Category: Reflections Articles

I recently came across a post from another preacher, asking for ideas to help prepare a sermon on conspiracy theories. His premise: (which is true) is with the popularity of social media, there has been an exacerbation of mistrust for authority, and a willingness to entertain unfounded rumors. It is something I have noticed as well. It can paint us in an unflattering light to the world which we desire to influence with the gospel of our Lord! If we allow ourselves to express unfounded rumors and make contentions that can’t be defended, whether false or true, we are taken less seriously when defending our Lord. Continue reading “Conspiracy Theories” →

Recent teaching has emphasized what we all know, God’s grace is what makes salvation available for us today. God loves us, and sent His Son to die on the cross to deal with the cancer of sin that had enslaved humanity. Jesus died, and His sacrifice allows our redemption before God! “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).

The Bible is clear that God’s grace, though extended to mankind, does not bring salvation to all men. A simple truth: All men have the opportunity for heaven, not all men will go to heaven. Hell is as real a place as heaven, our eternal presence before God. On the day of judgment at Christ’s coming, there will those on the right (who will go to heaven), and those on the left (who will go to hell). Continue reading “What Grace Doesn’t Do” →

The transfiguration of Christ before Peter, James, and John is a significant event in His life and ministry. It is related by Matthew (17), Mark (9), and Luke (9). Peter mention it as well during his second letter (1:16-18).

In relating the experience, Matthew notes that Jesus in the transfiguration had a face that shined like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared before the apostles, and talked with Jesus. Peter marveled at the site, and proposed to erect three tabernacles, one for each individual. Though an understandable reaction, this was not what God wanted at all. Jesus was transfigured, and Moses and Elijah appeared, to exclusively magnify Jesus as the Son of God. When Peter made his suggestion, God took Moses and Elijah away, leaving Jesus alone. He said from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, Hear Him!” (17:5). Continue reading “A Lesson from the Transfiguration” →

One of the most helpful studies that can be done in the Old Testament is God’s establishment of the concept of sanctification for His people. The principle of sanctification is a primary theme, and one that is established just as prominently for us as His children in Christ.

The Hebrew word for sanctified is qadosh, and is defined “to set apart, consecrate. To make hallowed.” As it refers to God, He sets apart objects, days, people, offices, as holy, or for a holy purpose. In this, what is sanctified belongs to God, and so it to be respected and revered. In this way, God demonstrated the proper attitude the people should have for Him. Continue reading “A Study of Sanctification” →

In Paul’s epistle to the Colossians, we are introduced to a diligent minister by the name of Epaphras. He was one who was with Paul during certain parts of his journeys. We know very little about him. He is referenced twice in Colossians, and once in Paul’s letter to Philemon, a personal letter which Paul wrote while imprisoned in Rome. In this letter he mentioned Epaphras, telling Philemon, “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you” (Philemon 23). So, he was with the great apostle at least part of the time Paul was under house arrest during his first imprisonment. Perhaps while there he was among the brethren, “having been confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:14). Continue reading “Epaphras – A Servant of God” →

Preparation is important for most things. It is important to prepare remarks before public speaking. It is important to train and practice before athletic events or dramatic performances. Preparation helps proficiency in almost every circumstance. There is nothing more humiliating than to enter any endeavor and show yourself to be ineffective simply because you did not put in the effort to succeed.

The importance of preparation is a central theme of Jesus regarding the coming judgment. The parable of the virgins in Matthew 25 is an example of His teaching. Five virgins went to a wedding feast without sufficient preparation. They had lamps, but did not take oil with them to replenish the vessel. The other five, took the time and effort to take oil in vessels in addition to their lamps. When the feast was delayed as the bridegroom had not arrived, their lamps all went out. The foolish virgins had to go buy more oil, and while they were absent, the bridegroom arrived, and the doors were shut to the feast. Jesus’ lesson from this simple illustration, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 15:13). Continue reading “Prepare!” →

The scripture reveals that Moses led the people of Israel to the promised land, but was unable to to enter the land of promise itself as punishment for his sin against God at Kadesh, Numbers 20. Moses in anger struck a rock to bring forth water, disregarding God’s words to speak to the rock. It is interesting to note that previously the striking of the rock was indeed God’s instruction. However, on this occasion He required something different from Moses. In response to this disobedience, in Numbers 20:12 God spoke to both Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Moving forward in time to Joshua 12, a list of accomplishments is given both of Moses (who had died), and Joshua, the next leader of Israel. The text begins by noting kings who had been defeated on the east side of the Jordan. This is where Moses led the people. We are told, “These Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel had conquered; and Moses the servant of the Lord had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh‘’ (12:6). Then the narrative continues with Joshua’s leadership in Joshua 12:7. “And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel conquered on this side of the Jordan, on the west, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon as far as Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir, which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions.”

Such an interesting phrase, “on this side of the Jordan.” It is a contrast to the phrase used in 12:1 when Moses was in charge, “on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun” referencing the land just east of the river. It is not a surprising thing that the Jews having entered and conquered, would now refer to their promised land as “this side” of the Jordan and the land they had left as “the other side.” Canaan now belonged to them. Their perspective had been altered at the fulfillment of God’s land promise to Abraham back in Genesis 12, 15 and also in 17:8, where we read “Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

A worthy lesson for us. For the child of God, this side (the side God has promised and where we belong) is heaven. The other side is this physical world. It took a while for the children of Israel to get to Canaan, and it may take us a while to get to the place God has promised for us! We need to remember we are on a pilgrimage until we reach our place of rest. May we steadfastly go that way until we reach the gates!

