think of the passing of time as inevitable. But one day time will be destroyed (done away with) along with all of God’s creation (2 Peter 3:10).
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January 1, 2009

How Jesus Became Like Us

Jesus Knocking

Jesus came to earth in order to save man from sin (Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10). This was God’s plan from the beginning (Ephesians 3:11) and was put in motion shortly after sin entered the world (Genesis 3:15). In order to save us, Jesus first had to be made like us.

“Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17).

How was Jesus made like us? Completely? Or was there some sense in which He already like us?
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January 1, 2009

The Gods That Men Serve

The Golden Calf

There is “one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:6). But there are “many gods” that men serve (1 Corinthians 8:5). The “one God” is the true and living God. The “many gods” are the false gods that arise from the mind of man.

God has placed in man an inherent inclination to worship something greater than himself (Acts 17:26-27). This inclination is intended to lead men to serve the one true and living God. But many have misplaced their loyalty, devotion, and faith. This is why John warned, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

The gods have changed, but idolatry is still a problem today as it was in the days of the Old Testament and at the time when John penned his epistle. Let us notice some of the gods that men serve.
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January 1, 2009

Tools to Help Us Overcome Temptation

Tools

There are certain things that every one of us will face in life. One of these things is the temptation to sin. The Bible teaches us that “each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust” (James 1:14). James went on to show the end result of one giving in to temptation: “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death” (James 1:15).

Sadly, all men and women of accountable age must acknowledge that there have been times when they have given in to temptation and have sinned. “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). The Scripture plainly says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

In spite of this, we can find encouragement in God’s promise about temptation: “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
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January 1, 2009

How to Lose Your Soul

Lost

Jesus spoke of the great value of the soul: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

Our soul is more valuable than anything and everything in this world. Our soul is the part of us that was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and is redeemed by the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). Even if one were able to obtain all of the material things of this world, his soul is still more valuable. So Jesus said that it is foolish for one to forfeit his soul for everything that is of the world. Yet many people forfeit their souls for far less than that.

How does one lose his soul? It is easier than many think. One does not have to be a serial killer or a child molester or a devil worshiper. One can lose his soul for sins that are much less extreme than these. Let us notice four ways in which one can lose his soul.
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