Obeying the Gospel: How (and Why) to Become a Christian
365 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsWhy would a person want to become a Christian? And what actually goes into making that commitment? For the non-Christian, the podcast talks about the commitment required of those who seek salvation in Christ, and for the Christian, it emphasizes the need for an ever-growing faithfulness to the commitment that was made in the past.
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Episodes
Seeing the Seriousness of Our Own Sins (March 6)
March 06, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.33 MBSEEING THE SERIOUSNESS OF OUR OWN SINS (MARCH 6) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/seeing-seriousness-our-own-sins-march-6/ ". . . but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). INSIDE ALL OF US IS A DEEP NEED TO SEE OURSELVES AS GOOD PEOPLE. We readily admit we’ve made mistakes, but we like to think that’s all they were: just mistakes. If others knew the extenuating circumstances, they would see how hard we’ve had it ...
Trustworthiness of the Scriptures - 2 (March 5)
March 05, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 3.16 MBTRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE SCRIPTURES - 2 (MARCH 5) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/trustworthiness-scriptures-2-march-5/ "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). WHEN WE SPEAK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT RECORD OF JESUS’ LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION, THERE ARE THREE LINKS IN...
Trustworthiness of the Scriptures - 1 (March 4)
March 04, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.58 MBTRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE SCRIPTURES - 1 (MARCH 4) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/trustworthiness-scriptures-1-march-4/ "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures . . ." (Romans 1:1,2). PAUL UNDERSTOOD HIMSELF TO BE A MESSENGER. As an apostle, commissioned by Christ to proclaim the gospel, he saw his work as faithfully transmitting to others that which...
Why We Study the Scriptures (March 3)
March 03, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 3.21 MBWHY WE STUDY THE SCRIPTURES (MARCH 3) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/why-we-study-scriptures-march-3/ ". . . from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY WE MIGHT STUDY THE SCRIPTURES, BUT FOR TODAY’S MEDITATION LET’S THINK ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR REASON. The Scriptures are able, Paul says, to make us “wise for salvation through fa...
Zacchaeus: A Lost Soul Needing to Be Saved (March 2)
March 02, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 3.24 MBZACCHAEUS: A LOST SOUL NEEDING TO BE SAVED (MARCH 2) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/zacchaeus-lost-soul-needing-saved-march-2/ "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). IN THE GOSPEL WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE FACT THAT GOD ENTERED THIS WORLD AND TOOK UPON HIMSELF HUMAN FORM IN THE PERSON OF JESUS OF NAZARETH. As the apostle John put it, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the F...
The Gospel of God's Kingdom (March 1)
March 01, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.49 MBTHE GOSPEL OF GOD’S KINGDOM (MARCH 1) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/gospel-gods-kingdom-march-1/ "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel'" (Mark 1:14,15). THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED “GOSPEL” IN OUR ENGLISH BIBLES WAS FAMILIAR IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE. It meant the joyful proclamation of some great event, often one having to do...
This Jesus Is the Christ (February 29)
February 29, 2024 06:15 - 3 minutes - 3.23 MBTHIS JESUS IS THE CHRIST (FEBRUARY 29) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/this-jesus-is-christ-february-29/ "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus, whom I proclai...
The Resurrection of the Messiah (February 28)
February 28, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.19 MBTHE RESURRECTION OF THE MESSIAH (FEBRUARY 28) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/resurrection-messiah-february-28/ "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption" (Psalm 16:10). SPEAKING IN THE SYNAGOGUE IN PISIDIAN ANTIOCH, PAUL ALLUDED TO THREE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES THAT POINTED TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. To his fellow Jews, he said, “We bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to u...
Perfection, Corruption, Restoration (February 27)
February 27, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.13 MBPERFECTION, CORRUPTION, RESTORATION (FEBRUARY 27) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/perfection-corruption-restoration-february-27/ "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God" (Romans 8:18,19). IF THE GOSPEL IS THE “GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD,” IT’S IMPORTANT TO SEE THAT THE STORY HAS A PLOT OR STORY LINE. In essenc...
