To make all men see….. Ephesians 3:9
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Posts by Tracy Plessinger

Three Attacks of Sin

A study of the three ways that sin enters our lives and how we can defend against its attack.

One of the most common topics of discussion in the professing church today is how believers can overcome sin in their lives. As our culture and society move farther and farther away from God’s principles, sin becomes more and more prevalent, even in the lives of those who claim to be Christians. Most of the formulas that are being presented today as the key to ridding our lives of sin are simply thinly veiled attempts to place people under the laws. Returning to the commandments of the law will not help us overcome sin in our lives. Realizing the truth of grace and who we are in Christ is the only way to truly overcome the power of sin.

How Much Money Should You Give

The issue of giving to the Lord is one that is greatly misunderstood and about which there is much false teaching today. For the most part, Christian teachers have taken two approaches to giving. They either talk about it constantly, making it the only measure of faith and blessing, or they completely ignore the issue not wanting to be accused of being a “money hungry preacher.” Neither approach is proper. A careful study of what God has to say about giving is needed.

Kick The Old Woman Out

A study of Paul’s instructions to the Body of Christ to put off the bondage of the law.
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. Galatians 4:30
When Paul says to “cast out the bondwoman and her son,” he expresses the importance of not being ensnared again in the bondage of the law. To fully understand the meaning of Paul’s allegory, we must look at the historical event to which he refers and the situation that existed in the churches of Galatia.

Why Would A Perfect Man Die

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans we read the following statement.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Obviously, this is one of the most well known passages of scripture in all of God’s Word. It shows us two great contrasts about our sin and our salvation. The first contrast is between a wage and a gift. Our sin earns us a wage but God gives us a gift. The second contrast is between death and eternal life. The wage that our sin earns us is death but the free gift that God gives us is eternal life.

The Praise of his Glory

The first chapter of Ephesians is perhaps one of the most thrilling chapters in all of Paul’s epistles. Paul details our spiritual blessings in Christ. He reveals the source of all of those blessings when he reveals the nature of God as the “Father of glory” (Ephesians 1:17). All that we have in Jesus Christ is a result of God’s marvelous gift of salvation. That salvation is a result of the Father’s plan, the Son’s payment, and the Spirit’s perseverance. Every aspect of our salvation brings glory to the God who gives it.

Only the Bad Die Twice

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

What is Death?

If we are to understand the penalty for sin, then it is necessary for us to understand what death is. Many have the opinion that death is the cessation of existence or activity. They believe that when someone or something is dead it is no longer functioning, or perhaps has even ceased to exist. The Scriptures do not support this definition of death. In fact, the Scriptural use of the term would seem to argue against this understanding. A few examples from Scripture will help us understand the true meaning of death.

Living The Life of Christ

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

There is perhaps no other single verse in all the Bible that states so clearly the truth of Christ’s life living in believers in the Age of Grace. While most of professing Christendom seeks to make their lives more “Christ-like” this verse presents a totally different path. God’s desire is not to make your life more Christ-like. Rather, he has crucified your life and given you the life of Christ. Living the life of Christ does not make your life more Christ-like but allows the life of Christ that God has placed within you to live out through your body of flesh. There is all the difference in the world between trying to make your life like Christ’s life and living the life of Christ. Our goal is not to make our life like His; it is to live His life in our flesh.

The Brighter Light

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:1,2

Each year at the Christmas season we hear renewed speculation about the identity of the star of Bethlehem. In fact, on a December trip to India (a largely Hindu nation), I was surprised to see an article in a local newspaper discussing all of the commonly held natural explanations for the appearance of the star that announced the birth of Christ.

Man has many explanations for the appearance of this star. Some say that it was a star gone nova and exploding in the heavens. Some say that the bright light was caused by a unique conjunction of planets. Still others opt for an explanation that involves a meteor or comet of some sort. As we shall soon see, none of these explanations are satisfactory and all of them fall far short of the true Scriptural description of the events that occurred in the heavens at the time of the birth of Christ.

Let’s Get things Started Right

In II Timothy 2:15 Paul the Apostle admonishes to “study” and “rightly divide” the word of truth. To carry out these admonitions we must identify certain starting points in scripture. These starting points and corresponding ending points allow us to make proper divisions in scripture.

Anyone who has ever opened a Bible knows of the division between the Old and New Testaments. While this division is the accepted norm for all believers and certainly appropriate for accommodation and uniformity, all true students of the Word must look beyond this simple designation to find God’s points of division to get things started right.

Life – Find It, Get It, Learn It, Live It

Many today reject any study of God’s Word because they believe that it is not relevant to their lives. In reality the God revealed in the pages of Scripture is the only source of life.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; Acts 17:24,25

An understanding of and relationship with the God of the Bible is the only way to have a life of meaning and purpose. In Him alone we find, get, learn, and live LIFE!