November 1, 2007

Husbands and Wives: Distinct Roles and Responsibilities

Husband and Wife

God’s ways have been rejected by many in our society on a number of issues. The marriage relationship is one such example. The rampant divorce rate, calls for same-sex marriage, and couples living together and engaging in sexual relations before/without marriage all demonstrate a disregard for God’s plan. In addition to these more apparent things, there are also attacks against the God-given roles and responsibilities in marriage. Let us consider what the word of God has to say about these.
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November 1, 2007

The Unchanging Standard of Truth

Bible Text

“What is truth?” This is the question Pilate asked of Jesus when He was brought to him (John 18:38). Throughout the ages, people have searched for and inquired about the truth. Truth is that which is right, that which can be believed and accepted. The Bible helps define truth for us.

Jesus told His disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). We see some irony in Pilate’s question. He asked what was truth while he had the one who was the embodiment of truth standing before him. Before this question, Jesus told Pilate, “For this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). Notice in each of these verses the singular nature of truth – “the truth.” There is only one truth, not different truths for different people, places, or times.
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October 19, 2007

Persecution

“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).

Being persecuted for living as a Christian is not something that might happen. It is something that will happen. The degree of persecution may vary by time and place, but it is something that each Christian will have to face.
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October 3, 2007

Emphasizing Jesus Christ

Crosses

Paul told the saints in Corinth, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Why did Paul place such an emphasis on teaching Jesus? He explained: “So that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5).

The Corinthians had a problem of following after men. This resulted in division as some were saying, “‘I am of Paul,’ and ‘I of Apollos,’ and ‘I of Cephas,’ and ‘I of Christ’” (1 Corinthians 1:12). Paul later explained that when they claimed loyalty to these men, they were carnally minded and immature (1 Corinthians 3:1-4).

The inspired apostle sought to correct this thinking so that they would focus on following Christ and not men. This is the first problem he addressed in his letter (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). But notice how he subtly made this point before he explicitly stated it.
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October 1, 2007

Divorce for Any Reason at All?

The problem of divorce is one that is very obvious in our society. About half of all marriages end in divorce. Families are torn apart. Lives are ruined. We all know people who have been directly affected by this problem. As it has spread throughout our society, we have seen it more in the church as well.

However, this is not a new problem. In the days when Jesus walked on the earth, He was asked about this very topic. Some of the Pharisees asked him about the proper cause for putting away one’s mate. Of course, they asked him for the purpose of trapping Him in His answer. Their question was, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all” (Matthew 19:3)?
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October 1, 2007

Some Things That Christians Cannot Do

List

As Christians, there are many things that we should not do; but we also read in the Bible of some things that Christians cannot do. In this article, we will notice four such things that Jesus mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, Jesus showed the type of character one must have to be a part of His kingdom. As we go through these, keep in mind that these are things Jesus said we cannot do. Let us not think that we might be the exception or that there is a loophole. Paul said, “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).
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October 1, 2007

The Body of Sin

Mannequins

“Behold the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

This passage shows that our sins cause us to be separated from God. While this is a terrible consequence of sin, there is another danger that is in addition to this separation. The Bible teaches that if we allow it, sin can control us. Paul warned the saints in Rome about this:
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