“The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins” (2 Peter 1:9). We have been cleansed from our sins by the cross and resurrection of Christ. Our cleansing is twofold: 1) we are forgiven, absolved of any fault, relieved of any guilt; 2) sin ceases…
Category: Discipleship
Participating in the Divine Nature (Part 2)
Continued from “Participating in the Divine Nature (Part 1)” “…he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4). The phrase “participating in the divine nature” can seem a little inaccessible. What…
Let Freedom Ring!
“Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1, HCSB) Slavery? To what? What is Paul talking about? Other verses in Galatians show us slavery is a performance-based relationship with God. In other words, like slaves, we have a place in God’s household…
Participating in the Divine Nature (Part 1)
Image from http://www.cafepress.com/artoffoxvox “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused…
Promises, Promises
“He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4, NIV). When we hear the term “Bible promises,” we tend to think of blessings or things God gives us. God certainly…
True Fasting (The Day of Atonement Part 4)
Drawing by Patrick Murphy http://inspiredsketch.blogspot.com/ As mentioned, people were to practice self-denial or fast throughout the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:32). This appointed fast is discussed in Isaiah 58. Through Isaiah, God communicates the spirit of the fast on the Day of Atonement: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the…
Do This in Memory of Me
Memorial Day is a time each year when Americans remember those who have died while serving their country in the military. It is a time of reflecting on the ultimate sacrifice some have made to ensure the prosperity and safety of others. Since Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May, it results…
Change Clothes!
We have this affection for ourselves, for our old life. We do not really want it to die. We want to help it, to change it, to rehabilitate it, and we want God to share our sympathy with self. This is as when Abram prayed that God would bless Ishmael, the fruit of his flesh…
Put to Death…
Sketch by Patrick Murphy: http://inspiredsketch.blogspot.com/ When Paul says, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature,” he assumes that “you died,” and also, “you died with Christ” (Col. 2:20; 3:3, 5). We cannot put to death unless we are already dead. Paul is not giving a command with the expectation that we fulfill it. …
The Voice of One 