Alive Together with Christ (February 26)
February 26, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.31 MBALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (FEBRUARY 26) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/alive-together-with-christ-february-26/ "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" (Ephesians 2:4-6). WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE PHYSICAL ASPECT OF LIFE AND DEATH, BUT S...
Adam's Helpless Race (February 25)
February 25, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 2.98 MBADAM’S HELPLESS RACE (FEBRUARY 25) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/adams-helpless-race-february-25/ "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6 NASB). TO SAY THE VERY LEAST, WE DID NOT DESERVE WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US WHEN HE DIED FOR OUR SINS. But not only were we undeserving; we were helpless. His death provided a salvation we could never have achieved by any ability that we possessed. We were, as the Amplified Bible ren...
Out of Zion Shall Go Forth the Law (February 24)
February 24, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.41 MBOUT OF ZION SHALL GO FORTH THE LAW (FEBRUARY 24) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/zion-go-forth-law-february-24/ "And many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths.' For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3 NASB). IN THIS TEXT FROM ISAIAH, A DAY IS ENVISIONED WHEN GOD’S TEACHING WOU...
They Shall All Know Me (February 23)
February 23, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.19 MBTHEY SHALL ALL KNOW ME (FEBRUARY 23) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/shall-all-know-me-february-23/ "And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:34). HERE WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST OBVIOUS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW COVENANTS. The differe...
Written on Their Hearts (February 22)
February 22, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.31 MBWRITTEN ON THEIR HEARTS (FEBRUARY 22) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/written-on-hearts-february-22/ "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:33). ALL OF THE PROPHETS EMPHASIZED HOPE. We tend to view them as doomsayers (especially Jeremiah), but the word of God’s judgment up...
A New Covenant (February 21)
February 21, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.29 MBA NEW COVENANT (FEBRUARY 21) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/new-covenant-february-21/ "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 31:31,32). THESE ARE WORDS THAT ARREST...
The Exact Imprint of God's Nature (February 20)
February 20, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.14 MBTHE EXACT IMPRINT OF GOD’S NATURE (FEBRUARY 20) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/exact-imprint-gods-nature-february-20/ "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature" (Hebrews 1:1-3). GOD’S REVELATION OF HIMSELF TO MANKIND H...
All the Fullness of God (February 19)
February 19, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.43 MBALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD (FEBRUARY 19) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/fullness-god-february-19/ "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Colossians 2:9). THE CHURCH IN COLOSSAE WAS BEING THREATENED BY A DESTRUCTIVE TEACHING THAT CALLED INTO QUESTION THE SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST FOR THE SALVATION OF MANKIND. Paul, however, emphasized that Christ is absolutely supreme, not needing to be supplemented in any way. In fact, He is the full embodiment of God Himself...
The Knowable God (February 18)
February 18, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.25 MBTHE KNOWABLE GOD (FEBRUARY 18) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/knowable-god-february-18/ "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known" (John 1:18). WHILE AN INFINITE GOD COULD NEVER BE KNOWN COMPLETELY BY HIS CREATURES, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT NOTHING CAN BE KNOWN ABOUT GOD AT ALL. Other than the facts of His existence and power, which can be inferred from the creation (Romans 1:20), we could not know much by our own unaide...
Like a Lamb (February 17)
February 17, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.29 MBLIKE A LAMB (FEBRUARY 17) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/like-lamb-february-17/ "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). IT WAS A BASIC PRINCIPLE OF THE LAW OF MOSES THAT THE VICTIM OF A CRIME WAS NOT ALLOWED TO PUNISH THE WRONGDOER — OTHERS WERE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. We have the same principle in our law...
With His Wounds We Are Healed (February 16)
February 16, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.74 MBWITH HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED (FEBRUARY 16) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/with-his-wounds-healed-february-16/ "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). AS A JEWISH RABBI, PAUL STUMBLED OVER THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST IN THE SAME WAY THAT MANY HAVE. The Messiah was to be the King, God’s “Anointed.” How could He even be killed, let a...
