The Corinthians had some question about spiritual gifts and Paul took time in his letter to respond. He first reminded them that before becoming Christians, they were “carried away unto… dumb idols, even as ye were led” (I Corinthians 12:2). Simply speaking, they knew not Christ. But the new birth changes their relationship to GodContinue reading “A Steward of the Manifold Grace of God”
Tag Archives: Devotional
A Soldier’s Life for Me
As he closed out his letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (I Corinthians 16:13). Every exhortation in this brief series of commands is comprised of language with a military origin. Paul frequently used such language because it was readily understandable given theContinue reading “A Soldier’s Life for Me”
Drawn Away
We all know and understand what it means to be tempted. It is after all a universal phenomenon. What is just as universal is that we have all yielded to temptation. Thankfully, to be tempted is not a sin; however, yielding to temptation is. In the New Testament James offers some inspired insight into thisContinue reading “Drawn Away”
The Wisdom of God and the Wisdom of the World
Man cannot find out God by his own wisdom. In fact, God has decreed it so for he tells us that “in the wisdom of God the world by (its) wisdom knew not God” (I Corinthians 1:21). It could not be any other way for how could the eternal God, infinite in wisdom and understanding,Continue reading “The Wisdom of God and the Wisdom of the World”
Faith Without Works
Christians believe that we are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This simple truth differentiates Christianity from all other religions. All other religions ultimately require something or rather some work on the part of their practitioner. That is, those religions require you to do something to earn eternal life. Not soContinue reading “Faith Without Works”
Rich Toward God
As James begins to draw his epistle to a close, he takes a moment to admonish those that were rich. “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you” (James 5:1). The Scriptures never condemn riches or being rich. They do, however, readily condemn wrong attitudes towardContinue reading “Rich Toward God”
True Religion
Previously we had examined the Apostle James’ admonition to be “doers of the word”. He makes the point that those who hear the word, but do not do it or, rather, obey it, deceive their own selves. He compares that person to a man who looks at himself in the mirror then turns away andContinue reading “True Religion”
Your Labor is Not in Vain
Paul declared the certainty of the resurrection to the believer and our gathering together unto the Lord when he returns in triumph over death (I Corinthians 15:51-57). In light of that he exhorts his readers, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye knowContinue reading “Your Labor is Not in Vain”
Another Gospel That Is Not Another
Paul’s epistle to the churches of Galatia (Galatians 1:2) is one of (if not his most) passionate letters. The believers there were being wooed to another gospel that was not the gospel of Christ that Paul had delivered unto them. The purity and simplicity of the true gospel was being jettisoned for a gospel notContinue reading “Another Gospel That Is Not Another”
Walking in Righteousness
Paul asks a question of the Corinthians as a platform to provoke them to right thinking. “Know ye not the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,Continue reading “Walking in Righteousness”
From the Chaplain 