Category Archives: grace
authenticity: staying in the truth
2 John. John’s second letter was to a church group. Although he addressed it to “the elect lady and her children” all of the commands in it are plural, which suggests he had the group in mind. He encouraged them … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, faithfulness, gospel, grace, heresies, truth
Tagged 2 John
Leave a comment
Jesus and the skeptical woman
John 4:1-42. She had not had an easy life; things did not go her way. One could not blame her for being a bit skeptical when that Jewish prophet came into town. She expected him to have nothing to do … Continue reading
Jesus and the teacher
John 3:1-21. Jesus called Nicodemus “the teacher of Israel” (19). That title reflected back on what Nicodemus had called him – a teacher come from God (2). At that point in his life, Nicodemus could be called a success. He … Continue reading
after faith: proof
James 2:14-26. After faith comes into a person’s life, there will always be things that the person does that demonstrate the validity of that faith. These works could never be the basis of that person’s salvation, but they can prove … Continue reading
Posted in church, discipleship, faith, faithfulness, genuineness, grace, works
Tagged James 2
Leave a comment
evangelism: perspective on success
Romans 9:30-10:21. The children’s story of the tortoise and the hare teaches that success does not always come to the ones who are best equipped. The same is true of spiritual success: finding salvation. Paul was a Jew. He knew … Continue reading
evangelism: perspective on potential
Romans 9:1-29. If the doctrine of God’s sovereignty over the salvation of the lost has application concerning evangelism it is this: everyone you meet is a potential child of God. Background, pedigree, – even present lifestyle – neither of these … Continue reading
Posted in dependence upon God, ethnic Israel, evangelism, grace, Holy Spirit, will of God, witness
Tagged Romans 9
1 Comment
evangelism: an offer of freedom
Romans 7. If freedom is defined as the authority to do whatever you want, you have a problem. What you want often conflicts with itself. You may want to serve God and follow his commands, but you also want to … Continue reading
everyone needs evangelism
Romans 3:9-20. After showing that the self-condemned pagans need evangelism (1:18-32), and the self-righteous self-appointed judges need evangelism (2:1-16) – including the devoted religious people (2:17-3:8) — Paul quotes several Old Testament scriptures to verify his conclusion: everyone needs the … Continue reading
the Holy Spirit is the answer
Luke 1:26-56. Mary was amazed to find that she had been chosen of all women to give birth to the Messiah, the Son of God. Her question was not “why me?” because she knew that any time God works among … Continue reading
Posted in confidence, courage, dependence upon God, grace, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, trust
Tagged Luke 1
2 Comments
a sure calling and election
2 Peter 1:1-11. Peter affirms what the whole Bible attests to: that God calls believers to eternal life through the gospel, and chooses (elects) them for all eternity. From God’s standpoint, all believers have already obtained faith that saves, procured … Continue reading
Posted in atonement, gospel, grace, holiness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, sanctification
Tagged 2 Peter 1
Leave a comment
Devotions 