Sermon | Holiness 2: A Present Possibility
That ye may be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world.Philippians 2:15
In our first study we attempted to understand the meaning of the term "holiness," and its relation to righteousness. I may summarize that study by reminding you t ...read |
| Holiness 3: It's Conditions
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1
n the first study in this series on Holiness I attempted to answer the inquiry, Is holiness of character possible in the present life? declaring that the New Testament affirms its p ...read |
| Holiness 4: It's Fruit
Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. But all things are of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17, 18
The words, "he is" which appear in our Bibles are supplied, and do not exist in the actual text. Our revisers have suggested an alternative reading, "there is a new creation." I v ...read |
| Holiness 5: It's Hindrances
Ye were running well; who did binder you that ye should not obey the truth? Galatians 5:7
This is an outburst of appeal in the midst of an argument, and incidentally reveals a failure which has many other causes and manifestations than those with which this particular letter deals. The causes in this case were Judaizing teachers. The manifestati ...read |
Devotional | Holiness and Righteousness
These two words, holiness and righteousness, mark two aspects of one condition. Holiness has to do with character; righteousness with conduct. They cannot possibly be separated from each other. They are as 'intimately related as are root and fruit. There can be no fruit unless there be a root. If there be living root it must issue in fruit. There c ...read |
Devotional | Holiness is a Life of Usefulness
The unalterable and unchanging purpose of God is the accomplishment of His purposes through His people. That is rendered possible through holiness of character. Cleansed vessels are the vessels that Jehovah makes use of. "Be ye clean ye that bear the vessels of the Lord," was the word of the Hebrew prophet. "Come ye out from among them, and be ye s ...read |
Sermon | Hope
By hope were we saved. Romans 8:24
The experience of hope is that of triumph over conditions and circumstances which are calculated to produce despair. Where there is no place for despair there is none for hope. If there is no danger of despair there is no possibility or necessity for hope. The old English word "hope," in all its mutations, has ...read |
Sermon | Horizoned by Resurrection
Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:4
These words constitute the second part of a double statement concerning one Person. That Person is indicated by a reference preceding the statement and by an explanation following it. The reference you will discover in the ...read |
Sermon | How Can a Man Walk With God?
Shall two walk together, except they have agreed? Amos 3:3
The sermon tonight is a sequel to that of last sunday evening, and the text is a starting point. In that sermon we considered what God requires of a man as that requirement is revealed in the message of Micah: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of t ...read |
Sermon | How God Has Made Possible What He Requires
As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. Colossians 2:6
In reading these words we find ourselves in the same realm of ideas as that in which our thought has moved in the preceding meditation. The figure of walking is employed in dealing with the subject of living. The idea of a destination and progress toward that destinat ...read |
Sermon | How the Wall is Built
So the wall was finished. Nehemiah 6:15
These words constitute a declaration of success. They are vibrant with triumph and joy. So far as the actual event to which they refer is concerned, they record what I may term an incidental victory. Nevertheless the story is microscopic. It is suggestive of vaster truths than the actual narrative in this ...read |
Sermon | How to Succeed in Life
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6
This text has a peculiar place in my heart. It has been with me day by day for three-and-thirty years. It was on the morning when I was first leaving home for school that my father said to me as his last word, I want to give you a text for school and for life; and this ...read |
Sermon | Humanity and Deity
Being then the offspring of God. Acts 17:29
The text occurs in the course of the address which Paul delivered on Mars Hill. I am quite conscious that Paul has been somewhat criticized for the method he adopted at Athens. It has been said that he attempted to adapt himself to local conditions and surroundings and signally failed. Moreover, it has ...read |
Devotional | Idols and the Lost Vision of God
"...he brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made:...and he called it Nehushtan (a piece of brass)" (2 Kings 18:4).
I see a people hungering after what they have lost. An idol always means this. An idol created by the fingers of men, or chosen by men and appointed to the place of a god, is forevermore a revelation of the sense of ne ...read |
Sermon | If Christ Did Not Rise: What Then?
If Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain.... If Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.... If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17, 19
In these words we have the Apostle's estimate of the place and value of ...read |
Sermon | In the Beginning God
In the beginning God.... Genesis 1:1
I am quite conscious that the text is not a complete statement. It does not give us the full affirmation of the writer, but it reveals his assumption; and the affirmation is valueless apart from this assumption. To the affirmation itself, I do not propose to give anything more than passing reference by way of ...read |
Sermon | Individuality in Religion
Behold, all souls are Mine. Ezekiel 18:4
The Bible is unified by the eternal principles which it reveals. Every great principle of religion finds explicit statement somewhere in the Sacred Writings. Elsewhere that particular principle is always implicit, and has occasional manifestation in some special application. In the words of this text I fi ...read |
Sermon | Jehovah of Hosts-God of Jacob
Jehovah of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Psalm 46:7; 11
In the history of the human race nothing has ever been done for its help or uplifting save through the principle of faith. Doubt is always destructive. Faith is forever constructive. That is to state the principle in the widest and broadest possible way. I am not now spe ...read |
Sermon | Jesus and Sinners
This man receiveth sinners. Luke 15:2
These words were uttered in condemnation of Jesus of Nazareth, and yet to us they contain an inclusive statement of the truth concerning Him as the Saviour of men. It is a very interesting thing to notice in the reading of the Gospel stories how the wonderful personality of Jesus transmuted things spoken in ...read |
Sermon | Jubilation in Desolation
For though the fig tree shall not blossom, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labour of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no meat; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls; Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17, 18
This is an arresting t ...read |