Loving My (Different) Neighbor, Part 3 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed…

In the last post (“Christian or American,” 1/12/20), we asked some hard questions about the church and believers. We suggested that many parts of the American church are losing their biblical identity. We further suggested that this is because many churches have bought into the world’s ways of thinking, and that they have tied themselves…
After seeing the title of this post, you might be inclined to ask, “Law? What law? I thought we were under grace?” It is true, the believer is under grace, not law (Rom. 6:14). But it’s equally true that every Kingdom has laws and standards by which the subjects of the Kingdom live. As with…
And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold (Matt. 24:10-12). Few in the Christian community would doubt that we are seeing the fulfillment of these words…
Recently I witnessed several conversations on social media between believers and those who either might be considered “liberals” or out-and-out unbelievers. I was, to be honest, shocked by the behavior and words I saw—mostly from the Christians. I shook my head, and felt as hurt as the Lord must feel. Judging by the words, I…
In the last post, we suggested that it’s indeed possible to have both sound doctrine and true heart-felt passion in our faith. We also suggested that what makes that possible is a changed heart guided by the Holy Spirit. In this follow-up post, we will consider how segments of the church can move from what…
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” he second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31). One of the purposes of The Shepherd’s Voice…
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…
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…
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…
Have you ever described someone that you knew to a friend? Or perhaps you’ve tried to describe yourself? What words were used? “Oh, he’s really funny! She’s so smart! Look out for him, he’s a bit weird!” Since we are embarking on a journey involving the Gospel, it would be a good idea to be…