The Pilgrim Path (10-6-20)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

James 1:2-3

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

1 Peter 5:9

he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

Acts 15:9

While in seminary, I was preparing a paper arguing that the book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John (yes, scholars do not necessarily agree with this) for presentation at a conference being hosted at Washington University in St. Louis. I tracked down my friend and professor Dr Robert Yarbrough in his office and asked him to pick some holes in my paper, as he renowned globally for his work both in Greek and formal apologetics.

On this particular day, Dr Yarbrough was preparing to head to South Sudan to preach and teach in a seminary with which he had worked for a long time. I began babbling before I even sat down and Bob patiently waited for me to finish. His only answer to me was, “You know, if you come with me to South Sudan and bring up the idea that John didn’t write Revelation, nobody in Christian circles will speak to you. If you don’t have faith enough to know that John wrote Revelation, what are you going to do when the police point a gun at you and ask if you are a Christian? Their lives are on the line for their faith."

The affirmation that the One by whom and through whom and for whom all creation exists is to be identified with a man who was crucified and rose bodily from the dead cannot possibly be accommodated within any plausibility structure except one of which it is the cornerstone…this story is not my construction…I have been laid hold of and charged with the responsibility of telling this story.—Lesslie Newbigin

Faith alone is certainty. Everything but faith is subject to doubt. Jesus Christ alone is the certainty of faith.—Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The promises God has given are a great encouragement to Christians. He has promised to save all his people, which gives them a feeling of security and makes them very happy. He has promised that the devil will never overcome them, and this also gives them a feeling of security, even when they face troubles and disappointments.—Jeremiah Burroughs

Pray for the strengthening of your/our faith! It is a most precious gift!

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ our Risen Lord! Pastor, Peter