Simply Gospel

May my steps be worship. May my thoughts be praise.

  • A Mother Named Mary

    One mother has become very important in modern religion – Mary, the mother of Christ. She was declared sinless by the papacy in 1537. Following that comes the doctrine of her immaculate conception and her perpetual virginity. Then comes the doctrine of her bodily ascension into heaven. She is called Queen of Heaven, Co-Mediatrix, and Co-Redemptrix. Many conservative Christians go to the opposite extreme with Mary. In response her deification in some religious circles, we tend to relegate her to a minor role and fail to give her the honor she is due. A Woman Named Mary We meet her… Continue reading

  • Modern Golden Calves: Outward Appearances

    When talking about modesty or a focus of societal standards of beauty, I hear this passage quoted time and again: Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing –  but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. – I Peter 3:3-4 This is a nice verse for that topic, but I think it fits in with a larger overall theme in the New Testament writings of outward… Continue reading

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  • Walking As He Walked

    He that saith he abideth in [Jesus] ought himself also to walk even as he walked (1 John 2:6). Why did Jesus live? It would be entirely understandable if people got the impression that Jesus lived only to die for our sins. A lot of emphasis in preaching and teaching falls squarely on the death of Jesus for sin and comparatively less on how Jesus lived and the lessons of His life. This is not to say that Jesus did not die for our sins, or that His death was not part of His life. According to Ephesians 3:11 and… Continue reading

  • A New Thing

    Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing (Acts 17:21). It is no secret that our society praises that which is new. It is exciting and different. Companies devote a good part of their resources to research and development to come up with new or improved products. Marketers are always trying to find ways to make things seem new or fresh. But why are so many resources devoted to making things seem new? If we twenty-first century Americans prized the old and reliable… Continue reading

  • Psalm 113

    Many of us have songs that take us back to a place, remind us of important events, or remind us of a specific person. It is no different for the saints of old. In Matthew 26:30, Jesus and His apostles sing a hymn after the last supper. Psalm 113 is the beginning of the Hallel songs that would be sing at Passover, and it would have likely been the first of the songs sung at that Passover feast in the upper room. Imagine the setting where Jesus is singing these words, knowing he would soon be betrayed and crucified. Do… Continue reading

  • Mary and Her Ointment

    But there were some that had indignation among themselves, saying, “To what purpose hath this waste of the ointment been made? For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred shillings, and given to the poor.” And they murmured against her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could; she hath anointed my body beforehand for the burying” (Mark… Continue reading

  • Sanctifying God

    And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, “Because ye believed not in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 20:12). It was another waterless place in the desert (Numbers 20:1). The refrain had grown to be quite typical. “Would that we had died! Why did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us by thirst?” Numbers 20:3-6 sounds a lot like Exodus 16:3 and Exodus 17:1-2. The people grumble because their memories are quite short. Moses entreats… Continue reading

  • Forgiven But Unforgotten

    II Samuel 13-14 provides some difficult material concerning Absalom, Tamar, and Amnon. Amnon attempts to court Tamar and ends up sexually assaulting her. David does nothing about this for two years until Absalom (Tamar’s brother and Amnon’s half-broter) kills Amnon for his crime against Tamar. Abaslom is indeed guilty of murder, but some of the blame falls on David. Remember, according to II Samuel 13:23, David neglected justice for two entire years. Absalom flees to Geshur, and David desires to destroy Absalom for Amnon’s death according to verse 39. (The Hebrew word translated as “go out to” in most English… Continue reading

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  • Jesus & Prophecy

    In Matthew 5, a familiar passage beginning the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes an interesting statement in verse 17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” This is one of many statements by Jesus we could classify as a purpose statement like those we see in Luke 19:10, Mark 2:10, John 6:38, and John 12:27 where Jesus gives reason for His coming to our world. The fulfillment of scripture is a theme with which Jesus bookends His public ministry. He makes… Continue reading

  • Modern Golden Calves: Our Rights & Liberties

    This is my right, a right given by God, To live a free life, to live in freedom. Talking about freedom, I’m talking about freedom, I will fight for the right to live in freedom. – Paul McCartney, Freedom (2001) The United States is a country built upon concepts of freedoms and rights. The first ten amendments of our national charter, the Constitution, are collectively called the Bill of Rights. These amendments outline the basic, fundamental rights American citizens can expect, and we grow very indignant when we feel these rights are trodden upon in any way. Many are even willing… Continue reading

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