DISCIPLE

Believe it or not, not all love is good, and love certainly doesn't make everything ok. Some loves are mistaken, misguided, and some are even evil. The author, Randal Amos, invites us to meditate on and learn from some aspects of true Christlike love. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This short article is a consideration of some of the features of the love of the Lord Jesus. Truthful love, John 18. 37; 1 Cor. 13. 6  Love without truth is deceitful and hurtful. We might tell a person to ‘have a nice trip’ without revealing the dangerous truth that a bridge is out. This is friendly but is not caring love. The Lord Jesus Christ never sacrificed truth on the altar of love but sacrificed Himself in love for the truth of God’s judgement. He came ‘to bear witness unto the truth’ – and was crucified for it. Paul wrote, ‘[love] . . . rejoices in the truth’. Legal love, Hos. 12. 6 ESV; Eph. 5. 2; Rom. 3. 26 Love without justice destro...

  We're not talking here about personal opinions or prejudices, but about what God says, and for that reason there are abundant Scripture references. The term “sodomite” is originates in the Bible, and is taken from the city of Sodom (Genesis 19:1-26). The definition of sodomite refers to anyone who actively engages in homosexual or lesbian acts. These are some of the many sins of sexual perversion that God condemns: adultery, fornication, incest, rape, bestiality, sodomy, lesbianism.  In Leviticus 18 God gave extensive commandments to Israel about avoiding all kinds of sexual impurity. Curses are pronounced in Leviticus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 27:20-23. Some would say, that was the Old Testament Law and is no longer applicable. However, in the New Testament – in the age of grace – we still read God’s inspired words: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,...

 June has been proclaimed LGBT Pride month. There are marches and other public manifestations. But they have nothing to be proud of, and have forgotten or lost the ability to be ashamed. Proverbs 6:17 lists "a proud look" at the top of the list of seven things that God hates, that are an abomination to him. Long ago Isaiah, a faithful prophet of God, was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write these words denouncing sinful pride. "The expression of their faces bears witness against them. And they display their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves... Woe to the wicked! It will go badly with him" (Isaiah 3:9-10). Society may change, and man's laws, too, but God's Word is forever settled in heaven, and all will be judged one day by His word, not theirs. Instead of pride, there should be humbling and repentance. "Seek ye the LORD, while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near."  God i...

Walking With God Is Living Ever As In His Presence “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13). “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good (Prov. 15:3). We must ever regard Him, not as if He were far away in some inaccessible abode – but nearer to us than our nearest friend. In our chamber, by the wayside, at our work, in our recreation, when mingling with others, or all alone – we must see One whom the world sees not; we must hear a voice that the world hears not. In the life of the sweet Psalmist of Israel, the same truth was ever the joy of his heart. As he lay down to rest, it was his joy to know that the sleepless Guardian of His people was by him: “I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for you O Lord alone make me to dwell in safety.” As he arose, he still rejoiced in the almighty Friend who was ever near him: “When I awake, ...

 the following is an excerpt from chapter 1 of W.E. Vine's excellent book THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCHES. It is available freely on the Internet, and also in printed form from various sources. Unauthorized Systems Events at Jerusalem, therefore, provide no support for the establishment of a controlling centre for the organization of churches. One will search in vain in the Acts and the Epistles for even an intimation of the establishment of such an institution. Apart from such matters as the supply, by churches in a district, of the needs of poor saints in another region, the only bond binding churches together was spiritual, that of a common life in Christ and the indwelling of the same Holy Spirit. There was no such thing as external unity by way of federation, affiliation or amalgamation, either of churches in any given locality or of all the churches together. Apostolic testimony is, indeed, against the organization of churches into an ecclesiastical system. There is...

      Are those who don’t forgive others guilty of holding grudges? Is it wrong not to forgive? Many people today would say yes unhesitatingly. For example I recently saw an article entitled, “How to Forgive Someone Who Did You Wrong–Here's how to (finally) let go of that grudge.” That sums up popular thought in a nutshell. However, the answer depends on the details. Grudge holding is definitely an unbecoming trait, but not forgiving does not automatically equal holding a grudge. Thinking Christians who believe what God’s Word says know that although forgiveness is certainly desirable, it is not always possible.     Some believe in unconditional forgiveness and would immediately protest, citing the so-called Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 as the definitive text on the matter.      “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the ...