AS A LITTLE CHILD

By Adam Ricks / March 29, 2016 /

“Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” MATTHEW 18:3 The first step towards entering into the kingdom of grace is to become as little children—lowly in heart, knowing yourselves utterly ignorant and helpless, and hanging wholly on your Father in heaven for a…

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BEING ALTOGETHER A CHRISTIAN

By Adam Ricks / March 23, 2016 /

The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ROMANS 5:5 It is not enough to shun evil and do good at all opportunities, nor to seriously use all the means of grace with a sincere design and desire to please God. The great…

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RIGHT AND TRUE CHRISTIAN FAITH

By Adam Ricks / March 19, 2016 /

For in Christ Jesus… faith working through love. GALATIANS 5:6 NASB The right and true Christian faith is not only to believe that the holy scriptures and the creeds which express our beliefs are true. It is to have a sure trust and confidence to be saved from everlasting damnation by Christ. It is a…

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FAITH, THE GROUND OF ALL

By Adam Ricks / March 18, 2016 /

And without faith it is impossible to please Him. HEBREWS 11:6 NASB We may separately consider faith as being implied in what it means to be altogether a Christian. Yet faith cannot actually be separated from the love of God and of our neighbor. It is, rather, the ground of both. Very excellent things are…

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The Love of Our Neighbor

By Adam Ricks / March 17, 2016 /

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” MATTHEW 22:39 The second thing implied in our being altogether a Christian is the love of our neighbor. Our Lord said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If any ask, “Who is my neighbor?” we reply, “Everyone in the world; every child of His who is the…

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ALTOGETHER A CHRISTIAN: THE LOVE OF GOD

By Adam Ricks / March 16, 2016 /

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” MATTHEW 22:37 NASB We come, second, to what is implied in being altogether a Christian. First, the love of God. So says His Word: “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with…

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THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN

By Adam Ricks / March 15, 2016 /

Holding to a form of godliness. 2 TIMOTHY 3:5 The almost Christian shuns all evil, does all possible good, observes the means of grace, and possesses sincerity of heart—a real design to serve God, a hearty desire to do His will—a sincere view of pleasing God in conversation, in all that is done or left…

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NOT YET A CHRISTIAN

By Adam Ricks / March 11, 2016 /

“You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” ACTS 26:28 NKJV Ever since the rise of Christianity, many in every age and nation have stood with King Agrippa in his words to the apostle Paul: Almost persuaded to be a Christian. However, since it avails nothing with God to go only thus far, it is…

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WE BUILD BY FAITH

By Adam Ricks / March 9, 2016 /

It is with your heart that you believe and are justified. ROMANS 10:10 NIV Friend, come up higher! Do not be content with good works: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the fatherless and widowed in their affliction, or the sick and those in prison, and the stranger. Do you preach the truth of…

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WHAT IS YOUR FOUNDATION?

By Adam Ricks / March 8, 2016 /

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. 2 CORINTHIANS 13:5 NIV It closely concerns every one of us to apply personally and practically our Lord’s teachings about building upon a sure foundation. We each need to diligently examine what foundation we have built upon, whether on a rock or on…

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