Sermons and Biblical Studies

ROMANS 4:1–3 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:2–3). Is justification by faith alone? Or is justification accomplished through a mixture of faith and good works, of … Continue reading “HOW ARE WE DECLARED JUSTIFIED?”

JOHN 8:42–47 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies … Continue reading “SATAN: THE FATHER OF LIES”

MATTHEW 12:22–37 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come (Matthew 12:32). Sometimes Christians become fearful and wonder if perhaps they have committed the “unpardonable sin.” They read … Continue reading “WHAT IS THE UNPARDONABLE SIN?”

PSALM 1 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:2). The Protestant Reformers devoted considerable attention to the relationship between God’s law and the believer. They concluded that the Christian relates to the law in three ways. The Law as Mirror and … Continue reading “THE CHRISTIAN AND THE LAW OF GOD”

ROMANS 7:7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what it was to covet if the law had not said, “Do not covet” (Romans 7:7). It is often difficult to distinguish good from … Continue reading “THE SIN OF MAN AND THE LAW OF GOD”

MATTHEW 23:23–28 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former” (Matthew 23:23). All sins defy God and bring … Continue reading “ARE ALL SINS EQUALLY BAD?”

EPHESIANS 2:1–10 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Paul begins his discussion in Ephesians 2 by saying that the Ephesians were dead. He does not say that they were almost dead, or gasping for breath about to die. No, he says that they were dead, wholly uninterested in … Continue reading “THE RADICAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN”

1 JOHN 1:5–10 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Where does sin ultimately come from? We know that Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden was the first sin and the cause of all … Continue reading “GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF SIN”

ROMANS 3:26–28 [God demonstrated] his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26). If God is truly just, how can He overlook the sinfulness of man? Surely a holy and just God must declare man guilty and punish him. … Continue reading “GOD IS BOTH JUST AND THE JUSTIFIER”

ROMANS 3:21–24 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Romans 3:22). The slogan of the Reformation was “justification by faith alone.” Justification is the act by which we as unjust people are declared just in the sight of God. The Protestant doctrine is that justification is by faith. … Continue reading “OUR LINK TO CHRIST”