Christian Love: Real and Counterfeit (Part 1)
http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=6499&view=post&articleid=76654&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
By Dr. Paul M. Elliott
Long ago, some unknown evangelist first asked the question, "If being a Christian were a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" The point is made even more directly in First John 3:10: Is there enough evidence of your agape love for the brethren, to demonstrate that you are a child of God and not a child of the devil?
In Colossians 2:1-3, Paul cites agape love as one of the pillars of Christian unity. The hearts of believers, he says, are to be knitted together in agape love. What is the nature of this love? What are its key characteristics? How are we to demonstrate it within the body of Christ? How can we tell the real from the counterfeit?
This week we present part one of a message focusing on these questions as we continue our series, Truth Above All: Studies in Colossians 2.
Long ago, some unknown evangelist
first asked the question, "If being a Christian were a crime, would there be
enough evidence to convict you?" The point is made even more directly in First
John 3:10: Is there enough evidence of your agape love for the brethren, to
demonstrate that you are a child of God and not a child of the devil?
In
Colossians 2:1-3, Paul cites agape love as one of the pillars of Christian
unity. The hearts of believers, he says, are to be knitted together in agape
love. What is the nature of this love? What are its key characteristics? How are
we to demonstrate it within the body of Christ? How can we tell the real from
the counterfeit?
This week we present part one of a message focusing on
these questions as we continue our series, Truth Above All: Studies in
Colossians 2.
http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=6499&url=10&view=post&articleid=83577&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
What is the nature of Scripture -- the Book that we hold in our hands? How are we to use the Bible in our daily lives, and in the life of the church?
These are critical questions for the church in all ages, and they are especially critical in the times in which we live. There is a great deal of confusion about these two questions in the church today, and many wrong answers are widely circulated. We need to be sure of the right answer.
http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=6499&url=10&view=post&articleid=83552&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
When we first began the Scripture-Driven Church broadcast several years ago, the first ten messages we produced were a series titled "What Does It Mean To Be A Scripture-Driven Church?" Some of the archived recordings of that series are of rather poor audio quality. But even so, over the years it has been the most-listened-to series in our archive, and also the most-request resource on CD.
Today we present the first message in an updated version of that series. We have added new content to the messages, and of course the audio quality is much improved. We hope this series will be a blessing, encouragement, and challenge to you.
Message number one explores the crisis state of the Evangelical church, in which the Bible has become, as one magazine puts it, "The Greatest Story Never Read."
http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=6499&url=10&view=post&articleid=83217&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Mormons call themselves "Latter-Day Saints." But what is their definition of a saint? Does it pass the Biblical test? Today we shall see that four key elements of Mormon teaching combine to put forth a false gospel that condemns rather than saves.
Mormonism's confusing and contradictory soteriology:
. denies Christ's atonement
. says that each person must atone for his own sins by works
. teaches near-universal "salvation"
. says that Mormon men will become gods ruling their own planets, while all others will be relegated to the status of second- and third-class citizens for eternity.
But what does Scripture say? Stay tuned to learn more.
