'January - Obeying the Gospel' Archives - Page 4 of 4

In the Beginning (January 1)

Adam and Eve’s creation in God’s image meant they were subject to Him in unique ways. Brought into being by God, they had God as their King. He possessed the sovereign right to set the rules and bar them from any conduct He knew would harm them.

Appeal to God for a Good Conscience (February 14)

Immersion in water wouldn't produce the forgiveness of sins if somebody did that in a rote, mechanical way, with no genuine penitence or faith in Christ. Nevertheless, Peter says that baptism saves us -- and we need to understand what that means.

Beginning with This Scripture (February 13)

In Acts 8:34-36, the Ethiopian saw that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 53. Then he concluded that Jesus, as the Messiah, was his Savior. Next, he listened to how the gospel must be obeyed. And then finally, he asked to be baptized, and then rejoiced!

Trusting God’s Chosen Means (February 12)

We don't know why God linked baptism to the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) -- nor why He required faith and repentance. But those are the requirements that He has decided on, and we must reverently trust His chosen means for saving us.

The Horrible Lie We Tell Ourselves (February 11)

If we believe our hands can achieve anything our minds can conceive, we're telling ourselves a horrible lie. We're not invincible, and and we're not the masters of our destiny. If we think we are, we're being not only foolish but self-destructive.

Sowing and Reaping (February 10)

While life lasts, we are free to change paths (and that's what the gospel implores us to do), but when we die, it will be too late. God’s judgment will be His unalterable ratification of the choice that we have made. We will reap what we have sown.

What If We Could Solve Every Problem but One? (February 9)

If the Scriptures are correct, a day is coming that will be the greatest of all judgment days (Acts 17:30,31). Until then, the worst mistake we can make is thinking that because the sun is still shining in our lives, sin must not be a problem for us.

Do We Deny the Lord’s Diagnosis? (February 8)

We may admit to having made some mistakes or having some dysfunctional habits, but we don't see ourselves as sinful people who need the forgiveness of our Creator. We think of ourselves as good people who might profit from a little improvement.

What Sin Is (February 7)

The thing that is wrong when we sin is not merely that we do something that gives us subjective feelings of guilt -- it is that we transgress an actual standard of right and wrong, one that originates in the mind and character of God Himself.

Faithful Love (February 6)

It is encouraging that God is always at the door of our hearts, wanting us to open up and accept His gift of life. But it should sober us to know that if we refuse, He will remain outside -- and if we die in our rebellion, we will be lost forever.

That We Should Not Perish (February 5)

How should we respond to the truth that God gave His Son to save us? If we are to do more than just admire the beauty of the gospel, we should be OBEY it. How could we not say "Yes!" to a Father who has paid such a high price to bring us back home?

When Comfort and Confidence Are Dangerous (February 4)

Material prosperity breeds a false confidence in ourselves and deludes us into thinking that we are self-sufficient. Like candy which makes us think we don't need any food, physical comfort tends to push our spiritual needs into the background.

Are We Willing to Learn from Our Limits (February 3)

None of us can figure this world out and control it. That's the message of Ecclesiastes, and it prepares us for the gospel. It denies that we are the masters of our own destiny, and if it defeats us in that way, a great victory will have been won.