Decisively Defeated

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”… Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and … More Decisively Defeated

Saving faith believes on Jesus as Lord and calls on him as Lord from the beginning.

…..because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. —Romans 10:9-10, in our reading plan for today. John Piper … More Saving faith believes on Jesus as Lord and calls on him as Lord from the beginning.

Piper: Heaven is a place for those who love God, not for those who just fear hell.

O God, thou art my God, I seek thee, my soul thirsts for thee; my flesh faints for thee, as in a dry and weary land where no water is.  So I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary, beholding thy power and glory.  Because thy steadfast love is better than life, my lips will … More Piper: Heaven is a place for those who love God, not for those who just fear hell.

Piper: The God of Romans 9 has been the Rock-solid foundation

Our read-through-the-Bible plan brings us to Romans 9 today, a difficult passage to understand.  John Piper has written a whole book, “The Justification of God” which covers the first 23 verses of chapter 9 of Romans. In 2002, he preached a sermon on Romans 9 and said this, “because of Romans 9 I left teaching … More Piper: The God of Romans 9 has been the Rock-solid foundation

Merciful Sheep vs Goats

What’s the difference between the sheep and goats in Matthew 25:31-46?   Jesus said that it is in how they treated his brothers, that is his disciples.  Mercy is the difference Jesus focuses on. When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious … More Merciful Sheep vs Goats

O how different we will be if we believe that God is for us and no one can be against us!

Romans 8 is such a beautiful, wonderful passage of promise and hope.  It was hard to know what part to highlight on our read-through-the-Bible plan.  Here are John Piper’s comments: Verse 35 says that there will be tribulation and distress and persecution and sword. Verse 36 says that Christians are being killed all day long, … More O how different we will be if we believe that God is for us and no one can be against us!

No Christian lives in continual victory over sin

Today, we come to Romans 7 in our read-through-the-Bible plan. We come to an important question, which can have some very practical consequences in our lives. Is Paul writing this description of his life and experience before he became a Christian? Or does it describe his present struggles as a Christian? You could find advocates of … More No Christian lives in continual victory over sin