Angels are a very frequent indirect subject in scripture. We say "indirect" because they are servants of the Lord sent out to serve His people. They are not to be worshipped nor exalted, as the Apostle to the Hebrews makes evident. Nevertheless, the subject of angels helping us serves to be a great encouragement to believers.
We cannot be saved if we believe that our own power is required to contribute to our salvation. Salvation is of the Lord alone. We are born dead in sin, dead to God. The Lord must speak and command the dead man to come forth from the grave
In this sermon by J.C. Ryle, we are given three pictures taken from Acts 26:24-29, Festus, Agrippa, and the Apostle Paul. Which one describes us?
The world is a fearful, evil place. We must always trust in Christ, acknowledging our weakness, in dealing with these fears. Fear will lead us to sin unless we trust in the Lord and believe His promises.
Paul tells us that he was brought to the point of despairing of life itself, having the sentence of death in him and just knowing he was going to die. But he found out that the Lord put him in that very situation to teach him not to trust in himself, but in God.
The "new gospel" infects many churches and individual professing Christians today. It teaches that there is indeed room for man to boast in his salvation.
The Lord simply will not be present with us nor exercise His power through us as long as we boast about ourselves.
Why were animals included on the ark? What is the purpose God has in creating animals? How has the curse from man's sin affected them?
Christ's redemption extends to the entire creation. Creation is groaning under the curse, awaiting the full restoration to Eden.
