If Christians are perfect already, then why does Paul urge us to “grow in every way into Him who is the head — Christ?” His admonition makes no sense if we have accomplished the ultimate state, i.e. sinless-ness, i.e. holi-ness. Yes, we are declared sinless, we are positioned in Christ as holy, but we continue…
Month: April 2012
“On The Dust At Last” ( Job 19:25, HCSB ) by Carley Evans
“But I know my living Redeemer, and He will stand on the dust at last.” When Job says this, he has not yet met the Lord. He has heard of the Lord God “by report” but he has yet to “see God with his own eyes.” Even so, Job knows that God lives; and he…
“The Priest Is The Lamb” ( Hebrews 7:25, HCSB ) by Carley Evans
“But because [Christ] remains forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore, He is always able to save those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.” Under the old covenant, the priest literally stands between the people and God. Annually, the priest offers an unblemished lamb as a sacrificial…
“Every Tongue, Every Knee” ( Romans 14:11, HCSB ) by Carley Evans
Jesus tells us the truth. One day — “as He lives” — every individual who ever existed will bow to Him and give God praise. Now I can see every person kneeling in humility before God, but imagining every one praising God is not as easy. I’ve heard such vile, foul statements made against Him…
“Without Excuse” ( Romans 1:20, HCSB ) by Carley Evans
God’s creative force — His Spoken Word — is difficult to imagine much less comprehend. That God Speaks “Let there be light” and light appears; that He makes matter and energy from nothing is staggering. Even the Big Bang Theory of the creation of the universe does not explain how something came from nothing. Where…
“Never Perish — Ever!” ( John 10:28-30, HCSB ) by Carley Evans
Jesus gives us a definite sense of His joy here in the gospel of John when He says He gives us eternal life, and that we “will never perish – ever!” Jesus says: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who…
“In Christ, All Alive” ( 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, HCSB ) by Carley Evans
A monk tells me that all people everywhere eventually will be saved. I’ve read this view on the internet, on Facebook particularly. I’ve wondered about Paul’s statement that all things will be united under Christ, eventually. This is God’s purpose — yes? — to put all together under the authority of Christ. “But now Christ…
“God’s Power” ( 1 Corinthians 1:18, HCSB ) by Carley Evans
What is the message of the cross? Paul writes that this message is “foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.” Therefore, it makes sense to know what this message is exactly. The message of the cross is that God’s power saves us. We do not…
“Love On The Sabbath” ( Romans 13:8, HCSB ) by Carley Evans
We speak of Jesus fulfilling the Law because He obeys His Father in Heaven in all things. When He picks the heads off the standing grain so as to feed His hungry disciples, He says the Sabbath is made for the Lord, not the Lord for the Sabbath. When He heals on the Sabbath, He…
“According To The Scriptures” ( 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4, HCSB ) by Carley Evans
Paul tells the church at Corinth that which is of most importance — good news that he is given; not a story he conjures but news he receives from God Himself. The truth Paul is given, he passes on to others. He writes: “3 For I passed on to you as most important what I…
“Deny And Take Up” ( Luke 9:23-24, KJV ) by Carley Evans
Jesus gives up His rights — His rights to glory, His rights to being worshiped, His rights to His full power. Simultaneously He takes up human flesh with its physical weaknesses — with functions we never mention when we speak of Jesus perhaps because we can’t quite wrap our minds around those functions in regards…
“It Is Finished” ( John 19: 30, KJV ) by Carley Evans
“When Jesus, therefore, receives the vinegar, He says, ‘It is finished;’ and He bows His head, and gives up the spirit.” Jesus dies on the cross, accomplishing payment for the sins of the world. He is buried, visiting hell to remind our adversary he has no power over us. “Peter, therefore, goes forth, and that…
