I have believed generally that we sin because we get (or imagine we will get) some benefit from the sinning.

But I recently read Michael Atchison say, “Envy is the one sin you gain nothing from.”

Is that true?

I thought that the person envying is gaining something, even if it is something ruinous. What does he get? Answer: He gets to stroke his ego, thinking he deserves something. He gets to applaud himself (as hollow as that is). He gets to stoke his murderous anger toward his neighbor.

• In Genesis only eight people entered the ark and were rescued from the Flood. The rest perished.
• Of the 12 spies who spied out the land of Canaan, only two were confident that God would help them take the land.
• Of the two million Israelite adults who fled Egypt at the exodus, only Joshua and Caleb lived to enter the Promised Land.

Jesus says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

Do Christians still have a sinful soul? What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and our spirit? What is the relationship between our spirit and our flesh?

This question was answered by Dave Zuleger, Pastoral Assistant for Jason Meyer.
 
Do Christians still have a sinful soul?
 
Yes and no.
 

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'"—Hebrews 3:7–11

Grumbling is a sure sign of unbelief.

The heart must be shaped by the doctrines that the mind embraces.

Seeing the necessity and excellency of this truth overcomes grumbling in the heart.

I was again overcome by the story of David’s sin against Uriah (murder) and Bathsheba (adultery) and God’s response in 2 Samuel 11-12. David acknowledges that the one who has done such a thing deserves to die (12:5). But in the end Nathan says, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die” (12:13).

On Sunday, February 21, I preached on 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 where Paul says that the Corinthians are “carnal.” This does not mean they are not saved. Paul calls the unsaved person “natural” (1 Corinthians 2:14). But it does mean they are not “spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:14). So there are three categories of people in 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:4. Natural, carnal and spiritual. How are we to understand them?

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.

The best news in all the world is that our alienation from God is ended and we are reconciled to the Judge of the universe. God is no longer against us but for us. Having omnipotent Love on our side mightily steels the soul. Life becomes utterly free and daring when the strongest Being is for you.

Zippers that don’t work
Hot foods served lukewarm
Wasting leftovers
Being misunderstood
Sloppy journalism
Disobedient children left uncorrected by their parents
Cranky tone of voice
 
Things God Hates
Child sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31)
Haughty eyes (Proverbs 6:17)
A lying tongue (Proverbs 6:17)
Hands that shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:17)
A heart that devises wicked plans (Proverbs 6:18)
Feet that make haste to run to evil (Proverbs 6:18)
A false witness (Proverbs 6:19)

Bethlehem’s pastors and wives were at an annual retreat this week, at which we viewed two portions of The Art of Marriage created and distributed by Family Life. After viewing, we broke into small groups to discuss quotes from the program, such as ...

“[The book of ] James locates anger in our passions which are at war within us. Somebody else can’t make me angry. Passions make me want my way.”—Dave Harvey

“I want the right to set the rules. That’s at the bottom of every marriage difficulty. I want you to keep my law.”—Paul Tripp