“The truth of the Scriptures - which exposes our deepest failings and call on us to accept responsibility for them and reject those failings (a painful and difficult process!) - cannot be taught fully and faithfully while seeking to spare feelings or make everyone feel comfortable and safe. Due to our sinful nature of the sinful flesh we are born into, the mere presence of truth makes all of us uncomfortable. It takes a lot of work and time, and dying to our old lives, to get to the point where we live in the truth and welcome it in our lives. This is difficult, uncomfortable, scary work that the elders of the Church need to have hands free enough to effect in their flock.”

Eric Jay Miller, from his book “The Failing Light, Why the 21st Century Church is Broken, and How to Fix It.”

“Religion is one of the oldest, and one of the insidious vices of natural man. All men are religious (or at least most all). Opportunist’s have seized on that fact. They have used religion as a tool to bring men into bondage. And the self-righteousness in man makes him a ready victim.”~Rev.D. Earl Cripe

“Catholicism is traditional, hierarchical, ritualistic, conservative. Protestantism is Biblical, democratic, spiritual, progressive. The former is ruled by the principle of authority, the latter by the principle of freedom.”

Philip Schaff, Church Historian

My professing Christian friend, how do you define Success? do you see it as having plenty of money, or fame, or comfort, living the good life in this world; or do you judge it by faithfulness to Christ and His Kingdom?
I made my choice long ago. How about you? which is it for you? what will your life prove to have been in the soon coming Day of Judgment?
If you live your life according to the world’s standard-by focusing your attention on passing things, you will think that you are living the Christian life and that you are blessed.
I’m here to tell you that it is not so!! But if you have the wisdom to know the temporal and unfulfilling nature of passing things, and if you can focus on eternal things which are ours if you are faithful; then what looks like failure to others, is recognized by you as a great victory in Christ, by the Cross and by the Holy Spirit.

"Holy Scripture removing what is false, leads us on by degrees to things Divine-what true immortality is. We are nourished by faith, that we may be enabled to apprehend things Divine."~St. Augustine

2 Chronicles 24 reveals the life of Joash-the king of Judah: how a professing Christian can begin very well, but end in the flesh, to his destruction.

2 Kings 4 verses 8-10 reveal some lessons useful to the body of Christ; primarily the women.
The first thing is that this woman was a person of hospitality, “She constrained him (Elisha) to eat bread;” this is similar to Lydia in Acts 16:14-15, also Romans 12:13.
The second thing we learn is that this Shunamite woman was endowed with spiritual discernment-she had the perception that Elisha was a holy man of God (and from the account it is unclear whether Elisha said anything religious in her company). This conforms with what St. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12 verse 10.
The third thing that we are instructed is that this woman was morally upright; she didn’t take matters in her own hand. This woman behaved in a manner that was exemplary, in that she didn’t act independently/she didn’t act independent of her husband; she wasn’t infected with feminism which is so prevalent in the modern day Western Church. Notice her words, “LET US make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall.” This reveals to us her proper demeanor as a wife-in subjection to her her husband, by not demanding or having an air of authority, but seeking her husband’s consent and cooperation. Notice also the phrase “I PRAY THEE.”

Take a lesson from this Shunamite, women of the modern church!

Whenever the subject of Judas Iscariot and his fate comes up between students of the Bible, I believe these questions need to be considered:

1. Why did Jesus choose Judas as one of the Twelve?
2. Why did Judas follow Jesus to begin with?
3. Why did he turn against Jesus?
4. Did Judas truly repent at the end?
5. Could Judas have repented if he truly wanted to, or did the sovereignty of God prevent him?
6. Was his sin to great to be forgiven?

Nothing that is acquired by faith in the Kingdom of God ever goes out of style; and nothing that is done in sanctified love, zeal, desire, or commitment ever dies out with the passing of time.~Rev.Earl D.Cripe

And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.~ John 17:

In other words, Jesus is saying that this is what life and true living is all about: to recognize & receive the one true Creator God, and Jesus Christ the Incarnate God and Savior of the world that the Father has sent into the world for that purpose. Eternal life is received and possessed by the person who knows that, and lives his life promoting that truth.

If there is one thing that is all important in this world, and one thing that must always be kept in mind it’s this-Truth is the Enemy; that is, truth is the enemy of those who are not His.
If you are someone who stands up for, and speaks the truth, you are a marked man. The Devil does not care about money, he does not care about big shows and high rolling operations, professional PR and other things that attract the attention of men. Satan’s eye is looking for the teacher of truth, and his forces will marshal against that person to stop him.
The preacher of truth will be a marked man as he experiences fiery trials. If you doubt that, and if you need any Biblical assurance of that and you have never done so before, I suggest you go back and make a careful study of the book of Job to see the antagonism, the hatred, and the desperate and fanatical tactics that are resorted to by Satan to try to destroy the faithful people of God who speak and stand up for truth.

