In his letter to the Romans, Paul answers this question emphatically: Of course not! (Romans 11:1) As far as his natural heritage is concerned, the apostle Paul was a Jew who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, a heritage greatly esteemed among the Jews. From this tribe had come Israel’s first king, Saul (1 Samuel 10:20-24). The tribes of Benjamin … [Read more...]

The scriptural record about the blood begins in the Garden of Eden. Then the Lord made a covering for them by shedding the blood of an innocent animal, prophesying of the atonement that Jesus would make by shedding His blood for our sins. Even if we have sinned, we have confidence into the presence of the Lord, not because of anything we can do, … [Read more...]

When God confronted Adam with his sin, he blamed Eve and thereby forfeiting his God-given responsibility which led to a spirit of blame and irresponsibility entering the human race. The Bible says: “The man replied, ‘It was the woman You gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it’ (Genesis 3:12). In other words, Adam was telling God that because … [Read more...]

I was talking to a friend a few days ago and he asked me why God created the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and then prohibit Adam and Eve to eat from it? In answering this question we need to realize that the Word of God is a progressive revelation of truth. God doesn’t give us everything we need to know about a particular event, subject, … [Read more...]

There are only two things that are certain to happen in any life. One is birth. The other is death. Everybody undergoes the experience of bereavement sooner or later. In fact death is the only appointment every man or woman must keep. Whether we are homeless, rich, poor, slave or free or something in between, the earth is no final resting place. So … [Read more...]

The prophet Jeremiah offers insight into the religious and political conditions of Judah during the last forty years before the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. What is to be noted is that throughout these years Jeremiah faced constant opposition from religious and political leaders. He suffered persecution but God divinely protected him to … [Read more...]

It’s no surprise that the church, and our nation, desperately need to hear “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” to awaken, convict, and restore. It was not so long ago that we were concerned about “the fall of America.” America cannot fall because she has already fallen. We are now picking up the pieces of a broken nation. America's moral … [Read more...]

God doesn’t want us to live in isolation. I realized many years ago that I desperately need people in my life in order to fulfill my purpose. My parents invested in me, and so did teachers, coaches, employers, pastors, role models and good friends. I am not self-made, and neither are you. Any success we have achieved is the result of someone taking … [Read more...]

Continuing with the commission to make disciples and connecting it with how spiritual authority is founded upon love, one way we will know who we are called to help disciple is by a love that God gives us for them. If I don’t feel a special love for a person, I won’t try to disciple them. I will consider that God has called someone else to help … [Read more...]

Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11) It was Augustine who said O God! You have created us for Yourself and our hearts are restless unless they find rest in You.” True … [Read more...]