Agape is the difference

 by David Long

Agape is the difference between darkness and light (1 John 2:7-11).

Agape is the difference between death and life (1 John 3:11-18).

Agape is the difference between fear and confidence (1 John 4:7-21).

Why should I obey God?

 by David Long

"And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go" (Ex. 5:1-2).

That's good question for us to ask and answer, "Who is the Lord that we should obey Him?" 

1. We should obey God because He is the Creator (Ex. 20:11; Rev. 4:11).

2. We should obey God because He is the Provider (Acts 17:28; 14:17; Matt. 6:26).

3. We should obey God because He is the Sustainer (Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:3; Psa. 23).

4. We should obey God because He is the Savior (Isa. 43:11; John 4:40-42). 

idols

 by David Long

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (1 John 5:21).

"Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Cor. 10:14).

What is an idol? It is anything or anyone we put before God. If we aren't seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33) then we are idol worshipers. 

Vile affections

 by David Long

"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet" (Rom. 1:24-27).

Sin is sin but there are some sins that have serious consequences. The sin described in Romans 1:24-27 is one of those sins that has serious consequences, not only to the persons involved in it but to society itself. It's a sin that perverts God's original design (Gen. 1:27). 

What does it mean to believe?

 by David Long

What does it mean to believe in God or Jesus? Does it mean just to have some mental acknowledgement of them? 

"He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).

"And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient? And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief" (Heb. 3:18-19).

To believe on Jesus means to obey Him. To not obey means to not believe even though a person may claim faith (James 2:17-26). 

Anti-Christ

 by David Long

Are you looking for the anti-Christ to come? Well, I got news for you, you can stop looking. Listen to the Bible concerning the anti-Christ.

"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time" (1 John 2:18).

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son" (1 John 2:22).

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (1 John 4:3).

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2 John 7).

Narrow minded

 by David Long

People don't like the idea of being narrow minded. Just one way to heaven does not set well with the "opened minded" folks. They like the idea that we are all going to heaven just on different roads or different ways. They like the idea that people in different churches or religions are going to heaven. But the truth is the way to heaven is narrow not broad (Matt. 7:13-14). Jesus was very narrow minded. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Read Eph. 4:4-6.