On March the 6th, 2016, I was honored to preach my first ever Sunday morning sermon at First Baptist Church of New Albany in Ohio. A few notable moments. Upon arrival I found out they were happy to allow me to lead the entire...
Read More3 John 4 – I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. What is truth? (John 18:38) If we are looking for a scriptural basis for the answer to this question (and, by the way, we are), then my mind...
Read More1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. I think this verse can best be broken down...
Read MoreWhat is forgiveness? When Jesus utters this phrase, what is he saying? In other words, what exactly is Jesus asking his father to do? And how does that apply to us? Some would say that because Jesus prayed for those who persecuted him to be forgiven, we should all forgive all offenses against us. Others have said that since God doesn’t forgive everyone, that means we don’t have to either. I’ll try to lead you to an answer to these questions as we develop thoughts surrounding forgiveness.
Read MoreLeviticus is not an easy book for many to read. It seems to confuse a lot of people. I recommend taking it slowly and understanding the context. Always keep in mind that the Old Testament is pointing forward to the cross and your understanding should increase.
I find it to be an amazing account that God commands all men to be holy. Sure, this was written to the children of Israel, but I’ve been told by people who’ve taught me that when God repeats himself we should listen. Peter provides for us an example of this in his first letter.
Read MoreDear brother or sister, do you pray without ceasing? I confess, sometimes, even when I pray, I find my mind wandering and I forget I was in the middle of a prayer. If we can’t focus on our prayer life when we are actually praying, how can we begin to pray without ceasing? Do you want a better prayer life? Do you want to pray more? How about more effectively? Is it your desire that God would hear and answer your prayers? The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, does it not?
Read More1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice evermore, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Oh what joy it is to live in Christ! Right? Isn’t every...
Read More1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures 4 And that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the...
Read MoreColossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for...
Read More1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If you haven’t read the first part of this two part series, you can read it here. As we’ve...
Read More1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Take a look at this verse carefully; again, it is packed with theology and practical implications for our daily living. I’ll try to unpack it a bit to see if we can really understand what this verse is communicating. Because of the amazing amount of content packed in a single verse, I’m planning two posts to fully explain.
First, let’s briefly discuss what this verse is NOT: It is not a salvation verse. I believe it is a mistake to use this verse with a nonbeliever in a call to salvation. I’ve heard people say you need to confess all your sins to God to be saved. Impossible! Since salvation is by grace through faith, the work of naming all your sins is not required. Many new converts do not even know all the sin in their life since they often do not know the scripture! To believe we can exhaustively name our sins is absurd and potentially just prideful. Also, many false religious systems encourage followers to confess sins; many of these people with quite repentant hearts I’m sure. The knowledge of sin and the desire to have it removed do not qualify you as a child of God. Even repentance isn’t enough. The sin of unbelief: of rejection of Jesus Christ as the son of God and only intercessor between God and man is the sin that needs to be repented of first!
Reading the 1st chapter of 1 John a few times will give you the clear impression that he is writing to people who’ve already been born again. This letter is written with 2 primary purposes, which build on each other. John is calling the hearers to examine themselves to see that they are of the faith. He is concerned that the people of the church are using grace as a license to sin. He realizes, by the will of the Holy Spirit, that sinful men who hear of the matchless grace of God in Christ will use that as a reason to live lawlessly. Men everywhere will claim justification by faith alone, apart from works as justification for evil. John issues a warning to God’s people, and maybe more so to the false convert, that this is not acceptable: that the new creation believers have become, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, will not fail to manifest these good works which were before-ordained. (Eph 2:10).
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