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Life Essentials
The Spiritual Life is a Progression
At the moment of salvation through faith alone in Christ alone, we become new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our spiritual status goes from spiritually dead to spiritually alive (1 Corinthians 15:22). God the Holy Spirit places us in union with Christ. We are in God’s family. We receive His righteousness and eternal life. In fact, at the moment of salvation, we receive 39 irrevocable absolutes that can never be lost or taken away. God, in His grace, provides it all. None of us earn or deserve any of it. It is all a part of our permanent position in Christ. There is no progression in salvation. It is a once and for all time completed event at the time that we expressed our faith in Christ.
Topics: Spiritual Growth, Salvation, Renewing the Mind, Spiritual Maturity, Satan's Cosmic System
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 15:22, John 12:31, John 14:30, 1 John 5:19,
Philippians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Romans 12:2, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 3:2, Philippians 3:12-14, Philippians 1:21, Philippians 4:5,
Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 25:21, John 15:14
What is Sin?
The three attempts by Satan to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ are covered in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. In the first two temptations, we have seen Jesus Christ remain totally subservient to the Father’s will and plan, and we have seen Him use the power of Scripture as His response to Satan. We learned that the Word of God must be the priority in our lives above all else and that we must be very careful not to distort the Word or twist it to say what we want it to say.
Topics: Sin, Definition of Sin, Grace, Justice, Forgiveness, Confession, Mental Attitude Sins, Sins of the Tongue, Overt Sins, Sin Nature, Volition, Carnality, Fellowship with God, Filling of the Holy Spirit
Scripture: Romans 3:23, John 3:16, Romans 5:8, John 3:18, John 3:36, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 John 1:8-10, 1 John 1:9, Proverbs 6:16-19, Romans 6:6,
Romans 13:14, John 14:26, John 16:12-14, 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, Romans 1:26-27, Exodus 20:2-17, Proverbs 6:12-15, 1 Corinthians 3:5-10, 2 Timothy 3:2-7,
1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Matthew 5:27-28, Leviticus 18:6-17, Leviticus 18:22-23, Leviticus 20:13-15, Leviticus 19:29, Proverbs 6:16-19, Philippians 3:18, John 10:28, 1 John 2:2
The Temptations of Christ - Part 5 (Final)
The three attempts by Satan to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ are covered in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. In the first two temptations, we have seen Jesus Christ remain totally subservient to the Father’s will and plan, and we have seen Him use the power of Scripture as His response to Satan. We learned that the Word of God must be the priority in our lives above all else and that we must be very careful not to distort the Word or twist it to say what we want it to say.
Topics: Temptation of Christ, Satan, Worship, Scripture, Divine Viewpoint, Human Viewpoint, Obedience, Service to God, Cross and Crown
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13, Isaiah 14:14, Matthew 26:39, 42, Genesis 3:15, Deuteronomy 6:13, Matthew 4:10
The Temptations of Christ - Part 4
The three attempts by Satan to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ are covered in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. In each attempt, there is a common theme, and it is to get the Lord Jesus Christ to act apart from the will of the Father, and to depart from the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.
Topics: Temptation of Christ, Satan, Word of God, Second Temptation, God’s Promises, Trusting God, Applying God's Word
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13; Psalm 91:11-12; John 8:44; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 31:3
The Temptations of Christ - Part 3
The three attempts by Satan to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ are covered in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. When He answered Satan’s first test with the words, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Jesus Christ was putting the emphasis on God’s Word as the solution for all of our problems, troubles, and adversities. When He said, “It is written,” our Lord was quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. In the context of that passage, the people of Israel were hungry and without food, and God in His grace provided daily manna to eat. The lesson of the daily manna was not the food itself, but rather that God promised to provide for His people, and He did, every day. The humanity of Christ knew that in His soul, and He trusted God for every provision for His life on this earth. He knew God’s Word, and He believed it. The same is true for us.
Topics: Temptation of Christ, Word of God, Spiritual Growth, Bible doctrine, Promises of God, Applying Scripture, Adversity
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13; Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3; 2 Peter 3:18; Psalm 138:2b; Psalm 46:1; Philippians 4:12-13
The Temptations of Christ - Part 2
The three attempts by Satan to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ are covered in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. Our Lord was led out into the desert by God the Holy Spirit for 40 days and nights of fasting, which for Him was a concentrated time of prayer and concentration on God’s Word. It was preparation for what was next. Afterwards, with our Lord in a very weakened physical state in extreme hunger, Satan approached with the first temptation. “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” (Matthew 4:3)
Topics: Temptation of Christ, Satan, Jesus Christ, Word of God, God’s Provision, Priorities, Trusting God
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13; Matthew 4:3; Isaiah 14:14b; Philippians 4:19; Lamentations 3:21-26; Matthew 4:4
The Temptations of Christ - Part 1
The three attempts by Satan to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ are covered in Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. Some say these temptations were not real temptations for Jesus Christ because God is not able to sin. His deity would not allow Him to sin, and so how could they be real temptations to our Lord. However, Jesus Christ is both God and man in one person forever. He had to be in order to be the mediator between God the Father and man (1 Timothy 2:5). He had to be a real human, just as we are. His humanity had to have volition or free choice to choose to sin or not to sin, just as Adam did, and as we do (Jesus Christ is the last Adam, 1 Corinthians 15:45-48).
