Paul’s point in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 is that because the Thessalonian believers are Christians, they will not suddenly find themselves present during the time of God’s end-time wrath, because “God has not destined them for wrath but for obtaining salvation” (5:9).
The imminent event believers should expect is not wrath but salvation.
This fact should affect my [...]
Archive for July, 2007
Future Expectation And Present Employment
Posted in Christian Living, Last Things, Thessalonians on July 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
The Assyrian-Philistine God Dagon
Posted in Jonah on July 26, 2007 | 2 Comments »
While studying introductory material for a sermon series I’ll begin this week with Jonah, a Bible teacher from a past generation (James M. Gray) made this comment:
To grasp the significance of the events in this chapter it is necessary to know that the Ninevites worshiped the fish God, Dagon, part human and part fish. They [...]
Love & Holiness
Posted in Love, Sanctification on July 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
These two characteristics are often pitted against each other. This should not be. Both are essential. While I believe wholeheartedly that holiness is God’s governing attribute, this far from excludes the exercise of love. In fact, one of Paul’s prayers for the Thessalonians demonstrates that in the Christian life love is essential for holiness!
…may the [...]
The Necessity of Gospel Preaching
Posted in Evangelism, God, Thessalonians on July 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Yesterday I focused on God’s sovereignty in salvation as evidenced by election (1 Thess 1:4). Listen to Paul’s words from the next chapter:
They [the Jews mentioned in vv. 14-15a] are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved (2:15b-16a)
Because of the [...]
Election as Our Motivation for Thanksgiving
Posted in Election, Orwell Bible Church, Thessalonians on July 23, 2007 | 2 Comments »
At Orwell Bible Church, which I pastor, each week we put out a little booklet called, “This Week’s Walk with the Lord.” Most of my thoughts on biblical passages that I record here are the result of my daily Bible reading from that booklet.
This morning I read 1 Thessalonians 1. I have always been both [...]
Called Unto Holiness
Posted in Christian Living on July 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Ephesians 5:1-21 emphasizes that as believers our entire lives must imitate God. Such godliness is expected given our present position (“as is proper among saints,” v. 3; “you are Light in the Lord,” v. 8 ) and expected future (“an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God,” v. 5).
As God’s absolute holiness governs and [...]
Dealing With Doubt – Psalm 77
Posted in Psalms, Trials on July 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
The moment I begin to doubt God because of what I am experiencing (77:1-10) I must recall, meditate, and muse upon God and his great and gracious works (77:11-20).
God’s work that the psalmist meditated on was – of course – Israel’s Exodus out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. When Israel was seemingly trapped [...]
The Holiness of God
Posted in God on July 18, 2007 | 1 Comment »
I’ve either listened to or participated in a few discussions revolving around whether holiness is God’s fundamental, governing moral attribute.
Some who do not agree with this position believe that God’s holiness is not a specific attribute but rather is his over-arching characteristic, the sum totality of all that he is. Thus holiness is really a [...]
God’s Infinity and My Praying
Posted in God, Prayer on July 17, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
During tomorrow night’s Bible study on prayer I’ll be walking through the doctrine of God and drawing some applications for prayer.
When I considered God’s attribute of infinity – that he is not limited by time or space – I was struck by the implications of this for prayer.
I pray to a God who is not [...]
Ephesians 1
Posted in Ephesians, God on July 16, 2007 | 2 Comments »
Thoughts from reading Ephesians 1 this morning:
In love He predestined us… (1:5)
I have struggled to understand for some years how God’s attributes of grace and mercy could legitimately be considered attributes. The reason for this revolved around my understanding of the time in which these occurred. If grace and mercy involved the application of God’s [...]
