May 30, 2013

The Application of Wisdom: Teachings About God (Part 1)

Notes on Proverbs

The final point of application in our study of Proverbs has to do with God and our relationship to Him. The entire book of Proverbs has been a discussion of the wisdom that comes from above. Of course, the source of this wisdom is God Himself. But without understanding God and our place before Him, it would be difficult for us to find sufficient reason to trust that His way is best and live our lives according to it. Therefore, we must understand God to fully understand the importance of the wisdom contained in this book.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Proverbs Study Tagged With: , , , ,
February 28, 2013

Daniel Sommer on the Foolishness of Atheism

Though many in the world consider belief in God to be foolish, the psalmist declares that it is the fool who says there is no God (Psalm 14:1). In his book, Plain Sermons, Daniel Sommer explained the words of the psalmist and how they are true of the atheist.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Restoration History Tagged With: , , ,
December 27, 2012

Where We Would Be Without God

Many believe that there is no God. Others believe that even if God does exist, man is capable of surviving and prospering without Him. But could we survive, let alone prosper, without God? If God did not exist, or if He did not have any concern for man, how would our lives be different?

In this brief article, I would like for us to consider this and ask the question: What would our existence be like without God?
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: , , , ,
December 8, 2012

Fully Assured of God’s Promises (12/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Romans 4-7.

Paul used the example of Abraham to teach us a lesson about faith in God and His promises. Abraham was promised a son. And though it was improbable – even nearly impossible – he believed what the Lord told him.

“In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:18-22).

Earlier in the chapter, Paul also wrote, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). God was pleased with Abraham’s trust in Him.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,
November 20, 2012

“He Was Eaten by Worms and Died” (11/20)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Acts 11-12.

The death of Herod provides a few lessons for us. One lesson is that we must be careful of the type of praise from men that we are willing to accept.

“On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. The people kept crying out, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:21-23).

As a ruler of the people, many looked up to Herod and depended upon him. Some praised him as if he were a god. When this happened, he was struck by the angel and died a slow, agonizing death. However, it is important to note that Herod was not killed because the people wrongly praised him as a god. Notice a couple of examples of others who were not killed, even though they received worship that should have been exclusively for God.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,
November 1, 2012

“We Have No King But Caesar”

Trial of Jesus

Pilate knew that the trial of Jesus was unique. Jesus explained to him that His kingdom was “not of this world” (John 18:36). Pilate then recognized that Jesus claimed to be a king (John 18:37), even though the Jews rejected Him as their king (John 18:33, 35). But the Jews’ rejection of Jesus was more than just a refusal to support Him as a king; they wanted to kill Him (John 18:31) even though Pilate was able to find “no guilt in Him” (John 18:38; 19:4, 6).

Then Pilate became “even more afraid” when the Jews told him that Jesus “made Himself out to be the Son of God” (John 19:7-8). How much of this Pilate believed is immaterial. The fact is that the events transpiring with the claims and charges being made were producing a volatile situation. So Pilate “made efforts to release Him” (John 19:12), but the Jews would not let him do it. Pilate then made one final effort to defuse the situation and allow the innocent Jesus to be released.

“Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth house. And he said to the Jews, ‘Behold, your King!’ So they cried out, ‘Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar.’ So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified” (John 19:14-16).

This case was not about some random insurrectionist. There was much more to this than Pilate could have imagined at the start. But in the end, the Jews – influenced by their leaders (Matthew 27:20) – very clearly and boldly repudiated Jesus and demanded His crucifixion. Why was this so significant? It has to do with what they rejected, and what they chose to focus on instead.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: , , , ,
October 1, 2012

"In the Beginning Was the Word" (10/1)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Luke 1; John 1:1-14.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” (John 1:1-3)

The book of Genesis begins with the phrase, “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1). John makes an unmistakable parallel here as he introduces his audience to Christ. The point is clear, and will be made elsewhere in John’s gospel – Jesus is “equal with” the Father (John 5:17-18) and is “one” with the Father (John 10:30).

These first three verses in John’s gospel lay the foundation for a belief in the deity of Christ:
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,