Topics: Temptation of Christ, Jesus Christ, Satan, Humanity of Christ, Deity of Christ, Word of God, Spiritual Life
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13; John 1:29; Hebrews 12:2; Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 4:15b; Philippians 2:5
Why Adversity in the Christian Life?
Terry Wilson ministering at Bible Conference in Ghana.
Why does God allow adversity and suffering in our lives?
Our Position Guarantees Our Opportunity
As believers in Jesus Christ, we must distinguish between our position as members of God’s family and the opportunity that position affords us to live the Christian life. The failure to understand this important distinction causes some Christians to question whether other believers are truly saved. This issue is very important because there is much, much confusion about this in Christianity today.
Topics: Position in Christ, Christian Life, Eternal Security, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Maturity, Divine Provision, Christian Opportunity
Scripture: Galatians 3:26; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Ephesians 2:5-8; Galatians 3:27; Romans 8:38-39; 1 Corinthians 3:1; Philippians 2:5; Romans 12:2; 1 John 5:19b; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3a; 1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 1:7; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 5:2; Ephesians 4:1; James 4:4; Philippians 3:18; 1 Timothy 1:19; 2 John 9; James 1:22, 24; Proverbs 14:14; 2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 12:6
Charlie Kirk and Christian Activism
Charlie Kirk
He has been called many names like Nazi, fascist, racist, tyrant, etc. If you listen to what Charlie Kirk says, he was none of those things. He is not an activist. He is an apologist and evangelist. He is simply one who defends the faith and he was a genius at doing it. He is not an apologist just for freedom and truth (divine establishment truth); he is an apologist for Christianity; he defends Christianity. And the platform he uses is politics and current events and race relations and he presents them in the context of freedom and divine establishment.
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Christian Activism, Christian Apologetics, Evangelism, Defending the Faith, Freedom and Truth
Scripture: Acts 17:16-21; Philippians 3:19
Words of Encouragement for any Adversity
Bad things that are out of our control can happen at any time. Most trouble, problems, adversity, and suffering, hit us at the worst of times when we least expect it. We are surprised! We are shocked! They catch us totally off-guard. It is easy for us to hit the panic button. We become discouraged especially if we see no way out. But none of those reactions reflect God’s plan for us.
Topics: Adversity, Suffering, Encouragement, God's Promises, Trusting God, Christian Life, Spiritual Growth
Scripture: John 1:12; Hebrews 13:5; Jeremiah 29:11; Deuteronomy 33:7; Isaiah 41:10; Exodus 14:13; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:19; 2 Peter 3:18; Philippians 2:5; Hebrews 12:2; Romans 12:2
Hearer of the Word versus Doer of the Word
In Liberia on a Sunday at a local church, I was asked to give a Mother’s Day message. I started with the question, what makes a great Christian mom? Then I gave several examples of activities that a loving and caring mother would do for her children. For example: Cooking tasty meals for her children. Washing their clothes. Helping them get ready for school. Walking with them to school (walking is the primary form of transportation in Liberia). Spending time playing with them. Helping them with their homework. Teaching and training them. Making sure they get a good education. Tucking them in bed at night. And setting the example for a good marriage.
Topics: Hearer and Doer of the Word, Christian Life, Spiritual Growth, Applying God's Word, Christian Maturity, Renewing the Mind
Scripture: 1 John 1:9; Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Hebrews 12:2; 2 Peter 3:18; James 1:22-25
Justification by Faith versus Justification by Works
When my two sisters and I were very, very young, my mom’s close friend, Janice, lost twins just one week after their birth. Mom decided to take some food over to her house and try to offer some encouragement.
Topics: Justification by Faith, Justification by Works, Faith and Works, Salvation, Christian Life, Grace
Scripture: Acts 16:31; John 3:16; Romans 3:28; James 2:21-23; James 2:25; Ephesians 2:8-9
Advancing Believers Provide Evidence of the Christian Life
In James 2:20-26, James speaks of justification by works, which deals with the Christian life and not salvation. The two examples given were Abraham when he was told to sacrifice Isaac and Rahab the prostitute when she hid the spies.
