The title to this article may seem strange, since a basic characteristic of any Christ-honoring, Bible-believing church is to bring people into the church. On the other hand, a situation could occur in a church in which a person might be encouraged to leave. One such situation is described below. ADULTERY PARTNERS IN THE SAME CHURCH When…
The goal for a wholehearted disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is to know Him and be like Him. Realizing this goal involves abiding in God. As a point of clarification, abiding in God and abiding in Christ are interchangeable concepts. 1 John 2:22-25, Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the…
Excerpted from Forgiveness: The Impossible Possibility The challenge to maintain biblical forgiveness will be waged in the minds of those who grant forgiveness. The three major tests in this regard are Memory, Reminder, and Imagination (M.R.I.) Memories related to forgiven sins can resurface and be significant hindrances for believers to maintain biblical forgiveness. These memories often focus on painful…
Excerpted from Forgiveness: The Possible Impossibility Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity. There is no activity of Christian life that is more closely aligned to the love of God and the willing sacrifice of Christ than forgiving others. Believers who practice forgiveness receive spiritual benefits but, on the other hand, consequences accrue to those choosing…
For most of us, the most pressing concern of prayer is the anticipated answer. Hindered by limited wisdom yet unhindered by boundless emotion and hope, we often want God to answer our prayers quickly and according to our perspective. God, however, initially responds to prayer requests in one of two ways. His answer is either yes or no,…
Divine peace comes from God and His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:3). This peace is a tranquil harmony of heart and mind that maintains Christ-centered well-being regardless of circumstances or people. 1 Corinthians 1:3, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. At its foundation, this peace is a result…
Fools and scoffers are the most difficult people in the world to deal with as a review of their characteristics will attest. (See The Most Difficult People in the World for a biblical description of fools and scoffers). Sadly, more people than you might think can become fools or scoffers apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ.…
I Am Christ’s Friend – November 26, 2011 Devotional from Days of Praise* Some things in Scripture are harder to understand and believe than others. Christ, the Sovereign Creator of all things, the offended Judge who declared the penalty for sin to be death, the One who willingly died to pay that penalty and redeem…
All of us have experienced trouble in our lives, and most of us have helped or tried to help others who were going through difficulties. When trouble comes—and it surely will—believers in Christ are to trust the perfect and completely sufficient Word of God and remember the never-failing promises of God that provide hope in…
God’s Word presents truth for every aspect of daily life. These statements are as clear as the difference between black and white. The Ten Commandments are a prime example of such clarity. For example, there can be no misunderstanding of the prohibitions “you shall not steal” and “you shall not commit adultery.” From a positive…