The subject of Alcohol and alcohol drinking is a touchy subject among Christian believers. I realize that. I was a heavy drinker in my salad days when youth prevailed. But now as I am becoming older and drawing near the end of my days, I know for certainty what the truth on this matter is.
Alcohol is permitted in moderation according to the Scriptures (i.e. Psalm 104:15; Matthew 11:19; 1 Timothy 3:8; Titus 2:3). The problem is not with alcohol per se, the sin is in overconsumption and drunkenness.
We of the Historic Christian faith don’t take the position of the Puritans, who believed that it is hedonistic and sinful to drink anything with a little alcohol in it; that it is ungodly to wear makeup (if we’re a female); that it is sensual to look nice and attractive, etc. That is nothing but a legalistic and a puritanical attitude.
The Bible emphasizes moderation, not abstinence.

As long as the earth stands, God will not remit the curse that He pronounced upon Adam & Eve and their children in the third chapter of Genesis. That curse would bring suffering and death to all that was of Adam and the old creation. And that also involves the children of God while the Church is on Her mission in this world.

Holiness is a biblical word Christian people have heard and are well acquainted with; but I suspect is not well understood. But whatever the case may be, holiness implies real and practical things. It’s more than just talk, it’s more than just pretense, it’s more than just creeds, it’s more than subscription to religious liturgy. It is reality! It’s more than pretending; it’s being something; and with the proper attitude we can do.

As far as I am aware, there are only two things that will prevent a person from accepting the free gift of salvation in Christ. One is the choice not to do so. The other, the ignorance of the offer, and that speaks to the urgent mission of the Church to take this precious life-giving Gospel into every place and to every person. The time is short!

The study of the Word of God is essential for spiritual growth and maturity; no Christian would dare deny that. However, Bible study in formal settings can be a negative and not an advantageous thing if it is used primarily for an occasion of socializing. When the attitude of a Bible study is thus: “Let’s get the Bible study over so that we can break out the coffee and cake, and talk about more important matters-about things more important,” then it is wrong.
The purpose of the study of the Scriptures is there to teach us truth, not for a social occasion.

John 18 verse 36 is in my estimation one of the most significant declarations in all of Holy Scripture, because Jesus is announcing to Pilate that He was giving up on establishing a kingdom that was of this world in nature, comprising of citizens who were of natural birth alone. From that time forward, the kingdom would be in this world but not of it; it would be one of the heart, soul, and spirit. His Kingdom is now in a different realm. It cannot be seen with the natural eye as it will be at the end of the world when all things will be made new, but it is nevertheless as real in this mortal realm as it will be at the end of time.

I have a message only for those who are Christians, who have already entered the Kingdom of God, who are part of the household of faith: if you want something more, something other, or something in addition in this life than the glory of God and your part in it, then your life IS NOT in order; you don’t know what this life is all about, and you sure don’t have a clue about the life that is to follow. You’re not focused on, preoccupied with, the things of God’s Kingdom. Admit it my Christian brother or sister. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that just because you’ve been justified from the penalty of sin that everything is alright with your soul. It’s not, it’s not! You need to get alone with God on your knee’s and confess to Him how you have allowed the world to dominate your thinking; how you have allowed the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life rule you. Repent of your waywardness.

The thought of Worthiness on the part of men was completely defeating in the days of the Old Covenant when man was cast upon his own devices. But now through the grace of God and the giving of the Holy Ghost, the Christian has been supplied the ability to live a holy and righteous life.

Man got himself into the dilemma of sin & death, and he must get himself out of it. How could he do that if the curse of death is on him? By the Second Adam. Christ became man because man brought death upon himself through evil, and he must bring resurrection from the dead through righteousness. But man by himself could not accomplish this. But Christ did!

“Salvation” is a word that every Bible reader recognizes; it is common to everyone who hears the Christian message and is familiar to them as any word in the English language. But it is not understood well in its comprehensive form, as far as the Biblical use is concerned. For the most part, the term Salvation is used far too narrowly, far too shallowly to meet the Biblical demands.
To many, Salvation is nothing more than the message of Justification-a call for the non-Christian to repent, to have their sins forgiven, and to be born into the family of God. Without a doubt, it is a primary doctrine of the Christian Church, and the primary message to man from the Scriptures and the Gospel work. And no sensible believer or minister of the Gospel would ever think of chiding or in any way deny it.
It is important. It is the Gospel appeal.
But Justification (from the Biblical point of view) is only A PART of the Great Salvation. It is a necessary part, an important part, but only A PART. There is also Sanctification & Glorification. Salvation also deals with Sanctification. It takes up 85% of the New Testament letters.
Salvation exists in three basic concepts: justification, sanctification, glorification.

One CANNOT be a godly person and be preoccupied with wealth & status at the same time. It just doesn’t work that way! You must make the choice who you’re going to serve: the Lord, or the world.

Most Christians agree that the 3rd chapter of John’s Gospel is one of the Church’s greatest treasures & one of the most important chapters in the Bible. Many throughout the history of the church have been blessed by it. But not everyone understands the whole picture as to why.

If you want to convince people that Jesus is real, make sure that God's new life is being shown through you. Life is what'll convince people.~Robert A.Cook