Category: Theology
If Anyone Thirsts
“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink’” (John 7:37). Jesus made this dramatic statement in connection with the water-drawing ceremony associated with the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles....
Jesus . . . In His Own Words
Ultimately, everything said about Jesus in the Bible is part of His own self-testimony. He is the ultimate Author of all Scripture. But I hope you will be encouraged, instructed, challenged, or perhaps even corrected by the following collection of things Jesus actually said about Himself....
Discovering God’s Unsearchable Greatness
Psalm 71 contains a puzzling sentence: My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them. (v. 15) Can you see why I said the sentence is puzzling? The psalmist offers his limited...
Creation: The Fact that Leads to Faith
The Bible begins with a simple statement of fact: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). There are no commands given to men right away, no moral expectations—just this amazing fact. We live in, and are part of, a creation. We...
For Those He Came to Save
The New Testament is filled with references to God’s saving love, particularly in the letters to the churches (Romans through Revelation). This love is usually mentioned with specific reference to a target audience designated by the pronouns we, you, or us. (for example, Rom. 5:8 –...
For God so Loved the World … OK, So What?
If you are a true believer in Christ, you should enjoy the peaceful assurance that when Christ returns you will not perish in God’s fiery judgment of unbelievers. But true faith is grounded on facts, so for your confidence to be unshakable, you need to be...
Every Believer Not a Missionary
Several years ago, before Eastern European Communism was dismantled, I interviewed the leader for the Hungarian Baptists in his office in Budapest. He related the story of Johann Gerhard Oncken and his influence on workers in Hamburg after the great fire there in the 1800s. Oncken...
Doubting Jesus
Do believers ever have doubts about Jesus? John the Baptist did, which might be surprising because he had a stellar start as a preacher of the gospel. For example, he declared, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier...
Do You Have a Camel in Your Throat?
Let me give you a scenario. Imagine that you’re a father who is concerned for your children’s safety. “You are not allowed to cross the street in front of our house,” you tell them. So far, so good. But now imagine that while you’re away from...
Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) opens with the well-known list of qualities and rewards known as “The Beatitudes” (5:3-12). According to Jesus, rewards like the kingdom of heaven, the inheritance of earth, comfort, mercy, satisfaction, identification as God’s children, and the privilege of enjoying...
