As people brought from darkness to light and out of reverence to the Lord, our life together should be marked by appropriate submission and love. This radically shapes Christian marriage and, when functioning properly, causes it to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church.
As God’s children, we must imitate him in holiness and love. If this is not evident in our lives, we must take warning that God’s wrath comes upon the disobedient.
As God’s children, we must imitate him in holiness and love. If this is not evident in our lives, we must take warning that God’s wrath comes upon the disobedient.
Having been made new in Christ, we must put off everything that belongs to the old life and sinful nature. This is a passage where Paul gets quite specific in showing us what we need to turn away from.
Having been made new in Christ, we must put off everything that belongs to the old life and sinful nature. This is a passage where Paul gets quite specific in showing us what we need to turn away from.
As we are equipped and enabled to grow into maturity in Christ, we must live lives distinct from those around us – putting off our old self of corruption and putting on the new self of godliness.
As we are equipped and enabled to grow into maturity in Christ, we must live lives distinct from those around us – putting off our old self of corruption and putting on the new self of godliness.
The risen and ascended Lord has given gifted leaders to the church to prepare all God’s people for service, so that the whole body may be mature. As this happens according to his design and plan, we are protected from error and we all grow up into maturity in Christ.
It’s always exciting to take a backstage tour in a grand venue—to see where the stars prepare—perhaps to see them behind the scenes and to know them as they really are. On the Mount of Transfiguration, we are given a backstage pass to see a glimpse of Jesus in his heavenly splendour and to hear the voice of the Father above. Seeing Jesus in this light, we learn to listen all the more closely to his word, and to trust him entirely as the glorious Son of heaven.
Here is the foundational promise of God, fulfilled in Jesus and the gospel. It all comes from God and his initiative. Abraham is the recipient, as we are recipients in Christ. This blessing is meant to go to the world—and so our missionary mandate is found here. The folly of Abraham here reminds us that the blessing rests on grace and not merit.
In the ministry of Jesus in the gospels, we see the new creation breaking into the old in a moment of miraculous wonder. The individual healings and the great feeding miracles point us to the ultimate outworking of the redeeming work of Jesus at the cross: all things will be made new. The sick will be restored in resurrection bodies; the hungry will feast at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Have we come to Jesus to receive a place in this new creation? Are we delighting in the prospect of joining him there?
It is not possible to engage with Jesus Christ and to make no response to him. Some will respond with skepticism; some will respond with questions, but a desire to know more; others will see him for who he is, and confess that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. How will you respond to him?
The spiritual biography of every Christian humbles us and points to God’s glory: we have been chosen in Christ, included in in him through the gospel, and sealed by this Spirit. This story of our salvation comforts and assures us, and it prompts us to glorify God.
