January 2
Charles Stanley (1821-1890), when given the opportunity to speak to a large crowd of Roman Catholics, said: “I want to prove that the doctrine of the Church of Rome, in the year 60, is the only true doctrine.” He showed them “that we are not in any uncertainty as to which was the true church at Rome in 60.…Neither were we left in any uncertainty as to what were the true doctrines taught. We have an inspired account of those doctrines…From Romans 1–3, we found the ruin of man through sin…I then went on to show God’s righteousness revealed in the glorious plan of redemption—how God is...
Read MoreJanuary 1
“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Ex 12:2). As a new year begins, may we enter fully into the high privilege of our relationship in the Lord Jesus Christ. “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5). Built up to offer up spiritual sacrifices—that must be first. Let us resolve to begin each day in the honest and real personal enjoyment of fellowship with the Lord. Then Peter adds: “But you are…a...
Read MoreDecember 31
“We desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb 6:11-12). “A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The...
Read MoreDecember 30
Arnot McIntee tells the story of a preacher at Orator’s Corner in Hyde Park, London, England. A heckler interrupted: “Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve been hearing this chap talk about God, heaven, sin, the devil and hell. I hope you won’t believe a word of it. I don’t. I refuse to believe anything I can’t see.” Another man spoke out: “Friends, I hear that not far from here runs a river. I don’t believe it. Many say the grass here is green and there are shrubs which have beautiful blooms. I don’t believe it. By now most of you think I’m talking like a fool. The more I talk like this, the more...
Read MoreFebruary 29
Adoption, or “son-placing,” is the ultimate goal God has set for believer (Eph 1:5) at the end of time, bringing us into the fullness of eternal realities. In Paul’s writings the ideas of “children” and “sons” are different. Becoming a child is a generative change: we are born into the family and share common life. Becoming a son is a legal change, as when we see a sign “Smith and Sons.” This doesn’t announce the birth of a child, but that the son is being brought into privilege and responsibility. We are made sons at the moment of salvation and thus already have received a spirit of...
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