Topics: Christian Life, Advancing Believers, Justification by Works, Spiritual Growth, Christian Maturity
Scripture: James 2:20-26; 2 Peter 3:18; Philippians 3:8
Grace has impact!
Grace4Grace with Abeiku Okai
Terry Wilson shares his remarkable salvation and how grace was extended to him during his teenage years.
"Train up a child in the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
The Founder and Perfecter
Boom Supersonic is an American company building the world’s fastest passenger aircraft. This is a picture of the prototype aircraft (first of its kind) they are currently testing. They are flying “test-flight” missions. The test pilot for these missions conducts flights to measure the aircraft’s limits, test its systems, analyze its design strengths and weaknesses and ensure it meets intended performance standards. Once it is determined to be totally safe, it will go into mass production, and current air travel will be cut almost in half.
Topics: Jesus Christ, Founder and Perfecter of Faith, Humanity of Christ, Deity of Christ, Temptation of Christ, Christian Life, Spiritual Life, Word of God
Scripture: Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 2:6-8; Luke 2:46-47; Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 4:12
We Make God A Liar
Beware of making God a liar! As believers in Jesus Christ, we do that when we question our eternal security. If you say, how can that be, please let me explain.
Topics: Eternal Security, Assurance of Salvation, God's Promises, Truthfulness of God, Faith in God's Word, Grace
Scripture: 1 John 5:13; 1 John 4:11-12; John 3:16; Romans 4:7-8; John 3:18; Numbers 23:19; 1 John 5:10-12
Imputed Righteousness
What does it mean to be righteous? We might say it means that we are virtuous, honorable, moral. But with God, righteousness has a different meaning. God’s righteousness is absolute perfection. Of course, none of us as human beings can even come close to that, at least not on our own. But at the moment of faith alone in Christ alone, God gives us His righteousness, His absolute perfection. And when He does, He declares us righteous. The highest authority in the universe, God Himself, declares a believer righteous. No one can come along later and say that is not true.
Topics: Imputed Righteousness, Justification, Grace, Faith Alone, Salvation, Eternal Security
Scripture: Romans 4:3; Romans 4:23-24; Romans 3:22; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-9
Sealing Ministry of the Holy Spirit
In the last few Facebook posts, we have looked at several reasons why a believer in Jesus Christ can never lose their salvation. Here is another. At the moment we put our faith in Christ, we are sealed by God the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit places a seal or a signature next to the person’s name in the Book of Life. This is His sign of ownership of every believer. Anything to which God attaches His seal belongs to Him forever. No person can buy or steal the believer from the possession of God. We are marked or branded. God owns us.
Topics: Sealing Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Eternal Security, God's Ownership, Assurance of Salvation, God's Protection, Grace
Scripture: Ephesians 4:30; Ephesians 1:13-14; John 10:28; John 10:29-30; Hebrews 13:5b; Psalm 37:24; Psalm 139:9-10
Eternal Security - Family
When anyone makes a decision to believe in Christ, he or she is born again into the family of God. John 1:12.“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” The believer’s unbreakable relationship with God can never be terminated, repealed, or destroyed. Never!
Topics: Eternal Security, Family of God, Born Again, Child of God, Redemption, Freedom from Sin
Scripture: John 1:12; Galatians 3:26-28; John 3:7; John 8:34; 1 Peter 1:18-19
Eternal Security
Can a believer in Jesus Christ ever lose his or her salvation? Is there a sin or evil deed that can cancel what God has given us? The short answer is no! In the next few posts, we will look at several reasons why.
Topics: Eternal Security, Salvation, Eternal Life, Faith Alone, Assurance of Salvation, Grace
Scripture: Acts 16:31; John 20:31; John 3:16
Human Merit vs. God's Grace
Mankind generally thinks in terms of merit. We get what we deserve. Our efforts earn rewards. We work hard and attain a level of achievement and with that comes recognition and approval. This merit-based thinking shapes the way we approach success, relationships, and even our sense of identity.
Topics: Grace, Human Merit, Salvation, Faith Alone, God's Love, Good Works, Gift of Salvation
Scripture: John 3:16; Isaiah 64:6; Acts 16:31
Evidence of Resurrection
This morning at our church service, our Pastor was explaining how the resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to all of Christianity because it gives us as believers in Jesus Christ a confident expectation about our eternal future with Him. Our assurance of the resurrection is not just enforced from what the Bible says, but there were also numerous proofs. One of the strongest proofs is the 11 disciples who after our Lord’s death on the cross, they were in total despair and despondent, and yet once they saw our Lord in resurrection body, that changed everything for them.
Topics: Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Risen Christ, Living God, Proof of the Resurrection, Disciples, Eternal Life, Hope
Scripture: John 11:25; Acts 16:31