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This past week as I was reading Because He Loves Me by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Core Christianity by Michael Horton they both were talking about evil and sin.  Below you will find a few quotes to ponder from my reading: We must fight our battle in the certainty that our enemy has been overcome. Yes, sin has been overcome, and because of Christ's victory we can war. we have to get our eyes off our sin and back onto his accomplished work on the cross. There is one sin that is at the root of all sin: unbelief. We cannot remake our hearts, but he can. We cannot change our spirits, but can place his Spirit within us. Apart from his work, we have hearts of stone, and we will walk only n our own ways. God's primary motive in our justification and sanctification is to vindicate his holiness in the sight of every nation.   The royal dignity of the first human beings encompassed both body and soul. the image of God is not something that we have s...

I am continuing to read through Recovering Redemption by Matt Chandler.  I highly recommend this book and will be leading a group of adults through it in 2015.  Here are some quotes related to struggles, belief, and changing: repentance growing up out of our hearts is a leading indicator of genuine belief on the inside. It shows us we're His from the roots up. But sin can't be trained; sin must be killed. In the end, godly grief produces within us such a hatred of our sin, we then receive from God the renewed motivation to actually turn from our sin. The secret, of course--the mystery--is that the Judge has rendered His decision based not on what we've done, on our innocence, but on the sacrifice and willing substitution of the innocent, crucified Christ.  His resurrection provides all the objective evidence we need that proves His promises are true, that His ability to conquer death is real, and that His atonement for our sin is activel...

God gets a bad rap.  We like to play this comparison game of the God of the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament.  We are a little scared and skeptical with all of the wars and wrath we see in the Old Testament.  So we are thankful when Jesus enters the scene with a new covenant and what He did on our behalf in the New Testament.  Jesus is the One who saves us, forgives us, takes the wrath we deserve.  Preston Sprinkle in Charis is trying to change this perception.  Below are some quotes of how God in the Old Testament was very loving and gracious. If there ever was clear evidence that God saved people based on who He is and not on what we have done, it's the exodus from Egypt. God's power is released on account of His compassion, not Israel's righteousness. This is where the tent comes in. God cannot dwell with sinful people, but God desires to dwell with sinful people. So He comes up with a plan to have build a te...

Jefferson Bethke has written an excellent book on the differences between religion and a relationship with Jesus.  I am sharing more quotes from the book today: Many Christians don't really care about God; they just want to use him to get what they truly want--status, a nice job, a car, forgiveness--you name it. . . .We have elevated the gifts above the Giver.  Thankfulness is the quickest path to joy. He owes us nothing, but he gives us everything. It is clear in Scripture that he is not the source of evil, nor did he cause it, but he promises he can use it. . . .Suffering is never from God, but he can redeem it. Again, when you are suffering, God is not punishing you. I am so sure of this because God promised that he has already laid all punishment on Jesus on our behalf. When I'm struggling, one of the most encouraging things is to just have my friends and family be there for me. Their simple presence--saying nothing, simply sitting there with me--a...

Here are more thoughts from Jefferson Bethke from Jesus > Religion : The biggest difference between religious people and gospel-loving people is that religious people see certain people as the enemies, when Jesus-followers see sin as the enemy. It's only when we understand that in Jesus we are cleansed, washed, and renewed that we see our sin fall by the wayside. Avoiding sin isn't about us not getting in trouble; it is about us trusting that the Creator knows his creation best and has designed the world to work in a certain way. Keep our eyes on him, and we will make it because it depends on him, not us. When Jesus and his righteousness are ultimate, then you actually see evil as the source of evil, rather than politics, money, or gender. But the truth is, God doesn't grade on a curve; he grades on a cross. It seems Jesus didn't come to lower the standard; he actually came to raise it. He took the issue from external to internal. Jesus is quite clear...

Here are notes from my message today at Hesston MB: Read Romans 8:31-39 God is for us! vs. 31-34 - This is my favorite verse in the Bible. Vs. 31-Today’s passage has a total of 6 questions with three in 31-32 & three more in 33-35.   If God is for us, who can be against us? What’s the answer? No one. It is a rhetorical question.   In the Greek, it could better be translated “since” instead of “if.” (MacArthur Bible Commentary). The answer is obvious.   God is for us.   God is for you. However, Paul knows how we think so he clarifies it more in the next verse. Vs. 32-God gave us Jesus.   This Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again.   God did not spare His own Son.   Since we know this to be true, if He gave us Jesus, why would He not give us all things.   This amazing statement reinforces the previous verse.   God giving us Jesus is evidence that God is for us. (Romans Commentary, Toews) Paul continues to prove t...