In Jesus' agonizing struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, we find some insight into the statement in Hebrews that Jesus "learned obedience through the things that He suffered." We also get another glimpse of both the sovereignty and goodness of God.
To effectively stay on guard against false teaching, and to be successfully discerning of truth and error, we need God's divine grace.
In a world opposed to Christianity, often the question arises, is God really good? James' instruction on the warning about, source of, and example of goodness helps believers to answer this question with an emphatic yes and amen.
A case study from the life of David on how trials and stress can lead to sin in a believer's life -- and how God graciously preserves his servants.
It is impossible for a person to enter the kingdom of God based upon his/her own power, wealth, advantage, background, or any other human accomplishment or ability. But what is impossible with people is possible with God who can graciously and eternally save any type of sinner.
The real reason for unbelief is not that people haven't heard or don't understand the gospel -- they hate that the gospel is a message centered on grace. So their unbelief is actually obstinate disobedience.
What have the disciples learned from being with Jesus and observing Him? We find out when Jesus asks them a significant question: "Who do you say that I am?" Their answer conveys the fact that God had illumined their minds and given them a conviction as to Jesus' true identity.
The doctrine of election is not about justice -- it is the expression of God's mercy.
Though the religious leaders (in vv. 1-23) failed to see their need for Jesus and God's grace, a Gentile woman, with a pagan background, did. This remarkable woman exemplifies true saving faith.
It is estimated that 100 million Americans make New Year's resolutions. Some of the most famous resolutions known are those of Jonathan Edwards. More than anything he was resolved to make Christ the source of his joy rather than earthly, fleeting things. Paul makes it clear in Philippians 4:4 that because our joy is the result of God's grace gift, the person of Jesus Christ, we must be resolved to rejoice in Christ always!
God used one man, Jonah, and an eight-word message to produce the greatest revival in world history. We see what the power of the Gospel was able to produce in the lives of the people of Nineveh.
When the sailors hurled Jonah into the water, it was God’s way of granting Jonah the desires of his heart and banishing him from His presence. However, Jonah was not in the water long before he realized that his need was no different than the Assyrians' need as he sank to the bottom of the ocean.
Because Jonah disregarded the voice of the Lord and chose to no longer recognize himself as a slave and God as Sovereign, God set out on a collision course with Jonah and uses sovereign acts of compassion to bring Jonah and the sailors to repentance.
Having established that grace actually results in death to sin, he presents two analogies that take us further in understanding our death to sin. He compares this death to baptism and burial.
Paul has just emphatically made the case for salvation by grace through faith alone. But since this is true, then an objection could be raised by some -- and Paul raises it for us: he addresses two contrasting views of grace.
Paul introduces two rival kingdoms: the kingdom of Sin and the kingdom of Grace. He underscores his discussion about grace with two summary, but crucial, facts about the grace of God.
Law and grace are juxtaposed against each other as we move towards the climax of the chapter. Two important facts about sin and its relationship to law and grace are revealed.
We still find the contrast of Adam and Christ -- but now Paul is able to give us the full impact of it. Discover two very important facts about the character of the cross of Christ: it was an act of righteousness and an act of obedience.
Paul has established that Adam is a "type" of Christ, but he digresses in his argument to show that this typological relationship is primarily one of contrasts, not similarities. Christ did far more than simply cancel out what Adam did; we see two major results of God's overflowing, sovereign, amazing matchless grace.
The unconditional love of God is the second great benefit highlighted in this wonderful passage of Romans. Planned from eternity and given to the unworthy, God's love is unlimited and unending.
There are two facts that summarize the doctrine of justification; really, that summarize the message of the entire Bible. Man has a problem... and God has the cure.
Romans 3:1-8 gives two very good reasons why God must judge sin and, in the course of doing so, two very important attributes of God are presented: His faithfulness and justice.
After establishing that all men -- both Jew and Gentile -- are guilty before God, Paul begins to answer counter-questions that the Jew would have. But bigger than the answers themselves are what God has revealed about Himself, namely His own faithfulness.
Contextually, the word for "redemption" that Paul uses here is slave language; it draws upon the societal norm of Greek culture at the time. This is what Christ did for the believer: He went into the slave market, bought him and set him free.
The psalmist highlights God's sovereign rule and yet gracious care for man as two specific ways in which He manifests His majesty so that we too will join in praise to God.
Election is the doctrine that God chose believers before the foundation of the earth solely because of His grace and love and not because of any foreseen merit in man. It is a beautiful doctrine because it allows God to be in the place where He makes the decrees and receives the glory. When election is understood properly by the believer, it prompts him to consecrate his life to God as an act of worship.
The greatness of God is a genuine comfort for those who trust in Him. An overview of Isaiah 40.
Onesimus is a prime example of what happens to a person when God saves him: he is converted, revolutionized by God's grace! Repentance from dead work is the first principle of the doctrine of Christ, and the focus of this conversion.
Paul provides the way in which true disciples of Christ ought to pattern their lives. Just as Christ accepted the sinner’s penalty so that he might have a relationship with God, Paul was willing to accept Onesimus’ penalty so that he might have a relationship with his former master. In this we see the believer's need for God's grace, as well as the responsibility of believers to love one another.
The "love of God" is actually a very difficult doctrine. We must learn to adopt a biblical perspective on God's love.
As Paul closes his letter to the church at Philippi, he reminds them plainly of four aspects of the cross that should draw their attention towards Jesus Christ.
After calling the Philippians' attention to the fact that joy is the result of God’s grace, Paul admonishes them to allow their lives to reflect God’s saving grace. He covers four aspect of grace the believer should exemplify in his life.
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