LIVING AN OVERCOMING LIFE requires intentionality and an exercise of faith. It involves following hard after God. Specifically, it features yearning after Him in wonder; choosing a "resurrected" life in Christ. A.W. Tozer warns us that lack of holy desire leads to a stiff and wooden quality in our spirituality. "Complacency is a deadly foe …
Paul on Reconciliation
REGARDLESS OF WHAT OTHERS think of us, we are forgiven, redeemed, restored, set free from the past. Our lives have been turned around through the grace of God and the power of the cross. Lies, deceit, selfish motivation, manipulation, provocation—all are gone. We were not merely "remodeled" or "refurbished." Rather, the old self has passed …
Ephesians 1 & 2: Who We Are in Christ
THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS contains two main themes. First, Christ has reconciled all creation to Himself and to God. Second, Christ has united people from all nations to Himself and to one another in the Body of Christ. Ephesians provides vital instruction regarding who we are in Christ through redemption and sanctification; information which, unfortunately, …
The First Deception
Written by Steven Barto, B.S., Psych. I had a tough time picking a title for this post. Although I am presenting an account of the first deception in the Bible, there is also an amazing correlation between the punishment God administered for that deception—which is also the first sin—and the torture and torment suffered by …
We Are God’s Co-Workers
For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building. —1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV). WE ARE ALL CALLED to serve the Lord in one manner or another. We are His co-workers; part of the ultimate synergy—working as partners with God in the quest to spread the Gospel. Ours is a five-fold Gospel. …
Offense Kills!
As humans, we're easily offended. We fail to understand, however, that offense can become resentment; this, in turn, can lead to anger. Ultimately, unresolved anger can morph into hatred. Hatred, if left unchecked, can destroy us. Hatred corrodes the container it's carried in. John Bevere, in his book The Bait of Satan: Living Free …
Christ Suffered and Died: To Reconcile Us to God
DURING THE WEEK LEADING up to Easter I have presented seven distinct reasons why Christ suffered and died, culminating today with To Reconcile Us to God. Of course, there are countless more reasons for Christ's death, burial, and resurrection: To show His own love for us; to become an ransom for many; to bring us to …
Continue reading "Christ Suffered and Died: To Reconcile Us to God"
Christ Suffered and Died: To Make Us Holy, Blameless, and Perfect
DURING THE WEEK LEADING up to Easter I will present seven distinct reasons why Christ suffered and died, culminating on Easter Sunday with To Reconcile Us to God. Today we look at Christ suffering and dying to make us holy, blameless, and perfect before the Father. He has now reconciled [you] in His body of flesh …
Continue reading "Christ Suffered and Died: To Make Us Holy, Blameless, and Perfect"
Christ Suffered and Died: For the Forgiveness of Our Sins
DURING THE WEEK LEADING up to Easter I will present seven distinct reasons why Christ suffered and died, culminating on Easter Sunday with To Reconcile Us to God. Today we look at Christ suffering and dying for the forgiveness of our sins. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses. (Ephesians …
Continue reading "Christ Suffered and Died: For the Forgiveness of Our Sins"
Forming a Christian Worldview
IMPLICATIONS OF A WORLDVIEW Every worldview frames how one understands the world and how one acts in that world. Understanding the phenomenon of worldviews has implications for our thinking in at least three fundamental ways: (1) understanding what happens when variant worldviews meet, (2) recognizing the degree to which worldviews are inherited, and (3) acknowledging …