Despised and Rejected by Men (February 15)
February 15, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.63 MBDESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN (FEBRUARY 15) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/despised-rejected-men-february-15/ "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not" (Isaiah 53:3). IF THE WORLD HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO DESIGN ITS OWN MESSIAH OR SAVIOR, IT WOULD HAVE COME UP WITH SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT GOD ACTUALLY PROVIDED. Jesus was, to say the least, a ...
Appeal to God for a Good Conscience (February 14)
February 14, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.68 MBAPPEAL TO GOD FOR A GOOD CONSCIENCE (FEBRUARY 14) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/appeal-god-good-conscience-february-14/ "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21). ACCORDING TO PETER, BAPTISM SAVES US. Its effectiveness does not lie in the washing of dirt from the body, and even as an action that is considered spiritua...
Beginning with This Scripture (February 13)
February 13, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 3.01 MBBEGINNING WITH THIS SCRIPTURE (FEBRUARY 13) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/beginning-with-this-scripture-february-13/ "And the eunuch said to Philip, 'About whom, I ask you, the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?' Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What prevents me from being bapt...
Trusting God's Chosen Means (February 12)
February 12, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.48 MBTRUSTING GOD’S CHOSEN MEANS (FEBRUARY 12) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/trusting-gods-chosen-means-february-12/ "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.' So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live" (Numbers 21:8,9). THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW WHY GOD CHOSE THIS WAY OF SAVING THOSE WHO HAD BEEN SNAKEBI...
The Horrible Lie We Tell Ourselves (February 11)
February 11, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 3.08 MBTHE HORRIBLE LIE WE TELL OURSELVES (FEBRUARY 11) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/horrible-lie-tell-ourselves-february-11/ "The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, 'Who will bring me down to the ground?' Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord" (Obadiah 3,4). THE PROBLEM OF PRIDE ADDRESSED IN T...
Sowing and Reaping (February 10)
February 10, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 3.35 MBSOWING AND REAPING (FEBRUARY 10) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/sowing-reaping-february-10/ "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7,8). ONE OF THE WORST MISTAKES WE CAN MAKE IS TO DISCONNECT OUR ACTIONS IN THE PRESENT FROM OUR DESTINY IN THE FUTURE. The doctrin...
What If We Could Solve Every Problem but One? (February 9)
February 09, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.34 MBWHAT IF WE COULD SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM BUT ONE? (FEBRUARY 9) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/solve-every-problem-but-one-february-9/ "And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, w...
Do We Deny the Lord's Diagnosis? (February 8)
February 08, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.28 MBDO WE DENY THE LORD’S DIAGNOSIS? (FEBRUARY 8) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/deny-lords-diagnosis-february-8/ "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:18,19). IF THE GOSPEL IS ABOUT GOD SAVING US FROM...
What Sin Is (February 7)
February 07, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.25 MBWHAT SIN IS (FEBRUARY 7) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/what-sin-is-february-7/ "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4 NIV). IF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS ABOUT SALVATION FROM OUR SINS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEE CLEARLY WHAT SIN REALLY IS. If we deny the thing we need to be saved from, we are a long way from accepting God as our Rescuer. Hard as it is, sin is a fact we must face. To begin with, we need to understand that God has a...
Faithful Love (February 6)
February 06, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.34 MBFAITHFUL LOVE (FEBRUARY 6) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/faithful-love-february-6/ "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26). WORDS OFTEN COME IN PAIRS. For example, consider the words “benevolent” and “malevolent.” The first means “good will” and the second, “ill will.” To be benevolently inclined toward someone is to want to help t...
That We Should Not Perish (February 5)
February 05, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 3.24 MBTHAT WE SHOULD NOT PERISH (FEBRUARY 5) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/should-not-perish-february-5/ "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:16,17). MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY THIS TEXT IS THEIR FAVORITE. But favorite things have a way of becoming so familiar tha...
