Understand the Bible

One of the constant temptations we face is to do things according to the world’s ways, human power and wisdom. In this passage we see why it is so important to do the Lord’s work in the Lord’s way: ultimately, authority comes from the Lord and real change will only happen when we know and serve him. Godly leaders are totally different to worldly leaders.

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Join me to read John Owen’s classic book “The Mortification of Sin in Believers”. This book is one of the best that have ever been written about how to live a holy life. In this chapter we start to think about how sin can be mortified, and we discover that it is something which can only be done by faith in Christ. Topics covered in this chapter:

* Non-Christians cannot truly mortify sin

* Sin can only be mortified by faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit

* There is real danger in attempting to mortify sin apart from faith

* How we need to beware of counterfeit attempts to ease our consciences from sin - e.g. ritualism and formalism in religion.

You can download a copy of the book (for free) from this website.

Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Do you have trouble ‘fitting in’ as a Christian? In this passage we see what it means to be different from the world around us. What does it mean for God to be our king, and how should we as Christians live?

Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Join me to read John Owen’s classic book “The Mortification of Sin in Believers”. This book is one of the best that have ever been written about how to live a holy life. In this chapter we consider what mortification actually IS, rather than what it isn’t (as in the last chapter). Topics covered in this chapter:

* What it means to mortify sin (to put it to death);

* The need to habitually weaken sin not just at its source but its root;

* How people can experience this differently;

* We should be continually fighting and what that looks like;

* Success against sin.

You can download a copy of the book (for free) from this website.

One of the most popular Christian songs of recent years has a line about God ‘roaring with power’ and ‘fighting our battles’. But does God really fight our battles? If God fought for Israel, why did they lose to the Philistines in 1 Samuel 4? In this passage we see what changed for the Israelites, and what that has to teach us about how God does (and does not) fight our battles.

Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Join me to read John Owen’s classic book “The Mortification of Sin in Believers”. This book is one of the best that have ever been written about how to live a holy life. In this chapter we look at what mortifying a sin is NOT, before going to look at what it is. This chapter is important to the modern church because many counterfeits of mortification exist which look like the real thing but are substitutes. Topics covered in this chapter:

* What mortification of sin is NOT. In particular:

* it is not destroying sin in this life;

* it is not disguising sin;

* it is not improving our natural disposition;

* it is not diverting sin elsewhere;

* it is not an occasional conquest.

You can download a copy of the book (for free) from this website.

Ancient churches and cathedrals give a sense of the awesome majesty and splendour and holiness of God. By contrast, modern church buildings are often much more functional and lack that sense of awe. Perhaps this is simply a reflection of the modern church. In this sermon we look at the holiness of God, and see what it means for how we should relate to him.

Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Join me to read John Owen’s classic book “The Mortification of Sin in Believers”. This book is one of the best that have ever been written about how to live a holy life. The fourth chapter covers the benefits of mortification — why it is that we should be concerned about it.

Topics covered in this chapter:

* Power and peace are closely connected with the mortification of sin;

* By contrast, sin will weaken and darken our souls and cause us to lose peace;

* Graces will be enriched by the mortification of sin.

You can download a copy of the book (for free) from this website.

Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Many people have noticed that things in the world seem to be getting worse: it seems to me even that the darkness looks like it’s winning at the moment. How should we as Christians respond? This passage teaches us that the Lord is a warrior, and that he is able to fight with weapons beyond the reach of human beings. If we want to see victory, we need to seek his will and direction.

Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Join me to read John Owen's classic book "The Mortification of Sin in Believers". This book is one of the best that have ever been written about how to live a holy life. The third chapter covers how we cannot be mortified by ritualistic / formal religion but only by the power of the Holy Spirit. Topics covered in this chapter:

* The Holy Spirit is the sole author of mortification;

* Ritualised efforts to mortify sin are useless and not specified by God;

* Even the means God has given can be abused;

* Everything we receive is from Christ via the Spirit;

* Why the Spirit's work doesn't mean we can simply do nothing!

You can download a copy of the book (for free) from this website.

Understand the Bible is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.