As we live for the Lord, and things become difficult, due to the enemy of our soul constantly making his bid for our faith, we can rely on at least three things, as our faith remains rooted in Christ. These things not only define the Christian life, but at the same time, help to instruct us on living for the Lord.

From the very beginning, God has had a plan to redeem man. This became necessary once our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned and were expelled from the Garden of Eden. From that very moment in time, they, and even nature itself, began the process of decay. 

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:22-23).

But these were not the only two principals (with Adam and Eve counting as one) affected by this catastrophic event, because as a direct result of their disobedience, they became susceptible to Satan; and this would change the face of the world for all time.

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As Christians, having a strong foundation means having the right foundation. If we base our faith on anything other than the Cross of Jesus Christ, then that foundation is faulty. I once heard someone say, “If you get Jesus wrong, it doesn’t matter what you get right, because your foundation is wrong.”

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Because this church so closely mirrors the mindset and character of today’s church, we should all pay very close attention to Christ’s words and warning to them. The Lord’s message to this church is a multi-faceted one, but the overarching thrust of the letter is repentance.

This call to enter into the throne room of God is not one to be taken lightly, for without grace and mercy, we could not even begin to approach His presence.

How should we look at what we see? The apostle Paul tells us of a sharp contrast between that which we can see with our natural eyes, versus that which cannot be seen, which is spiritual.

One of the most fascinating attributes of God is His omnipotence; meaning that He possesses all power. At the same time we read in Scripture that He is merciful and compassionate. When we can begin to understand that the God who possesses all power is the same God who is infinitely compassionate and gracious, we then can understand how He can be both the Lion and the Lamb; while the attributes of God seem to contradict one another, they do not.

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“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).

When speaking of atonement, it is important to understand that it is first and foremost, an act of God’s infinite love for us. He knew that there was no other way for man to restore the deep and intimate fellowship that was lost in Eden. Atonement addresses and answers the ultimate and universal problem of man, which is sin. Man’s sin resulted in the need for a Savior. From the book of Genesis, we read “the first gospel” – a promise looking forward to the One who would come to atone:

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

In the Old Testament, the Law and the prophets begin to set forth the powerful doctrine of the atonement, which finds its utmost fulfillment in the sacrificial death of Christ. 

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Self-righteousness is a danger that can find a resting place in the house of God amongst God’s people. It can be found in ministry, in the pulpit, and in the congregation. It can only rest in an environment where it is cultivated and then coddled. 

Self-righteousness can be defined as having confidence in one’s own righteousness. It leaves one with a sense of smugness and superiority. When it is mingled with pride, it becomes all the more  wretched. To express the dangers of self-righteousness, I’d like to look at the lives of several individuals, to show the innate danger that it poses.

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The church is the body of Christ, a gift from the Father for us to grow in community, and grow closer to Him. But churches are filled with sinful human beings, ourselves included! When problems arise, is it ever okay to leave a church? Let's take a look at four solid examples of when it may be time to find a new church.

In Matthew 28, Jesus commands his disciples to “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Although the term never appears in the Bible, this command has come to be known as the Great Commission. So just what makes it so great?

While the spotlight seems to be on Jonah and his response to the call of God and the eventual outcome, there are other things in this story that deserve our attention. When we look at all that takes place in its pages, one truth stands out: the book of Jonah is really about the grace of God. And God has enough grace for everyone.

We see crosses everywhere: on necklaces, on mantelpieces, on bumper stickers. It's become such a common sight for us, that we often forget how incredible a symbol the cross truly is. When was the last time you sat back and thought about where we would be without the cross? Jesus's death on the cross and subsequent resurrection brought us incalculable joy and life! Don't lose sight of that.