Heads Up

The Lord told Israel to “Fear not!” through His prophet Isaiah. As the Jewish remnant faced the challenge of the long journey home and the difficult task of rebuilding, they could think of many causes for fear. But there was one big reason not to be afraid: The Lord was with them and would give…

The prophet Isaiah lived in critical days of international upheaval. He wrote what many consider to be the greatest book in the Old Testament. “We see Isaiah move with fearless dignity through the chaos of his day,” wrote E.M. Blaiklock, “firm in his quiet faith, sure in his God.” At a time when empires were…

In Romans 5 Paul provides three contrasts regarding sin and salvation. In verse 17 Paul provides a third and final contrast: “For if, because of one man’s trespass [sin], death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness [salvation] reign in life…

How many sins must one commit in order to be condemned? In Romans 5.16 Paul states, “And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass [sin] brought condemnation, but the free gift [salvation] following many trespasses [sins] brought justification.” This verse carries the contrast…

Having approached our subject from the perspective of God’s purposes, we are now ready to see what Paul says suffering will do in the lives of Christians, and why this is reassuring. What benefits does suffering bring? First, it produces perseverance. You may notice another word used to translate this idea in your Bible. Some…

God has many purposes in human suffering. There at least four: The first purpose of God in suffering is what Paul presents in Romans 5, namely, that God uses our troubles, trials, and tribulations to form Christian character. In the Great Depression a man lost a job, a fortune, a wife, and a home. He…