Category Archives: Depravity

Meet the citizens of heaven

Posted on March 13, 2018 by

It might surprise some to meet the true citizens of heaven. Many religious leaders “shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces” (Matthew 23:13). Jesus said of them,  “You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. ….You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are” (Matthew 23:14-15). Jesus said to these religious leaders, “religious leaders “shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces” (Matthew 23:13). Jesus said,  “You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. …Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31). Continue reading →

Posted in Afraid to die, Afterlife, Assurance, Atheism, Atheists, Belief, Blessed by God, Born again?, Christian worldview, Christianity, Cliches, Comfort, Cross of Christ, Cross of Jesus, Crucifixion, Death of Christ, Depravity, Disciple-making, Elentics, Eternal life, Eternal security, Evangelism, Faith, Fear of death, God's Heart, God's Love, Godly sorrow, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Grace, Greatness, Heaven, Human depravity, Humility, Jesus Christ, Justification, Legalism, Main problem, Matthew 7:1-6, Meekness, New Creation, Pharisees, Poor in spirit, Proud, Reconciliation, Regeneration, Religion, Religion-not the answer, Repentance, Salvation, Searching, Security of salvation, Seeker Services, Seeking God, Selfishness, Sin, Spiritual inventory, Teaching of Jesus, The cross of Christ, Unbelief, Walking with God, Witness, Worldly sorrow | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Seven considerations before talking about marriage, sexuality and gender

Posted on March 15, 2016 by

Seven foundational truths for discussing marriage, sexuality and gender. Continue reading →

Posted in Anthropology, Creation, Depravity, Divorce and Remarriage, Gay, Gay Marriage?, Gender, Homosexual lifestyle, Homosexuality, Human depravity, Human dignity, Marriage, marriage problems, Same-sex, Sexual orientation, Sexual Preference, Sexual temptations, Sexuality, troubled marriage, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Why do I feel so torn?

Posted on February 5, 2015 by

If you are a teacher in the Church or one who influences other followers of Christ, please make sure they understand the painful reality of the tension they will experience and how torn they will feel because of God’s Spirit living in them. The Christian life is one of tension between the already and the not yet. Continue reading →

Posted in Blessed by God, Christian life, Christian worldview, Christianity, Church Leadership, Conflict, Contentment, Depravity, Depression, Despair, Discouragement, Doubt, Encouragement, Eternal life, Eternal security, Faith, God's Patience, God's Heart, God's Love, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Guidelines for living, Holy Spirit, Hope?, Meaning of life, Pastors, Salvation, Sanctification, Spirit filled, Spiritual growth, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, Suffering, Temptation, Trials | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Troubled dust, but dust that dreams

Posted on August 23, 2014 by

Rest securely and confidently in what God has done for you in Christ! And remind yourself often that…. Continue reading →

Posted in Agnostic, Atheism, Atheists, Death of Christ, Depravity, Depression, Despair, Easter, Eternal life, Eternal security, Evil in the world, Fear of death, God's Love, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Grace, Grieving, Heaven, Hope?, Human depravity, Human dignity, Humanism, In Christ, Jesus Christ, Loss, Meaning of life, Problem of evil, Promises of Bible, purpose, Religion-not the answer, Resurrection, Salvation, Sin, Suffering, The cross of Christ | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Therapeutic vs. True Gospel

Posted on June 5, 2014 by

Jesus Christ died for my sin and the most vivid expression of my sin is my willful self-preoccupation. A gospel message that invites me to stay at the center is not the true gospel. Listen closely to the emphasis when you hear someone invite people to follow Jesus. Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Christian worldview, Christianity, Church Leadership, Church Planting, Confession, Depravity, Disciple-making, Doctrine, Evangelicals, Evangelism, Evil in the world, Faith, God's Love, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Hamartiology, Kingdom, Poor in spirit, Pride, Reconciliation, Religion-not the answer, Repentance, Salvation, Seeker Services, Seeking God, Self esteem, Self love, Self-deception, Selfishness, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Confused about God in a world of suffering

Posted on April 22, 2014 by

In our efforts to understand how God relates to the evil actions of humans (or even to His own acts of judgment), we must make some important distinctions concerning God’s will. Continue reading →

Posted in Apologetics, Assurance, Atheism, Atheists, Bitterness, Christian worldview, Comfort, D. A. Carson, Depravity, Despair, Doctrine, Doubt, Evil in the world, God, God's Patience, God's control, God's Heart, God's power, God's Protection, God's Will, Hope?, Jesus Christ, Justice, Origin of Sin, Pain, Problem of evil, Salvation, Seeking God, Sin, Sovereignty, Suffering, Theodicy, Theology, Will of God | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Leading our children to faith in Christ

Posted on August 24, 2013 by

How can we lead them away from bad behavior and commend them for good behavior while teaching them how desperately they need God’s grace as sinners? Continue reading →

Posted in Dads, Depravity, Family life, Fathers, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Grace, Home Schooling, Human depravity, Mothers, My mother, Origin of Sin, Parenting, Parenting Groups, Parenting teens, Proverbs, Salvation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment