In the salutation to his short letter, Jude uses some important terminology that clarifies the identity of true Christians.
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In the salutation to his short letter, Jude uses some important terminology that clarifies the identity of true Christians.
Peter provides sufferers with four reminders about trials in an effort to encourage them to continue rejoicing.
True Christians do not live habitually in a lifestyle of sin. And that is made possible by the fact that Christ guards and preserves His people.
The normal Christian life is one of victory over the world. Every time we sin or give in to worldly thinking, true Christians are living abnormally. It is the daily exercise of our faith in Christ that ensures the experience of victory in our daily lives.
Paul provides a second list of threats to a Christian’s assurance -- adversaries that seek to cause us to doubt the love God has for us in Christ. Yet, regardless what adversities or adversaries come our way, true believers are promised that nothing can drive a wedge between them and God.
The Christian's position in Christ is one of absolute security -- we are safe from condemnation. This promise from God is based upon the truth about the crucifixion of Christ, and as well the truth about the ongoing mediation of Christ.
There is more than one biblical way to describe a true Christian. In this passage we find that one of those has to do with being an "overcomer" -- one who experiences victory over the world. John gives us three important reasons why Christians can live in this victory each day of their lives.
The completion of God's redemptive plan is glorious: those whom He foreknew and predestined before time began are the ones He calls to Himself "in time." As a result of the faith He gifts them with, they are justified in His sight. And in the future, all those whom He has justified will be glorified -- true believers look forward to the reality that we will be conformed to the image of Christ when we die and go to be with Him. This is absolutely guaranteed by God's divine master plan.
We know from experience, and we know from this and other passages of Scripture, that we "groan" in this earthly life due to the suffering we experience. But in their groaning, Christians know what true hope is. And in that true hope they can learn how to "wait" on the Lord for His promises to be fulfilled.
God expects us to live out righteousness in all areas of our lives -- especially loving one another in the Body of Christ. But we fail in consistently doing this. So how can we have assurance that we are true believers when our conscience accuses us in our times of failure? John provides the answer by presenting both the human and divine roles in bringing assurance to our hearts.
Living faithfully for the Lord is what ultimately makes our lives meaningful. At the conclusion of this long chapter on Christ’s resurrection, we find that God not only expects us to persevere in serving Him as long as we live, but He promises that our labor in His name will not be in vain.
Paul presents the solution to the Christian’s daily and ongoing battle with sin: we will be ultimately delivered from this battle through Christ. This answer to our biggest problem is found "outside" of man.
A person who makes a genuine confession of faith can be expected to persevere in his faith.
The Apostle John warns his readers that "antichrists" have arisen among them. He also informs them why these false teachers have left their assembly: because they weren’t truly saved. This passage points out the fact that true believers persevere in their walk with Christ, and in their fellowship with other Christians in the local church.
We not only have a new master and new goal, but we also have a new destiny, which is the third of Paul's reasons for staying faithful in the battle against sin.
The Apostle John exhorts his readers to love as Christ loved. He goes on to provide three facts about the kind of love he is talking about.
The varied soils exposed the different attitudes of the people toward Him and explained the indifference and opposition being encountered. But the parable also enunciates abiding principles which are operative during this present age... there are these same 4 kinds of responders today.
This very famous section of Ecclesiastes deals with the reality of progressive deterioration -- both mental and physical -- and how it ought to prompt us to prepare for eternity.
The Christian life is pictured as a race that is to be run with perseverance. Yet there are times in our lives that make this a challenge; there are times when we may feel like giving up, including in times of difficulty, temptation, and persecution.
The Christian's life should be marked by his steadfast perseverance -- consistently continuing in faith and holiness -- and his biblically "partnering" with other believers.
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.
When a Christian is dissatisfied with his spiritual life, it will lead to a response. He will look to Jesus as Christ as the ultimate example in perseverance.
Paul was pursuing an unattainable goal -- perfection -- and he knew it. However, this reality did not stop him from committing his life to pursuing after this goal. He continually pursued Christlikeness and this pursuit often caused him to become dissatisfied with his earthly life.
No matter how much effort the Christian puts into his life, he cannot accomplish anything unless God is intrinsically working within. The supernatural power which God supplies every believer in regards to sanctification is the very same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead.
Not only did Paul have joy in the past and the present, but he would continue to have joy in the future. He saw three things that prompted a spirit of joy.
How are you doing at persevering? Paul encourages the Philippians by showing them how they will be able to continue enduring persecution in the future. God will enable them to continue to persevere in their partnership with the gospel up until the day of the Lord.
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