The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
Tag Archives: Jesus Christ
Last week we explored the idea that God’s Grace teaches us to love God by bringing salvation to all mankind, teaches us to live in obedience to God, and teaches us to long for our eternal hope in God’s presence. In Scripture we are metaphorically referred to as the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and the Bond-Servant of Christ. God’s Grace also teaches us the expression of love for him is the “acceptable sacrifices” of Hebrews 12:28-13:17, including…..
Christianity in the Long Run
Acts 6:31 tells us “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” At that point of belief through which we enter into Salvation, we are redeemed, adopted, and sanctified. Our lives don’t freeze in that moment. Except in the case of eleventh-hour deathbed conversions, we generally aren’t carried to Heaven in that moment. We continue to live on this earth as spiritual newborns in Christ growing in the knowledge of God.
Scripture…..
Forever
When I was ten years old, my fifth grade teacher asked the class what we thought we would be like or be doing at the turn of the century. The purpose of the exercise was her philosophy that, having lived a full decade, we should know what we wanted to do as adults and focus on that for the rest of our academic careers. When I thought about the year 2000, all I could imagine was my age. I…..
Old and New Testament Parallels
Jeremiah 29:11-13 was a message to the Children of Israel, but it carries over to us, as well, to the New Testament Church: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall seek me and…..
Jesus Only
Philippians 2:5-11 expresses the heart of Jesus behind His incarnation, life, death, burial and resurrection:
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became…..
Before the Cross: Comfort and Final Instructions From Jesus
Before He was arrested and taken to the High Priest to be tried, to Pilate to be convicted, to Golgotha to be crucified, and to a borrowed tomb to be resurrected, Jesus met with His disciples one last time to encourage them and to give them final instructions. His talk to His disciples took place after celebrating the Passover at supper in an upper room. While many passages in the…..
Holy Spirit Assignment, Part 2
The night He was arrested and taken to the High Priest, Jesus spoke to His disciples after supper in the upper room. The discourse spans John 13-17. Giving final instructions to His disciples, Jesus’ talk included specific information about the Holy Spirit. Here is what He said about the ministry of the Holy Spirit to believers, including you and me.
The Holy Spirit…
Indwells Us Forever: John 14:16, 17 – “And I will ask…..
Born Again, Part 1
When Nicodemus asked Jesus about being “born again” (John 3:4), he was possibly not the first nor was he, by any means, the last to ask that question. Jesus’ response is written in John 3:5-6:
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you; except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which…..