Helping you grow in God's all-sufficient grace and truth
Father, you know the utter self-centeredness of my nature inherited from Adam. You know that even when I have examined my heart for hidden motives, which bend me toward self-exaltation, my innate blindness may also prevent me from seeing truth,
Continue readingThe difference between mere religion and supernatural conversion is the transformation of the inner being of the sinner by the regenerating, sanctifying Spirit of God and the subsequent ruling government of Christ within us. This is the mystery and the
Continue readingThe authority of Jesus Christ given to us as disciple-makers is to be employed to evangelize “all the nations” (Matt 28:18-20). “Go therefore” is the translation of a participle meaning “in your going,” which clearly implies continual responsibility to take
Continue readingFew words are surrounded by as much confusion and misunderstanding as legalism. Many modern-day believers carelessly use it to dismiss any strong call to holiness or high standards of conduct that reflect the righteousness of God. However, though the term
Continue readingWhen the Bible speaks of good works in relation to salvation it does so in both a positive and negative manner. Positively, good works are the manifestation of the presence of the indwelling Spirit of God as He produces the
Continue readingCalling is a beautiful word. It speaks of God’s gracious urging of sinners to turn from their wicked ways and return to Him, the “Shepherd and Guardian” of their souls (1 Pet 2:25). It is both common and effectual. The
Continue readingClarifying Sanctification: David Murray is in the middle of a helpful 3-part review of Tullian Tchividjian’s latest book. He reminds us to be clear about the differences between the doctrines of justification and sanctification. Choosing Disability & Thanking God –
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Throughout church history there has been a blurring of lines between three essential aspects or phases of salvation, which results in confusion concerning how we actually become holy in our daily experience of the Christian life. Below is a simple
Continue readingTo walk with God is to live by faith in obedience to His commands. Yet, we are unable to do this in our own strength and power, but in that of the Holy Spirit alone. This is the vital tension
Continue readingLet’s face it, fellow counselors, if we don’t help people get to the heart of their behavior we have done nothing more than rearrange the order of their functional gods or taught them to hang a new variety of plastic
Continue readingEach Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. my men’s small group meets in a member’s home for prayer, study, accountability, and encouragement. It’s been the intentional strategy of our church’s Men of Iron groups (Prov 27:17) to repeatedly study the practical theology
Continue readingA proper understanding of Romans 6 is critical to maintaining the biblical view of sanctification. If we are to grow in God’s goal of conforming us to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29), we must consider our old sin
Continue readingHebrews 10:23-25 exhorts us, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling
Continue readingHere’s another handful of profitable links I’d like to pass on for your edification. 5 Signs of Spiritual Maturity – Clint Archer explores some marks of spiritual maturity. Are Mormons Christian? – Be sure to watch this 3-minute video with
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Romans 8:16 says, The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. In other words, part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to believers is to give assurance of salvation. Since the Holy Spirit is the
Continue readingIn addition to the daily, private feeding on the Word (yesterday’s post), public intake is also necessary for sanctification. The growing disciple is also one who places a high priority on listening to the public reading and preaching of the
Continue readingBiblical sanctification requires the habitual putting off of the sins that so easily entangle us (Heb. 12:1). But there is another side to godliness—what we must put on, or crave. As ingrained sin habits are being cast aside, the follower
Continue readingAuthentic biblical counseling recognizes God’s holy calling for the believer and the disciple’s personal responsibility for self-discipline, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to live in a manner worthy of his or her high position as a new creature
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By God’s grace, I’m a husband, dad, grandpa, and pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Mayfield Hts, OH. I love Christ because He first loved me.
