Bridging the Great Divide
Disease cannot be properly treated until it is properly diagnosed. So it is with the human condition. The apostle Paul makes it clear that sin, and the resulting separation from God, is mankind's terminal "disease" and that the solution is not found in man but in God alone.
Depravity and Desperation
When God is forgotten and His Word ignored, any sin can be justified--and often is. Ultimately, this spells disaster, for apart from Christ there is no peace, no fulfillment, no satisfaction, and no hope for eternity. This is the plight of all people who do not trust in Christ.
An Examination of the Tongue
While words can encourage, help, and heal, the apostle Paul offers his divinely inspired warning that words are most prominently used as weapons. Indeed, fallen humanity is characterized by deceptive, destructive communication.
Responding the Right Way to Bad News
The Bible is clear in declaring the truth about humanity: we are all sinners and held under the dominion of sin. There is nothing righteous in us to commend us to God. Yet it is only when we acknowledge this honest, divine assessment of us that we can find the ultimate solution.
No Excuse for Sin
It is never right to do wrong. This simple, biblical truth puts to rest all the justifications and excuses for sin. No one is exempt from God's standards or from His judgment. Excuses will not take us to heaven; only the grace of God can do that.
The Treasure of Scripture
The Bible was given to the Jewish people as a sacred trust to be cherished, read, learned, lived, and declared among the nations. Can we, as Christ's followers, do anything less with God's Word?
The Difference Between Religion and Redemption
Many Jewish people in Paul's time scrupulously adhered to religious ritual, believing, like so many today, that this is enough to gain God's acceptance. The apostle rejects such thinking and points to the truth that only a heart changed by God finds acceptance with Him.
Enhancing God's Reputation
Does your life attract people to the Christian faith or turn them off to it? It is important to remember that the reputation of God's people in the world affects the way people in this world view God.
What About Those Who Never Heard?
God is impartial. His righteous standards do not change, and they are applied to every person equally. We can offer no excuses for sin and unbelief. Our only option is to repent and place our faith in Jesus Christ.
The Volcano of God's Wrath
The wrath of God is an inevitable reality for all who continue to reject the Lord. It cannot be ignored, but it can be avoided by the grace of God.