Sound Teaching

An important discussion of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians is summarized in Ephesians 2:8-9. This passage is familiar to all:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

So often Christians have to discuss what the text is not saying, so as to protect against the doctrine of “Salvation by Faith Only.” This is laudable, and not to be criticized. But, it is good to simply express the truths that are established by this passage. Continue reading “Salvation by Grace Through Faith” →

It has (rightly) become somewhat popular when patriotic Americans see a policeman, firefighter, soldier or other first responder, to let them know “We appreciate your service.”

This is by no means a universal sentiment, but it should be.  As we consider the work and danger they involve themselves it, and know that in the end it is to benefit us, we should be grateful and it is a good thing to let them know. There is so much more we could do for them, but at the least we can let them know we recognize and appreciate their work.

The same thing should be done for those who do for you spiritually.  Their desire is for you or your loved ones to grow, and so they spend much time and effort to help you. It’s not just the preacher.  Elders, teachers, and even those who clean the building each week, do so selflessly and for the purpose of helping you to grow spiritually.

It is easy to complain when things do not suit exactly, but it is not appropriate.  Instead, gratitude should be the sentiment of the hour.  There are many passages which deal with these issues.  Showing respect and expressing gratitude is the least that we can do.  Paul wrote, “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches” (Galatians 6:10).

When is the last time you told someone who helped you spiritually, “I appreciate you!”

A fundamental lesson showing that the Lord’s church is made up of the saved, detailing Jesus’ authority over it, and the means by which entrance into the church is gained.

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Our 51st lesson in our series on Jesus’ Words in John’s gospel references the conversation Jesus had with Annas in John 18:19-24.

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Those who hold to the doctrine of salvation by faith only must ignore the admonitions of the Holy Spirit in this text. Remember, the writer was not just James, he was inspired. So, verse 21 tells us that we must stop practicing filthiness and wickedness. In other words, we must repent.

We also must obey, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” The idea that God does not require works of obedience to receive us is a lie. To equate the requirement of obedience to “earning” our salvation is a simply not so. God has made clear His insistence upon our obedience. Otherwise we are fickle.  Responding to the extended grace of God by seeing it; and then immediately forgetting it as a man who looks into the mirror, but immediately forgets what manner of man he is; shows a blatant disrespect for the Almighty. God directs His blessings upon those who are led to obedience, not on those who only hear, but do not do.  We must “look into the perfect law of liberty and [continue] in it.”

In the book of Proverbs 11, verses 1, 3, 4-6, the writer emphasizes the importance of honesty in our dealings with others.

“Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight” (1).

“The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them” (3).

“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust” (4-6).

For any who are unfamiliar, scales have long been used to weigh out portions of a product. Known weights are put on one side of the scale, and the product is added to the other side until the scale “balances.” If the weights used are not accurate, modified to profit the merchant by giving false readings, they are “dishonest scales” and are an abomination to God. Continue reading “Dishonest Scales” →

One truth that is clearly established in scripture is that true wisdom is salutatory, pleasant, and does no harm. One such passage where this is established is Proverbs 9.

“Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars;  She has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table.  She has sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city,  ‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!’ As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,  ‘Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.  Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding’” (1-6).

This is contrasted with foolishness.  The woman who personifies foolishness, “is clamorous, she is simple, and knows nothing” (13).  She does not make the same preparations as wisdom to welcome and benefit, but foolishness also wants to be heard.

Both wisdom and foolishness want the simple to turn to them.  “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here” (4, 16), but while wisdom desires to enlighten, and to help, foolishness is manipulative and destructive. Consider foolishness’s words, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (17).

If you want favor, listen to and be entertained by true wisdom.  As for foolishness, “…her guests are in the depths of hell” (18).

A discussion of God’s will regarding dealing with the spiritual disease of sin, using Naaman’s cleansing of leprosy as an illustration.

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Continuing our series of Jesus’ words in John’s gospel, Stan addresses the arrest of Jesus in the Garden recorded in John 18:1-11.

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The last paragraph of 1 Kings relates the general tenor of King Ahaziah and his reign over Israel.  He only reigned two years, and like his father Ahab before him, “He did evil in the sight of the Lord” (1 Kings 22:52). He like his father was one who worshiped the idol Baal and “provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.” Near the end of Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah, the text of 2 Chronicles 20:35 refers to Ahaziah as a wicked king who Jehoshaphat foolishly allied himself with, thus tarnishing his reign in his final days.

The end of Ahaziah is interesting, and takes up the first chapter of 2 Kings. The chapter reveals how God judged Ahaziah for his idolatry, and took his life.  The account also refers to the prophet Elijah, who was such a thorn in the side of King Ahab. Continue reading “Elijah and Ahaziah” →

Here in our text the writer talks about why Jesus did what He did while on earth. Since we humans and flesh and blood, Jesus too became fully human (cf. John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8). His intent in coming was to free us from the bondage of sin and death, by gaining the victory over the devil, “him who had the power of death” (14). He did this through His death on the cross, serving as a sufficient sacrifice for sin.

Jesus did not do this for angels, but for humankind, “the seed of Abraham” (16). It was necessary for our redemption that Jesus become in all points like we are (Philippians 2:8; Hebrew 4:14-15). He is unique, both man and God. His humanity makes Him a “merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God”(17) i.e. no one can take his position as  both our High Priest, and our propitiation for sins.

In being a man, He was tempted like us. So, this gives Him the power to aid us in our own temptations. Praise be to God.

What does God intend the Christian to be? As indicated in Colossians 3:9-10, we are to put off the old man and put on the new man.   The way this is done is described in Romans 6:1-4. It is the process of conversion. But, the two are described in our text of Colossians 3:1-17

So, what is this old man we put off? Consider the following, expressed in Colossians 3:5-9, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.”

The new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Christ is described in verses 12-17, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”  Amen.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7). God called us in holiness.  This is the big picture that explains why Christians are to live as they do.

This is a sentiment that is expressed throughout the Bible.  For example, the apostle Peter quoted from the book of Leviticus when he wrote, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-16). Continue reading “The Call to Holiness” →

Stan Cox preaches on the importance of declaring the whole counsel of God (cf. Acts 20), without straying to solely positive preaching or solely negative preaching. Jesus, Stephen and Paul are all used as examples to follow.

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