Continuing in our series on the fundamentals of the faith, we’re going to talk about the church. The Church (also known as the Bride and Body of Christ) consists of all true believers who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. While local congregations may vary in size, makeup, and style, the worldwide…
Salvation is secured by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. No other act (including baptism or keeping the law) can save a man, and failure to perform any single act (including baptism) will not condemn a man. Salvation includes forgiveness of sin, the reception of a new heart and spirit, and the indwelling of the…
We’re continuing our series on the fundamentals of the faith. Today we turn to humanity, being made in the image of God. God created humanity in His image. Adam and Eve were literal people who fell from their position of innocence into sin because of disobedience. Because of that, the whole creation has been contaminated…
So far in our series on the fundamentals of the faith, we have examined God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Now we turn to the nature of sin. Sin exists in the world because of the fall of Adam and Eve. Sin is more than outward behavior or disobedience to God’s commandments. At…
We are continuing our series on the fundamental doctrines of the faith. What are the core truths of the Gospel? Today, we are focusing on the Holy Spirit. Our statement about the Spirit tells us: The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity. The Spirit is to be referred to as “He” or…
Continuing on in our look at the core truths of the faith, we come now to Jesus. Now, we have talked about Him a lot previously. Specifically, though, we have discussed His being both God and Man as well as the purpose for which he came. (Listen to the podcast “The Centerpiece of the Gospel:…
We are continuing in our series on the fundamentals of the faith. The first of these ideas deals with the existence of God. The Bible does not seek to prove the existence of God; it assumes that He exists. Indeed, the Bible was written as a result of His existence. Previously, we’ve discussed the nature…
“How can you support that person/group?” This question is heard often in Christian circles. So many churches and groups have sprung up with such wide-ranging views that it’s often difficult to determine just what makes one “a Christian.” Do you have to believe in baptism by immersion? Do you have to keep the Sabbath? Is…

In Second Chronicles 30, we read an amazing story of celebrating the Passover. What makes this story interesting is that neither Israel (the northern kingdom after the split) nor Judah (the southern kingdom) had celebrated the Passover in a long time. Passover was a big deal. It was instituted by God on the very night…
“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which means, God with…
What was the purpose of Jesus coming to earth, dying, and being raised from the dead? Was it only so that we could have a ticket to heaven? We’ve already said, in previous posts, that there is much more to the gospel than that. Jesus declared to the people, “I came that they may have…
When Jesus came to earth preaching the Gospel, He wasn’t preaching a message that was unknown to the Jews. Centuries before, several Old Testament prophets had predicted that God would usher in a new way of doing things. In fact, the Gospel really started off in the promise that God made to Abram. Now the…

What does it mean to be a Christian? There have been many answers over the centuries, some of which contradict each other. Some of the most common answers today include: * It means I’m going to heaven.* It means I have a personal relationship with Jesus.* It means living by the Ten Commandments, Golden Rule,…
It’s good to take a break on this day from the stresses of life. Pause and reflect. Today is a day of “giving thanks.” That phrase is used often. In today’s world, with all the violence, division, stress and anger, we need to be thankful to God. What are we to be thankful for? Yet…
On the eve of one of the most watched elections in U.S. history, at a time when the country is more divided than ever, it is time for the church to pray. Not for victory for a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, but that the Lord would use this crisis to unite His people in becoming…
We’ve learned that the Gospel is the story of Jesus coming to rescue His people from their sin and its consequences–eternal separation from God. He did this by living a perfectly sinless life, dying for our sins on the cross, and rising from the dead, which proved that His sacrifice was pleasing to the Father.…
Many have heard of Jesus as “God’s Son.” We sing of Him at Christmas and Easter that way. But, few realize the implications of the phrase. John’s Gospel tells us much about the Son of God, particularly in the first verses of chapter one. There we read: In the beginning was the Word, and the…
After an introduction to the Father, we now turn to the One who was sent to reveal the Father’s very heart to us, the centerpiece of the Gospel, Jesus. Many know of Jesus, the baby in the manger that we celebrate at Christmas (though He was likely born in the fall…but I digress), to bring…
I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Me but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:5-6) The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow…