This is a story of a married woman who feels unloved by her husband. A woman who feels that by getting pregnant she will be able to win the heart of a husband who is cold and distant. This is a story of a wife who cannot get pregnant and desperately wishes that she could…
There are three things that the Bible says are absolutely necessary for salvation are justification, regeneration, and sanctification. If you do not have these three then you are not a Christian in the sight of God. The Nature of Sanctification Sanctification is the inward spiritual work that Jesus works in a person by the Holy…
Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars. Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars and destroy their pillars.
Several chapters back in Genesis we read the story of the birth of Jacob and Esau. We heard God saying to Rebekah that Esau would serve Jacob, that Jacob would be the stronger and Esau would be the weaker. The reversal of the birth order would happen. This was a blessing upon Jacob that he…
If we want to have a right view of holiness we must start with a right view of sin. Wrong views of holiness usually begin with wrong views of sin. Right knowledge of sin is at the root of the doctrine of salvation and its parts such as justification, regeneration, and sanctification. If you don’t…
Rejoice not, O Israel! Exult not like the peoples; for you have played the whore, forsaking your God. You have loved a prostitute’s wages on all threshing floors. Threshing floor and wine vat shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail them. 3 They shall not remain in the land of the Lord,…
What is love? How do you define love? If you were to ask most people it would have to do with feelings. The phrase “love is love” has been offered by our culture suggesting that feelings of affection toward anyone or anything is love. All of these feelings of affection are equally valid and good….
The Purpose To advance the cause of scriptural holiness. Every Christian who loves Christ and desires to advance the kingdom of God should work in holiness. The Need for a Holy Life Practical holiness and the desire to live a life consecrated to God is something that is missing in the lives of many professing…
Hosea chapter 8 is like the chapters that have come before in that it describes both the sins of the people and the punishment that will come upon them. The badness of their sin is shown to them that they might see it, be repulsed, and repent. And the prediction of the consequences of their…
We have been navigating our way through the life of Jacob over the past few weeks. Before his birth, his mother was informed by God who Jacob would be. “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall…