Tag: Jesus Christ
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Situational Service?
Your situation cannot compromise your service to King Jesus. We are so tempted, especially because of the victim culture mentality of our age, just to toss excuses out. “I could be really faithful if…” “But you don’t know my struggles…” “I would, but my unique circumstances don’t allow me…” The list goes on and on,…
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Suffering and Modern Christianity
What would Paul think of these celebrity preachers on TV peddling some soft-soap “gospel”? But, maybe even more challenging is, what would Paul think of modern Christianity. As one reads the NT epistles the subject of suffering for the faith is always lingering on the edge of the discussion. Remember the word that I said…
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Revelation Replays
God rules from on high. I take the position that Revelation is rooted in the history of the original readers, but the points are repeated throughout history. Thus, the Apocalypse was written to the first-century Christians and the oppression, violence, and vitriol, that they were facing. The might, power, influence, and control of the Roman…
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Hebrews and James for Today
The old traditional hymn rings in my ears when reading epistles like Hebrews and James. “I have decided to follow Jesus… No turning back…” The Christian faith has serious demands placed upon it, demands that cannot be cast aside lightly. There is no turning back, there is no quitting, and there is no room for…
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Rooted in the Resurrection
The Corinthian congregation was riddled with problems. Paul had to address numerous things that would be repugnant, even to our morally depraved society. A sectarian spirit permeated this group (chs. 1-4). Sexual immorality “of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles” (1 Cor. 5:1b). Folks were eating with no regard for…
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Lessons from Acts
God works through His people. One of the greatest truths as a reader passes from Luke’s gospel to Acts is that Jesus started something (Gospel) and His people continue it (Acts). Consider Peter’s comments when he begins his sermon to Cornelius: The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus…
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It Isn’t Just Stopping the Bad…
The Christian life is mistakenly simplified to mean, “stop doing bad things.” The truth, however, is much deeper and richer than this shallow view. Instead, the repeated admonitions in the NT are, “Stop doing bad and start doing good!” Paul admonishes such actions in plenty of places. Briefly consider Paul’s exhortations at the end of…
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Roman World Politics
Our culture understands the pressures of living in a politically charged environment. But probably not to the same degree the first-century audience would have. It is hard to read Romans without considering its political challenges. Consider Romans 1:1-4: “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,…
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