Monthly Archives: February 2024

February 29, 2024 · 6:00 pm

Warning

1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

James 3:1-2

A strong word of warning is issued to teachers in James 3. Those who teach and preach the word of God will be judged more harshly because of the responsibility given to them. The obligation to teach Holy Scripture is high and lofty. God’s Word is being espoused and it should be taught with the utmost concern for the Bible’s accuracy and truthfulness and for the student’s comprehension and understanding. 

Every teacher must be faithful to expound the text properly and not fall into error. Consequences await the instructor who handles the Bible sloppily or falsely. Let every teacher/preacher study and teach in a way that does not cause one to stumble. May the words of the herald edify and build up the body of Christ.

Tony French

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February 26, 2024 · 9:00 am

Promise Keeper

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful. Even when we are not faithful to Him He is always faithful to us. He is faithful in so many ways.

**God is faithful to provide for us.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

**God is faithful to be with us.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

John 14:18

**He is faithful to give us eternal life.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. “I and the Father are one.”

John 10:27-30

God is indeed faithful. He never leaves us, He provides for us, and we will be with Him forever. If God is faithful, what else do we need?

Blessings be upon you all!

Tony French

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February 22, 2024 · 9:00 pm

Faith and Works

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe–and tremble!20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James 2:17-26

A faith that does not result in works is a faith that has no worth. The Apostle makes this point abundantly clear. Genuine, saving faith in Christ will, of necessity, result in a changed life that desires to do the works of God.

Even the demons believe that God exists and they know His truthfulness is secure. But mental assent to the reality and power of God is not enough. Just saying true things about the Lord is inadequate. For the Christian, saving faith results in a changed life.

Abraham and Rahab are used as examples of the point James is making. Both persons believed God by faith about events that had not yet taken place. And each one acted upon their faith by doing what God said to do. Rahab and Abraham, though far from perfect, are sterling illustrations of biblical faith and works.

Christians are saved by grace, through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Christians will also perform good works as a result of and evidence of saving faith. (Ephesians 2:10) Faith and works are not in competition with each other. Both will be revealed as authentic in the life of a Christian over time.

Tony French

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February 19, 2024 · 9:00 am

How Shall We Live?

How should we as believers live? How should we conduct ourselves in our time here on earth? Let’s look at what the Scriptures tell us about the behavior of the Christian.

**Let us conduct ourselves joyfully.

Clap your hands, all you peoples; Shout to God with a voice of joy.

Psalm 47:1

**Let us conduct ourselves compassionately.

Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

**Let us conduct ourselves wisely.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a person who listens to advice is wise.

Proverbs 12:15

**Let us conduct ourselves excellently.

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Let us go and go likewise!

Tony French

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February 15, 2024 · 9:00 pm

Action

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

James 2:15-16

Saving faith will lead to concern for others in the life of the Believer. A faith that saves will prompt the Believer to meet practical needs as much as they can when the situation arises. A fellow Christian who is need of clothes or food should be able to count on other Christians to help them in their time of need.

Simply giving verbal assent to others who are lacking is unprofitable and silly. Believers cannot say “be warmed, be filled” and refuse to help those in desperate circumstances.  True saving faith will result in actions, not just words. 

Tony French

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February 12, 2024 · 9:00 am

Jesus And Me

Jesus and Me

I am unworthy—Jesus is worthy

I am a sinner—Jesus is perfect

I am limited—Jesus is unlimited

I was lost—Jesus found me

I am insufficient—Jesus is all sufficient

I am unlovable—Jesus loves me still

I go could go on and on. The contrast is stark. Let me simply say that Jesus Christ is worthy of all glory, honor, praise, and worship. He is worthy because of who He is and what He has done! Hallelujah, what a Savior.

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

Revelation 5:11-13

Tony French

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February 8, 2024 · 9:00 pm

Works

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

James 2:14-16

The Apostle’s main point in verses 14-16 is this—saving faith will result in works. One cannot claim to be a Christian and forsake the commands of Jesus at the same time. It does not profit anyone to profess Christ and yet refuse to help meet basic human needs.

Christians are saved by grace, through faith, through Christ the Savior. (Ephesians 2:8-9) But true redemption will be followed by tangible works and ministry. Works don’t cause salvation. Rather, works are the result of salvation.

Tony French

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February 5, 2024 · 9:00 am

Faithful God

God’s faithfulness to His people is a constant theme of Scripture. His faithfulness is demonstrated to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s faithfulness is revealed in His dealings with the nation of Israel. He was faithful to the kings, the priests, and the prophets. Even when His people were not faithful, God always was.

The theme of God’s faithfulness continues into the New Testament. We are told that God is still faithful to Christians today as we peruse the pages of Scripture. Let us examine three ways that God is faithful to Believers in our day.

**God is faithful to forgive us and reconcile us through the work of Christ upon the cross.

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  1 Corinthians 1:9

**God is faithful to help us fight temptation and overcome it.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

**God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse when we confess our sins to Him.

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.  1 John 1:8-10

God is faithful to us. May we live in this reality day by day. And may we give thanks for His faithfulness and declare to all generations!

Tony French

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February 1, 2024 · 9:00 pm

Law Of Freedom

12 So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:12-13

Christians ought to remember that they are under the law of freedom. Believers have the awesome privilege of living for Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. They are “free” to serve others, to love others, and to give their lives away for Jesus.

Christ has paid our debt, paid the price for our sins, and have justified us through His work on the cross and His resurrection. As a result, God’s people now live for Christ and not themselves. Christians will be judged not for their salvation. Rather, they will be adjudicated for how they lived their lives before the Lord their Savior.

As the Redeemed, we have received mercy through Jesus Christ. The life and sacrifice of Christ means that Jesus was judged on our behalf. Let us go forth and give mercy to the lost because we have received grace from the Lord!

Tony French

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