There must be something very heinous in the nature of sin thus to awaken grief and abhorrence in every virtuous mind. To be indifferent to the moral character of those around us, if such a state of mind is possible, is proof of a sad benumbing of all virtuous sensibilities. To take pleasure in those, […]
Tag Archives: Sin
Secret Sins
posted by Joel Taylor
David Leach: “Christian, your secret sins are never secret. (Prov 15:3) You may go to desperate lengths to secure your darker impulses and antinomian activity from your church, your neighbor your family and your co-worker but you utterly lack the resources to hide them from the eyes of the Lord. Even if you are profoundly […]
A Conversation About Being Saved
posted by Joel Taylor
A woman with whom I was slightly acquainted approached me recently while I was working in the yard and said, “Can I ask you something?” “Sure,” I replied. She asked, “Do you think I’m a Christian?” { That doesn’t happen every day! } I said “I don’t know.” “Well, I pray all the time,” she […]
The Ultimate Statement of Musical Rebellion
posted by Joel Taylor
God does care about the music too. Punk music [including hip-hop] is the ultimate statement of musical rebellion. Changing the words and the artists and calling it Christian will never sanctify it. It has no place in a new Christian’s life.’… I cannot bring any of my old sinful desires and practices into worship to […]
The Sinfulness of Pagan Art, Creativity & Everything Else
posted by Joel Taylor
A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin. – Proverbs 21:4 (NKJV) “Two things are required to make an action right. One is that it be lawful in itself. The other is that it be done with a right motive. If the thing done is itself wrong, no motives […]
Encouragement
posted by Joel Taylor
C.H. Spurgeon: “God Himself, at one time, seemed to be against us: the ten great cannon of His Law were turned against our walls; all heaven and earth mustered for battle; God Himself was against us, at least, so conscience reported from her look-out. But, now, at this moment, having believed in Jesus Christ, we […]
From Victory to Victory
posted by Joel Taylor
What do you need that God has not provided, and will not provide? And what has God provided, that you do not need—even the temptations? “Ignorance of the providence of God is the cause of all impatience.” If we can just keep before our eyes, in our present knowledge, this truth—that God our Father provides […]
The Abiding Impression of God’s Holiness
posted by Joel Taylor
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he […]
The Mirror
posted by Joel Taylor
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. – James 1:23-24 by David Leach Of all […]
Just Stop It
posted by Joel Taylor
Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. – I Peter 2:1-3 (NASB) We come up with […]
The Hook of Sin
posted by Joel Taylor
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Thenwhen lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and whensin is accomplished, it brings forth death. – James 1:14-15 (NASB) The apostle James uses two illustrations to drive home the point of where and how we sin. He […]
Two Reasons to Abandon ‘Holy’ Hip-Hop
posted by Joel Taylor
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. – Galatians 5:16, […]
God Hates Sinners…and Loves Them
posted by Joel Taylor
He’s got it right….except for the part where he calls it a scandal. But, it is glorious, and I say Amen!
Contemplate Only the Gospel, Remain Immature in the Faith
posted by Joel Taylor
There is a movement afoot for sometime now that would keep the Church in milk and wallow in immaturity. Don’t get me wrong, the milk of God is pure, wonderful and much needed. However, to remain on the milk of God’s Word is the goal neither of God for His redeemed ones according to His […]
Beware of Pride, My Friend
posted by Joel Taylor
Almost always when we start to feel a little too good about ourselves, something or someone comes along to bring us down a notch. This inspirational piece is that something which puts us back in our place: If you can start the day without a cigarette, If you can start the day without caffeine, If […]
Is This All?
posted by Joel Taylor
Is this all? (John MacDuff, "THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS" 1856) "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ — set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above — not on earthly things!" Colossians 3:1-2 The history of six thousand years has […]
Fifty Difficult Passages Explained
posted by Joel Taylor
“Yes, some passages of Scripture are hard to understand. Many have been misunderstood. Here, Dr. Adams tackles fifty of the most commonly misunderstood and brings his exegetical skills to bear with the goal of helping you understand and apply God’s truth to your life.” [Here’s one of them…] In 1 John 5:16, John wrote that […]
No Joking
posted by Joel Taylor
But that is not the way you learned Christ! – assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit […]
Turning Prayer Into an Idol
posted by Joel Taylor
It is almost, if not absolutely, redundant to say we live in dangerous times. It has been this way since the fall of man in the garden. Each generation brings it’s own shortcomings to the table, and the visible Church is no exception. I dare say, that in every case, the reason has been a […]
