Getting Right with God
Certain observances are important as expressions of faith. However, we must always guard against the subtle danger of rituals, signs, and symbols gradually taking precedence in our lives over a personal relationship with the Lord through faith.
The Last Scapegoat
Biblical doctrine is always relevant to life. The great truth of justification by faith alone grants us the blessedness of knowing our sins have been forgiven, covered, and taken away, never to be counted against us.
Becoming a Friend of God
The person of genuine faith will demonstrate it, not by a sinless life, but by trusting in Christ alone to declare him righteous before God. Romans presents Abraham as a wonderful example of such faith.
What the Gospel Destroys
God's gracious gift of justification by faith favors no people and excludes no people. There is no place for boasting; we are all invited to humbly place our faith in Christ alone because we are all sinners in need of His grace.
Doctrines That Determine Destiny
The work of Jesus Christ in justification, redemption, and propitiation gives us greater appreciation for the character of God. And the more we understand these truths, the more amazed we are that He grants us all these benefits through faith alone.
The Chasm Between Earth and Heaven
Romans 3:23 gives us a concise, accurate diagnosis of our natural condition as human beings. It is not a pleasant portrayal, but it is one we must accept if we are to understand our need and God’s gracious work on our behalf.
Sola Fide -- Faith Alone
Our own righteousness can never gain us acceptance before God. But that which we lack, He provides through faith in Jesus Christ--the righteousness of God Himself. What a glorious gift He has given to unworthy sinners like us.
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.