Posts by jjohnson
Complete Through the Gospel
You have been made complete through the gospel, the good news that God showed His love, mercy and grace toward you. Because of this, you extend love, mercy and grace to others, no strings attached: Because you know God loves us, you can love others (1 Corinthians 13:7 – love tries to assume the best…
Read MoreHow God the Father has Approached You
Ephesians 2:4-9 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,…
Read MoreTrusting God: the Foundation
Psalm 9:10 “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” It is when you come to know God personally that you begin to trust Him. To know God’s name is to believe in Him. In John 2:23, many people believed in…
Read MoreHe Opened Not His Mouth
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7) Isaiah uses the phrase “he opened not his mouth” twice in this sentence, and I…
Read MoreEstablished in God’s Love
As a Christian, how are you established in God’s love? This 10-day Bible reading schedule will deepen your understanding of the wondrous love of God, and how it is not only something He did for you 2000 years ago, but something He continues to do today. For the print-quality version, please visit our Resources page.
Read MoreHow a Believer Drifts from the Gospel
At times during God’s sanctifying process, a believer can drift from the good news of the gospel. This graphic illustrates what causes the drift (law keeping and idols of the heart), and how the gospel calls us home. This concept is laid out in the highly recommended IBCD training course. Graphic by thekiln.org.
Read MoreWhat is the Gospel?
The most succinct definition of the gospel is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For…
Read MoreHow the Gospel Brings Peace
Resting in the Gospel is resting in the good news of what God has done for you. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). When you come to Jesus – when you submit yourself to Him as Lord – you find rest…
Read MoreDefining “Good” in Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28 is one of the most popular verses in the Bible: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” First, what does “all things” refer to in your life? “All things” refers to everything that has happened in…
Read MoreHandling Regrets
Regrets come at times, and can even dominate our thought lives. Regrets over decisions made, how we spent our time, and how situations were handled. You may have made decisions based on the best information you had at the time, and the decision may have turned out to be a poor one. There is a…
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