Thesis: Paul’s inspired view of the Gospel of the grace of God! Text: Acts 20:24 Song: “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!” Introduction: Paul viewed himself as a rock (none of these things move me); accountant (I count); runner (I may finish my race); steward (the ministry which I received); witness (to testify); undeserving recipient of a precious and glorious gift (the Gospel of the grace of God). Discussion: What was Paul’s understanding of grace? 1. The gulf between God and man. Paul knew that the grace of God was needed because of the gulf between God and man, a gulf which man could never span with his own righteousness and goodness. Cf. Romans 3:10-12, 23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:11-12. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). 2. The gift from God to man. Paul viewed grace as a gift. Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 5:15, 17. He thanked God for His “unspeakable” (anekdiēgētos – indescribable) gift. God’s indescribable gift is Jesus, the greatest gift ever given and received. Paul’s statement clarifies the deep meaning of one the most beloved Scriptures in God’s Word – John 3:16. 3. The gain for man from God. Some gifts are given but are of little value, yet not so with grace. The recipient of Heaven’s grace receives a generous and abundant gift called eternal life. Cf. 1 Timothy 1:13-15; 1 Peter 3:7b. Notice the specific areas of gain associated with grace: …

The last Monday of the month of May is celebrated as Memorial Day each year in the USA. It began with the purpose of decorating the graves of the soldiers who fought in the War Between the States (1861-1864). However, all of our fallen military personnel are remembered on this day. I spoke on one occasion on Memorial Day in the military section of a cemetery in Prattville, Alabama. I had two visual aids in my hands. One was the Purple Heart that was given to my parents after my oldest brother was killed in WWII on April 5, 1945. The other one was a flag that had been placed by my brother’s grave in a military cemetery in the Netherlands. There is a poem written by Rudyard Kipling entitled “Recessional’ (Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia) that I think is very appropriate on this occasion, and here are two stanzas of the poem: God of our fathers, known of old, Lord of our far-flung battleline, Beneath whose awful Hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine – Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget – Lest we forget! The tumult and the shouting dies; The Captains and the kings depart. Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, And humble and a contrite heart. Lord God of Host, be with us yet, Lest we forget – lest we forget. The following biblical truths should always be taught and practiced – “Lest We Forget.” If we fail to remember God in this …

Nobody likes being scared. It is a very uncomfortable feeling. Usually when we’re scared, we feel powerless. We just don’t know what is going to happen next. There have been many who have argued that the biblical admonition to “fear God” (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10) really means “respect God” or “reverence God.” While no one would say that we should not respect and reverence God, is this really what the word means? If fear actually means respect, then we have John saying “perfect love casts out respect” (1 John 4:18). Does that make any sense? Are we somehow supposed to transition out of respecting God? Of course not! So, fear does not mean respect. We should respect God our whole life, but we shouldn’t fear God our whole life. Now apply the same point to the word “reverence.” Is John saying that “perfect love casts out reverence”? Of course not! So, fear does not mean reverence. We should have reverence for God for the duration of our lives. What, then, is the application? God wants us to understand that we will – like it or not – face Him in the Judgment. We will be judged according to our deeds, whether good or evil (2 Corinthians 5:10). That is a scary thought. That is frightening! So, what should be our response? Obedience. It is that simple. God has told us what He wants us to do. When we “walk in the light,” we have nothing about which to worry because Jesus’ blood cleanses us from …

It is popular in some circles to say, “Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship.” It is certainly an often-overlooked truth that Christianity is a relationship with God the Father and with Jesus Christ, God’s Son and our Lord and Savior. It is, however, also a “religion,” in the original sense of the Latin word “religio,” which means “bond,” “obligation” and “reverence.” Our relationship with Jesus is as Lord. He has laid on us bonds and obligations, “religio.” He himself asked, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:45 ESV). Today’s culture downplays authority – of policemen, of parents, of elders and of even of the Bible, which is the Word of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The fact that all Scripture is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16) is an unequivocal assertion of biblical authority over the lives of believers and the church. All authority is being questioned. Christianity, while it does involve a relationship with Jesus and God, is a faith with content. It is not just a warm, fuzzy feeling. Christianity is a religion founded on a relationship with One Who is Lord and God.

