As Christians, we sometimes try to assess how we or others are doing on the basis of such things as how successfully we/they conquer a particular sin, how much prayer and Bible study we/they do, how regularly we/they attend and give to church, and so forth. But rarely do we honestly ask the question that…
We have seen that the life God created humans to enjoy is centered on a provision and a prohibition. At the center of the garden was: “The Tree of Life was in the midst of the garden, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” (Genesis 2:9b). But one of the trees was forbidden. God instructed them: “You may surely eat of every tree…
We have neglected the biblical teaching that the origin and essence of sin is rooted in the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:1-5). Consequently, we have tended to define sin as that which is evil, over against that which is good, rather than defining it more profoundly as that which is not in union…
Everything we are in Christ, and thus everything we are called to be in Christ, is summed up in the word love [agape]. To truly love God includes loving others with the same love God has for us and the same love God has for them (John 13:34). This is part of what it means…
By sacrificing himself for us, God ascribes unsurpassable worth to people who in and of themselves have little apparent worth. In doing this, God reveals his nature, which is eternal, unsurpassable love. You’d never know this about God, however, unless your eyes were fixed on Jesus (Heb. 12:2). Hence, every mental picture we have of…
Scripture repeatedly and emphatically commands us to live in love (Eph. 5:2) and to put love above and before all things (Col. 3:14, 1 Peter 4:8). It tells us that if we love, we fulfill everything else the Lord requires of us (Gal. 5:14). But that if we don’t love, nothing else we do is…
Using the book: Repenting of Religion by Gregory A. Boyd We human beings are burdened by our tendencies to harshly judge others and ourselves. Unfortunately for believers, this bent is as prevalent in the church as in the world. Our fundamental sin is that we place ourselves in the position of God and divide the…
“I never thought about this before,” I said to Lynne as we were discussing a book someone had recommended to us. “Thriving in Babylon” by pastor Larry Osborne presents a unique portrait of Daniel the Prophet. I have always loved the book of Daniel, but like most students of Scripture, I tended to look more…
Letter 16 Themes: Church shopping and criticism; being teachable; humility and love on secondary doctrinal issues. Letter 17 Themes: Different facets of gluttony; greed related to sensuality (sins of the senses); selfishness; fasting. Letter 18 Themes: Nature and the role of love; physical intimacy and oneness in marriage; feelings of being “in love”.
Our life is not found in correct doctrine or in our piety, as important as these are. To get life from these things is religion. Our life is rather found in Jesus Christ, and in Jesus Christ alone. When we repent of our religion and commit to seeing God, ourselves, and every person we encounter…
