Paul expressed how much joy the Philippian believers’ gospel partnership brought him and reminded them that their sovereign and faithful God would keep them to the end (1:3-6). He prayed that God would cause their love to increase so they would stay pure and blameless, full of the fruit of righteousness (vv. 9-11). That’s what the Holy Spirit does...

One of the most challenging concepts in Christianity is the idea of repentance. What does it mean, and why is it so important to the Christian life? Repentance is one of the most important aspects of the Christian life. In fact, it is so important that Martin Luther began his 95 theses, the document that ultimately began the protestant...

After a brief greeting, Paul in Ephesians 1 praised God for all He accomplished through Christ for our redemption and restoration (vv. 3-4). Paul thanked God for the believer’s maturity in faith in Christ. By His glorious grace, people chosen from before the foundation of the world have come together in praise of His glory in Christ (vv. 6,12,14)....

Christians often talk about salvation as being a process. From the time we are first saved, until the day of our natural death, we are slowly maturing and growing to be more like Christ. But what happens  when the process is over?  Glorification is the final stage in the process of salvation. It refers to the future time when...

God had a plan for Paul, and what God decrees will always come to pass (see Isa. 46:9-10; Eph. 1:10). As we see Acts 23, Roman soldiers protected Paul from harm and death, but God is the One who sends protection. He also is the One who reveals His plan in His time. Cutting through the chaos, the Lord...

One of the saddest consequences of sin is how it damages our relationship with God. And as you read the Bible, it seems pretty clear that there is no way for us to fix this relationship on our own. We need help. And thankfully, God provides that help in Jesus. Ever since the fall of the first man and...