According to Young’s Analytical Concordance, the word “ungodly” only appears in the Holy Scriptures 26 times. This is a very harsh word with such definitions as “worthless, without value, perverse, wrong, wicked, irreverent.” These are all words with bad definitions, and we can easily get the picture that ungodliness is evil and, therefore, something undesirable. To be ungodly is to be without God! In short, the Epistle of Jude uses the word “ungodly” six times. This small epistle is a warning against false teachers. It applied to those false teachers of the time it was written and still applies in today’s Christian teachings. Jude didn’t mince words as he spoke of “ungodly men who turn the grace of God into lustfulness and deny… God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 4). He cut right to the heart of the matter. To deny is to reject. These people rejected (that is, despised) God! Paul had something to say about this very matter. “…to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (Titus 1:15-16). It is such a sad commentary to know that there are those today who still say they are true believers of God but in their works, they deny His very existence. In verse 15, in speaking of old prophecies, Jude truly was inspired as he spoke of the return of our …

For over three thousand years, one of the most influential civilizations flourished on the banks of the river Nile. Egypt’s art and skill were unsurpassed. The mighty pyramids, over forty stories tall, remained the largest manmade structures until the Eiffel Tower was constructed in 1889. Even today, we are surrounded by their influence. The very building you are in probably has a pyramid shaped roof. Among their inventions are fluffy towels, makeup, toothpaste, cough drops and deodorant! We have much for which to thank them! Egypt never colonized other territories like the Greeks and the Romans, for they believed that in order for them to enter the afterlife, they must be buried with the correct rituals and only within Egyptian borders. We Christians have a similar requirement; in order for us to enter our afterlife, we must be buried with Christ in baptism to enter the kingdom of Heaven (Galatians 3:27). So, if you are not in Him by His pattern of entrance, then you are not in His kingdom. Egypt was the first nation state in history and its ruler, the pharaoh, was a supreme monarch. He was unlike the kings of surrounding tribal peoples in that he was to his people the god king; he commanded, and it was done. There were no political squabbles in a land ruled by a pharaoh, and there were no government shutdowns or arguments about what’s to be done. The king said it, and it was done. This pattern was followed by …

You mean that any little congregation holds the power of God’s Word? Yes, it does! We don’t need to worry about being like other folks. The power of God is held in the Truth, and each member holds within his or her hands the demonstration of that Truth in obedience. Another significant point pertaining to the body of Christ is that we members or Christians function as an orchestrated group that lacks nothing. As an orchestra has many pieces –violins, horns, drums, etc. – so it is with the church. Notice what Paul had to say in 1 Corinthians 12:13-19. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? (NKJV) There are many talents but one …

Though each season of the year offers us variant and enjoyable activities and often brings appreciated change from the most recent season of the year, let us be ever mindful of the possibility that we may allow such seasonal activities to distract us. They may distract us from our various personal and collective religious activities, including ones that have been biblically mandated by our Lord. Seasonal activities are commonly very beneficial and are often enjoyed by one and all. May I remind each of us that we covet your presence and fellowship as we work together in the Lord’s vineyard. However, personal distractions may lessen the vibrancy of our individual and collective work ethic in the Lord’s vineyard. I trust that each of us will manage our seasonal activities so that they do not become a distraction from our congregational work and fellowship. May we joyfully work together because of our love for one another, and most importantly, because the Lord has done so much for each of us. May the Lord bless us as we focus on our spiritual service unto Him. Let each of us make a diligent effort to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord as we develop and apply our spiritual talents.

Sixty-five years ago, when I read about the barren fig tree in Mark 11:12-14, I was disturbed a little by the expression in verse 13, “For the time of figs was not yet.” I wondered why Jesus would pronounce a curse on a tree that was barren when it was not time for it to have figs. The only solution that occurred to me is that those fig trees normally have figs before they have leaves, and this one had an appearance that was deceptive. Even if that is not the correct explanation of the reason, He cursed a fig tree though it was not the time for it to bear. There is a valid lesson in principle. A prominent tree that could be seen from afar, and according to its promise, should have been full of fruit was a living lie. We could dwell at length on the lesson that should have been evident to the Jews. They had the oracles of God, were children of the covenant, with all the promises, privileges and hopes the covenant gave them. They not only had the opportunity to do great things for God but also made abundant profession. They gave much alms and for pretense made long prayers and did many other things to make it appear that they were very godly. Yet, when we look for real fruit bearing for God, we find none. Jesus discussed this exact point in Luke 13:6-9 and various other places, indicating that Israel would …

C stands for Christ. He is our model and our motivation. Our attitude must be the same as that of John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Paul put it this way, “But that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or death” (Philippians 1:20). R stands for resurrection. The cross was no accident. What Satan had intended as our ultimate defeat, God used to bring us redemption and triumph. The best and worst of all things collided. Of course, the cross wasn’t the final answer in this battle; the empty tomb and the resurrected Lord are (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). We are the victorious recipients of this grace, paid at such an agonizing cost, administered in such a cruel manner by our greatest adversary and secured by Jesus’ triumph over the grave (Romans 5:10). O stands for outreach. Our mission must be the same as our Lord’s in Luke 19:10, where He said, “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” Evangelism is the lifeblood of the church. May we all be looking for opportunities to share the good news of Christ with our friends and neighbors. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:1-2). S stands for salvation. By Jesus’ death and resurrection, He brings salvation to people who believe in him and are obedient to the Gospel …

