“We cannot read God’s favor or disfavor by assessing how troubled a person’s life is… Suffering reveals the genuineness of faith in Christ. And suffering produces genuine faith. For example, when you struggle under affliction, the Psalms become real. True faith deepens, brightens, and grows wise. You grow up in knowing God… Suffering is both the acid test and the …
In our exploration of Colossians 1:15-20, we’ve encountered how Jesus is Divine life, resurrection life, and sustaining life. Today, we consider the final aspect of life in Jesus from Colossians 1. 6. We Live Through His Perfect Life “…and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his …
Last night at our Sunday Seminars we covered the article on Perseverance of the Saints. Our article reads, “Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by his Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation, into …
“But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.” Psalm 5:7 Devotion: We live in a day when, on paper at least, unity is a value. We want to see everyone as equal and as together in some sense. And that is what …
“Regardless of their moral standing among other men and women, every human being in their natural condition is hostile and inimical toward God. We follow the devil and the sinful inclinations of our hearts. We are corrupted and unbelieving, and to us nothing is pure; both our minds and consciences are defiled (Titus 1:15). And yet, in our salvation we …
On Sunday evening at Palmetto Shores Church, we continued with our Sunday Seminars, discovering what the Bible teaches about sanctification. Our article on Sanctification reads, “Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a …
In our exploration of Colossians 1:15-20, we’ve encountered how Jesus is the source, sustainer, and empowering force of life. Today, we look into another crucial aspect of life in Jesus: 5. We Live Through His Mediating Life “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…” Colossians 1:19a Jesus, the Mediator Verse 19 tells us that “in …
“For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” Psalm 5:4-6 Devotion: One of the most frustrating things in life is trying to live with someone who …
“What effect should the gospel have on us, though? “He must in-crease, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). For in the gospel is revealed the glory of the living, triune God, and in his light we creatures and sinners are exposed for the little wretches we are. The more we see of the gospel, the more the three persons of …
Throughout our journey into Colossians 1:15-20, we’ve discovered that Jesus is not only the source and sustainer of life but also the empowering force behind His church. Today, we explore another dimension of life in Jesus: 4. We Live Through His Resurrection Life “He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” Colossians …
