Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4 Lawlessness – Sometimes the writers of the New Testament tell us something that is so hard to hear we would rather slide past the subject. That’s what is happening with this statement from John. We think we know what sin is. …
For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. Romans 6:19 Present – There is no way to get around it. The bodily actions I take, the way that I use my hands, feet,…
And put a knife to your throat if you are a man of great appetite. Proverbs 23:2 Great Appetite – What kind of suggestion is this? It seems outrageous. Here is a man who has been invited to dine with the king. He is in a privileged position. And Solomon tells him to put a…
So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD. Joshua 9:14 Not Ask – It seemed like an open and shut case. Here comes a group of men ready to make a deal. They look like the right people. They talk like the right…
present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship Romans 12:1 Spiritual Service – Most of us have never witnessed an animal sacrifice, but we can imagine one. The blade slices across the throat of the animal, producing a geyser of blood. The animal attempts to…
“Not everyone saying to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father” Matthew 7:21 Will – Do you want to enter into God’s kingdom? Then there is one question you must ask before all others. What is the will of the Father? If you…
Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we . . “ Matthew 7:22 Many – How does the saying go? “The highway to hell is paved with good intentions.” Well, set that one aside. Jesus is not talking about intentions. He’s talking about real actions. These people stand before Him and…
“Not everyone saying to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father” Matthew 7:21 Does – In case you thought you knew Jesus’ words, I would like to challenge you to read His statements again – exactly for what they say. Set aside the…
And looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him, and said to him, “One thing you lack; go and sell” Mark 10:21 Lack – If you get a blue ribbon for being first in the race, what do you get for being last? You get Jesus’ love! That’s the situation we find in this…
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 Repent – When Martin Luther nailed his document to the door of the cathedral, he started a movement that led to the Reformation – a protest against the religious thinking and practice of that time,…