We will center our attention on our future heavenly bodies when we are resurrected from the dead or when we, being yet alive, are changed in the twinkling of an eye when Jesus comes at His Second Coming (1 Corinthians 15:50-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). So many people in our society are discontent with their present bodies. They (especially teenagers) spend their time comparing themselves to others and end up condemning themselves because they are not as pretty, as perfect or don’t measure up to others. They don’t realize that this approach to life and their God-given bodies is contrary to God’s plan and design for them. Why do you think people are unwilling to accept the bodies God gave them? Maybe it’s because they have not considered the value of their present, earthly body. We all need to be reminded of God’s purpose for our bodies. From a personal level, what does God want you to realize about your body now? [Editor’s Note: Our present, terrestrial bodies are seed material for our future, celestial bodies. Take care of the seed material (1 Corinthians 6:14-20) and happily anticipate what it will bring forth for eternity. “There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of …

In old Popeye cartoons many years ago, Wimpy would try to get money for hamburgers from other characters and promise to pay “the second Tuesday of next week”! Obviously, the second Tuesday of next week would never come. I am afraid that sometimes we develop the second Tuesday syndrome. Some wait for the second Tuesday to obey the Gospel. Nothing is more heart-rending than to see someone who seemed to always intend to obey the Gospel die outside of the ark of safety, lost and without God. Some wait for the second Tuesday to start actively serving God in their lives. These folks have taken the initial steps in order to become Christians but seem to believe that baptism is the end, instead of the beginning. Too many will be left behind like the foolish virgins of Matthew 25. Some wait for the second Tuesday to truly show and express their love for their families. How sad it is to watch an individual overwhelmed at the casket of a family member because he or she had failed to truly show his or her true love for that person, and then, it is too late. I pray that we won’t get caught up in the second Tuesday syndrome. May we take advantage of today. May we serve God today. May this day not end without showing our love for God by our service; may sleep not take us from this day into another without expressing our love for our families. The dangers of the second …

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to …

Over the last two years, I have given a great deal of thought to my health and nutrition. My weight began to climb higher and higher until I decided to do something about it. I started exercising, and my weight began to come down, but the greatest loss didn’t come until I took control of my nutrition. Diet is 80-90% of being healthy; understanding and accepting this has helped me improve my fitness tremendously. This is an area of life that translates well into spiritual parallels: growth as a Christian requires a healthy diet. Just as nutritional needs vary from person to person, spiritual dietary needs can vary as well. Infants need milk to grow; young Christians need milk, too. Young Christians don’t need to be delving into deep studies of atonement theories or studying the so-called church fathers. Their time is better spent reading the Bible and learning the books, characters and themes found in Scripture. As children age, they take on more and more solid foods to help them grow stronger, but they need to be eating quality foods to maintain good health (Hebrews 5:12). For Christians to grow in the faith, they must move beyond milk and focus on quality studies so that they may maintain a healthy faith. Leave the junk food of worldliness behind, and hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6).

We live in an age where people do not feel themselves bound by honor, commitment and principle. Instead, they live their lives looking for what makes them happy. They will argue that all God really wants is for them to be happy, or if they are happy, God must be as well. The Book of Ecclesiastes may be the single most applicable book of the Old Testament to our lives today. It is the account of Solomon’s search for truth and the purpose of our existence on this earth. It details the various ways and means by which he tested what had value in life and how it all brought him back to the conclusion that the ultimate purpose of a life that would not end empty (in vanity) is to, “Fear God, and keep his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Within his trials and studies, Solomon focused one section on pleasure and happiness. Notice what he said. I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine… I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools… I bought male and female slaves… I had also great possessions of herds and flocks… I …

The propriety of negotiating with terrorists has been debated over the years. Its proponents argue that not negotiating would result in dire and needless tragedy. It’s opponents, on the other hand, argue that negotiations legitimize terrorists’ grievances, not to mention their demands and methods. It’s opponents also argue that giving in to such terrorist demands almost certainly ensures the likelihood of further terrorist activities. While some would have us believe that the argument regarding whether to engage in terrorist negotiations is complicated, the question over whether to negotiate with Satan is simple. The answer is a resounding, “No!” Why, then, do people act in ways that suggest they feel they can negotiate with Satan? Is it because: “But I would never negotiate with Satan,” you say. Ah, but it’s so easy to, and many times we don’t even realize we’ve done it until we’re faced with the consequences. The negotiation isn’t focused so much on the activity itself (we already want to participate in the activity, so the only roadblock is in justifying it) as it is the degree, or the frequency, or the setting of the activity. Do you see a pattern here? All of these conditions include the word “just,” as if that makes the proposed deed more acceptable and less offensive. On these occasions, the word “just” should have been added to that infamous list of other four-letter vulgarities. I’m not a fan of the phrase, “What would Jesus do?” It calls for speculation, and there’s not a person alive with enough wisdom to know the mind …

