If the Lord's teaching on divorce and remarriage sounds hard to receive, you aren't alone. That was the very response of the apostles. But God's grace is sufficient to do right in the marriage you are in or remain single in His will.
Jesus declared that a man could violate the 7th commandment by divorcing his wife - with one exception. The stated exception is fornication - the broadest term for all intimacy outside the bounds of marriage. Other Scripture texts help to give clarity what Jesus intended by the expression in this context.
The Pharisees taught that Moses gave encouragement to get a legal divorce when a man's wife didn't please him. Jesus taught God's plan is permanence and Moses' "allowance" was on account of the hardness of men's sinful hearts.
The 7th commandment is not only violated by physical intimacy that breaks the marriage covenant but by the passions of the heart.
When Jesus expanded on the 6th commandment and directed to matters of the heart, he declared that the presence of an angry spirit and the uttering of insulting words can make men guilty of the law that forbids murder. The time to deal with unresolved conflict is now because delay has the potential of carrying a heavy price tag. True citizens of Christ's kingdom apply the gospel to personal relational conflicts again and again.
Though the Pharisees were regarded as the scholars and guardians of the law and the most religiously devout of their day, Jesus said that to enter heaven men would have to have a righteousness that exceeds theirs.
Contrary to some expectations Jesus affirmed the continuing significance of the Old Testament, through direct statement, through promising its written preservation, and by attributing greatness to those who honor even parts some might suggest are not a big deal.
The elite of our society describe our culture as enlightened. The Bible declares that it is actually prevailing darkness. The believer, because of his relationship to Christ, is to shine as a light to dispel the darkness in this world and proclaim the light of the glorious gospel of Christ to sin darkened hearts.
Christ's citizens are to impact the world as salt does; as a preservative. If we retreat into cloistered communities we won't impact our culture. If we become what the culture is we lose our saltiness.
The Lord proclaimed that his followers can expect to face persecution for being aggressive in seeking to proclaim Christ, for being confrontational in the content of the message, and for being exclusive in the application of the gospel.
Since Cain killed Abel the true citizens of Christ's kingdom have been persecuted for believing righteousness. It was that way in the time of Christ, it has been that way throughout church history and we can expect it to be that way today.
What kind of conduct on the part of fathers in relationship to their children contributes to the glorification of God? What is nurture referring to? What does admonition in the Lord look like?
Does the Scripture give us any help in navigating the transitional period of older teens and early adulthood when it comes to the parent - child relationship? When is a child no longer a child?
What kind of conduct on the part of children glorifies God? This message explores what obedience and honor are and how they are displayed. It also explores the structure of authority God has interwoven into every arena of life and the nature of the sin that resists it.
The love a husband is to display excludes bitterness. The foundational sense of that word is "pointed." In relationships with others it is reflected in a resentful spirit and harsh approach. Bitterness is a mindset that blames someone else for some deficit in my life and is the opposite of forgiveness that releases the debt.
What kind of conduct on the part of husbands contributes to the glorification of God? In one word it is "love." What does that love involve?
This message explores conduct on the part of wives that glorifies God.
When God created man to reflect His image in the earth he divided them into male and female. Men and women that are distinct but equal persons functioning in different roles reflect the Trinity more than any other part of creation. That reflection comes to the fullest expression in the marriage relationship. What is marriage by God's definition? What does God intend to accomplish through marriage?
The most extended section of teaching on Marriage and the Family comes in the context of exhortation about conduct that glorifies God and fulfills the mission of the church. That mission is under attack, so marriage is under attack and the relationships between parents and children is under attack. What should our mentality be about our families in that context?
What is the baptism of the dead? What relevance could it have to the resurrection? How does it impact my thoughts of ministry today?
What is the day the Psalmist had in mind in Psalm 118? A day where God demonstrates his steadfast love? A day he delivers his own from great distress? A day in which he exalts one previous discarded to a position of supreme honor?
The Scripture goes to considerable length to record what happened to the body of Jesus between it's death and resurrection. What is the significance?
When Jesus said, "It is finished" what was he declaring was over? His life? His sufferings? Prophecy fulfilled? Or something more?
Many in the adoring crowds on Palm Sunday were among the number that cried out "crucify, him; crucify him!" What are the contributing dynamics to spiritual defection? Judas is himself a case study.
What is the significance of the palms on Palm Sunday? What is the significance of the Lord's riding on a donkey? Why did the Lord in this case embrace and almost fuel the praise of the throngs?
The Scripture is clear that God has in the past and God will in the future judge nations and people groups for their sin against him. Without special revelation the Scripture cautions us against proclaiming that we know particular disasters are tied to particular sins. However, we do have a description in Romans 1 about why and how God judges sin.
Purity referred to something unmixed - uncontaminated, clear, clean. Many Jews came to see purity as something external and ceremonial only. The purity God demands and the gospel produces is something that starts on the inside.
The Scripture is clear that God Judges Nations. The Scripture also gives strong caution against thinking we can trace all disaster to particular sin. Where does that leave us? We get at least part of an answer from Jesus himself as He responded to questions about the deaths of some at the hands of a cruel leader and the deaths of others in an accident.
The spread of the COVID-19 virus is a "calamity" that is effecting the entire world. Where is God and what is He doing in such situations? The Bible gives caution about connecting all suffering to specific sin. The Bible gives witness to multiple purposes of God in the trials and afflictions that enter His people's lives. The Bible is also clear that God has judged nations for their sin and will yet future judge the entire world for its sin. There is much warrant in the Scripture for a wholesome...
Many have noted a change in emphasis between the 4th and 5th beatitudes.The first four speak of qualities of the repentance that turns to the Lord. Beginning with the 5th, these virtues are now an outgrowth of the converted and changed life. Mercy is one dimension of the love of God that involves compassion on those in need and acts to relieve their misery.