We have recorded in the gospels various prayers of Jesus, offered up to His Father in heaven. For example, in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 we have what is called by many today, “The Lord’s Prayer.” It was in response to the request of one of His disciples who said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). The designation of “The Lord’s Prayer” is inappropriately given to this prayer. It was a model prayer designed to teach the disciples. There are other prayers much more personal to our Lord.

One example of this is the prayer that Jesus offered up in John 17. He first prayed for Himself (17:1-5), then His intimate apostles (17:6-19), then the rest who believe in Him which would include you and me (17:20-26). According to John, this prayer was offered on the same night of His most intimate prayer, recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 15 and Luke 22. It is this prayer in the garden of Gethsemane that we want to examine now. Continue reading “The Garden Prayer” →

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:1-4).

Our verse does a good job disclosing what is not evident from Jesus being born over 2,000 years ago. What had come before, all the prophecies and inspired writings compiled leading to that point, were a preamble to Jesus. As Paul so eloquently put it, “But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:23-25). Continue reading “He Speaks Through His Son” →

There are many misconceptions about the nature of Jesus Christ. These can be held by those who are antagonistic to the idea of God and His Son. They also are often held by those who would identify themselves as followers of Jesus.
We can know Jesus only by what is revealed in the Bible. We have Old Testament prophecies, the gospels, and what is revealed to us in the remainder of the New Testament. It gives us a complete picture of Him, one that often conflicts with the claims made by those ignorant of these words. Let’s examine some of the contrasting views of Jesus. What is legitimate, and what is not! As John wrote, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him” (John 1:10).

It is wrong to think Jesus will let everyone into heaven!

Jesus truly loves all mankind. It His desire that all men be saved, and He died to accomplish our redemption. But that gift Jesus has given has conditions! “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Continue reading “The World Does Not Know Jesus!” →

An interesting point in Israel’s history came as the people began to clamor for a king. Samuel was the judge over Israel at that time, and understandably was disappointed at the Israelites who seemed to be rejecting his rule over them.

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us…’”(1 Samuel 8:4-6). In response to their request, Samuel prayed to the Lord, who told him, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Samuel 8:7). Continue reading “Samuel’s Character” →

When we speak generally of the cross, as Christians we are referring to the death of Jesus 2,000 years ago. The Romans who meted out the sentence of death to Jesus practiced crucifixion. Crucifixion consisted of the hanging of the person on a wooden crossbeam affixed to a wooden pole. Suspended from the ground, the unfortunate soul would die from a combination of severe blood loss, shock and progressive suffocation. This death would commonly take several days.

It was an ignominious death from torture. It was a public spectacle, designed to deter conquered people, slaves, rebels and criminals. It seems a bit of a paradox for such an action and symbol to have such a precious meaning to any people. However, in the case of Jesus, the Roman crucifixion was God’s sin sacrifice, offered on the behalf of sinful man. It is the most important event in the history of mankind, as God’s plan for redeeming man was fulfilled in the shedding of the Christ’s blood on that cross. Continue reading “The Two Sides of the Cross” →

In 1 Timothy 2 we have a series of directions given by the great apostle to Timothy regarding prayer. It brings to mind Jesus’ words, commonly called the Lord’s prayer (Luke 11) as the disciples requested of Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (11:1).

Paul was teaching Timothy how to pray, or to be more specific, a part of what his prayers to God should consist. How should we pray for others?

First, note who the others are… they are specified. First, “all men” (2:1). We do not pray merely for those with whom we are familiar, but with all the family of man. Continue reading “Paul’s Instructions Regarding Prayer” →

The book of Deuteronomy is extremely interesting to read. It consists of a series of farewell addresses delivered by Moses to the second generation of Israelites as they camped on the plains of Moab, poised to cross the Jordan River and conquer the Promised Land.

There were three speeches which make up the primary content of the book. In the first speech of Moses was a historical review highlighting God’s faithfulness to Israel (1:1-4:43). The second (longest speech) was Moses’ restatement of the terms of God’s covenant with Israel (4:44-26:19). The third speech was a call by Moses for Israel to renew that covenant with God (27:1-30:20).

Moses’ second speech was an expansive, hours-long address that restated the Ten Commandments, detailed the covenant laws for life in the promised land, and concluded with a solemn series of blessings for obedience and curses for rebellion. It is estimated that a normal speaking cadence would require between 2 and 2.5 hours to complete the speech. This makes a single article fairly ineffective as an attempt to summarize the material. There is simply to much to discuss. Continue reading “A Deuteronomic Warning” →

In Exodus 13 we read of the institution of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Moses gave the instructions regarding the time and regulations of the feast, and also the reason, “It shall be as a sign to you on your hand as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt” (9). God did not establish the feast to be merely a day off from work! It was a memorial! Unfortunately throughout Jewish history, during times of rebellion against God, the purpose of much of God’s instructions were lost to the minds of the people. Continue reading ““And you shall tell your son”” →