There is no excuse for spiritual compromise. We don’t enter into dialogue with the idolaters. We must have no fellowship with false religion. Our goal and task is to lead people to denounce idolatry and false religion and to believe in the true and living God—to turn to God from idols. An in order to do that, we must not compromise spiritually. We must maintain our commitment to truth and our opposition to error. The key to avoiding compromise is to love what God loves and hate what God hates. Read More ...
The danger is that succeeding generations lose the history and meaning of the faith. They don’t see how it matters to them; they don’t understand it, and they don’t adopt it. That would be a very great shame. We want to do everything we can to avoid that outcome. Read More ...
If you want to prevent a decline in faith in your family, you must love God with your heart, soul, and strength, and keep God’s word before you, as if it were written on your hands, head, home, and hometown. If we fail to do that, we should not be surprised when members of our family no longer have any interest in the things of God. Succeeding generations will become dull instead of being sharp. Because the word of God is not in their hearts, they’ll not have a love for God. That would be a great tragedy. Read More ...
To the Jewish mind, the Shema was a summary of the 10 Commandments, and the 10 Commandments were a summary of the entire OT law. Jesus said that the whole law and prophets “hang” on these two profound ideas—love God and love your neighbor (Mt 22:40). Read More ...
The 10 Commandments are a summary of the entire OT law. When Jesus summarized God’s law, he said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mt 22:37–38; cf. Deut 6:5; Lev 19:18; Rom 13:9). In other words, the Ten Commandments can be summarized by two commandments: love God and love your neighbor. We obey these commands because we love God and neighbor. Read More ...
The primary idea in the first four of the 10 Commandments is that we are properly related to God. We acknowledge only the one true and living God and not idols, we have great respect for his holy name, and we take time for worship and rest. That’s what the first table of the 10 Commandments require of us. And we must be careful to observe and obey these timeless biblical principles. Read More ...
If we violate God’s commands, we face God’s chastisement, and that chastisement might be severe. The AH quotes this passage from Deuteronomy—“our God is a consuming fire.” But God is also merciful and gracious. If we repent and turn from sin, he will forgive and bless us. Read More ...
In the first several chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses is reviewing Israel’s history, from the time they left Egypt until the time they were ready to enter the PL. Last Sunday,…
The disobedience and bad attitude of a few can have a huge impact on many. It often happens that way in a church—a few disaffected, critical people ruin things for everyone else. Read More ...
These principles still pertain today—obedience leads to blessing, and rebellion leads to disaster. The best choice is always to recognize God’s authority, obey God, and trust him to fulfill his promises. Read More ...