“The man knows that he is forgiven, that his relationship with God has changed, that he has begun to internally change – and it is enough.” TEXT: Chapter 4, Page 36 – Does the man on the pallet trust in what Jesus has just said? The scribes and the Pharisees who are present certainly don’t [...]
“To “present yourselves.” To “obey.” “To abide.” All of these expressions are actually the same concept.” TEXT: Chapter 4, Page 34 – So, let’s see if Paul can explain this. Let’s go back to where we left off in Romans 6 at verses 16,17, and 19. “Do you not know that when you present yourselves [...]
“Abraham believes that what God has promised, He is able to do.” TEXT: Chapter 4, Page 31 – Keep your finger in the Luke 5 story and flip over to Ephesians 2:4-7 for a scriptural definition of Grace. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even [...]
“When we are asked to examine those ideas that are at the core of our existence, it always gets intense.” TEXT: Chapter 4, Page 30 – For years I’ve studied the Scriptures and commentaries on the Scriptures, attempting to understand what many Christians identify as the very core of their Christianity – the Grace-Faith Relationship. [...]
“And this is where we get into trouble. We try very hard.” TEXT: Chapter 4, Page 29 – Thus, in Seventh-day Adventist theology, physical health is very important. We call it “the health message.” You and I try very hard to have a healthy lifestyle. And this is where we get into trouble. We try [...]
“There are so many theories about the Second Coming of Jesus because . . . He hasn’t come yet.” TEXT: Chapter 3, Page 25 – Every Christian knows that Jesus is coming again. Right? In the New Testament, more is said about the Second Coming of Jesus than about any other topic. One verse in [...]
“This prize, the Holy Spirit, is what makes getting through the Commandment Cracker Jack even possible.” TEXT: Chapter 3, Page 23 – Now let me remind you of what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 (paraphrased and amplified) – “I don’t want you to do this on your own. I don’t want you to do [...]
“Keeping the commandments is not just about behavior, but about relationships.” TEXT: Chapter 3, Page 22 – The third “C” stands for the Commandments. (This one may stretch you just a bit, but let’s try it.) Have you ever eaten a box of Cracker Jack? Do you remember what was in the box, besides the [...]
“This is the prime question in all of Christianity: Who is Jesus?” TEXT: Chapter 3, age 19 – The first “C” stands for Christ. To think about this first “C,” consider our solar system. The sun stands at the center of our solar system. All nine planets (eight, if you accept the loss of Pluto [...]
“You are loved – intensely, unreservedly, sacrificially, eternally.” TEXT: Chapter 2, Page 15 – John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” Passionate as you are, like David, yet crying for the sins of yourself and [...]
