God
Signs of Grace
Paul began his second letter to the Thessalonian church with these encouraging words, “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure” (2 Thess. 1:3–4).…
Unraveling the “Mystery”
Several passages in the New Testament use the word “mystery” in connection with God’s plan for the redemption of man (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:9; 3:3-4; Col. 1:26). But why call this plan a mystery? In modern English usage, we use “mystery” to refer to things that lie outside our understanding or that defy explanation. For example, the location of Jimmy Hoffa is a mystery. The fate of the Ark of the Covenant is a mystery. Were the writers of scripture…
God’s Plan for Man’s Redemption
Even though Adam never met Abraham, Moses never met David, and Jeremiah never met John, they are all inextricably linked. Though the Bible is a compilation of 66 separate books, it tells but one story. The personalities of the Bible and the books that tell us of them are all connected as integral parts of God’s plan for the redemption and salvation of mankind. That, really, is the theme of all scripture: the salvation of mankind from the guilt of…
How Should We Serve God?
The Christian’s relationship to God is that of servant to master. When one opens his heart to God and obeys the gospel of Jesus Christ, he becomes a servant of righteousness (Rom. 6:16-18). No longer is he his own master. He belongs to another (1 Cor. 6:19-20). As servants of God, what characteristics should govern our service? We should serve fully. Tragically, it was said of Solomon that he “did not fully follow the Lord” (1 Kings 11:6). Jesus said, “No…
What Exodus Teaches Us About God
Exodus does not merely tell the facts about the Jewish people escaping slavery. It draws the reader ever closer to the God who made it all happen. What do we learn about God in the book of Exodus? God Keeps His Promises. God had promised Abraham that he would make a great nation out his descendants (Gen. 12:2; 15:12-16). The book of Exodus emphasizes God’s intention to fulfill those promises (Exo. 2:24; 3:6–8, 15–17; 4:5; 6:2–8; and also 32:13). God…
God Isn’t Finished with You Yet
For the conscientious Christian, weaknesses and failures can be particularly vexing. To put it bluntly and personally, I hate it when I fail to live up to God’s standard. It irritates me. I know that when it comes to sinners, the apostle Paul staked a claim to the moniker, “chief” (1 Tim. 1:15). But he died centuries ago, and there are days when I believe I can make a compelling case that I now deserve chieftain status in the tribe…
Foundations of Progress
If someone asked you to identify the most basic fundamental principle that must be present in order for humans to reach their full potential in knowledge and wisdom, what would you say? How about this: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Prov. 9:10). True knowledge and wisdom are rooted in…