Posts from 2024

There are many different religious groups today that teach a doctrine called “the perseverance of the saints”; this teaching is commonly labeled as “once saved, always saved.” As we begin to think about what the Bible says about this topic, I want to show you a quote, from a website entitled allaboutGod.com, that articulates what “once saved, always saved” is all about: The Bible teaches “once saved, always saved” — that we can be saved once and for all only…

One of the most quoted verses in all of the Bible is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” While Philippians 4:13 is one of the most well-known verses in Scripture, in my opinion, it is also one of the most taken out of context. Philippians 4:13 is oftentimes quoted by athletes before sporting events, preachers as a source of general encouragement, or speakers at school graduations. Very rarely does a quotation of Philippians 4:13…

War requires communication. Communication is essential to victory in battle. Failing to realize this was one of the reasons why Germany so easily defeated France in the Battle of France in World War II. The German tanks had wireless radios that provided a means of instant communication. In contrast, from 1923- 1939, only 0.15% of the French military spending was used on communication equipment. Because the French were not able to communicate with one another as quickly as the Germans…

In order to stand against the attacks of our spiritual enemy, we must trust in God’s strength and take up His armor (Ephesians 6:10-20). There is one final piece of armor that we have not discussed yet that we must use in our battle against the enemy: “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). The other pieces of armor that we have considered over the last several weeks are usually only used defensively; this…

Have you ever sinned? I know that I have. In fact, Scripture teaches us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin separates humanity from God (Isaiah 59:2) because evil cannot dwell with God (Psalm 5:4). The price that we should have to pay for our sin is death (Romans 6:23). This is exactly what Satan wants for us. As our enemy, Satan’s number one goal is to destroy us (1 Peter 5:6).…

To first century Roman soldiers, a shield was a very significant defensive weapon. If you are like me, when I think of a shield, I think of a round circular piece of metal with a fancy looking symbol on it. However, the shields of first century Roman soldiers were not like that at all. According to an ancient Roman historian named Polybius, Roman shields were very large; they were in the shape of a rectangle, being four feet long and…

In our lives, we have different shoes for different occasions. Speaking in generalities, a football player wears cleats, a cowboy wears boots, a runner wears running shoes, a lawyer wears dress shoes, a basketball player wears high-top sneakers, and a surfer wears flip flops. The shoes that we wear depend on where we are and what we are doing. As Christians, as we wage war daily against Satan and his demons by putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians…

As we are all aware, Satan not only schemes against us (2 Corinthians 2:11) but also carries out those plans in an attempt to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). One way that Satan wages war against us is by trying to make us doubt our status before God. For example, Satan tried to create doubt in Eve’s heart concerning God’s word when he said to her, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’”…

As we go to war each day against Satan and his schemes, according to Ephesians 6:10-20, we must choose to take up the whole armor of God. When we take up the armor that God supplies for us, we will be able to stand against our enemy. We cannot stand against Satan based on our own strength; as we take up God’s armor, we must be strong in the power that He supplies. Our enemy, Satan, is a liar. As…

We are all familiar with the idea of war. I read about a group of historians who claim that, within the last 5,600 years, there have been 14,351 wars resulting in about 3.64 billion casualties. During that same period, there have only been 292 combined years of peace. There is a war going on right now that is not included in those statistics; it is a war that all Christians are a part of. As followers of Jesus, every single…

Over the past ten weeks, we have had the opportunity to consider the identity of Jesus Christ. Although we have certainly not covered the topic exhaustively, I believe that we have seen several helpful ideas that are both applicable to life and anchored to Scripture. We have thought about Jesus’ incarnation and role as Creator and Sustainer of all things. We have considered how Jesus makes the invisible Father known to us and speaks on His behalf. We have seen…

As Job went through an indescribable amount of suffering in Job 1-2, in Job 9, Job pictures himself in a courtroom with God. In Job’s attempt to demonstrate his innocence before God, he highlights this problem in Job 9:33: “There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.” In Job’s situation, there is no mediator between him and God. There is no one to intercede between the two parties. There is no one to lay…