We use the word “justify” as a means to explain or prove something that we have claimed for ourselves. Some explanation gives cause for a certain action or condition that exists and produces a favorable thought from ourselves and others. The biblical use of the word is taken from a Greek word whose contextual meaning…
Continuing our study of Romans, we shall emphasize the condition by which righteousness is granted to the sinner, which includes all but Jesus Christ. Once the penalty for sin was paid by the death of the perfect Son of God, the only condition that remains for righteousness to be imputed is faith. This plan of…
Righteousness is discussed as an attribute of God as it describes his very essence. The first three chapters of Romans speak of God’s power, his righteousness, and his wrath. It is the state of one who is conscious and observant of that which is right. This righteousness comes from God (Rom. 3:5). This implies that…
The theme of the letter to the Romans is found in chapter 1, verses 16-17. It reads, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is…
From Titus 1:5 we learn that Paul and Titus worked together in Crete, but when Paul had to leave, he left Titus behind and wrote this letter to him, probably with the intent that the brethren in Crete read it. His instructions contained in the letter was given as an apostle who spoke the truth which…
The title of our blog is taken from 2 Timothy 1:16 that speaks of the household of Onesiphorus, commends them for two things: (1) They often refreshed him (2) They were not ashamed of his chains. The first commendation we will take up here. The second will occupy our thoughts for the next blog. Onesiphorus…
Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the…
I have been asking this question for some time as it takes up a major portion of the New Testament scriptures. Are they a part of a denominational body? Do any of them organize themselves into a local church organization? Several years ago, I browsed through some old Christian Messenger copies, a periodical that Barton…
Viola asserts that there are four ways to plant churches in the first century. Each resulted in a visible community of God’s kingdom being established. They are the Jerusalem model where a group spends years raising up one large church. The Antioch model is where one church sends workers to plant other churches, who are…
Frank Viola has written a book with the above title and I thought to write about his four models of the way churches were planted. I really like the foundation laid in his book about the church being a living organism. You will find in my work that I like to contrast an organism with…