Contextual – Page 2 – Gospel Progress

The progress of faith

Matthew chapter 16 provides a scale of faith. Where are we along this scale?

To be pleasing to God, we need to reach the last stage of faith.

Ezra 7.10

You cannot teach what you do not know and live. It must start with me. God can powerfully use one who is decided and committed. He looks for dedicated people for critical times. (All times are critical!)
Lasting change comes from the word of God. The power to transform is in the Sacred Letters. After the exile, they turned to the written word. After Jesus, we turn to the New Testament.
The Lord blesses those who commit themselves to his word, v. 9. (NLT on v. 10: “This was because …”) God makes it all happen. He opens the doors.
Ezra’s studies and activities “reveal his commitment to purity of worship” (P.R. House, OTT) and to purity of the nation as God’s people (chap. 9). May our agenda include such purity!

Title: The Death of Christ as an Act of God’s Love
Sermon series: The Death of Christ, no. 8
Biblical Text: John 3.16, within the greater context of Jn 3.1-21 Continue reading “The death of Christ as an act of God’s love”

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff visited the US recently and tried out Google’s driverless car. Our local newspaper’s editor claimed that Brazil is a driverless car, but without the Google intelligence. So the risk of an accident is great.
His criticism points up that human governments are variable. They can be good, average, or bad.
Good government is that of Jesus Christ and God the Father. They are both called “Lord,” indicating their sovereignty and authority.
In Matthew’s gospel, there are three descriptions of Jesus and the Father that enrich our understanding of his Lordship.
Jesus received all authority from the Father, Mt 28.18, so what is said of God is also true of Christ.