I hear a lot of people quote Paul from Romans 7, using him as an example of a life of struggling (regularly giving in) to sin. Usually this is in the context of the cheap grace gospel being presented. And they quote, too, where he said that he was the chief of sinners, as though … Continue reading Was Paul a Hypocrite?

1 Peter 5:1-5 ESV “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God … Continue reading We Have an Enemy

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is NOT YOUR OWN DOING; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should … Continue reading Not Our Own Doing

Luke 9:23 ESV “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” If we want to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, to approach or to move toward him, we must deny (refuse, repudiate) ourselves. We must … Continue reading For, We Love Him

Romans 12:1 ESV “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The Appeal What is the goal (end result, outcome) of our faith? It is the salvation of our souls. And what is faith? … Continue reading Not Here for Ourselves

Titus 2:11-14 ESV “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave … Continue reading His Favor to Us

1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, … Continue reading The Outcome of Our Faith

1 Peter 1:13 ESV “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” How do we prepare our minds for action? What kind of action? This is kind of like getting ready for a hurricane to … Continue reading According to Each One’s Deeds

Galatians 2:20 ESV “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” “I,” that means “me,” my flesh has … Continue reading I No Longer Live

Romans 10:13-15 ESV “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are … Continue reading A Disobedient and Contrary People