So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Romans 9:16 Why is the doctrine of election so important? Why does Paul spend 24 verses in Romans 9 explaining and defending the fact that God’s will, not ours, is decisive in salvation? What possible …
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:24-25 There are two mistakes that people make with respect to the reality of …
The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure. Isaiah 33:5-6 (ESV) "He will be the stability of your times." The "he" is …
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Revelation 2:4 There is …
I will hear what God the Lord will speak. Psalm 85:8 Most folks do not believe that God has spoken, other than in their own hearts and in nature. They limit God to general revelation and become very disagreeable when you suggest that there is a book in which God communicates with us in words and …
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Jude 8 Note that phrase "these filthy dreamers." The ESV has, "these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh." Let us hear the warning implicit in that description. In our day, when …
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth …
And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch. Numbers 2:1-2 As the tribes of Israel made their journey through the …
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:3 God's commandments are not grievous. They are not burdensome. It is the lie of Satan, one of his chief deceits, that holiness and obedience are a yoke too hard to be borne. That we will be …
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:3-4 Why is "the righteous nation" (ver. 2) composed of people who are kept in "perfect peace"? It is because …