-
The Mark of the Christian (part 4)
by Francis Schaeffer True Oneness In John 13 and 17, Jesus talks about a real seeable oneness, a practicing oneness, a practical oneness across all lines, among all true Christians. The Christian really has a double task. He has to practice both God’s holiness and God’s love. The Christian is…
-
Happy Belated Earth Day!
Earth Day 2008 just passed me by yesterday. The day came and went with barely my notice. And what little notice I did take came when I saw a blip on the news around 11pm. The day was almost done in the East. That’s a little disappointing because, quite honestly, a few months…
-
The Advantages of Pleasing God Rather than Men
The following dozen points are about the advantages to us in seeking to please God, instead of living for the approval of other people. They were originally written by the great English Puritan, Richard Baxter. I have attempted to clean up the language a little, hopefully without dulling the wisdom: 1. If you seek first to…
-
The Mark of the Christian (part 3)
by Francis Schaeffer Honest Answers, Observable Love Of course as Christians we must not minimize the need to give honest answers to honest questions. We should have an intellectual apologetic. The Bible commands it and Christ and Paul exemplify it. In the synagogue, in the marketplace, in homes and in almost every conceivable…
-
Studies in 1 John: Compassion Among Brothers
In my study through 1 John I had to pause and go back over one verse this week. Having preached from 1 John 3:11-18 last week, and John’s assertion that Christians are to be characterized by love for one another if Christ is in actuality alive in them, I am struck by v. 17:…
-
Are We Declaring a Defective Gospel?
by Rick Wood, Managing Editor Mission Froniers Magazine U.S. Center for World Mission Is the Gospel message that hundreds of thousands of missionaries are proclaiming around the world defective? Have hundreds of millions of people bought into a message that is, at its heart, unbiblical? If true, this would be like Bill Gates sending…
-
Gospel Advancement & World Perspective
The March/April 2008 edition of Mission Frontiers magazine addresses a very important issue effecting the contemporary American and European church. While the Gospel is advancing wildly in several parts of the world, many formerly active church members are walking away from the church – and often Christianity – across North America and in Western Europe.…
-
The Mark of the Christian (part 2)
by Francis Schaeffer For True Christians Only If we look again at the command in John 13, we will notice some important things. First of all, this is a command to have a special love to all true Christians, all born-again Christians. From the scriptural viewpoint, not all who call themselves Christians are…
-
The Cross Enforces Three Truths
The Cross enforces three truths: about ourselves, about God, and about Jesus Christ. 1. Our Sin must be extremely horrible. Nothing reveals the gravity of sin like the Cross. For ultimately what sent Christ there was neither the greed of Judas, nor the envy of the priests, nor the vacillating cowardice of Pilate, but our…
-
The Mark of the Christian (part 1)
by Francis Schaeffer Through the centuries men have displayed many different symbols to show that they are Christians. They have worn marks in the lapels of their coats, hung chains about their necks, even had special haircuts. Of course, there is nothing wrong with any of this, if one feels…
-
The Distinguishing Mark
As I continue to work my way through 1 John I am repeatedly struck by the way John weaves together several themes, yet seems to keep a single idea in focus. John writes to help the reader understand how we may know God – that we may know God. Yet throughout the letter he…
-
Which Way?
Your life hangs on how you relate these two statements: “If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous” (1 John 2:1). “Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you” (John 5:14). Do you experience the first one weakening the second? Or do you experience the first one…
-
Easy Chairs & Hard Words – Part 6
by Douglas Wilson We join a conservation in progress; it is between a young theological questioner who grew up in a typical Evangelical church, and an older pastor from a more historical theological tradition. “Look,” I said, “I have heard you mention that many Christians don’t study their Bibles. Were you saying that anyone…
-
Are You Tired of Trying to Measure Up?
Do you ever feel like you have to measure up? Do you wonder sometimes how you are grading out in God’s eyes? I suspect that the answer for most people is “Yes”. Our theologies may tell us otherwise, but I think most people struggle with this from time to time – especially when we feel emotionally…
-
Easy Chairs & Hard Words – Part 5
by Douglas Wilson We join a conservation in progress; it is between a young theological questioner who grew up in a typical Evangelical church, and an older pastor from a historical theological tradition. ***** “But… What difference does it all make?” I asked. Pastor Spenser took a sip of his coffee, and answered the question…
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
