During my college days, the end of each semester would always be a hard time for me because that’s when all the papers and projects were due and the final exams were given.  Once I turned in that final paper and gave my last completed exam to the professor, a tremendous feeling of satisfaction would always come over me, a felling that said, “Now I don’t have to do anything else.  I have no more responsibilities.  I can relax, take it easy and do nothing.”  It’s tempting to have that same mindset when it comes to Christianity. … Read More Calvinism and 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

Having a conformity mindset easily leads to doing things which one knows are wrong in the sight of God.  If everyone uses bad language, conformists will use bad language also.  They will dress immodestly because everyone else does so.  They will drink alcohol since everyone else is drinking at the get-together.  Conformists do this because they are afraid of the scorn and ridicule which inevitably comes from their peers if they do not conform and instead behave differently than them.  Fear makes it much easier to conform, all the while forgetting or ignoring the fact that conforming to the sinful ways of the world makes one an enemy of God (1 John 2:15-17).… Read More “Do Not Be Conformed to this World”

When we turn to His Word and obey it, His light illuminates our lives, no matter how darkened by sin they may be (Psalm 119:105).  It’s tragic that many refuse this Light because they refuse to obey God’s Word.  Don’t be one of them!  Accept what His Word says about receiving the salvation He offers through His grace and our confessed faith, repentance and baptism into His body which is His one and only church (Titus 2:11-12; Romans 10:9-10; John 3:16; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:4-6).  Once you’ve come up out of the waters of baptism having obtained His gift of grace, keep it by continuing to obey His Word, penitently confessing your sins when you commit them (John 8:31-32; Hebrews 10:26-31; 1 John 1:7-9; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11).… Read More “I Am the Light of the World”

Forbearance is the putting up with the wrongs of another for a season with a view toward repentance.  The person we forebear is not what he or she should be yet, but we forebear with a view toward their maturing.  Forgiveness is releasing a person from their sin.… Read More “Should You Not Have Had Mercy?”

Christians are commanded in the Bible to not conform to the world (Romans 12:2a), but the temptation to do just that is very strong.  The power of influence is something which cannot be overlooked.  We are influenced by those around us every day in numerous ways.  The clothes we wear, the way we comb our hair, the cars we drive, the food we eat…these choices and more are made by us as a result of the influence of the society around us. … Read More When You Want to Have It Both Ways