24 posts tagged “bible”
Has anyone ever done something so horrible to you that "I'm sorry" couldn't fix it?
Jesus said: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." That is recorded in Matthew 6:14-15.
Forgiveness should come regardless of whether someone says "I'm sorry", or indeed even if the person is not sorry. It's not easy, because it is against human nature.
But that is part of why we need a new nature. The apostle Paul wrote: "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God" (Romans 8:8). Indeed, describing life under the sinful nature, Paul said: "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out" (Romans 7:18).
That is why Jesus told Nicodemus: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (John 3:3). Truly yielding to Jesus as our Lord brings a change of nature that is so profound that the Bible calls it being "born again". It is being born into a spiritual, rather than fleshly, life. Jesus said: "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (John 3:6).
Only those who are God's children, who have been forgiven by Him through yielding to Him, can truly take to heart what Paul wrote to the Colossians: "Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13). It may be against human nature, but not against the spiritual nature that God imparts to us.
Of course, it is not always easy to yield to that nature, but we don't have a choice. God commands it. For us not to forgive is to disobey God and fall into sin. That means that the person most hurt by my lack of forgiveness is me!
It never ceases to amaze me how rich is the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Every single word in it contains so much meaning and divine power.
This came home again to me recently, when our pastor, Dr Tim Cantrell, began a new series on the First Epistle to Timothy by preaching an entire sermon on Paul's opening greeting in the book.
The entire passage reads, in the NIV:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy my true son in the faith: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (1 Tim 1:1-2)
When Tim completed the reading, I confess I was very curious to see how he would base a whole sermon on a greeting that most preachers would pass over.
But wow! What a powerful sermon. In addition to the actual lessons of the sermon, I gained a fresh perspective on how every single word of Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16).
If you're interested, you can download an MP3 of the sermon here.
What's the best thing about today?
Psalm 118:24 (NIV): "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
What have you changed your mind about?
Submitted by chitoes.
The most important change of mind I had was not self-initiated!
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
-- Romans 8:5-9 (NIV)
What are five words you really like?
Submitted by purplesque.
"Death shall be no more" - Revelation 21:4 (American Standard Version).
The minister of home affairs and I are being so blessed by the ministry of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary through its provision of audio resources such as past conferences, guest lectures and Bible studies.
Every Friday night we listen to teaching by seminary president Dr. Albert Mohler on the Gospel of Matthew, which we find incredibly enriching and valuable input for our Christian walk. The study is still ongoing - Dr. Mohler has taught 43 lessons so far and is still on Matthew 7! That's how in-depth the studies are.
We have also been listening to various past conferences at the seminary, including ones on "Why One Way?", "Has God Really Spoken?" and so on. I am currently listening to sessions from the conference "Postmodernism" whenever I can.
If you are looking for real meat - good solid teaching, I can really recommend these resources. The seminary's audio resources can be found here, while Dr. Mohler's Bible studies can be found here.
It never ceases to amaze me how the internet does things like allow people here in South Africa to benefit from the teaching of people as far away as America!
The fact that some Muslim leaders are looking to bring about peace with the West is a positive thing on the face of it. However, there are certain alarm bells that should be ringing when we read the article in The Washington Times.
First, the article mentions that "Muslims and Christians share the same belief in the principles of love of one God and love of the neighbor. The Georgetown scholars pointed to a number of similarities between the Holy Koran and the Holy Bible." This may be true, to an extent. The Koran has some similarities to the Bible because Mohammed borrowed from the Bible when he wrote the Koran, and, while Christians and followers of Islam do both believe in one God, the God of the Bible is not the same god as Allah. Not by a long shot.
The article also points out that the Koran, like the Bible, contains the command "to love God fully with one's heart and soul and to be fully devoted to Him". Again, I must point out that the two books are not talking about the same God.
More important than what the books have in common, let's consider one important difference. According to the Bible, Acts 4:12, there is salvation in no one else but Jesus. Jesus said (John 14:6) "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."
Paul wrote under inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).
Islam denies the Lordship of Jesus and denies His resurrection from the dead. In doing so, it cuts people off from salvation.
By all means, let's have peace, but not at any cost -- not when what is common is given precedence over what is different, and what makes the difference between eternity in heaven and eternity in hell.
Book: Show us a book everyone should read before they die.
Submitted by Rob.
Sermons We See
Edgar Guest
I'd rather see a sermon
than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me
than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil
and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it
if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed of kindness,
I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles
and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him,
then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful
as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness
that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them,
but the one who shows the way.
One good man teaches many,
men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed
is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor
learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language
which to every one is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me
with his eloquence, I say,
I'd rather see a sermon
than to hear one, any day.
If you are looking for good Christian resources, check out Christian Lounge.
It's maintained by the South African Theological Seminary, where I was once a student, and I still find it quite useful.
It's not a heavily theological site, although there is a theology section. There are also resources for families, individuals and so on.
But if theology is more to your liking, check out the seminary's journal, Conspectus, which is published online.
