8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.…10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8, 10
That seems pretty clear — we all sin. That’s exactly what Paul [...]
Posted on August 26th, 2009 by Bob Mathews
Filed under: "In" not "of", Forgiveness, Grace, Security | No Comments »
30Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. 31He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32He [...]
Posted on June 22nd, 2009 by Bob Mathews
Filed under: Bible Characters, Forgiveness, Grace, Growth, Humility, Love, Old Testament | No Comments »
At the cross? Allow me to suggest that’s only partially true.
Ask many Christians about the sins of the Israelites, and they’ll explain that the sins were “rolled forward”, and forgiven at the cross, as if each Israelite kept adding sins to his account until the day he died. I’d like to also suggest this to [...]
Posted on June 12th, 2009 by Bob Mathews
Filed under: Contradictions, Forgiveness, Grace, Jesus, Old Testament, Salvation | No Comments »
There’s a fairly recent song by Steven Curtis Chapman that describes some of the ways he shows his faith — he’s got a T-shirt, a bracelet with letters on it, a necklace & key chain, Bible magnets on his refrigerator, a “bless you” welcome mat, a Jesus bumper sticker, and the outline of a fish [...]
Posted on March 3rd, 2009 by Bob Mathews
Filed under: "In" not "of", Christian Example, Christian life, Faith, Grace, Growth, Humility, Jesus, New Testament, Obedience, Society, Word study | No Comments »
How often have you heard someone say, “I know God has forgiven me, but I just can’t forgive myself.” I’d like to suggest two things with regard to that statement. First, it’s a natural human feeling to realize the impact of our own sin, and to keep remembering and remembering and remembering, replaying events in [...]
Posted on June 9th, 2008 by Bob Mathews
Filed under: Christian life, Grace, Growth, Peace, Salvation, Security | No Comments »
Perhaps a more basic question is “What is good enough?” Is 90% good enough? 95%? 99? How about 99.9%?
Of course the answer really depends on what we’re applying the description to. For me, I would have been very pleased with 90% in my college organic chemistry class. (Actually, I would have been pleased with 70%, [...]
Posted on June 6th, 2008 by Bob Mathews
Filed under: Grace, Growth, Humility, Salvation | No Comments »
A friend recently told me that sickness in his family had created a hospital bill of $3.5 million. He told me: “That is more than I can pay the rest of my life.” He has a debt that, no matter how hard he tries, he can never pay.
It made me think of what Jesus paid [...]
Posted on May 30th, 2008 by Pat Brown
Filed under: Devotion, Grace, Humility, Jesus, Joy, New Testament, Salvation | 1 Comment »
Is there such a person? Jesus made such a reference in Luke 15:3-7:
“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
So to whom exactly is the Lord referring? Does He mean the 99% who are truly so [...]
Posted on April 25th, 2008 by Bob Mathews
Filed under: Christian life, Grace, Growth, Love, New Testament | No Comments »
