Tag Archives: sanctification

Get a free appraisal of your life

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What is your life worth?

On the popular PBS Antiques Roadshow, collectors discover that they can turn trash into treasure, thanks to the appraisal skills of the show’s specialists in antiques and fine art. The difference between trash and treasure is how much someone would pay for the collectable. There have been many spinoffs and copycat appraisal shows, but none of them ever provided answers from experts on the value of your life. So, let’s get an expert appraisal of what your life is worth Continue reading Get a free appraisal of your life→

Stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

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Stand fast and keep a strong grip on the teaching

Sometime after writing to this fledgling church in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul hears they are being thrown into confusion by fake news that the day of the Lord has already happened. After addressing the issue and reminding them of the doctrinal details, he concludes with this general exhortation to stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching they had received from him. We can benefit from these instructions too. Paul is concerned about the stability of this fledgling Continue reading Stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching (2 Thessalonians 2:15)→

Final exhortations to a fledgling church (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22)

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Final exhortation to a fledgling church

The Apostle Paul closes his first letter to a fledgling church with these final exhortations. This letter was written after Timothy returned with mostly good news about their spiritual growth in the Lord. It is full of thanksgiving to God for the faith, love, and hope of the new church. It also contains things he didn’t have time to teach them. It answers their questions about the future resurrection and rapture. And, it contains strong rebukes against sexual immorality and Continue reading Final exhortations to a fledgling church (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22)→

What about alcohol? Can a Christian drink? (Health Update)

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Almost all Bible students agree on the basic underlying Biblical principles on the subject of alcohol. But, many disagree on the applications of these principles. When you understand the principles, I believe the Holy Spirit will help your conscience make the appropriate application of these principles in your life. However you decide the Holy Spirit is leading you, I hope you remember that alcohol is an intoxicant that can affect your judgment—and when abused can be dangerously destructive in your life and those around you—and can permanently damage Continue reading What about alcohol? Can a Christian drink? (Health Update)→

Walking worthily — lead a life worthy of God

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Walking Worthy of the gospel, the calling, the Lord, being saints, love of God

Throughout history and in every other religion on Earth, mankind strives to be worthy of God. Every man-made religion teaches how to become good enough to merit God’s approval. That is the opposite of Christianity. Jesus Christ did all the work. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised Continue reading Walking worthily — lead a life worthy of God→

The teaching and example of the Hebrew Scriptures — live in complete harmony with one another

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The Hebrew Scriptures teach endurance to live in complete harmony with each other

The Hebrew Scriptures teach endurance to live in complete harmony with each other Jesus Christ puts a strong emphasis on the importance of harmony in the church. Read A Modern-Day Parable of Romans 14 (How to avoid conflicts in the church) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. (Romans 15:4 NIV) According to Merriam-Webster, endurance is defined to be the ability to withstand hardship Continue reading The teaching and example of the Hebrew Scriptures — live in complete harmony with one another→

Psalms of instruction in wisdom and the blessing of the wise life

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Psalms of instruction in wisdom and the blessing of the wise life

Some psalms are called wisdom psalms because they make a case for the primary importance of wisdom or instruct readers in dealing with questions, issues, and doubts that arise in life (see Pss 1, 14, 25, 34, 37, 39, 49, 73, 78, 90, 91, 111, 112, 127, 128, 131, 133, 139). Many other psalms contain elements of wisdom teaching (see Pss 18, 27, 31, 32, 40, 62, 92, 94, 107, 144, 146). (New Living Translation (NLT) Study Bible Notes) Psalms Continue reading Psalms of instruction in wisdom and the blessing of the wise life→

10 Psalms of trust in God’s goodness and care for his people

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10 Psalms of trust in God

Sometimes it’s hard to trust anybody. It’s hard to trust your immediate family. It’s hard to trust your work. It’s hard to trust government. The reason it’s hard to trust is because we know we’re not trustworthy. If we can’t even trust ourselves, how can we trust anybody else? In times like these, you need someone you can trust. Someone who has your best interests in mind. Someone who has never let you down. And, someone who won’t ever leave Continue reading 10 Psalms of trust in God’s goodness and care for his people→

What about self-righteousness? (the damnable sin of justifying yourself)

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Self-righteousness — the damnable sin of justifying yourself

Self-righteousness is the sin of justifying yourself. It comes in 2 different forms: Cain tried to hide his feelings of inadequacy and jealousy by being proud of his accomplishments, which didn’t work, and eventually caused him to murder his brother (Genesis 4) Nebuchadnezzar was so proud of his accomplishments that he believed he was greater than the power and glory of God, which cost him everything until he was humbled (Daniel 4) The first is a sad hypocritical attempt to Continue reading What about self-righteousness? (the damnable sin of justifying yourself)→

How to change: cast off the old and put on the new

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How to change: cast off the old and put on the new

Change is hard! Change is painful! And what’s worse, the hardest and most painful part of change is you. Your brain doesn’t want to change — it’s difficult to reprogram yourself. Your body doesn’t want to change — it’s comfortable with the old habits. Therefore, most people won’t change until the pain of not changing is worse than the pain of changing. You may have recognized you need to change. You may have tried to change in the past. But, you Continue reading How to change: cast off the old and put on the new→