Two brothers approached and offered God yield of their life occupations. One offered a sheep, the other fruit. God respected one offering, the other, He rejected. The Genesis story describes two men and their God, two men shaped in iniquity, two men born outside the presence of the Almighty, two...

“But with You there is forgiveness, that You might be feared” (Psalm 130:4). This verse defines just why we should hold God in reverence and awe. He forgives. It is the most potent and effective revelation of His power. The Lord shows mercy. In fact, He rejoices to show His...

Two tables. Two hosts. Two salvations. The episodes I want to examine are both found in the gospel of Luke. The first one is toward the end of Luke 7 and involves a Pharisee named Simon who asked Jesus to come to dinner at his home. The word on the...

“The world always has had a cross between two thieves for the one who comes to save it.” And yet: ” If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 “The graceful gait of virtue is always followed by and scoffed with grimace and travesty.” And yet,...

The apostle Paul wrote the book of Galatians to set the record straight. The Gospel message is this: Salvation comes only by grace through faith in Christ alone. The message is a declaration of independence from our own efforts to make ourselves right with God. To believe, that is to...

Hope was planted in a heart. It would not be denied. The heart belonged to Ruth. That hope that took root in her must be classified as a true work of God, for she had many reasons to be hopeless. Her husband was dead, so were her father-in-law and her...

“Once there was a boy. . . who listened to an old man. And, thus, began to learn about The Precious Present. ‘It is a present because it is a gift,’ the contented man explained. And it is called The Precious Present, because it is the best present of all. When the boy asked why,...

“The meaning of the word “grace” as used in the New Testament… it is nothing less than the unlimited love of God expressing itself in limitless grace.” Chafer “Grace is the free bestowal of kindness on one who has no claim to it.” Berkhof   “Grace is but glory begun,...

What are the conditions for eternal salvation according to the Bible? The verses that come immediately to mind are Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that...

Grace ain’t a leg to stand on — but comes running when all legs to stand on break. When all legs flounder, break, fizzle and flop — then comes grace. Grace exists the magic which changes hell to heaven, guilt to confidence, hurt to help, shame to innocence. Grace is...