We continue our exploration of 2 Peter 1 by considering the first two "virtues" that Peter exhorts us to add to our faith: Moral excellence and knowledge. Before we can make any progress in growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, we have to intend to be people of moral excellence and pursue this in all things. This is the foundation for all the other virtues that we will consider. As Peter seems to indicate, these are the first steps in "escaping that corruption that is produced in the world by evil desire."

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Tags: virtue | faith | excellence | jesus

This week we consider the "feet prepared with Gospel of peace," and the "shield of faith." Remembering that a major thread in Paul's argument in Ephesians relates to the unity that should exist within the body of Christ (particularly between Jew and Gentile) we can place this passage on spiritual warfare in its proper context. The Enemy comes to distract and deceive and divide and in so doing destroy the unity and peace that the Spirit is seeking to cultivate. We also discuss the "root problem" in western Christianity - optional or unrealized discipleship.

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Tags: gospel | faith | discipleship

This week we take a break to consider the birth of our Savior by reflecting on the experience of Zechariah. Although Zechariah was a righteous man, he had lost perspective and also, it seems, hope. Zechariah regained his perspective on the reality of God's power to fulfill His promises as he reflected on the good news that had come to him. Hope is our confident expectation that God will be who He is and do what He has promised. Hope is the foundation of both our faith and our love.

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Tags: hope | faith

Romans 3:21-26 may be one of the most significant passages in the New Testament. In this passage the heart of Paul's Christ-centered theology is explained: God's righteousness is revealed in the faith (and faithfulness) of Christ for the faith (and faithfulness) of the believer. When we believe in the message that Christ has done all that is necessary to redeem us from our fallen way of life and reconcile us to God, we are declared righteous. This declaration is no "legal fiction" - stating something that is not really true. When God declares that we are righteous in Christ, this powerful and creative act changes our identity and our position before God. Our relationship with God has changed and this is the beginning of His work in us to transform us and conform us according to Christ's perfection.

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Tags: faith | jesus

We continue our discussion of the faith of Christ as part of the revelation of God's righteousness. The Gospel reveals both that God is righteous in both being (His character) and doing (His actions). In the Gospel we see that God reveals a way to be right with Him that is not according to law - self-righteousness by good works - but by way of Christ's faith.

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Tags: jesus | faith

This week, we begin a two part discussion on the faith and faithfulness of Christ. God saves us based on the faithfulness of Christ to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. In all that He has endured as a human, Jesus is qualified to be our faithful and merciful high priest who saves us by His grace. The Gospel therefore calls us to focus on Christ as our one and only savior.

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Tags: faith | jesus