The Good News

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Is There Life After Death?   CURRENT TV SERIES At the Cross

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures --1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Doesn’t it seem that bad news is all around us? It’s not only the top story on the news or the main headline in the paper…it seems to fill our day. But as believers, we know the best news we could ever hear…and we celebrate it this week. Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave. This is the event that conquered sin…that conquered death…and that made it possible for you and me to have a personal relationship with God! Perhaps, today, this is the first time you’ve ever heard or understood this Good News. If so, I want to tell you something: Jesus died on the cross for you. He wore a crown of thorns and was nailed to a tree because He loves you.  And He wants to have a personal relationship with you today. If you haven’t already, I pray you will you accept Jesus as your Savior today.  And if you have placed your faith in Christ, I challenge you to share that Good News with someone this week. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Easter!   THIS EASTER SEASON, SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO HEAR IT!

The True Test of Loyalty

Monday, April 15, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Luke 6:44–46

Early in his presidency, Ronald Reagan was facing a key issue in the Senate, and was having trouble getting the votes he needed for passage of a bill. He called one Republican senator who had spoken against the bill to the White House for a conversation. The senator laid out his opposition and then said to the president, “Sir, I’d jump out of an airplane without a parachute if you said to, but...” Reagan interrupted with one word: “Jump!” The senator changed his position and the measure passed.

The test of our loyalty to Christ is not found in what we say, but in what we do. There are many more people who are willing to say that Jesus is Lord than there are who are willing to live like it. The Lord who saved us has every right to expect obedience from us. God’s commands are unchanging and apply to everyone. Satan tries to get us to substitute right words for right actions.

Jesus told a parable about a man with two sons who commanded them to go work in the vineyard. One said he would not, but then repented and went. The other said he would, but didn’t. Then Jesus asked the pointed question: “Whether of them twain did the will of his father?”(Matthew 21:31). No matter our excuse or rationale, we are not doing what God wants unless we are doing what He says.

Today's Growth Principle: 

If we are not obeying God’s commands, no flowery language can disguise our rebellion against Him.