The Heart of the Goal (1 Timothy 1:5, Part Three)
“But the goal of our instruction is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Paul now expands the idea of love. “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a [...]
A Definition, Description, and Example (1 Timothy 1:5, Part Two)
"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Scripture defines, describes, and exemplifies the goal of love. To define love, look at 1 John 5:3. “For this is the love of God that [...]
The Goal of Our Instruction (1 Timothy 1:5, Part One)
“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). The apostle Paul writes the fledgling minister, Timothy. He has several concerns. Some have an interest in speculative matters, which have to [...]
God’s Picture Book
The Book of Revelation paints astonishing pictures. However, the images are not the actual realities they represent. For example, chapter 6 presents the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The first horseman is a picture of the gospel riding through history and to victory. Compare Psalm [...]
Our King Has Come (1-2 Samuel)
Judges accentuates the need of the people for a king. Ruth promises the coming of the king. The Books of Samuel record his actual arrival. First Samuel begins with the birth of the prophet Samuel (c. 1140), the last of Israel's judges. In 1 Samuel [...]
Labor Day: God and Faith and Work
Labor Day is a good time to talk about work. God commands work. God said to Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the [...]
Needed: The King and Savior
The Book of Judges recounts a downward spiral. “The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” (Judges 2:11). “So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel” (Judges 2:14). “But when the people of Israel cried out to [...]
The Promise-Fulfillment Tension (Joshua)
Moses is dead (Deut. 34:5; Josh. 1:2). Joshua is the new leader of God's people (Deut. 31:23; Josh. 1:1-9). He leads the people across the Jordon as on dry ground (Josh. 3:17). As a result, "the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel" [...]
The Gospel According to Moses (Deuteronomy)
The key text of Deuteronomy is clear. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command [...]
The Church in the Wilderness (Numbers)
The Book of Numbers has five sections outlining three encampments and two travelogues. First, in Numbers 1:1-10:10, Israel prepares for travel. Second, Numbers 10:11-12:16 records the travel from Sinai to the area of Kadesh-Barnea. “Now in the second year, in the second month, on the [...]