Merely going through the motions is unacceptable in the Christian life. This truth is a key part of what Paul tells Titus when he says, “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure (Titus 1:15).” This statement presents such a severe dichotomy that it should leave our … Continue reading A Ritualistic Heart is an Impure Heart
Some Christian doctrines are weightier than others. When discussing Christian theology, many of us have heard the helpful quote attributed to Augustine, "In the essentials, unity, in the non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity." There is much to be learned from this quote, but did you know that many Bible teachers identify four different … Continue reading 4 Categories of Doctrinal Weight in Christian Theology
He sat in church while the pastor delivered eternal truths but could not stay awake. Soul-saving exhortation was coming at him, but he was busy catching his head every time he nodded off. It wasn’t that he had had a busy week or even stayed up too late the night before; it was that he … Continue reading Stay Awake
Those who teach that works must be added to faith as a condition for salvation can never tell you when you have done enough. This fact alone exposes why you will never find assurance of salvation in their systems. The problems with believing our right standing before God is a result of Christ’s work, plus … Continue reading The Pitfalls of Faith Plus Works
Everything short of hell is mercy. This one truth should change the way we view our hardships and frustrations, no matter how terrible they may be. If we, as sinners, are not facing the wrath of the infinitely Holy God at this moment, our life is better than we deserve. That is true for every … Continue reading Everything Short of Hell is Mercy
Last night, I woke up thinking about something I had witnessed long ago that had disturbed my young faith. The years have stolen most of the details of that night from my memory, but the impactful aspect of the event still lingers. It was one of those moments when the simplicity of youth is confronted … Continue reading A Disturbance at the County Fair
The following is a guest post by Pastor Rob Golding of First Artesia Christian Reformed Church. Sexual sin dominates the human landscape because, in part, it feeds off one of God’s most physically compelling gifts. However, there is an even stronger desire that more principally compels the human longing to transgress God’s design for sex. The … Continue reading We Crave Pride, Not Pleasure
What is all this struggle in the world for? Why so many attempts to be something and have something in a realm that will not last? This struggle for passing vanities is like foam and bubbles contending for a place on a rapid stream—gone in a moment! We forget that we are here today and … Continue reading How to Spend this Short Life
I know from experience that when faced with troublesome circumstances beyond our control, our natural reaction is to fear, but we must ask ourselves, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" Have we forgotten our Father, and how many times he has delivered us? Yes, the storm is raging, but he can … Continue reading Why Are You So Afraid?
To borrow a phrase from C.S. Lewis, every worldly pleasure you are pursuing is “doomed to final frustration.” These include sinful pleasures and lawful ones. One day, they will either fail to live up to your expectations, or death will come knocking on your door and steal them from your hands. This final frustration means … Continue reading Doomed to Final Frustration
The Fight of Faith 