The Bible tells us that a believer is like gold or silver that must be tried in a furnace to remove all the impurities in the metal. What is that process of refining silver? Psalm 66:10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have … More The Refiner’s Fire
The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. —Deuteronomy 13:3-4 Sermon: OUR GOD … More Our God is a Testing God…
We come to a doxology in Romans 11 today, and to help us unpack these verses is an excerpt from John Piper’s sermon, “The Deep Riches and Wisdom and Knowledge of God” The riches and wisdom and knowledge of God are described here as indescribably “deep.”Oh, the depth!” means, The depth is very deep. It … More John Piper: Oh, the depth!
Matthew 26:69-75, part of our passage for today, tells of Peter’s betrayal of Jesus. J.C. Ryle writes of a series of steps that he believes are recorded for our benefit and learning: The first step to Peter’s fall was SELF-CONFIDENCE. He said, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.” The second step was … More J.C. Ryle: Men fall in private, long before they fall in public
Psalm 65:2,5 O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come….. By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; Charles Spurgeon commented on this passage: Prevalence with God in wrestling prayer is sure to … More Spurgeon: The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of the heavenly grace.
In Deuteronomy 9, God reminds his people that it was not because of their righteousness or “deserving” that he was bringing them into the Promised Land. In fact, he reminds them of their stubbornness and sin. So WHY did God choose them over other people he could have chosen? John Piper helps us understand in … More Piper: God’s Complete Freedom
Justin Taylor posted at “Between Two Worlds:” Andy Naselli reproduces this quote from Doug Moo’s Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Survey (Baker, 2002): One part of the solution is to recognize that New Testament writers sometimes use the Old Testament not to prove a point but to borrow its language and ethos. An illustration … More Reminder from Doug Moo: NT writers sometimes use the OT not to prove a point but to borrow its language and ethos.
A prayer to see and understand the message of grace in Romans 11, in our read-through-the-Bible plan for today. “For God’s Sake, Let Grace Be Grace!” John Piper. Click here to read or listen to the sermon: O Lord, grant us grace to see and understand and savor the freedom of your sovereign grace. Help … More Romans 11- “For God’s Sake, Let Grace Be Grace!”
My favorite scene from the Passion of the Christ is when Jesus stomps the head of the Serpent. Genesis 3:15 is where God makes this promise: And Romans 16:20 says, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” John Piper comments: The Larger Picture of Satan’s Defeat So let’s step back here … More Gethsemane – The Olive Garden – Passion of the Christ
But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. 8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. 9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done. 10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the … More Psalm 64 linked to Mordecai and Daniel?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 