August 21, 2014

How One’s Heart Becomes Hardened

Pharaoh - Plague of Flies

“Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-13).

The Hebrew writer warned about brethren developing an unbelieving heart that had been hardened by sin. This came in the middle of two warnings against following the poor example of the Israelites: “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me” (Hebrews 3:7-8, 15).

The example of the Israelites hardening their hearts is a warning for us. However, the Israelites also had an example from whom they should have learned – Pharaoh. In this article, we will focus on the example of Pharaoh and how his heart became hardened. In considering this, we will hopefully recognize what we can do to prevent our hearts from hardening as well.
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August 18, 2014

The Root of the Problem (Part 3): We Fail to See Sin for What It Is

The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome

The world in which we live has a distorted perception of sin. In our society, sin is mocked, disregarded, ignored, and even glorified. But the word of God presents a very different perspective. Sin is likened to darkness (John 3:19-20) and cancer (2 Timothy 2:17). Sin enslaves us (Romans 6:17,20). We are told very plainly that God hates sin (Proverbs 6:16-19).

If we do not appreciate what the Scriptures teach about sin, then it is not likely that we will want to give it up. One of the first steps to overcoming sin is realizing just how bad sin really is. To begin, we need to know what the Bible means when it talks about sin.
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August 13, 2014

The Most Frightening Verse in the Bible

Scared of the Bible

The Bible teaches that our fundamental purpose in life is to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). This fear of God, coupled with obedience, is necessary for one to be accepted by Him. Peter told the household of Cornelius, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35).

Besides just telling us that we need to fear God, the Bible provides us with enough information for us to appreciate the fact that “it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). Notice just a few examples:
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August 11, 2014

The Root of the Problem (Part 2): “We Are Only Human” – Not a Reason. Just an Excuse

The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome

Sin is a universal problem. Right before telling the Romans that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), Paul uses several Old Testament passages to remind his readers of the universal nature of sin.

“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greek are all under sin; as it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.

“Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:9-18).

The Jews could not say that sin was only a Gentile problem. Neither could the Gentiles say that only the Jews were lost in sin. All people of every race, time, and location, had sinned.
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August 6, 2014

“He Has Denied the Faith”

Couch potato

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).

The inspired apostle Paul delivered some harsh condemnation for those who refuse to provide for their own. But why is it that God likens this to one denying the faith? It is because the refusal to provide for one’s own is contrary to several fundamental characteristics that one must have in order to be a disciple of Christ.
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August 4, 2014

The Root of the Problem (Part 1): The Problem of Sin

The Root of the Problem: Why We Sin & How We Can Overcome

There are many problems facing the world today, such as poverty, injustice, famine, and disease. Great amounts of time, effort, and resources are used to try to find solutions to these problems. Even if we have not felt the effects of these ourselves, it is natural as human beings to feel empathy toward those who are suffering. This is particularly true if we heed Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).

As difficult as these problems are to face, there is something that is much more destructive and prevalent. That problem is sin.
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August 1, 2014

10th Year of Plain Bible Teaching

It is hard to believe, but here we are. Plain Bible Teaching officially launched on August 1, 2005, so today is the beginning of year number ten.
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