Martin Luther, the icon of the protestant reformation, said it best when he proclaimed the doctrine of Justification by faith to be articulus stantis vel cadentis ecclesiae “the article of faith that decides whether the church is standing or falling” (Packer). The doctrine of Justification by faith is not only one out of many church … [Read more…]
The only thing that any minister of the gospel can do is share what we believe is the truth with honesty and conviction. We cannot convince anyone to change their mind unless those people see the need for change. The role of the Holy Spirit is to convict people of their need. Our job is … [Read more…]
What does it mean to be not “Under Law” but “Under Grace”? When the New Testament scriptures state we are not “Under Law” but “Under Grace” it means we are no longer subject to the penalty of the law and are not subject to its condemnation. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who … [Read more…]
“Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.” Luke 6:26, NIV I fear many Christians are afraid to speak their minds about God’s word. They worry that other people will turn against them, or that they might offend someone who is opposed to the … [Read more…]
“ One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God” (Luke 6:12, NIV). One of the major hallmarks of Jesus’s earthly ministry was His personal prayer life. He understood His dependence on the Father for the power to live a perfect life. As a result, He … [Read more…]
“Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,” ~ Psalm 94:12, ESV Over the past 40 years of my life, I have had some wonderful Bible teachers. I have sat at the feet of countless pastors and evangelists who poured their knowledge into me and taught … [Read more…]
Sometimes I look back over my life and meditate on what might have happened if I had made different decisions in my life. For example, if I hadn’t put in a job application that led to me being hired by a particular company, or if I hadn’t stopped to talk to a military recruiter that … [Read more…]
I have a confession to make that may surprise some of you. I hated school when I was a kid. It wasn’t the English, the Spelling, or the History classes that I hated. But I dreaded Math. Most of the time my homework was only half done in those classes, and I was lucky to … [Read more…]
We are saved by trusting Jesus for the forgiveness of sin; we are blessed and rewarded by obedience to the Ten Commandments. Our salvation depends on simple faith in the blood of Christ, while our rewards in heaven depend upon our willingness to be obedient to God in all things. Without the law there is … [Read more…]
Those who think that it is hateful to call other religions wrong, do not have a problem with religion, but they have a problem with the nature of truth. Truth by definition is exclusive. To call something true means the opposite is false. This is simple logic. If no one has the truth then what … [Read more…]
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:15, KJV I am concerned about the lack of attention that is being paid to the essentials of the historic Christian faith. I am not talking about the debatable subjects that … [Read more…]
One of the characteristics of an educated mind is that it welcomes competing ideas as a way to force an examination of the basic assumptions about what makes something true or false. There is nothing wrong with a healthy debate! I am concerned about people who want to shut down the free flow of ideas … [Read more…]
Recently, I came across the question that some find hard to answer: What difference does God make? Ultimately, this question is not hard to answer. Those who have had a genuine experience with the Creator of the Universe will tell you that God has made the biggest difference in their lives. But then some might … [Read more…]
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33, KJV Do we think that God is not aware of our needs? If we trust Him, He WILL provide. This does not mean that we will not have hardships. In fact, there WILL … [Read more…]
God created a perfect world. But because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, each of us has inherited a sinful nature. The bad news is that without Christ we are completely lost and not even God can save us. The good news is that because of Christ we now … [Read more…]
Not only did Jesus identify Himself as the “I AM” of the Old Testament, but He also established Himself as the “I AM” of the New Covenant: 1. “I AM the bread of life” (John 6:35) 2. “I AM the light of the world” (8:12, 9:5) 3. “I AM the door” (10:7,9) 4. “I AM … [Read more…]
“Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with … [Read more…]
Most mature Bible believing Christians are familiar with 2 Timothy 3:16- “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (NIV). But who can tell me the verse that comes immediately before this one? Don’t look in your bibles! Can you say it from memory? Here it is: “and … [Read more…]
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” ~ Hebrews 1:14, NIV We rarely bring up the subject of Angels in modern-times. Each of us has guardian angels who assist us in our battle against the forces of darkness. They don’t seem to get a lot of credit, but … [Read more…]
If a house was on fire, wouldn’t you call the fire department and then attempt to get everyone out of the house safely? What kind of a person would say, “it’s not my house and its not my business”? Christians have a moral obligation to sound the alarm to a world that is perishing. If … [Read more…]
I love this question: “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” ~Jeremiah 32:27, NIV The obvious answer to this question is a resounding, “NO!” This is why Jesus had to keep scolding His disciples when they faced a seemingly hopeless situation with doubt, anxiety, and fear: “Oh … [Read more…]
When I was teenager, I became weary of the word “obedience”. This happened because of the hundreds of rules that I was expected to follow that resulted in punishment if I was caught violating one. I wasn’t rebellious, but I couldn’t wait to grow up so I could make my own rules. Then I joined … [Read more…]
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS CHRIST AND TO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF LOVE HE IS THE ONE WHO SAVES MY SOUL MERCIFUL AND LOVING HOLY AND JUST CREATOR OF ALL WORTHY OF ALL HONOR AND POWER. ~Stephen Beagles
The increase in spiritual attacks against Christ and the church will continue to get worse until the end of time. Jesus said, “take up your cross and follow me!” Jesus went to the cross to remove the wrath of God against those who believe and trust in Him. His followers are called to sacrifice ALL if … [Read more…]
I have been watching “Surviving the Cut”, a documentary series on Military Special Forces training. As a Marine, I learned first hand the type of motivation, perseverance, knowledge, courage, and loyalty that this type of training requires from each student. The documentary brings back many memories of sleepless nights, lack of food, endless hiking, seemingly … [Read more…]
