Month: March 2008

An exegesis of 2 Peter 3:1-11 reveals an attempt by the Apostle Peter to remind Christians of God’s promise regarding the second coming of the Christ. The fact that time had passed did not lessen the surety of the promise, which would signify the salvation of God’s people, and the end of the physical universe. Such an eventuality teaches us to live lives of righteousness in preparation of His coming.

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We care the most when an event or circumstance impacts us directly. The Sermon points out that the grace of God and the gospel of Christ have a direct impact upon each and everyone of us. We should show our care by becoming obedient to God’s word.

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2 Corinthians 7:8-12

The apostle’s words here give us a wonderful example of the attitude that should be present in a Christian when convicted of sin.

Paul wrote concerning the various failings of the Corinthians, documenting many in his first epistle to that church. Verse 12 seems to indicate that Paul had specifically in mind their treatment of the immoral man in 1 Corinthians 5. They had tolerated his sin rather than withdrawing their fellowship from him, as Paul had commanded them.

But, at Paul’s instruction they had repented. Godly sorrow, as they were convicted of their sin, led them to repent. Such sorrow was strong, and led to indignation (toward themselves), and zeal (to prove their repentance). As a result of this profound change of heart regarding their sin, Paul stated, “In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter” (vs. 11). May we all show the same sorrow at our own transgressions.

In John 2:1-11, the apostle records Jesus’ miracle at the wedding feast in Cana. There are many important things to note regarding this event, where our Lord first “manifested His glory” (cf. vs. 11), but we are here most interested in the words spoken on this occasion. Specifically, we wish to examine Jesus’ words to His mother, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come” (vs. 4).

The remainder of Jesus’ spoken words in the text consist of His instructions to the servants, which led to the miracle itself (cf. vs. 7,8). The words are straightforward, and need no further explanation, so we will focus our comments on His words in verse four.

Continue reading ““My Hour Has Not Yet Come”” →

A review of the book, Moses the Egyptian: The Memory of Egypt in Western Monotheism, 1997, appears in the March/April 1998 issue of the Biblical Archaeology Review. The book was written by Jan Assmann, the review by Ronald Hendel. It seems that both the author and reviewer have a modernist view of the Bible, and the history it records.

Continue reading “In The News: Moses the Egyptian” →

In his first epistle, the apostle Peter describes Christians in various ways. Each description serves to establish a different aspect of the Christian’s life.

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The Christian is to be a servant of God. To be a servant, one must learn the principle of submission.

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The question of our title is similar to other questions that have been asked. Can a Christian be a lawyer? Or, can a Christian tend bar?

Those questions speak of the morality of the two occupations. While I believe that a Christian could certainly practice law, there are certain types of lawyers who seem, if they do their job successfully, to violate Christian morality.

However, when I ask the question, “Can a Christian be President?” I am not so concerned with the ethics of the job; rather, I am referring to the electability of a Christian. I am convinced that one who truly holds to the teachings of Jesus Christ would be considered an extremist, and would have no chance of being elected to the highest office in America.

Continue reading “In The News: Can A Christian Be President” →

Revelation 3:1-6

The Lord’s fifth letter to the seven churches, written to the church in Sardis, identifies a local congregation that was “dead.”

Sardis was the capital city of ancient Lydia, a province of Asia Minor. The Lord noted that the congregation there had “a name that you are alive.”

It must be noted that God does not see things the way man does (cf. Isaiah 55:8). That the church in Sardis was seen to be alive (perhaps by others, perhaps by themselves), held no sway with the Lord. He reserved his strongest condemnation for this congregation, and called them to repentance.

Note that their “works” were not “perfect before God.” God judges us by the things we do, whether good or bad (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10). He demands righteous and steadfast obedience to His will. This is a serious consideration as any congregation examines her standing before God.

Romans 13:1-7 and other passages establish the responsibility of Christians toward the government and ruling authorities. The sermon examines those duties.

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Last week I came across a news article relating the exhumation of a body in Italy. The body is that of Francesco Forgione, a Capuchin friar, popularly known as Padre Pio. He died in 1968, and was ordained a Catholic “Saint” by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

Many Catholics believed that Padre Pio had the “stigmata”, the wounds of Christ’s crucifixion, appear on his hands and feet by a miracle. Though some believe him to have been a fraud, and it is suspected that he used carbolic acid to create the wounds, he remains revered by millions of Catholics. His body will be contained in a glass topped coffin, to be viewed by Catholics for several months.

Continue reading “In The News: Bi-Directional Superstition” →

Guest Speaker Shawn Abraham explains that the qualifications listed in Titus 1:6-9 regarding the elder are worthy characteristics for every Christian to aspire to. The lesson explains what the qualifications are, and how they can be applied to the lives of individual Christians.

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The life of the disciple of Christ is characterized by love. Three expressions of that love are especially important:

• Love of God
• Love of Brethren
• Love of the Lost

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