Simply Gospel

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

  • The Passover, the Crucufuxion, and the Lord’s Supper

    Our Passover Sacrifice The setting for the last supper eaten by Jesus with His apostles was in contest of the Passover feast. In Exodus 12, the Passover is instituted as salvation from the Angel of Death that would pass through the land of Egypt. Each household was to select a lamb, sacrifice it, and spread the blood of the lamb over their doorways, signaling them as God’s people. The sign of blood saved them from death, and this feast was kept as memorial of that great deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. As Jesus approaches His death, Peter and John… Continue reading

  • God in the Flesh

    When on Earth, was Jesus strictly a mortal man with a soul no different than you or me – completely separated from God? On the other hand, was Jesus God in the flesh? The Word Becomes Flesh In John 1:14, the gospel author records that the Word became flesh, and Galatians 4:4 records that Jesus came to be born of woman. Philippians 2:7 says he was in the likeness of man. These scriptures do record that He came as a mortal, but they do not claim He put away His spiritual nature. Matthew 1:23 records that Jesus’ name means “God… Continue reading

  • Lot & Consequential Decisions

    We are faced with decisions on a daily basis, and the example of Lot, beginning in Genesis 13, tells the story of a life fraught with difficult decisions. These decisions are not trivial or inconsequential. Rather, many of the decision with which he is faced that have deeply impacting ramifications on his life and that of his family members. The Consequences of Lot’s Choices In the beginning of Genesis 13, some tension was growing between Abram’s and Lot’s estates due to the size of their herds, and, in verse 9, Abram proposes that the separate. Here, Lot is faced with… Continue reading

  • Enduring Principles from the Old Testament

    Last week, we looked at a few events out of the first five books of the Bible as case studies we can learn by. As Paul writes in I Corinthians 10:1-12, this history of God’s people is recorded to provide a lesson to Christians, and, in this lesson, we are going to take a few more examples from the Old Testament to make application from. Some Things Never Change The problem of sin is still present. In the first couple chapters of Genesis, we have the first temptation, the first misrepresentation of God’s word, and the first sin. By Genesis… Continue reading

  • Obedience, Grace, and Legalism

    We throw the term legalism around somewhat casually – especially when looking at the Scribes and the Pharisees. In fact, many of us would be considered legalists by members of other congregations. However, legalism is not necessarily solely defined by one’s concern with adhering to God’s word. Rather, it is in the attitude toward that obedience that might determine legalistic tendencies. What Legalism Is Not Legalism is not merely believing in a set of laws. In Romans 3:27, Paul speaks of a law of faith, and I Corinthians 9:20-21 claims that we are still under the law of Christ even… Continue reading

  • Learning from History

    In Genesis 14, right after the story of Lot and Abram parting ways, four Canaanite kings join together to conquer the cities that Lot is in the midst of. Abram takes his 300+ men to defeat these kings to free Lot. This is the first recorded battle of the Bible, and a reoccurring theme emerges here that, with God, numbers do not matter. This is revisited in the book of Numbers when 5/6 spies advise against taking the land of Canaan due to the forces opposing them – forgetting the lesson taught by their father Abraham. George Santayana is credited… Continue reading

  • Who Will You Eat With?

    Remember the Pharisees in Matthew 9:10-11 when Jesus was eating with those scorned by the (self-proclaimed) righteous of the day? “…they said to His disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with tax gatherers and sinners?” What if we modernized the words a little? “…they said to His disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with gays and feminists?” “…they said to His disciples, Why does your Teacher eat with activists and Democrats?” I sometimes wonder if we could then change the word “Pharisees” to “Christians.” We claim the gospel is for all, that God wants all to go to Heaven, but… Continue reading

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  • Changing Habits

    Are our habits keeping us from being the Christians we should be. We all have a comfort zone in which we operate, and habits form in that sphere – positive, negative, and neutral. These comfortable habits can be difficult to change, but, if they are keeping us from God, we must find the resolve to make those changes. In changing patterns, we may be able to move outside our comfort zone and accomplish more than we have. Developing and Changing Habits When we were growing up, we were taught a specific set of values and practices. We may have learned… Continue reading

  • Spiritual Contentment

    Are You Content? What does being content mean to you? The way the Bible uses contentment is to be self-sufficient and able to peacefully exist under any given circumstances. In Philippians 4:10-13, Paul writes about contentment from confinement, and he claims that he can find that contentment in even the most trying of times. Despite the negative circumstances, he could cope through his relationship with Christ. If contentment is something God wants me to have, then we have to know where to find it. I Timothy 6:6-8 records Paul encouraging contentment with the simple fulfillment of needs, and he ties… Continue reading

  • The Son of Man

    Jesus refers to Himself through several “I am” statements and through the designation “Son of man.” In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asks His disciples who they believe He – the Son of man – is, and He seems to use this designation as a means of connecting Himself with the Old Testament and the prophets. It is used in Daniel 7:13 and several times throughout the book of Ezekiel. Often God refers to Ezekiel as “Son of man.” In Luke 22:66-71, Jesus’ uses this designation as a clear indication of His equality with God. His audience does not miss this implication,… Continue reading