This is a a review of some central tenets of Dead Men Rising by Jonathan Williams.
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Book 19 Theological Commentary
Table of Contents
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Expanded Contents Theological Commentary
New Testament
- Matt 1-14
- Matt 15-28
- Mark & Luke
- John 1-10
- John 11-20
- Acts
- Romans
- 1 Corinthians 1-11
- 1 Corinthians 12-16
- 2 Corinthians
- Galatians
- Ephesians
- Philippians
- Colossians
- Thessalonians
- Heb Jms Jude 2 Ptr
- 1 Peter
- 1 John
- NT Word & Topical Study
Old Testament
- OT Law Commentary
- OT History Commentary
- OT Wisdom Commentary
- OT Prophets Commentary
- OT Word & Topical Study
Book 18 Theological Papers
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A: BEST– Most helpful, interesting and/or important chapters
B: ESSENTIAL– Important chapters to understand the topic
C: Specialized- Chapters for the more complex points of the topic
B 18.1 Water Baptism
A 18.2 What It Means to be Saved by Grace through Faith
A 18.3 Resources for Interpreting Scripture
C 18.4 Defending the Deity of Christ Against the Cults
B 18.5 A Reformed Interpretation of Romans 9
C 18.6 Biblical Warnings Against the Jehovah’s Witnesses
Book 17 Victory of God (in process)
Coming Soon!
Book 16 Biblical Canon (in process)
Coming Soon!
#51: Who’s on Trial?
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 Jn. 3:18 NIV)
I talk with Christians on a regular basis about whether or not God loves them. Unfortunately, it seems that for many believers, God must continue to prove His love to them. If something difficult happens in their life, God’s love is immediately brought into question. The same happens if they don’t get the job, house, spouse, health, salary, and any other circumstance they want, when they want it. Let’s remind ourselves today of a few truths on this issue.
First of all, if the cross of Jesus Christ is not sufficient proof of God’s love for us, no changed circumstance will be. “This is how we [even] know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” (1 Jn. 3:16). Add to this the promise of eternal happiness in a future paradise “that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you.” (1 Pet. 1:4). Can we honestly tell God, that even if He never did another thing for us, we would still believe in His love for us?
Secondly, it is not God’s love for us that still needs to be proved, but rather our love for God. God has proven His love for us beyond doubt. Have we likewise proven our love for Him? Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will obey what I command.” (Jn. 14:15). As Christians, rather than evaluating how much we think God is presently loving us, we should be evaluating how much we are obeying Him. The primary purpose of our life on this planet is to have an opportunity to demonstrate our love for, and faith in, a God we cannot see. It is not God’s love that is on trial right now brothers and sisters, but ours. What will we do today to prove it?
#50: Trouble? Trust!
“I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34:4, 6, 19)
If there is one thing true about our life on this earth it is that it is “full of trouble” (Job 14:1). It seems that just after one problem has passed, another comes our way. There are many things that could be said, but today, I simply want to remind you of the promise above. Both because the Bible says it, and I have experienced it, I can guarantee you that the Lord will deliver you from every single trouble. You can look at your past and know that this is true, and it will also be true of the present and the future as well. When we pray and wait patiently for God to work, we will see Him work. And as you ponder the difficulties that God has delivered you from in the past, you will recognize that God often used it to direct you to something better, or to develop something better in your life. It is hard for us to understand, but God actually allows our troubles for our good and His glory (see Genesis 50:20). We are claiming nothing more than what the following well known Scripture says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28). Trust Him brothers & sisters!
#49: Time With God
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm42:2)
Yesterday we discussed the most important reason to spend time with God. Today let’s look at a few suggestions that can help enhance our time with Him.
Kneel now: Standard equipment for a Muslim is a little pillow to kneel on seven times a day before their god. Most Christians don’t even do it once a day before their real God. No need to be legalistic about it, but the apostle Paul practiced it himself (cf. Eph. 3:14). There is coming a Day when God will finally get what He has always wanted and “every knee will bow” before Him (Isa. 45:23). We can kneel now, at the beginning of every day, as a sign of respect to our rightful and gracious King.
Prayer Read: With a little imagination, every passage of Scripture contains something to either thank God for, or ask Him for. Instead of just reading through the Bible, pray and praise through it, stopping often to talk to the Author about what it says. After all, the goal is to spend time with a Person, not just a book.
Share it: Virtually everything God gives us is to be passed on to bless others. This includes His encouragements and teachings. This is especially important with our children. Reading Daylights for family devotionals is great, but believe me, our children would rather hear what God is teaching mom and dad instead of some in Iowa. Parents sharing God’s word with their children is the Creator’s prescribed method for discipleship (cf. Deut. 6:1-7; Eph. 6:4). When our children know that God actually speaks to us, they will believe that He can actually speak to them, and when He does, you have a real Partner in raising them right.
#48: Time With God
Do nothing out of selfish ambition (Philippians 2:3)
The joy of the LORD is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10)
Our verses today remind us of some important things when it comes to devotional times with God. First of all, not even quiet times should be done just to get and not to give. Too often we determine their value based on what they do for us, when the most important question is what do our devotional times do for God!
Of course we receive all kinds of vital benefits from consistently practicing the spiritual disciplines, but the most important reason for doing them needs to be love for God, not ourselves. God is a Person, and just like any other person, He spells love T. I. M. E. He loves it when we sacrifice time to praise Him, listen to Him, and talk to Him. And He is particularly thrilled with our devotionals when we do them not so much because we feel like it, but simply because we want to love and encourage Him by doing it.
Do we realize how much God appreciates our humble efforts to simply spend time with Him? When you think about all the garbage the Creator puts up with all over the world all the time, how refreshing it must be to see someone who appreciates Him enough to stop in their busy day and simply take the time to talk and listen to Him. Be one of those very few people today and everyday. Whether or not your devotional time today blesses you, be assured that it blessed Him. And let the fact that you increased God’s joy today be an encouragement to you all day long no matter what else happens. As Nehemiah said, its not so much our joy, but His joy that really matters.