When Comfort and Confidence Are Dangerous (February 4)
February 04, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 3.13 MBWHEN COMFORT AND CONFIDENCE ARE DANGEROUS (FEBRUARY 4) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/comfort-confidence-dangerous-february-4/ "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17). AFFLUENT SOCIETIES ARE OFTEN THE LEAST OPEN TO THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. People who can get whatever they want to satisfy their temporal desires pay little attention to their spiritual needs. The ...
Are We Willing to Learn from Our Limits (February 3)
February 03, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.47 MBARE WE WILLING TO LEARN FROM OUR LIMITS? (FEBRUARY 3) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/willing-learn-from-limits-february-3/ "What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted" (Ecclesiastes 1:15). GOD HAS MADE THE PRESENT WORLD AN UNPREDICTABLE PLACE. Lest we think figuring out which buttons to push will invariably get us what we want from the world’s vending machine, God prevents us from having this much control. He makes sure we can’t stra...
The Words of Eternal Life (February 2)
February 02, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.48 MBTHE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE (FEBRUARY 2) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/words-eternal-life-february-2/ "Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life'" (John 6:68). IN JOHN 6, WHEN JESUS GAVE HIS DIFFICULT “BREAD OF LIFE” DISCOURSE, MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES DECIDED THEY WOULD NOT FOLLOW HIM ANYMORE. But when He asked His inner circle of disciples, the twelve apostles, if they also would turn away from Him, Peter said, “Lord, to who...
It Is by God's Grace That We Are Saved (February 1)
February 01, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.39 MBIT IS BY GOD’S GRACE THAT WE ARE SAVED (FEBRUARY 1) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/by-gods-grace-saved-february-1/ "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). IN HIS MAGNIFICENT LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS, PAUL MAKES IT CLEAR THAT ALL THE SAVED HAVE BEEN SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE. The church in Ephesus was made up primarily of Gentiles, and he wanted them to be encouraged by the fact that God’...
The Gospel: The Power of God for Salvation (January 31)
January 31, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.2 MBTHE GOSPEL: THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION (JANUARY 31) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/gospel-power-god-salvation-january-31/ "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16). WHEN PAUL WROTE THIS TO THE CHRISTIANS IN ROME, HE HAD NEVER BEEN THERE. And his critics seem to have been saying that he didn’t have enough courage to leave the hinterlands and come preac...
Faith in the Powerful Working of God (January 30)
January 30, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.28 MBFAITH IN THE POWERFUL WORKING OF GOD (JANUARY 30) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/faith-powerful-working-god-january-30/ ". . . having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead" (Colossians 2:12). THERE IS A SENSE IN WHICH JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION HAPPENED ONLY ONCE. But there is another sense in which these events occur every time someone is baptized into Chris...
There Is No Freedom Except in the Truth (January 29)
January 29, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.52 MBTHERE IS NO FREEDOM EXCEPT IN THE TRUTH (JANUARY 29) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/no-freedom-except-truth-january-29/ ". . . and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). FREEDOM IS AN IDEA THAT RESONATES IN EVERY HUMAN HEART. We all long to be free. Many forces trap us and hold us back, but which one of our problems is the slavemaster that has harmed us the most? According to Jesus, it is sin. Whatever else may bind us, the practice of d...
The Importance of Jesus’ Miracles (January 28)
January 28, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.26 MBTHE IMPORTANCE OF JESUS’ MIRACLES (JANUARY 28) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/importance-jesus-miracles-january-28/ "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30,31). CLAIMS AS RADICAL AS THOSE MADE BY JESUS OF NAZARETH REQUIRE STRONG SUPPORT. No one should be exp...
Crucified with Christ (January 27)
January 27, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.21 MBCRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST (JANUARY 27) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/crucified-with-christ-january-27/ "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). IN THE TEXT ABOVE, PAUL SPEAKS OF “THE LIFE I NOW LIVE.” This, of course, stands in contrast to the way he lived previously, when “faith in the Son of Go...