For a long time the church has been preaching the gospel in reverse. This has led to the same results as attempting to carry a horse on our backs for hundreds of miles over rough terrain. It simply doesn’t work. The false gospel is that God loves the righteous and hates the wicked. The truth … [Read more…]
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24, KJV There are many churches that focus on truth and yet their spirit is cold. Not only are there many cold churches, but there are also those whose spirit is on fire but water down doctrinal … [Read more…]
A few days ago, I purchased a book from my local Christian bookstore written by A.W. Tozer. The title of the book was, “The Crucified Life: How To Live Out A Deeper Christian Experience.” Actually, it was more of an edited paraphrase of various sermons he had preached during his lifetime. The editor James Snyder … [Read more…]
Now that I am older, I dislike Halloween. When I was a kid, I thought it was fun to dress up crazy and get candy. But now I have no desire to put on a costume, and I can buy all the candy I want from the store. I also know the true meaning behind … [Read more…]
What does it mean to live a crucified life? First, it means that we have died to our self-sufficiency and spiritual pride. We must rely completely on the merits of Jesus for salvation. Second, it also means that we are called to do the right thing–no matter the personal cost or sacrifice to ourselves. Jesus … [Read more…]
Heaven fill me with your glorious light Lead me from the darkness of the night Let the angels guide me on this way Guard my heart from evil – Lord I pray. ~Stephen Beagles
Genuine holiness is found in loving the God who first loved us. When we focus on the love of God in Jesus Christ, it is impossible for us not to be filled with the fruits of His spirit. The Bible says, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” … [Read more…]
Whether in pleasure or pain, Whether I’m happy or mad, Whether in want or in gain, Whether I’m glad or I’m sad, I know I will endure! For God’s promises are sure. ~Stephen Beagles
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21, KJV Growing up in the church, I don’t remember the exact time that I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and grant me eternal life. But I do remember how I felt when I … [Read more…]
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” ~ John 6:37, ESV It is hard for many to believe in the assurance of salvation. Some people want to believe in a gospel that says Jesus forgives past sins, and gives us complete victory … [Read more…]
I don’t want people to think that I encourage sin by focusing on the gospel of Jesus Christ. The reality is that God saves us for obedience to His moral law. Those who love God will want to be obedient to His word. The problem is that the law of God demands perfection and “there … [Read more…]
Over the years, I have heard many people stand up in a church meeting and ask: How do we know the will of God? This is a question that perplexes many people who believe that God will reveal His specific will for every area of their lives. The problem is that they never seem quite … [Read more…]
What is the gospel of Jesus Christ? Whenever I ask this question I get numerous responses. Some say to preach the gospel is to proclaim the word of God found in the Holy Scriptures. Others say that the gospel is the message that Christ gives us power to overcome our sins. More refined theologians might … [Read more…]
James 2:26 is one of the most misunderstood texts in the bible, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (NKJV). This verse is often a reminder of the fear that permeates many of the professed Christian churches. I have heard many sincere ministers counsel their church … [Read more…]
Richard Dawkins, one of the most famous atheists of the 21st Century, is noted for asking the age-old question: If God created the Universe then who created God? He then goes on to state that if it is illogical for the building blocks of the universe to “pop” into existence then it is even more … [Read more…]
Religion is not a game. God is real. Everything that we do in our lifetime has real consequences. Some may think that they are getting away with bad behavior, but every person who lives will be judged by God and held accountable for their actions. Right now, God might seem like an illusion. Religion might … [Read more…]
“All I can say in this affair is that, however mysterious the leadings of Providence are, I have no doubt but they are superintended by an infinitely wise God.” ~William Carey One of the main objections to Christianity is the question of evil and suffering. If God is all powerful and good, then why does … [Read more…]
God will never tell us anything that is contrary to the plain teachings of the Holy Scriptures. The more we learn of the Bible the easier it is to discern the voice of God in our daily walk with Him. Most of the time He is simply reminding of us what He has already said … [Read more…]
For Bible study I am reading commentaries on the book of Revelation. During these studies I see that there are many ways to approach the book in light of its linguistic, grammatical, historical, and spiritual contexts. Not everyone agrees on times, dates, symbols, or events. It almost seems that the book was written for ancient … [Read more…]
I may be the only one that I know who was made fun of for being “too religious” at a private Christian boarding school. I would sit in the common area of the dormitory, read my Bible or another piece of religious literature, and organize prayer meetings and bible studies. I didn’t have many friends … [Read more…]
Jesus is our only hope of salvation. But we miss out on many blessings he offers us if we are not attempting to be more obedient to his laws. Legalism is putting our self-righteousness before the righteousness of Jesus Christ for salvation, but being a mature Christian means that we are willing to conform to … [Read more…]
When it comes to the Christian faith there is nothing new to be learned about Bible doctrine that hasn’t already been discovered. The goal of reading the Bible is not to unearth something new, but to gain a deeper understanding of what is true. The truth of the Gospel is a straight and narrow path. … [Read more…]
Tonight, I was feeling burnt out on ministering to others by sharing the word of God. I was thinking that I was either preaching to the choir or pushing people away. I know these thoughts are not of God, and I asked God for some motivation. Then the thought came to me that ministry is … [Read more…]
One of the most difficult things to accomplish is to bring theology out of the realm of ideas and infuse the truth about God into the practicality of everyday life. It is easy to read the Bible texts about how God interacted with the ancient world of the Israelites. But few people ever stop to … [Read more…]
In the Book of Genesis, Moses tells the story of Cain and Abel who were brothers born to Adam and Eve after sin entered the world. One day Cain and Abel brought an offering of sacrifice before the Lord. Cain offered fruit from the field while Abel sacrificed one of the sheep from his flock. … [Read more…]