If Christ were not raised from the dead, he was merely another one of the thousands of people crucified by the Roman Empire. But if he rose from the dead, he is the victor, not a victim, a conqueror, not a casualty. We affirm again today, as all Christians have for nearly 2,000 years, that Jesus was victorious over death and the devil, as proven by his resurrection. Read More ...
On this Good Friday, we celebrate what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. Through his death, our guilt is removed, our enslavement ends, God’s wrath is turned aside, and our relationship with God is restored. Believers in Christ receive all of these benefits through the death of Christ. That’s why we call the day of Jesus’ death Good Friday. Read More ...
C. Really, it’s only Christians who have the right to celebrate this holiday. Those who don’t know the Lord have nothing to celebrate. Jesus is not their savior. They are still lost, blind, and dead in transgressions and sins. They don’t enjoy any of the benefits that come from knowing Christ as Lord and Savior. They have no hope and are without God in the world. Read More ...
We should be striving to be a church that 1. Baptizes those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus alone to be saved; 2. Receives baptized converts into the membership of the church; 3. Teaches NT apostolic doctrine; we want to teach and affirm “sound doctrine”; 4. Live in fellowship; we emphasize the importance of partnership among people of like faith and practice. We want to be of one accord, of one mind. 5. Worships through teaching the Word, providing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, emphasizing corporate prayer, and praising God. Every Christian ought to be a member of a church that follows that pattern. Read More ...
We don’t know what may befall us in 2022. For some of us, like Paul, we may finish our course this year. Some of us may face persecution and opposition like Paul did. We may be tempted to quit or to sit on the side lines. We may be tempted to quit fighting and just give up. But quitting is not an option for the Christian. Our goals for 2022 should be that we fight the good fight, finish the course God has for us, and defend the faith. That’s a biblical and practical set of resolutions we can put into practice this year. Read More ...