The Gospel Of Repentance

  “ His divine power has given us everything we need for godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us great and precious promises, so that through them you may be partakers in the divine nature , having escaped the corruption in the world by evil desires.”                                                                                                                                                           - 2 Peter 1:3-4 I pondered this verse wondering what it means. Can we as sinful humans be partakers of God’s holy nature? Seems impossible. One commentator said that regarding our partaking is “that we do not become God, but we possess the righteousness that comes from God and share fellowship with the Godhead.”              It is true. We who are in Christ are partakers of God’s nature because we are born again. It is the only way we can be accepted as children of God. Without God’s Holy Spirit we are dead hu

 A friend of my oldest daughter was reading the book of Genesis last month. When she reached Chapters 21-24, she had questions, so she texted me what she wanted answers to. Her questions were very challenging, insightful, and honest. I’ll summarize them here. 1) Why did Abraham abandon Ishmael? 2) Why did God say to Abraham that Isaac was his only son when Ishmael was also his son, his firstborn? The reason Abraham had to send Ishmael and his mother Hagar away was because Ishmael was mocking Isaac (the mocking may have been over a period of time), and Sarah became angry and said, “Cast out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.” Abraham is distressed over this. God speaks to him and tells him to listen to his wife. Isaac was Abraham’s heir, the son that was promised to them. Ishmael was not the son of promise, but God would bless him for Abraham’s sake because he was Abraham’s descendant (Genesis 21:9-14). Islamic tradition claims Ha

  Jesus travels to the cites of Tyre and Sidon north of Galilee on the Mediterranean coast. This area is Gentile country out of the Hebrews’ jurisdiction. A Canaanite woman (a Syrophonecian) begs Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus ignores her. The disciples are annoyed by her asks that she be sent away. Jesus initially refuses her request and says, “I was commissioned by God and sent only to the lost sheep of the house Israel." That is a strange reply considering that He said in Luke 4:18-19 that He was sent to release those who are captive. The woman continues to beg Jesus. Jesus replies in what on the surface seems to be a very disrespectful statement. He says, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26). The woman said yes Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table. Jesus impressed with the woman’s faith in Him said your request is granted; her daughter was healed that instant (Matthew 15:28

  In John 10:14-18 Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know Me. Just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one Shepherd. For this reason, the Father loves Me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes if from Me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” Jesus declared in several passages that He would be killed by His enemies (Matthew 16:22; 17:23; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22). So, which is true? Jesus laying down His life or was He killed? The answer is both. Jesus was killed because he laid down His life. It was according to the Father’s will – to lay down His life and take it up again. Generally speaking, people that are killed are n

  Perhaps the greatest dynamic in the world and heaven is the interplay between the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. The prophet Isaiah tells us this, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done, saying ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’, calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.”’ These two verses tell us that God is in complete control of everything that ever happens in this world from beginning to end. Now on the surface that seems like a complete contradiction at best, and a flat out lie at worst. Why? Well look around you! Mankind is getting worse and worse every day! It is not a lie because God said He is in control. The problem is man is out of control due to his evil. It appears God is nowhere to be found in the melodrama here on earth. He does not appear to care, at all. You see, G

  What I discovered that is wonderful about Christ is that he knows the mind of the Father. Jesus told the disciples to not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32). The verse prior to that Jesus commands that we are to seek the Father’s kingdom and we will have everything we need. It should be a great comfort to us all that God desires for us to be in his kingdom. The greatest gift of the kingdom is salvation, the reality that our sins are forgiven, and we have peace and communion with the Father God and Jesus Christ and the dwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. We are saved because God through Christ willed it to happen. Nothing God has determined to do will ever be thwarted. So, if God decides to bestow good will upon someone it will happen. In this case God decided to grant the kingdom to those who seek it. The reality that Jesus entered the world two thousand years ago to save sinners is a clear demonstration of God’s l

    There have been centuries of debate regarding these two schools of thought, and there will be debates for years to come. I want to analyze both again and provide  arguments for each one.                                                                                                                                    I want to start with the unlimited atonement view. Unlimited Atonement teaches us that when Christ died on the cross, he died for everyone that will ever live. In other words, Jesus died for the sins of the entire world, for all time. What this has to mean is Jesus paid the sin debt for everyone – even those who die in sin and are lost forever. In the unlimited atonement view, Jesus died for those who he knew beforehand would never believe in him. So, in this sense, Jesus died to make men only savable, but did not guarantee their salvation. The unlimited atonement view lays out God’s plan of salvation, sinful man surveys it through the preaching of the gospel and decide