Many professed Christians try to go back to the old law to determine what God requires of them today or to justify practices for which they can find no authority in the New Testament. Despite the fact that the Old Testament contains prophecy telling of a “new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31-34) and the New Testament tells us the old law was “nailed…to the cross” (Colossians 2:14), many will blur the lines between the two laws; but this is dangerous. Let us notice a few reasons why.
Continue Reading
June 14, 2011
Do Not Go Back to the Old Law
May 4, 2011
“I Will Build My Church”
“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it’” (Matthew 16:16-18).
One of the more significant statements in the revelation of God’s plan was Jesus’ promise to His apostles, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). Let us break down this statement and see what Jesus is teaching here.
Continue Reading
December 23, 2010
Why Was Jesus Born?
At this time of year, much of the religious world is focused on the birth of Jesus. Yet do we understand why He was born? Jesus is eternal (John 1:1-2) and is the all-powerful Creator (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17). What purpose did it serve to have Deity come to earth to dwell in bodily form (Colossians 2:9)?
Continue Reading
October 25, 2010
What the Cross Represents
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the focal point of the Bible (1 Corinthians 15:3). All that came before pointed to the cross. All that followed looked back to the cross. It is important that we see the cross as more than just an icon and understand what it truly represents.
Continue Reading
October 3, 2010
The Value of the Old Testament
At the first of the year, I started a Bible reading plan that would take me through the Bible in one year. There are several different reading plans people use to read through the Bible. Some sort the books by chronological order. Others arrange the schedule so that one reads a portion of both the Old and New Testaments each day. The plan I followed this year went through the books of the Bible in the order they appear. I have been able to keep up with the schedule (though there were times I was playing catch-up) and am currently up to date with the readings.
On October 1, I finished the book of Malachi. That means it took just over nine months to finish the Old Testament.
This served as a simple reminder that we cannot ignore the Old Testament Scriptures. Yes, we are under a new law (Hebrews 8:8-10) and the old law was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). But that does not mean the Old Testament is worthless to us today.
Continue Reading
August 9, 2010
Three Branches of Government
The U.S. Constitution specifies three separate branches that make up our government: legislative, executive, and judicial. These branches of government are not unique to the United States. Every government will carry out these functions in one way or another.
When it comes to the rule of God, His government performs the same legislative, executive, and judicial functions. Isaiah wrote, “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us” (Isaiah 33:22). We live under a different covenant today than the Israelites did at the time of this writing. They were part of God’s kingdom in the nation of Israel. We are part of Christ’s kingdom today in the church. But even today, when we examine the rule of Christ, we see that Jesus completely and sufficiently carries out the role of each branch of government in His kingdom.
Continue Reading
May 16, 2010
How God Speaks to Us Today
Many today are seeking God’s guidance and direction but are unsure where to look. The Scriptures plainly teach us that God speaks to us today through His Son, Jesus. The Hebrew writer began his letter by affirming this fact:
“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world” (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Previously, God spoke to man in different ways, providing bits and pieces of revelation to the fathers during the Patriarchal age, and also through the prophets. But that was in times past. He does not speak to us in the same way today. Now that we are in the “last days,” there is a new spokesman.
Continue Reading
