Church activity does not make one spiritual.  God does.

A Christian does not work to become spiritual.  He works because he is spiritual.

Humans are not physical beings who happen to have a spirit. Humans are spiritual beings who happen to have a body.

Salvation results in eternal life.  As long as one lives willfully in sin, there is no evidence of either one.

Works are not stair steps to righteousness.  Works are simply evidence (fruit) of righteousness or unrighteousness.

God the Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture.  God cannot lie, therefore, the Holy Spirit will never lead contrary to Scripture.

Since God is the Creator, good science will never contradict Scripture.

Hope is not the wringing of the hands.  Hope is confident assurance.

Hope is not about holding on.  It is about being held.

Love is not about feelings.  Love is about making right choices.

Love is not about feeling warm and fuzzy.  It is about obedience.

Love is not about  physical desire.  Love is about choosing the highest good for the one loved.

Faith should not be placed randomly.  Faith can be misplaced.

Faith is the gangplank used to board the ship of grace.  Misplaced faith can be used to board the wrong ship.

Faith is not a leap in the dark.  Faith is a firm persuasion or conviction based upon hearing*………and hearing by the word of God.

Saving faith is based upon only one thing.  It is based upon the finished work and merit of Jesus Christ alone.

Salvation is a gift from God, but it came at great price.

God chastises His own children and oft times severely (sickness and death).  What then of those who reject His unspeakable gift?

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A small child playing with a toy train will get things get mixed up. Everyone knows that the engine goes up front and the caboose is at the back with the other cars in between.

I’m sure there is an order for the other train cars as well, but it doesn’t make much of a difference to a child which order they are in.  He/she is just enjoying the experience.  We can ruin that experience by insisting the small child order the train correctly even though he/she doesn’t yet understand.

As babes in Christ, young believers sometimes get handed a lot of Bible truth in a short period.  It takes time to grow spiritual teeth and to become capable of digesting the meat of God’s word.  

Initially it is enough for the young believer to simply rejoice in the milk and honey of God’s word.  After a time however, the many teachings of Scripture and biblical principle can be organized by the Holy Spirit into a fortress of truth in the maturing believer through good Bible preaching, discipling and personal study.

Allowing the word of Christ to dwell in us richly enables believers to mature spiritually, to walk in the Spirit, and to think biblically.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

………And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  

What are you thinking?

*W.E Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words.

Note:  The statements above are Bible doctrine condensed into one simple statement of biblical principle.  I would like to give credit to the ones who taught these principles to me through their teaching and preaching, but I cannot name, for many of them, the specific individuals who imparted these truths to me.  

I can say that clearly one third of the statements above can be attributed to the ministry of our teaching elder at my home church. I am not simply restating biblical principle.  These are Bible truths that I have fully embraced.  Thank you Larry for being a true student of the Word and for your dedicated ministry to the flock.