Spiritual drowsiness is something with which all Christian struggle. When Paul tells us to "wake from sleep" in Romans 13:11, we know he is speaking to Christians. He sounds the alarm because our “salvation is nearer than when we first believed." What are some signs that we, as Christians, are spiritually sleepy? Here are four. … Continue reading 4 Signs We Are Spiritually Sleepy
If you are feeling the weight of the world, please take a moment to read the following timeless encouragement written in 1856 by James Smith. If you are a sincere believer in Jesus, whatever may be your present difficult circumstances, however trying, however perplexing: it will all end in mercy! You may not think so … Continue reading Hope for the Heavy Heart
It is crucial for us as believers to recognize the war against our souls. The enemy is more personal than we tend to realize and more publicly encouraged than we often recognize. Being conscious of it and entering the battle is one of the first steps to living in the Spirit. CLICK TO READ MORE
The following is a post by Pastor Rob Golding of First Artesia Christian Reformed Church. He also writes for the Westminster Theological Seminary Magazine. What do people really mean when they say, “Jesus is my life”? What did Paul mean when he said, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal … Continue reading Life in Christ and the Struggle with Sin
This morning I had the privilege of preaching at Bethel Grace Baptist Church. Since it was New Year’s Day, I wanted to spend time in a powerful passage of scripture to prepare us for what is ahead in 2023. This sermon gives five encouragements to live in the Spirit while also showing how to live … Continue reading How to Live in the Spirit
God’s mercies are new every morning, and they are also new every year. However, sometimes, we can expect too much from the turning of the calendar. If we look back over the past year, even with its joys and graces, many aspects of this fallen world still plagued us, including personal battles with sin. This … Continue reading The Turning of the Calendar
When we read God's statement in scripture where he says, "For this very purpose I have raised you up," commonplace religion has conditioned us always to expect the reason to be something positive for the person addressed. Perhaps God raised this person up to save a group of people from genocide, like Esther. Maybe God raised this … Continue reading For this Purpose I Raised You Up
We have already given too much of our lives doing things godless people do. It is time we consider ourselves dead to sin (Romans 6:11). We were born in iniquity. Adam's sin brought condemnation to us all (Romans 5:8), and before we complain that we should not be condemned for Adam's transgression, let us be sure that we have done … Continue reading Consider Yourself Dead to Sin
It does not matter if we follow all the rituals of Christianity perfectly; if the sinfulness of our hearts has not been cut off, our condemnation is justified. We cannot be children of God outwardly only. A child of God is one inwardly. Paul tells the Romans this very truth. He says, "For no one is a Jew … Continue reading Circumcision was a Matter of the Heart
The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor. 3:6) The law of God is holy and just and good; it is inexorable, and we have fallen under its just condemnation. That is at the bottom of what Paul means by the “the letter kills.’ He does not mean that attention to pedantic details shrivels … Continue reading The Letter Kills, but the Spirit Gives Life
The Fight of Faith 