The "Uttermost" is the greatest possible extent of something. Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him. This truth is a great comfort and encouragement to Christians. We have every reason to continue to be bold in our testimony for Christ. Pity the modern skeptics who suppose they are too advanced to believe in Christ, but who have no hope for eternity.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Our Secure Hope
People long for a sense of security and they seek it in various ways. One way that is obviously very ineffective is through political parties and social causes. Another is wealth. Another is physical conditioning. Another is science and technology.
None of these things can provide the security you long for. But there is one place you can turn to find unshakable security that will carry you through life and into eternity.
None of these things can provide the security you long for. But there is one place you can turn to find unshakable security that will carry you through life and into eternity.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Marching For A Good Cause??
According the news the marches over the weekend were a record breaking demonstration of people's opposition to President Trump and all he stands for. The NPR hosts have been positively giddy with their enthusiasm for the huge crowds...
Presumably all of the marchers believe that they are on the side of what is good!!
It is interesting that so many people could be so enthusiastic over issues of good and evil when one of the things they evidently stand for is the rejection of absolute standards of right and wrong. How does that work?
What do they stand for? They are definitely pro-abortion, having rejected pro-life groups from participating.
It seems to me that they are rebelling against everything that relates to our historic constitutional democracy and traditional morality. They have grown so used to liberal progressivism steamrolling over everyone who disagrees that they cannot stand the fact their candidate lost the election. They are now ready for revolution. They reject the legitimacy of the elected government and will protest until they get their own way.
Maybe.
But their avowed belief in absolute freedom applies only to their own beliefs and behaviors. Anyone who disagrees is a hater - and they hate haters. So while they rally for absolute freedom, they roll over everyone else's freedom with a sadistic glee. They cannot see how their behavior and attitudes match historical movements that they would find abhorrent.
What do they claim for their moral authority? Reason? Law? Consensus? Anything other than God.
Presumably all of the marchers believe that they are on the side of what is good!!
It is interesting that so many people could be so enthusiastic over issues of good and evil when one of the things they evidently stand for is the rejection of absolute standards of right and wrong. How does that work?
What do they stand for? They are definitely pro-abortion, having rejected pro-life groups from participating.
It seems to me that they are rebelling against everything that relates to our historic constitutional democracy and traditional morality. They have grown so used to liberal progressivism steamrolling over everyone who disagrees that they cannot stand the fact their candidate lost the election. They are now ready for revolution. They reject the legitimacy of the elected government and will protest until they get their own way.
Maybe.
But their avowed belief in absolute freedom applies only to their own beliefs and behaviors. Anyone who disagrees is a hater - and they hate haters. So while they rally for absolute freedom, they roll over everyone else's freedom with a sadistic glee. They cannot see how their behavior and attitudes match historical movements that they would find abhorrent.
What do they claim for their moral authority? Reason? Law? Consensus? Anything other than God.
(Isaiah 5:20–23 ESV) 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink,23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Eternal Value
What is it that guides our lives?
Some things we do for sheer pleasure. Other things we do for survival.
Most of us need to work for a living and we count ourselves blessed if the work we do is interesting and meaningful for us. But whether meaningful or not - we have to work to support ourselves and our families. In this category we also include various chores associated with living - paying bills, taking out the trash, doing the wash, cooking meals and caring for children.
Commercial entertainment occupies a large place in American culture. Books, TV, movies, and sporting events are available to us through many sources and untold millions of hours are spent everyday consuming them.
Nature is a different sort of entertainment that people approach in different ways. We hike, climb, bike, hunt, birdwatch, fish or camp in "the great outdoors." We observe the wonders of the natural world and concern ourselves with the ecological health of the planet.
How do we rate the value of each activity in our lives? Is it the monetary value? Is it the relationship value? Is it the degree of pleasure we derive from it? Is it the idea that we are leaving a legacy?
In our secular society we find all of the above. But what about eternity? Is there any way we can invest in eternity and live to see the benefit of that investment?
Jesus said that we should "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." He told us that we should "store up treasures in heaven" that will endure for everlasting life.
How do we do that?
The simple truth is that our eternal destiny is tied to our relationship with Jesus. Repentance for sin, faith in Christ's atonement, sanctification through conformity to Jesus' sinless example, the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control - these are things that count for eternity and lead to behaviors that matter.
We still need to make a living, but why are we making a living? What are we doing with our living? How is our living reflecting our relationship with Jesus and moving other people toward a relationship with Him?
Don't just live - live for Jesus in a way that matters for eternity.
Some things we do for sheer pleasure. Other things we do for survival.
Most of us need to work for a living and we count ourselves blessed if the work we do is interesting and meaningful for us. But whether meaningful or not - we have to work to support ourselves and our families. In this category we also include various chores associated with living - paying bills, taking out the trash, doing the wash, cooking meals and caring for children.
Commercial entertainment occupies a large place in American culture. Books, TV, movies, and sporting events are available to us through many sources and untold millions of hours are spent everyday consuming them.
Nature is a different sort of entertainment that people approach in different ways. We hike, climb, bike, hunt, birdwatch, fish or camp in "the great outdoors." We observe the wonders of the natural world and concern ourselves with the ecological health of the planet.
How do we rate the value of each activity in our lives? Is it the monetary value? Is it the relationship value? Is it the degree of pleasure we derive from it? Is it the idea that we are leaving a legacy?
In our secular society we find all of the above. But what about eternity? Is there any way we can invest in eternity and live to see the benefit of that investment?
Jesus said that we should "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." He told us that we should "store up treasures in heaven" that will endure for everlasting life.
How do we do that?
The simple truth is that our eternal destiny is tied to our relationship with Jesus. Repentance for sin, faith in Christ's atonement, sanctification through conformity to Jesus' sinless example, the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control - these are things that count for eternity and lead to behaviors that matter.
We still need to make a living, but why are we making a living? What are we doing with our living? How is our living reflecting our relationship with Jesus and moving other people toward a relationship with Him?
Don't just live - live for Jesus in a way that matters for eternity.
Monday, January 16, 2017
On To Maturity
Years of experience are not necessarily the same as mastery. This is true in Christian discipleship. It is possible to continue as baby Christians when we should make progress and develop a maturity that glorifies God in our lives.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Our Great High Priest
Most Christians don't think very much about the fact that we have a high priest. We take it for granted that our sins are forgiven, that God hears our prayers, that we will get direction for our lives. We never saw the ministry of the Jewish high priests of the Old Testament and we forget that Jesus is our high priest now.
Sermon In A Sack: A Life Line
The Bible says, "...you were dead in the trespasses and sins..." We were dead in the water. We could not - and we would not - move toward God.
How could God rescue us? If he threw out a life-line we were powerless to grab it and hold on.
The answer is that God jumped into the water and came to us. Jesus became a human to save sinful humans. As scripture says, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—"Ephesians ( 2:4–5)
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