1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment…” When we receive the love of God–poured out in the slain and risen Christ, mediated by the indwelling Holy Spirit–we are caused to love as we have been loved. And when the […]
1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Every hope that is not rooted in the crucified and risen Christ WILL end in
Proverbs 28:26, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
James 5:11, “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” We have seen the heart of the Author of all our trials, and it is displayed at the cross of Christ….We know that the Lord is compassionate and
Proverbs 10:24, “What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.” For God’s graciously chosen, Spirit-filled people, the filling of the universe with the Glory of God through the slain-and-risen Son will be the satisfaction of their deepest desire. But for those enduringly opposed to Him
James 1:2-3, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” Christian, the fires of our love-ordained trials will become the cords that bind our faith more surely to Christ–the one who bore the equivalence all of our suffering
Psalm 7:12-13, “If a person does not repent, God sharpens His sword and prepares to shoot His bow. He prepares deadly weapons against him; He gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.” The One who will finally fire the arrows of divine wrath IS the one who was first pierced by their equivalent on the
Nahum 1:6-7, “Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him. YHWH is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.” Who can endure the
Philippians 3:9, “[that]…I may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith…”
Isaiah 53:10, “…His soul makes an offering for guilt…” A staggering, sobering, soul-freeing reality….the life of our Lord and God is the offering for our guilt if we are trusting in Him…..the price has been paid in full.
Romans 9:33, “Behold I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” The crucified and risen Lord becomes a sanctuary to those who throw themselves on His mercy, and a stone that shatters those who proudly oppose Him…..may we
Mark 1: John is presented as Elijah (v.6), Jesus is baptized (v.9), the heavens are torn (v.10), the Spirit descends on Jesus (v.10), the Father declares that Jesus is His Son (v.11). Mark 15: Scoffers ask whether Elijah will come (v.35), Jesus is crucified (v.24), the curtain of the temple is torn (v.38), The
2 Timothy 1:7-8, “For God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self control. Therefore…share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God…” The power God gives us through union with Christ is power to suffer for the making known of His name in the gospel.
Psalm 106:37-38, “They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters, who they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.” Make no mistake, THIS is abortion. The child sacrifices offered up to the god
Psalm 111:7, “The works of His hands are faithful and just…” Both when they are pierced by wrath (Isaiah 53:5) and when they pierce in wrath (Jeremiah 25:33).
Revelation 14:10, “…he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur…” This will be true of anyone who opposes God until the end. But before it is true of them, it is true of God the
Isaiah 8:12-14, “..do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But YHWH of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He will become a sanctuary…” When fear of running FROM God drives us TO God in reverential awe, we will
Galatians 3:1, “It was before your own eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” By grace-given faith, may the unbelieving world see and receive their Lord and God in Christ Crucified and risen.
Psalm 88:16, “Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me.” The cross mercifully declares to all of humanity that wrath is real.
