Spiritual growth is inextricably linked to the knowledge of God. The more we grow in our knowledge of God and who he is and what he is like, the more we will grow in our sanctification. Many Christians do not grow in their faith because they have a truncated view of God and preach a gospel that is too small.

Baptism is one of two ordinances given to the church as a perpetual reminder of God grace and mercy, the other being the Lord's Supper. But what is the meaning and purpose of baptism- When should a person be baptized- And does it matter-

Summary- In this world there are four types of people who respond to God's word in four different ways. Some will have no response. Some will have a moderate response. And some will respond in such a way they grow in their faith and in their knowledge of God and in their love for Christ. How will you respond-

It is easy for people to deceive themselves into thinking they are saved, when they are not. They think because they go through all the right motions or check off all the right boxes, they must be saved. But nothing could be further from the truth. And that-s exactly what this text is all about. It-s about knowing you know Christ, and how you know you know that.

What is the gospel- How do we define it- How do we present it- If we follow the pattern set by the apostles, the resurrection is a critical part of the gospel. The resurrection is the thing without which there is no gospel.

If we say we believe that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, then our faith must be in Christ -alone-, and not in the resurrection of Christ or the reliability of scripture or in the work God has done in our lives or any other peripheral matter related to Christ. Faith must be rooted in the Christ who has revealed himself to us otherwise-at best-it is a weak faith and-at worst-it is no faith at all.

Christians are engaged in a cosmic war. But we battle not against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities of darkness, and against our own sinful nature. And in this war there is only one way to be victorious-never retreat, never hold, and always take the offensive. And these are precisely the rules of engagement Paul will tell us we ought to be implementing.

Although salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, what we do and say matters. How we live and how we speak has eternal ramification.

Listen to Heoxn Maldonado as he explains biblical deaconship during this deacon ordination service.