Some of Scripture’s strongest encouragements come in the middle of some of its darkest passages. 2 Peter 2:1-11 is one such passage. It contains one of the darkest and most foreboding condemnations of false teachers, but Peter wrote it to encourage us. We see this when we get to verse nine, but to truly appreciate … Continue reading Bright Hope on a Dark Canvas
We may say we are fully content with God and that he is all we need, but we all wrestle with certain sinful attitudes and behaviors that communicate otherwise. They are characteristics incompatible with fulfillment in God, but there is hope. The more we grow in Christian contentment, the more these tendencies will lose their … Continue reading 8 Characteristics Incompatible with Christian Contentment
As Jeremiah Burroughs puts it, Christian contentment is a rare jewel. Every believer should strive to possess it, but often, we misunderstand what it is and expect it to do things it will never do. To summarize Burroughs, here are three things Christian contentment does not include. Firstly, Christian contentment does not mean we will … Continue reading 3 Misunderstandings of Christian Contentment
They were gaining on me. Every breath I took was weighed down by the awareness that they were close behind. I had entered at the narrow gate, but somehow, they had managed to follow me onto the path. I could hear their taunts. Every one of their footsteps was like the sound of a war … Continue reading Enemies on the Narrow Road
The fear of God is the essential part of true wisdom. As Solomon has said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding!” (Proverbs 9:10). Even though this Godly wisdom may be reputed as folly by the ungodly world and considered an indication of a disordered mind, … Continue reading The Difference Between Education and Wisdom
"Strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able!" Luke 13:24 This is the only gate which leads to pardon of sin, peace with God, and Heaven. Whoever goes in by this gate, shall be saved. Never, surely, was a gate more needed! Sin … Continue reading A Gate Made for Sinners
Peter delivers a succinct yet profound directive to believers in 1 Peter 4:7. He tells us, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” However, many misread Peter’s primary point—they lose it in the details. While many interpret Peter’s main instruction as a call … Continue reading Prayer as an Indicator of Spiritual Health
Does Peter tell us the gospel was preached to the dead? 1 Peter 4:6 presents a theological complexity that warrants careful examination. It reads, "For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the … Continue reading Was the Gospel Preached to the Dead? – Understanding 1 Peter 4:6
Many of us have slipped into an Evangelical assumption about the Christian life that does not align with Scripture. We live a Christian existence that is far from the biblical reality. We have begun to see the spiritual life as not much more than attending church to listen to sermons—some good, some bad, doing our … Continue reading Evangelical Assumptions About the Christian Life
It is sad to say that the precious doctrine of limited atonement is reviled by some. John Wesley and company used to refer to Calvinism as the “doctrine of demons,” and surely limited atonement was seen as the crown jewel in Satan’s coronet. This is a tragedy because this doctrine reveals to us the heart … Continue reading The Beauty of Limited Atonement
The Fight of Faith 