Christians are Called Before Birth
Mar 01
And so it was with all the human writers of the Bible. God's Word (like Christ Himself) is both human and divine, yet meeting all our needs. This is mysterious indeed, but well within the capabilities of our omnipotent and gracious Creator.
What to Keep and What to Avoid
Aug 28Note that there are contained here both positive and negative charges. Timothy, Paul’s son in the faith, is instructed to keep certain things and avoid others. The word “keep” is a military word which might better be translated “guard.” The word “avoid” implies more than merely refraining from contact. It has to do, instead, with actively and deliberately turning away from something.
True Christian fellowship
Jul 01
This one-chapter epistle of Paul to his friend Philemon is essentially a personal request by Paul that Philemon forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, and receive him back into "the church in thy house" as a new Christian, recently won to Christ
To be of “One Accord”
Mar 15
“And all who believed were together and had all things common. And they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. And continuing with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they shared food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47 These scriptures describe, in a beautifully simplistic way, the attitude, atmosphere and approval of true fellowship amongst Christians who gather in the name of Jesus Christ.
Are you carnally minded?
Feb 17
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. But the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; so that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For they who are according to the flesh mind the things of flesh, but they who are according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be. So then they who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:1-8 The Holy Spirit who indwells all true believers (Galatians 3:27) constantly reminds us of our propensity for “carnal thinking.” There are a number of reasons why someone thinks and acts “carnally”. God’s lays the reasons for “carnality” clearly in the Book of Romans: They fill their minds with carnal thoughts (Romans 8:5) They face a future without hope (Romans 8:6) They fight against God and His Word (Romans 8:7) They walk, act, speak and think in the flesh and cannot please God (Romans 8:8) The Apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthian believers in their carnality also – describing them as “fleshly”, “babes”, requiring “milk instead of solid fool” and not being spiritual: “And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual ones, but as to fleshly, as to babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk and not with solid food, for you were not yet able to bear it; nor are you able even now. For you are yet carnal. For in that there is among you envyings and strife and divisions, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men? For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal?” I Corinthians 3:1-4
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