Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. (Psalm …
What Christ Does with Our Sins (Part 1)
Jesus said: Your sins are forgiven….Go in peace….I do not condemn you….Go now and leave your life of sin. (Luke 7:48,50; John 8:11) Even solid Christians sometimes lack assurance of salvation. Martin Luther, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, and C. S. Lewis struggled with doubts. True believers can worry and wonder if God is really reconciled to us. The Lord told …
Christ-like Love: Discuss Without Arguing
Used at Belhaven University and in the class: Christ-likeness—The Fruit of the Holy Spirit Anything which lacks love is worthless in God’s sight and displeasing to Him….This knowledge about which you Corinthians boast, is in the opposite camp to love, for it fills men with arrogance and makes them look contemptuously on their brothers. Love on the other hand moves …
Christ-like Love: Giving and Praying
Used at Belhaven University and in the class: Christ-likeness—The Fruit of the Holy Spirit My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you….And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them….Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with …
Christ-like Love: Listening and Speaking
Used at Belhaven University and in the class: Christ-likeness—The Fruit of the Holy Spirit Our Lord Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”1 Christ brings us eternal life with God through His sinless life, His crucifixion and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His eternal alive-ness, His presence with us, …
Hiding In Jesus
You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance….The Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. (Psalm 32:7; 94:22) A Gifted Hymnwriter William Orcutt Cushing (1823-1902) was raised in a Unitarian family, but through Bible reading, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, …
The Blue Marble Revisited and Peace in Christ
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom….So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand….For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of …
Christ is My Strong Tower
For you (Christ) have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe….The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe….The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him. (Psalm 61:3; Proverbs 18:10; Nahum 1:7) This continues our comments on Scriptures selected by …
Christ is My Hope, My Trust, My Confidence
You are my hope; O Lord God, you are my trust and the source of my confidence from my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you….Now we have great confidence in God through Christ. (Psalm 71:5-6; 2 Cor 3:4) This continues our series commenting on Scriptures …
Free in Jesus, but Never Independent of Him
If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free….Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, …