Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven. Psalm 32:1 Wherever the peace of God is fixed in the soul, there is also joy in the holy spirit, joy created I the heart by that Holy Spirit, the ever-blessed Spirit of God. He is the one who works in us that calm, humble rejoicing in…
Read More“Love is the fulfillment of the law”. Romans 13:10 Now is not this love the fulfillment of the law—the sum of all inward and outward Christian righteousness? For it necessarily implies merciful affections and humbleness of mind (“love is not puffed up”), gentleness, meekness, long-suffering (“love is not provoked, but believes, hopes, endures all things”).…
Read MoreLoving the Lord God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength is the first great branch of Christian righteousness. You shall delight yourself in the Lord your God; seeking and finding all happiness in Him. You shall hear and fulfill His word, “My son, give me your heart.” And having given Him your inmost…
Read More“Love the Lord your God…with all your soul.” Mark 12:30 Religion of the heart is more than having the right understanding of religious things. One may be Orthodox in every point, holding only those opinions in harmony with scripture, even defending them zealously on all sides; one may think justly concerning the incarnation of our…
Read More“The kingdom of God is… righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 NIV The nature of religion is so far from consisting in forms of worship or rites and ceremonies that it does not properly consist in any outward actions of any kind. It is true, a person cannot have true religion…
Read More“The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking.” Romans 14:17 In the above scripture and others, the apostle Paul declares that true religion does not consistent food and drink: not in any ritual observance – no outward thing, nothing exterior to the heart. The whole substance of true religion lives in…
Read MoreThose who keep the good word have avoided the deceitfulness of riches. Deceitful indeed, for they smile and betray, put out the eyes, harden the heart, and steal away the life of God in the soul, filling it with pride, anger, and love of the world. It makes men and women enemies to the whole…
Read More“They withered because they had no root.” Matthew 13:6 A preacher of the gospel cast the seed into the hearts of the hearers. The greatest philosophers cannot explain how the earth produces food from the seed sown. Neither can a preacher of the gospel explain how the soul of the person brings forth first weak…
Read More“A farmer went out to sow his seed” Matthew 13:3 The parable signify is not only a comparison but, sometimes, a proverb. It is any kind of constructive speech in which spiritual things are explained in illustrated by natural. The story is the literal sense; interpretation (explanation) is the spiritual. Resting in the literal sense…
Read More“Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matthew 3:2 The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are two phrases for the same thing. They mean not merely a future happy state in heaven, but a state to be enjoyed on earth—the proper disposition for the glory of heaven rather than the possession…
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