Thought from today’s Bible reading from Joel 1-3.
In prophesying of the “great and awesome day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31), the prophet Joel indicated who it was that would be delivered:
“And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered…” (Joel 2:32).
Paul reminded the saints in Rome of this promise as well, as it had a direct impact upon their salvation.
“Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
The following is a quote from J.D. Tant (1861-1941):
“Brother W. M. McIntyre has done more preaching and baptizing than any other preacher in the county, and is hated by all the denominations, and is never called upon to help in their union meetings. This causes me to think he is a man of God, sound in the faith” (Published in Gospel Advocate, April 29, 1897; Quoted from J. D. Tant – Texas Preacher, p. 177-178).
Why would Tant say that one being “hated by all the denominations” was an indication of his being “sound in the faith”? Notice that he mentions Brother McIntyre doing two things: preaching and baptizing.
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Grace is a misunderstood topic among many in the religious world. People believe we are saved by grace alone and that works (especially baptism) are not necessary for salvation. There are also those who believe that grace gives them permission to sin without fear of punishment.
As Peter summarized his first epistle, he said this: “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!” (1 Peter 5:12). What is the true grace of God? Is it the kind of grace that is described by the majority of those in the religious world, or is it something different? A study of Peter’s first epistle – which he said is “the true grace of God” – will help us get a better understanding of grace and what is related to it. Let us notice some of the things that Peter, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13), included in this category.
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In the Scriptures, the term walk is often used to describe the way in which we conduct our lives. God expects His people to conduct their lives in a certain way. Paul wrote to the brethren in Colossae about this: “So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects” (Colossians 1:10). How do we walk in a worthy manner?
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“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
People often wonder what God’s plan is for their lives. The above passage suggests that God knows these plans. Yet people want to know what the future holds so badly that they often run wild in speculation about every circumstance, decision, or consequence that exists in their lives, trying to determine some greater significance to these events.
The Bible certainly does address this issue about God’s plan for our lives. But we can only know what God has revealed to us (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). People often get caught up in trying to find God’s plan for them in the details of life – jobs, homes, hardships, etc. – even though no such divine plans for us can be found in the revealed will of God. By devoting our mental effort to mere curiosities and speculations, it becomes easier to ignore the big picture. Sadly, many have done this and have become “choked with worries… of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity” (Luke 8:14).
I know what God’s plan is for you. And I can show you this plan in the Bible.
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Thought from today’s Bible reading from Job 17-20.
“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth” (Job 19:25).
Job’s troubles were not going to be solved by his own actions. He understood this. Only God could deliver him. Despite the fact that his wife urged him to reject God (Job 2:9) and his friends repeatedly told him that God was the one who had afflicted him, Job held to his faith in the Lord. As long as his Redeemer lived, he had hope.
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It is an inescapable reality that we are involved in a war – not the type of war that nations wage for wealth, resources, or territory; but a spiritual war for the souls of men (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). While the final outcome of a physical war is always unknown, the result of this spiritual war is certain. Notice what the book of Revelation says about the victory of Christ:
“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).
Jesus will lead His army to victory. There is no uncertainty to this. What is uncertain is which side we will join. Will we choose to be on the Lord’s side? Or will we choose to fight against Him?
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What does “propitiation” mean? How is “justification” connected to salvation? What does “sanctification” look like in our day-to-day lives? The Bible uses some powerful words to describe God’s plan to save mankind. However, these words are not always easy to understand, especially when they are not part of our everyday vocabulary. This book explores key Bible terms that unlock the message of the gospel.
Big Words in the Bible examines five important words – Propitiation, Reconciliation, Sanctification, Justification, and Resurrection – using plain language to see how the Scriptures describe these concepts and how the apostle Paul employs them in his letter to the Romans. This book also contains an appendix with eleven additional articles to explore these topics further.
Whether you are new to the Bible and want to grow in your understanding or want a simple way to explain these core gospel doctrines to others, this book will be helpful. With a focus on the Scriptures, Big Words in the Bible helps break down these fundamental topics to shed light on the life-changing message of the gospel and the salvation found in it.
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