Sermons and Biblical Studies

PHILIPPIANS 3:12–16 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me (Phil. 3:12). “Sanctification is an immediate work of the Spirit of God on the souls of believers, purifying and cleansing of their … Continue reading “ATTAINING HOLINESS”

ACTS 2:1–39 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit … (Acts. 2:3–4). Most charismatic Christians believe that a person can be born again but not be filled with the Spirit—the baptism which was manifest at Pentecost … Continue reading “THE MEANING OF PENTECOST”

JOHN 3:1–21 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’ ” (John. 3:7). We have examined the work of the Holy Spirit in the creation and sustaining of life; now we look at His work in the new creation, in the divine act of regeneration. This is probably the most mysterious … Continue reading “THE NEW CREATION”

EXODUS 31:1–11 “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” (Ex. 31:3). The Holy Spirit is responsible for endowing human beings with intellectual, moral, and aesthetic qualities that set man apart from the rest of creation. Unlike the apes, birds, cattle, etc., … Continue reading “WISDOM AND TALENT”

GENESIS 1:1–2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Gen. 2:7). The origin of life has been a fascinating field of study for scientists and philosophers throughout history. Unfortunately, too many have deviated from the … Continue reading “THE BREATH OF LIFE”

PSALM 139:7–12 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? (Ps. 139:7). Before we launch into a study of the new covenant, we will examine the nature and work of the Holy Spirit, who Paul says “gives life” (2 Cor. 3:6). As to His nature, the Spirit is … Continue reading “A DIVINE PERSON”

2 CORINTHIANS 3:1–5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God (2 Cor. 3:5). False teachers at Corinth had accused Paul of being arrogant and self-confident. Paul answered his critics by maintaining that he was indeed confident in his ministry but not … Continue reading “CONFIDENT IN CHRIST”

2 CORINTHIANS 2:12–17 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life (2 Cor. 2:16). The goal of Paul’s ministry was that the knowledge of Christ might be known throughout the world. “Knowledge here, as so often elsewhere in Scripture, means … Continue reading “GOSPEL OF LIFE AND DEATH”

2 CORINTHIANS 2:1–11 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him (2 Cor. 2:8). Here we discover the blessed outcome of that heart-breaking situation involving the incestuous brother, which we read about in 1 Corinthians 5. The church had tolerated for too long the incestuous sin of one of their members. Displeased by … Continue reading “FORGIVE THE PENITENT”

1 CORINTHIANS 1:15–24 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth (1 Cor. 1:23). Some people in Corinth accused Paul of being untrustworthy because he had not come directly to Corinth after leaving Ephesus as he had said he would do. His critics inferred … Continue reading “PAUL’S DEFENSE”