Encounter the Truth

Paul’s personal testimony demonstrates the power of the gospel to transform lives. It also demonstrates that his gospel comes from God—and so is the true and authentic gospel that must be accepted and believed.

Paul’s personal testimony demonstrates the power of the gospel to transform lives. It also demonstrates that his gospel comes from God—and so is the true and authentic gospel that must be accepted and believed.

There will always be false teachers around—and there will always be alternative gospels on the marketplace. But a modified gospel is no gospel at all, and Paul warns us against fakes and calls us to accept only the genuine article.

There will always be false teachers around—and there will always be alternative gospels on the marketplace. But a modified gospel is no gospel at all, and Paul warns us against fakes and calls us to accept only the genuine article.

What does Jesus expect from us in terms of our stewardship of time, talent, and treasure? Perhaps to our surprise, he does not simply want us to guard the resources he has entrusted to us—he wants us to put them to use with energy and zeal. He wants us not to be risk averse, but rather to show a godly ambition for his work to move forward. He wants to see growth and dividends from what he has left in our care.

What does Jesus expect from us in terms of our stewardship of time, talent, and treasure? Perhaps to our surprise, he does not simply want us to guard the resources he has entrusted to us—he wants us to put them to use with energy and zeal. He wants us not to be risk averse, but rather to show a godly ambition for his work to move forward. He wants to see growth and dividends from what he has left in our care.

Jesus wants us to know how hard it is for the rich to be saved—not because riches are evil, but because they matter far too much to those who have them. When faced with the choice between keeping his riches and following Jesus, the rich ruler in Jesus’ story chose his riches—and so his story is a powerful warning to us. But Jesus also wants us to know that any disciple who makes sacrifices for him does not lose out in the end. 

Jesus wants us to know how hard it is for the rich to be saved—not because riches are evil, but because they matter far too much to those who have them. When faced with the choice between keeping his riches and following Jesus, the rich ruler in Jesus’ story chose his riches—and so his story is a powerful warning to us. But Jesus also wants us to know that any disciple who makes sacrifices for him does not lose out in the end. 

The story of the rich man and Lazarus is here to show us what matters in the long run and what does not. The rich man enjoyed good things in this life, but they mean nothing to him beyond the grave—where he finds himself excluded from the bliss of the Lord’s presence and the Kingdom. From the other side of the grave, his greatest wish is for his loved ones to be warned to repent, but he is powerless to help them by that time. This vision of eternity gives us a powerful and clear perspective on wealth and what really matters.

The story of the rich man and Lazarus is here to show us what matters in the long run and what does not. The rich man enjoyed good things in this life, but they mean nothing to him beyond the grave—where he finds himself excluded from the bliss of the Lord’s presence and the Kingdom. From the other side of the grave, his greatest wish is for his loved ones to be warned to repent, but he is powerless to help them by that time. This vision of eternity gives us a powerful and clear perspective on wealth and what really matters.