The world system wants you to conform to its way of doing things.

You feel that pressure day in and day out, that pressure to stand with the world on what it has determined to be “the right side of history."

But, its version of "the right side" will come to an inevitable end.

And the truth of the Gospel—God’s love, grace and mercy—will reign forever.

Here is the great news.

As a believer, you are part of God’s story now.

And he is giving a sneak peek through you as to what that story will look like at the end of the age.

When the pressure of the world mounts, remember you are in God’s story.

And as Peter wrote, set your hope fully on the grace of God that will be brought to you at the revelation of Christ.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Grace

The most disappointing Christmas present I ever got was a Minolta camera.

I didn’t want a camera.

When I opened it up, I was bummed.

My face couldn’t hide my disappointment.

Why in the world would my mom and dad give me a camera? Didn’t they know me?

It turns out that they knew me quite well.

When I finally got over my disappointment and pride, I discovered something. I liked taking pictures.

And soon that disappointing gift became the best gift ever.

Now here is the lesson.

Your heavenly Father knows you inside and out.

Which means every gift he provides is perfect, everything you could ever want or need

So relax. He loves you and knows you best.

You will discover his gift of grace will never disappoint.

Categories: Grace Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 3:15 is a strange verse.

It reads, “…to this day, whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts”.

The passage is clear that Paul is referring to the Old Covenant or as he called it, “the ministry of death, carved in letters of stone”.

What in the world does this verse mean

That we should never read the Old Testament.

Of course not.

It simply means this. thinking that salvation or living the Christian life is achieved through obedience to the law, veils the heart to the new life God gives and empowers by grace through faith.

The law kills.

The Spirit gives life.

If you are having trouble seeing your way forward as a Christian, turn your eyes to the Lord.

He will lift that veil.

Categories: Grace Faith

What is God going to say about you on the Day of Judgment?

Many believers live in fear that he is going to flash every sinful deed and thought on the heavenly video screen for all to see.

But that’s not true.

In this New Covenant, God remembers your sins no more.

They are gone as far as the east is from the west.

Your sins are not going to be a part of your eternal story.

Why? Because your story is one that has been written by grace through faith in Jesus.

To see what I mean, read Hebrews 11.

Just as God commended those saints of old for their faith, he is going to commend you for your faith in Jesus Christ.

And that’s good news.

Categories: Grace Faith New Covenant

If the church has lost its voice in the world today, maybe this e-mail I received gives us the reason.

The gentleman wrote, “I’ve been going to a church for 25 years. In all that time I have never heard a sermon on God’s grace.”

This is downright sad.

That a person has been involved in a church and has never heard about the grace of God that redeemed him…

That took away his sins and forgave him once and for all…

That made him alive in Christ…

That will teach him to say no to sin and to live a righteous upright life…

That will sustain him through thick and thin.

Grace is our message to the world. And it is the good news.

And I certainly hope you are getting a full dose every week at your church.

And right now that’s certainly what the world needs to hear.

Categories: Jesus Christ Grace

Every believer wants a deeper more meaningful relationship with Jesus.

Let’s face it, we want to grow in our faith.

But how?

Where do we start?

Let me make a bold statement. If you don’t have the basics right, you will never grow and mature as a believer.

I mean… can you go deeper into the love of God if you don’t understand the cross, the place where God demonstrated His love for you?

We need to get the basics right.

So let me encourage you today, stand firm in the grace of God.

Rejoice that your sins have been forgiven.

And that Christ is alive living in you.

As you do you will experience the riches of Christ’s life like never before.

Categories: Jesus Christ Love New Covenant Grace

An angry mob seized Stephen and brought him before the council.

This man, they said, speaks blasphemous words against Moses and God.

Well in his defense, Stephen delivered a stinging history of Israel beginning with Abraham.

Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears, always resisting the Holy Spirit.

That was Israel.

And just like they did with the prophets, they betrayed and murdered the Righteous One.

The ones who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.

At this the council dragged him outside the city and stoned him.

In his last breath, he cried out, “do not hold this sin against them”.

Here is the good news. God does not hold your sins agains you.

Categories: Grace Jesus Christ New Covenant

Jesus.

It is the name that is exalted above every other name.

It’s the name that will cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that He is Lord.

And this to the glory of God the Father.

This will happen.

But right now, the world is still in rebellion.

It has placed other people and things in that exalted spot.

And this has been the case throughout human history.

The Roman empire declared Caesar as Lord.

Today, people bow to money, sex and power.

But this will change.

One day, every knee and tongue will declare the truth that Jesus is Lord.

Here’s the good news, as a beleiver you glad you already know the truth. And aren’t you glad that Jesus is Lord in your life and that you experience His love and grace here and now.

Categories: Jesus Christ Grace

How would you define faith?

Well here is how Martin Luther defined it.

“Faith is a living and unshakeable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.”

An unshakeable confidence in the grace of God.

The grace of God that…

• redeemed you and forgave your sins,

• that made you alive in Christ

• that marked you out as a child of God and gave you the Holy Spirit

• that declared you righteous and holy in his sight.

This is the amazing grace of God that saved you.

So today, ask God to give you a living and unshakeable confidence in his grace that was delivered to you in Christ Jesus.

You’ll be glad you did.

Categories: Faith Grace

“The righteous will live by faith.”

This verse from the Old Testament is repeated three times in the New.

Paul quotes it in the first chapter of Romans and in his letter to the Galatians.

And the writer of Hebrews uses it as his springboard to define faith.

The mere fact the New Testament quotes it three times means its important.

that we need to pay attention to it and find out what it means.

Here is why

As believers, faith in Jesus is our way of life.

It is how we live.

Not by law, or rules or regulations or even principles.

But by faith in Jesus.

This is the Christian life.

If you ever wonder what is your way forward in any given situation, faith in Christ is always the answer.

Why? Because the righteous will live by faith.

Categories: Faith Grace Hope