What kind of standing has the unregenerate man before the holy God? His only standing is one of condemnation.
Condemnation can be the only answer to the question of unregenerate man’s standing before the holy God, for the unregenerate man hates God and is God’s enemy. To please God is not the desire of the unregenerate man’s heart, for he is not able to do so (Romans 8:8).
Nine times in the opening chapter of Genesis we read the words: God said. One of those nine times, God tells the land to produce vegetation (Genesis 1:11) and another one of those nine times, God gives his creation (mankind and animals) every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it for food (Genesis 1:29).
As you participate in the January 2019 fast with others from Living Waters, please feel free to use this guide as a companion. It was developed by Josh McConnon and will be a useful tool for you to use for the 21 days that you cut something out of your life with the intention of growing closer to Jesus. Please also consider coming together once a week on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 during the fast to worship God with others that will be participating.
Two Sides
There are some who earnestly believe that the New Testament has been reproduced perfectly in English, to the extent that there are absolutely no questions regarding the authenticity and accuracy of the text. In their eyes, the English version of the New Testament they hold in their hands is perfect in the sense that it cannot be improved upon.
There is an upcoming opportunity for you to take part in a class taught by me (Kevin Davis) on the doctrine of the Trinity. This class will begin on Sunday, January 21 and run four straight weeks, ending on Sunday, February 11. All classes will take place at Living Waters Church in the gymnasium and will go from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. If you are reading this and think a class on the Trinity sounds interesting
500 Years Ago…
Last Tuesday, October 31, marked the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Specifically, it marked the day in which the Augustinian monk, Martin Luther, posted his 95 Theses against the selling of indulgences to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
“The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” (Mark 3:6, ESV)
There is a point in Mark’s gospel, in chapter 3, where Jesus has a confrontation with the Pharisees over whether or not he should heal a man with a withered hand. Mark writes that, as Jesus entered the synagogue, the Pharisees watched him to see whether or not he would heal the man on the Sabbath (3:2). Notice Mark does not write that the Pharisees watched to see if the work of God might be on display through the healing of this man. They were not interested in seeing God at work; they were interested in keeping control.
“And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:22-24)
Paul is led by the Holy Spirit to Jerusalem.
ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SIN
“And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 ‘Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” (Mark 2:5-7, ESV)
Imagine a scenario for a moment: A small group of people break into your house while you are away and steal whatever it is that they want.
