Jesus was invited to dine with a Pharisee. Perhaps surprisingly, he accepted. He who said that he came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10) would presumably have plenty to seek and save over supper. But as the party proceeded, it was unexpectedly crashed, by a woman known not by name but by sin. Luke records neither.
Tag Archives: Faith
The Veil of Unbelief
It is not your heritage, your family, your works, or your best intentions that will make you right with God. We are saved only by God’s grace alone through faith alone. According to his sovereign election, he first brings us to life by the power of his Holy Spirit. Then leads us to repentance and gives us the faith to believe. And it is by faith alone that we become children of God, adopted heirs of the kingdom, to the glory of God alone.
When In Doubt
In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, the writer walks us through what has become known as the Hall of Faith. Some in the Hall are expected, such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, and of course Abraham. Some are a surprise, such as Samson. And then there are the unnamed, who suffered and died for their faith. Based on the descriptions scholars have speculated as to who might be included among those “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:38). There are some pretty good guesses, such as Jeremiah, but one I think certainly makes this list is one of my heroes of the faith, John the Baptist.
The Conviction of Things not Seen
Of course, you don’t have to be a serious military man to have faith in Jesus, but you do have to take him at his word, believing that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). This is the testimony of the Word God has given. Don’t make it harder than it is. As a matter of fact, in it we are assured and by it convicted, and Jesus is Savior and Lord of all who believe.
Fruit from the Heart
What is your life built on? Is it built on your profession, your wealth, your pleasure? Is it built on the blessing of family or the wealth of friends, both good things? Consider carefully the foundation of your life. Whether the foundation of your life is built on what you consider good or evil, unless it is built on Christ, it will not survive.
Salvation Is He
Although not our text for today, I want us to begin thinking about the seventy-second psalm, which serves as a description of Israel’s ideal king. Likely written by Solomon, upon first reading the psalm sounds self-descriptive. He prays for God-given justice and righteousness and the ability to govern accordingly, all kingly blessings. He prays for prosperity from the land and protection for the people, all national blessings. From its beginning, the psalm sounds like the prayerful petitions of a king known for his wisdom.
Good News of Great Joy
We often think of the sudden, supernatural appearance of the heavenly host in relation to Jesus’ birth, and rightly so. But in a sense, their explosion of praise is but a commencement of our continued celebration. Paul said, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord,” and so we do, boasting in what God has done in sending his Son. Think about it: We have assembled on this Lord’s Day, the day of Christ’s resurrection, based on the full revelation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is only fitting that we join the heavenly host in crying out, “Glory to God in the highest!” For, our greatest joy comes in and through the good news of Jesus Christ.
Behold Your God!
This light has been shining in the darkness of spiritual depravity and blindness since Christ’s coming, advancing according to Christ’s commission. His unstoppable gospel will advance, disciples will be made, his church will assemble, and he shall be praised to the ends of the earth. And then, the end shall come, and the glory of God will be revealed in the second coming of his Son and the redemption of his people. The kingdom of God will conquer all kingdoms in a Word, and “nations shall come to [the] light, and kings to the brightness of [the] rising” (Isa. 60:3). Unbelievers will be judged and condemned to eternal damnation and believers will be found standing only in the righteousness of Christ. The world will be filled with reverence and awe, as a loud voice is heard saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Rev. 21:3). And darkness will be no more, only the pure light of God’s radiance, and we will hear what our hearts’ desire: “Behold your God!” And so we shall, forever.
The Dwelling Place of God
Have you ever longed for something, with great anticipation, only to find that when that something arrived it fell far short of what you imagined? How often is our ideal contrary to reality? How often does this lead to frustration with our circumstances and discouragement in the moment? It is likely that all of us have experienced this to one degree or another. But what if your religion, family, home, nationality, your identity, were all connected and directed toward what was to come, and what if you had waited not three or four years but seventy? It sounds like a set-up for disappointment. Coming out of the Babylonian exile and returning to their homeland, the children of Israel were more than disappointed; they were despondent.
Post Tenebras Lux
Of Judah’s kings, there were the good, the bad, and the ugly. Perhaps there was a bit of ugly in all of them, but Hezekiah was one of the good ones. During his reign, he cleansed the temple of idols, restored right and regular worship, including reinstating Passover. He trusted the Lord for victory over the Assyrians and for personal healing of a life-threatening disease. But for the good reign he enjoyed, he personally did not finish well, falling prey to pride in his possessions and an ugly selfishness that characterized his last recorded words.
Planter, Pastor, Preacher 