“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 11:13-14). The words judge and judgment and their cognates appear […]
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Author: Rick Shrader
The Meekness of Wisdom
“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13) Who wants to violate the first characteristic of meekness and write about it? Who wants to appear to be like the one who brags about being humble? […]
The Greater Virtues
It is the selfish part of our human nature to place our energies on the showy but lesser virtues rather than upon the more difficult and greater virtues. Jesus said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the […]
Our Sanctification, Part 2, A Reset
In part 1 we explored the subject of sanctification in its various aspects including the failures of legalism and license. We also asked the questions, Why do we have to continually fight against sin? How is the power of sin removed from us? Do we ever get to a place where we have victory over […]
Our Sanctification, Part 1
No series on walking with God would be complete without some explanation of the Biblical doctrine of sanctification. The Biblical word comes from the same root word as “holiness” and “saints.” It basically means to be set apart. Although sanctification has been discussed and debated as long as the church has been around, there is […]
We Who Are Friends
In a study of walking with God we have seen that Jesus Christ must be the only Lord and Master and that we submit ourselves to Him being mere slaves. This relationship is accepted at the very beginning as the humble repentance of our sins casts us completely at His feet for mercy and forgiveness. […]
We Who Are Slaves
Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). To deny oneself in today’s culture might simply mean to practice a little self-control, perhaps to eat a little less, or to be more diligent with one’s personal devotions. But this […]
God Who Is Our Master
It is overwhelming for the human mind to try to contemplate God. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor?” (Rom. 11:34). “Shall any teach God knowledge? Seeing he judgeth those that are high” (Job 21:22). Yet Solomon advised his son to seek the knowledge of God: My […]
Made Right But Broken
When we think about our walk with God, it is important to remember both our position in Christ and our relationship with Christ. Salvation makes us secure in our position: “We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). But our walk with God is a matter of […]
Can We Walk With God?
One has only to read the Scripture to know that a believer should walk with God. “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory” (1 Thes. 2:12). “As ye have therefore received Jesus Christ the Lord, so walk ye in him” (Col. 2:6). “If we live in […]