Heritage Baptist Church of Frankfort IL

Paul wanted to be a help to the Corinthians by being with them. However, he realized that he would have to discipline some of them if he showed up. Instead, out of love, Paul instructed the Corinthians on how to discipline a difficult member, yet in love how to restore such a member. This passage displays a balance of a need for discipline while extending grace and love.

Most people do not recognize that they are slaves. They are slaves to sin and thus to death. Jesus confronted the ignorance of his day. Many thought they were sons of the kingdom and bound for glory. However, the opposite was true. The only thing that could free them was the Truth. Jesus and what He said was the Truth. Only the Truth can set a person free.

The Puritans had terms to describe what God delights in doing and what He does but would rather not have to do. These terms were his natural and strange work. God delights in showing mercy, but does judgment because it is necessary.

Paul gives closing commands before he finishes his letter to the Colossians. He reminds them of their relationship to God and the importance of prayer and thanksgiving. He challenges them with their actions and words to others especially those outside the faith.

Christ in the Gospels is not the only person in the Godhead to show compassion. In fact, the Son and the Father have the same heart to display mercy and compassion to those that are in need.

Many believers due to debilitating sickness or old age begin to question why they are still in this life. They think that it would be better to be in the presence of the Lord. They don't see any purpose in staying in this life. The Apostle Paul had the same kind of situation. He was in prison, looking at the possibility of release through trial or death. He wrote to the church at Philippi his own thinking on this subject. He wanted to go to heaven, but he still had divine reasons to be in this life. His answers are helpful to those who are asking, "Why am I still here?"

Jesus calls Himself the Light of the World. The religious leaders of Jesus' day did not accept Jesus, so they walked in darkness and could not go where Jesus was going. This section of John reminds the reader that no one gets to heaven without faith in Christ. Without Him they would stumble in the dark.

The Lord was often moved with compassion. His greatest compassion was for those who were spiritually lost. He called believers to have the same compassion. They were to move to prayer with the hope that the harvest was ready.

The nation of Israel had greatly sinned. They were in need of restoration and to see God's power. Moses went before God and displayed the desire that any believer should have: to see God's glory.

The world is in great need of God's grace. It is necessary for the sinner to be saved. It is needed for believers to be what they ought to be. It is needed as the believer proclaims what Christ has and will do.