God's promises to Moses came true, but only after his death. This truth should encourage us because God's promises to us do not die when we die. Joshua chapter one opens by telling us that Moses was dead and Joshua was to take over and lead the people into the promised land. Moses had worked … Continue reading Moses’s Unfinished Journey: Death and Work Left Undone
The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God! - Psalm 9:17 The words before us are a plain and unequivocal declaration from God Himself respecting the doom which awaits every impenitent sinner. May God impress our minds with a solemn awe as we consider them. Who does God regard … Continue reading Who Does God Consider Wicked?
Some aspects of biblical truth run so contrary to culture that even many in the church find them extreme. Take, for example, the author of Hebrews' admonition to his readers about resisting sin. He had already told them that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. In saying this, he was … Continue reading You Have More Fight to Give
Worldliness is the besetting sin of most professing Christians! It is certain that very many of them are as eager in the pursuit of wealth as the heathen. This accounts for the little influence of the Word of God upon them. The seed is good, but the soil is bad! And the noxious weeds of worldliness, by their speedy and … Continue reading Escaping the Grip of Worldliness
After writing the first post in this series, the topic I discussed became real. An immunocompromised person who began attending our church in the past year got sick and, tragically, died. - CLICK TO READ MORE
This is the first post in a two-part series on church and health by Rob Golding, Pastor of First Artesia CRC. I may be a day late and a dollar short, but I have heard many people say that they are going to avoid certain gatherings due to the chance that they might get sick. … Continue reading What Are You Living For?: Exploring Church, Family, and the Threat of Illness
When the author of Hebrews makes the negative case concerning the blood of Christ, its significance is far-reaching. Throughout the book, he makes the positive case that Christ’s blood can cleanse us from dead works. Still, later he says, “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin” (Heb. 9:22). By saying it this way, he cuts off any other options we think we might have, yet we live in a world that believes there are many roads to God. CLICK TO READ OR LISTEN
Our world will soon be flooded with essays, poetry, artwork, videos, and even music no one has created. Much of that work will be better than the art created by humans, and many people will think that our world will be a better place because of it, but if we have better content and more … Continue reading Why A.I. Might Leave Us Feeling Empty
A fascinating three-part argument regarding the forgiveness and unforgiveness of willful sin runs through Hebrews chapters 9 and 10. It is one of those arguments that displays the sophistication of the book, but if you are not paying attention, you will miss it. The recipients of the book of Hebrews seem to have been Christians … Continue reading The Forgiveness and Unforgiveness of Willful Sin
What is the conscience, and, most importantly, how can a guilty conscience be cleansed? We live in a culture of therapy. Guilt and anxiety run rampant, and many people are trying to find relief in ways that will only make things worse. This sermon, preached at First Artesia CRC, looks at Hebrews 9:1-14. After exposing the insufficient remedies for guilt, it points to the one true fountain, where the conscience can be washed clean. -CLICK FOR MORE.
The Fight of Faith 