As Jesus concludes His comments to the future saints living during the time of the Great Tribulation, we see another biblical balance between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man.
How should we respond to professing believers who are sinning but not repenting? Jesus gives us the process to follow -- the process known as "church discipline."
In the healing of the man who was deaf and who had a speech impediment, we see a beautiful picture of the spiritual change that God’s makes in a repentant sinner.
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.
With the Spirit of God now living in us, we have a moral responsibility to put to death fleshly deeds. In fact, this is what it means to be "led by the Spirit" -- the third member of the Godhead enlightens our minds with truth and He enflames our hearts with a desire for holiness so that we are empowered to say no to temptation. A lifestyle of putting to death fleshliness is therefore an indication we are saved.
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.
The Beatitudes paint a character portrait of the true believer. The biblical description of meekness is discussed, challenging the believer to grow in such defining areas as humility, obedience to and trust in God, teachability, and peaceable relationships.
The second of Paul's three reasons for being faithful in the battle against sin is highlighted: we have a new goal.
John explains the relationship between obedience and true Christianity. Far from being optional, he teaches us that obedience to the divine will is the only way of showing that we know God.
There is a reason that we will always be forgiven and John wants us to think rightly about sin and the forgiveness we receive. To think rightly, we need to remember two truths as we go about our daily lives attempting to live them for the Lord.
Since God is light, the reality is that His light exposes every imperfection in the lives of Christians. We should not only be characterized by a life of pursuing holiness, but by our ability to see and confess our sin.
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.
God’s plan of establishing the kingdom of God is going to end up being a hugely successful plan. The kingdom of God will grow at both the individual and global level.
An in-depth study of several biblical texts to examine what the mourning of true repentance is and what it is not. Ultimately, we are exhorted to ask the questions: "Have I ever experienced the mourning of true repentance?" and "As a believer, do I appropriately mourn over sin revealed in my own life?"
The Beatitudes provide valuable insight into true repentance and the character of a true Christian. With the first Beatitude, Matthew focuses on the absolutely foundational truth of the first Beatitude: man's spiritual bankruptcy apart from Christ, and man's complete dependence on God for salvation and progressive sanctification.
The Apostle Paul is the classic example of a deeply religious person who was not saved. Only when he gave up his good works, and trusted only in Christ, did God forgive his sin.
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.
Discipleship -- the gospel -- is not as much an invitation as it is a command -- a call. This involves repentance and submission.
Once a worshiper of the idol Chemosh, Ruth was a radically transformed woman: she wanted to worship the true God. She not only made a statement of loyalty to Naomi, but lived it out by clinging to her, who had set a godly example for her to emulate.
Have you considered whether your trials are a result of sin and what your attitude should be in these circumstances? Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding Naomi and her daughters-in-law, God graciously intervened. He drew Naomi toward Him by granting her repentance and the ability to embrace Him.
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