This parable at first glance can seem a bit perplexing as we try to understand what it is that Jesus is telling His disciples. But as we dig deeper it is quite an amazing teaching because in one short story Jesus shows that works are completely useless for earning salvation and completely necessary in another sense.
The fig-tree clothing of self-righteousness is utterly unavailing; the Lord who walks amid the trees of the garden strips it away--it cannot abide His righteous glance, His avenging scrutiny.
There must have been a deep spiritual meaning in the triumphal entry, since Jesus Himself planned it!
This verse has caused many people undue anxiety. J. Vernon McGee says, that this verse should cause the hair on the back of our necks to stand up, but not in the way it does for many who read it out of context.
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing." - 1 Thess 5:11 Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul wrote this passage for believers living in a land where they were at odds with the sinful culture around them. He implored with them that, at all … Continue reading Barnabas Brothers
The words of John 6:37 reveal the purpose of the father in giving his elect Jesus Christ. The Father's end will not be frustrated (John 6:39).
How can God get camels through a needle's eye, and what exactly is the difficulty to which this metaphor is referring?
With the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.- 2 Corinthians 6:7 There are weapons of righteousness for each of our hands. The phrase, "weapons of righteousness," sometimes translated as, "armor of righteousness," has been interpreted many ways, from the plausible to the ludicrous. These weapons are often linked to our … Continue reading The Weapons of Righteousness
https://youtu.be/rLBw8a7Rdxc I am currently teaching a course through 1 John. This is the fourth lesson in the series. In it, we take a look at the command to love one another and consider C.S. Lewis' book, The Four Loves to prime the pump and get us thinking about the depth of this command. All … Continue reading 1 John: Loving One Another and the Four Loves
It is not wrong for you to pursue your joy. The problem with fallen man is not that we seek our pleasure, but that we are seeking it in cisterns that can hold no water. As John Piper puts it, "we are far too easily pleased." God has offered Himself to us as our source … Continue reading Desiring God Book Study by Chapter
The Fight of Faith 