13. Grace, Love, and Authority
The announcement of salvation coincides with the message, “Your God reigns” (Isa. 52:7). Christians recognize that salvation comes by the grace of God through faith (Eph 2:8-10). With this comes…
Tag: grace
Comfort and God’s Power
Isaiah 40 begins with an exhortation to comfort: “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that…
Repentance is Gospel
As John came preaching in the wilderness, he was “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). When some of the Pharisees and Sadducees came out…
The Redemption of Judah: Judah’s Role in Genesis
We often think of the latter part of Genesis as being all about Joseph. There is no doubt that the role of Joseph here is major. Yet we might also…
God’s Right to Judge
Justice is a common desire. When someone has committed a terrible act against another, we want to see justice done. We know there is something wrong about someone getting away…
Don’t Downplay Obedience
Obedience (submitting to and keeping God’s commandments) is one of those concepts that can get downplayed because of how it sounds. If we “have to” obey, then love and grace…
Miraculous Lessons
First, consider Mark 4:35-5:41. In these verses, several miracles are recorded for our reflection and understanding. The following take place: 1. Stilling the stormy winds on the sea of Galilee…
The Context of Grace
The announcement of salvation coincides with the message, “Your God reigns” (Isa 52:7). Christians recognize that salvation comes by the grace of God through faith (Eph 2:8-10). With this comes…
Political Correctness and the Christian
Christians increasingly must deal with political correctness (PC). This is the idea, according to the online dictionary (.com), of “avoiding vocabulary that is considered offensive, discriminatory, or judgmental.” They even…
Judgment and God’s Compassion
When Abraham was told about the destruction of cities known for unrepentant wickedness, he didn’t rejoice in that, but begged for them to be spared. When Jonah confronted a city…