The Obedience of Faith (January 26)
January 26, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.44 MBTHE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH (JANUARY 26) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/obedience-faith-january-26/ ". . . to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations" (Romans 1:5). TEXTS THAT INDICATE SOMEONE’S PURPOSE SHOULD BE STUDIED CAREFULLY. In Romans 1:5, Paul was speaking of the purpose of his preaching as an apostle of Christ: “to bring about the obedience of faith” among all nations. So what is the “obedience of faith,” and why is it so i...
Exulting in Hope (January 25)
January 25, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.42 MBEXULTING IN HOPE (JANUARY 25) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/exulting-hope-january-25/ "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2). HAVING POINTED IN THE PREVIOUS VERSE TO THE JUSTIFICATION FROM OUR PAST SINS, PAUL SPEAKS IN THIS VERSE OF THE PRESENT GRACE AND FUTURE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL. Because the alienation has been removed, the relationship we can now have with God is ...
Justified (January 24)
January 24, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.33 MBJUSTIFIED (JANUARY 24) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/justified-january-24/ "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). IN THIS VERSE, PAUL WRITES OF THE JUSTIFICATION AVAILABLE TO US IN JESUS CHRIST. Our situation before God is like that of a lawbreaker in a courtroom. We have no hope of acquittal; because we are guilty (the evidence is clear that we’ve rebelled against God’s law), we rightly s...
Disciples, Christians (January 23)
January 23, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.72 MBDISCIPLES, CHRISTIANS (JANUARY 23) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/disciples-christians-january-23/ "So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians" (Acts 11:25,26). THE TERM “CHRISTIAN” IS QUITE FAMILIAR IN OUR CULTURE. It is the designation most often used for those who are followers of ...
Jesus: the Way, the Truth, the Life (January 22)
January 22, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.35 MBJESUS: THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE (JANUARY 22) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/jesus-way-truth-life-january-22/ "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6). OF ALL THE REMARKABLE THINGS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST, NONE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN HIS VIEW OF WHAT OUR REAL PROBLEM IS, THE ONE PROBLEM OF WHICH ALL THE OTHERS ARE MERELY SYMPTOMS. Both His mission and His message were aimed directly at the p...
Repent and Be Baptized (January 21)
January 21, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.47 MBREPENT AND BE BAPTIZED (JANUARY 21) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/repent-be-baptized-january-21/ "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 2:37,38). WE GET THE BEST ANSWERS WHEN WE ASK THE RIGHT QUE...
God Has Made Him Both Lord and Christ (January 20)
January 20, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.35 MBGOD HAS MADE HIM BOTH LORD AND CHRIST (JANUARY 20) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/god-made-him-both-lord-christ-january-20/ "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified" (Acts 2:36). WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE TITLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE NAME OF JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT? In particular, what are we to make of the fact that at least sixty times He is referred to as the “Lord Jesus Chris...
In Christ: Reconciliation to God (January 19)
January 19, 2024 06:00 - 3 minutes - 3.57 MBIN CHRIST: RECONCILIATION TO GOD (JANUARY 19) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/christ-reconciliation-god-january-19/ "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:19). OF ALL THE EVENTS IN HUMAN HISTORY, THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT. And the gospel of Christ is the most important of all messages. But what is it about? If Jesus was t...
Alpha and Omega (January 18)
January 18, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 3.13 MBALPHA AND OMEGA (JANUARY 18) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/alpha-omega-january-18/ "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13). ALPHA IS THE FIRST LETTER IN THE GREEK ALPHABET, AND OMEGA IS THE LAST. From “alpha to omega” is, as we would say, everything “from a to z.” When Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” He was making a claim to be God Incarnate, nothing less than the Eternal God who came into the wo...
The Light of the World (January 17)
January 17, 2024 06:00 - 2 minutes - 3.07 MBTHE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (JANUARY 17) View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/light-world-january-17/ "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'" (John 8:12). SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HISTORY, LIGHT AND DARKNESS HAVE BEEN UNIVERSAL SYMBOLS. Light stands for truth/goodness; darkness stands for untruth/evil. When Jesus said He was the “light of the world,” He was claiming to be the o...