Several years ago, I was talking with a member of the church about the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and hiking on the Appalachian Trail. I remember how grateful I was to be able to be in such a beautiful place that dazzled the senses. It was wonderful to get up in the morning and start our hike among the mountain flowers and trees all around us that were changing their colors. There were times during the hike that we would just stop and absorb the beauty and many fragrances. Thinking about all that beauty brings to mind a faint glimpse of Heaven’s glory. A Much Better Place After our hike, we all stood outside our cabin, looking at the Georgia mountains in the distance. What an overwhelming spectacle that was! Just a glimpse of Heaven’s glory! A Much Better Place Our Savior assured His apostles that He would return to His Father and His eternal home to prepare a place of such beauty and splendor that nothing on earth can compare with it. A Much Better Place Are you ready and prepared to go to such a better place called Heaven? Have you obeyed God’s plan of salvation? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24, 31-32)? Are you willing to repent of your sins and turn to God (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30-31; 2:38; 18:8)? Will you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died, …

There is no way God wants us to be scared of Him, right? Well, think again. God purposely frightened the Israelites in Exodus 20. They begged Moses to speak to them (instead of God). God wanted them to fear Him. They were the “children” of Israel and needed to learn to fear their heavenly Father. Solomon said that fearing the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) and the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). As a child, I feared my dad. I didn’t want him to spank me, so I obeyed him. However, as I grew up, I became bigger and stronger than my dad. I no longer feared him, but I obeyed him! Why? Now it was because of love, not because of fear. God was teaching the “children” of Israel to fear Him. He was doing with them what we as parents do with our children. They are not capable of jumping right to a “love-obedience” relationship. That is too advanced a concept for a child. Rather, they obey because of fear. This was God’s approach, and it works with children as well. Therefore, people obey because of two reasons: (1) Fear – a more immature motivation for obedience, and (2) Love – a superior, mature kind of motivation that leads to obedience. John made an interesting statement. He said that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). I don’t think I can say I’ve reached that “perfect love” stage, but that is my goal. When our lives are characterized …

A preacher was recently going through airport security when he saw an unusual sight. At the point where boarding pass holders must empty their pockets and send carry-ons to be checked, a blind man, being guided by his friend or relative, was removing large gold chains and charms from around his neck and placing them in the bin to send through the x-ray machine. Why would a blind man wear all that “bling, bling”? Whatever the reason, the preacher thought, “Wow! All that sparkle, and he can’t even see himself.” There is a greater spiritual lesson to this scene. Sometimes, a Christian can act in such ways that others legitimately wonder, “Does he actually realize what he’s doing and how counterproductive that is to what he claims?” For example, do Christians who promote or defend immodesty, homosexual practice, or other acts of immorality, whether on Facebook or face to face, actually realize how they look to God and to worldly people? Do Christians who forsake assembling with the local church because they are too involved with recreation not realize they are idolizing passing pleasures of this world in place of the eternal satisfaction of spiritual enrichment? Do Christians whose actions show they love this world more than God not realize the jeopardy in which they place their souls and the harm their influence brings on the local church? The only true way to see ourselves as we really are is to look into the mirror of God’s Word. “For if …

Many people talk about Jesus without knowing who He truly is. The prophet who often spoke of the suffering servant described Him beautifully. “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus is wonderful for all who have received the forgiveness of sins. Paul declared, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25a). This was achieved by God making Him bear sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). He is also a prized counselor who gives the best advice because in Him are the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:1-3). He delivered the words of the Father, which lead to everlasting life (John 12:46-50). Our Savior can also be described as Mighty God since He created all things (Hebrews 1:1-3). “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). Our Lord is also Everlasting Father, which Homer Hailey says is in the sense of protector and sustainer. Joseph said, “So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of …

“Say to them, ‘As I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?’” (Ezekiel 33:11). From sin being introduced in the Garden of Eden, death has been part of human existence and will continue until the Lord returns. We have an interesting fascination and dread for the experience of death and for those who have died. It is difficult at best for us to consider our own demise, preferring to focus on what we are doing in life now and acting as if it will continue indefinitely. When death intrudes in our lives, as in the passing of a loved one, we are forced to deal with the grief it brings over the physical loss, sadness over the inability to continue with the relationship we had and a sense of loss in that person no longer being available to carry on as before. This is especially true for those who have some celebrity status, who we may have enjoyed as an artist and the work they did as such, knowing now their work has ended. You might hear someone say, “Well, they won’t make any more movies” or “They won’t write anymore songs.” People can become more impacted with the loss of what one did more than the loss of the person. I, too, can think …