Hermeneutics
John Stott in Between Two Worlds
To begin with, we have to transport ourselves back, by the use of both our knowledge and our imagination, into the biblical writer's context, until we begin to think what he thought and feel what he felt. Our responsibility is not to assimilate his views to ours, by reading our opinions back into what he wrote, but assimilate our views to his, by struggling to penetrate into his heart and mind (185).
Free From the Power of Death
"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through the fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery"
Hebrews 2:14-15
Zac Smith of Newspring Church in Anderson, SC went home to be with the Lord in May of 2010.
Below are two videos: one Zac made before his death and one from his wife one year after his death.
May we be reminded and thereby encouraged that Christ through his death and resurrection, he has won the greatest battle ever fought, having defeated death once and for all - therefore we are able to no longer fear death (for He has overcome the world)!
HT: Challies
Walk According to the Spirit
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1-4).
'Legalism' is the misguided attempt to earn our salvation by obedience to the law. 'Pharisaism' is a preoccupation with the externals and the minutiae of religious duty. To teach the standards of moral conduct which adorn the gospel is neither legalism nor pharisaism but plain apostolic Christianity. (John Stott, Between Two Worlds, p.158).
Be encouraged, walk according to the Spirit.
Compelled to Love
A few weeks ago a co-worker made the statement, "I cannot begin to love the unseen God more than I love my daughter whom I can see." In response, the question was asked, how do you know what love is?
1 John 3:16, says, "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." It is this love of Christ that controls us (2 Cor 5:14). On this Valentine's Day be encouraged to not only think of that special someone in your life, but consider the precious gift which was given to us freely through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. When we consider the reasons why Christ died, we cannot help but to also love. "We love Him, because He first loves us" (I John 4:19). He loved us when we were yet ungodly, sinners, and enemies of the cross (Rom 5). Let today be the first of many days, "being imitators of God, as beloved children, walking in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Eph 5:1-2).
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY