June 9, 2015

Who Is Affected By Sin?

Pollution

Many people choose to ignore sin. Sadly, even some Christians do this. They ignore the sins of others because they see the sins as being between them and God and so they are of no concern. They often ignore their own sin believing that God’s grace will cover them. Yet sin cannot be ignored.

“The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant” (Isaiah 24:5).

In the verse above, sin is described as pollution. This analogy is used because sin affects more than just the one who committed the sin. So in this article, I want us to consider this question: Who is affected by sin?
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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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February 26, 2014

Teaching the Next Generation

Family Portrait

It has been said before that the church is just one generation away from apostasy. This is certainly true. While there are exceptions to any rule, generally what the wise man said is accurate: “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). If we want children to follow the way of truth when they grow up, they must be taught the way of truth while they are growing up.

As we raise the next generation, we should focus on this question: Why do we believe, teach, and practice what we do? This is important. We are to “please [God] in all respects” (Colossians 1:10). The next generation must be taught to please God as well. But if we do not teach them how to do this, what will they do when they are grown?
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January 22, 2014

How to Make Error Harder to Accept

Man Reading Bible

False teachers are deceptive and destructive (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Timothy 2:16-18). The threat they pose is ever-present (2 Peter 2:1). We can guard against them by always being on the alert (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:8) and by heeding the warnings when false teachers are marked by faithful brethren (Romans 16:17-18).

In addition to these preventative measures, there are three fundamental attitudes we must have if we hope to protect ourselves from the threat of false teachers. If we resolve to adopt the following, we will be much better equipped to deal with error whenever it is introduced.
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October 28, 2013

Audio: Why Was Paul Amazed at the Apostasy in Galatia?

Paul’s letter to the Galatians was addressed to the churches of that region – Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. These churches were established during Paul’s first preaching journey (Acts 13-14). The Christians in this region experienced a lot of opposition to the gospel, yet this was not what caused them to slide into apostasy. Instead, their apostasy was caused by something much more subtle. This lesson examines the history of the establishment of these churches and what eventually threatened to lead them away from Christ.
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October 10, 2013

Continue in the Grace of God

“For by grace you have been saved…” (Ephesians 2:8). The fact that salvation is by grace is one of the few points on which most – if not all – self-proclaimed Bible believing Christians will agree. But though we will all agree on the concept of salvation by grace, there is disagreement when you get below the surface.

A common misconception in the religious world is that we are saved by grace alone. Those who believe this will contend that salvation is wholly in the hands of God and that man can do nothing to impact his salvation – either to become saved or to remain saved. This doctrine of grace saving us unconditionally is completely false. Paul said, “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Titus 2:11). But this simply means that God has made salvation available to all men by His grace. It does not mean that all will be saved. Jesus made it clear that many would go down the path that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

When Paul and Barnabas were teaching in Antioch of Pisidia, Luke recorded a summary of their message that helps present a picture for us as to what Christians need to remember with regard to God’s grace.
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December 12, 2012

“Be On The Alert” (12/12)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Acts 20:4-23:35.

When Paul met with the Ephesian elders in Miletus, he warned them of the dangers that would be coming in the future.

“I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 20:29-31).

Paul said that the dangers facing the church would come from two sources:
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