Encounter the Truth

Christians have died with Christ and been raised with Him—and that means a clean break with our old life. Our constant challenge is to live that reality, putting to death the old patterns of life and setting our sights on things above.

Christians have died with Christ and been raised with Him—and that means a clean break with our old life. Our constant challenge is to live that reality, putting to death the old patterns of life and setting our sights on things above.

In every age, there will be those who insist that traditions, rules, and regulations are the key to pleasing God, but this is actually the heart of all worldly forms of religion. Paul sets out to remind us again that these things do not offer spiritual life—but that life is found only in Christ. Life is found not through rite and ritual, but through holding fast to Christ by faith.

In every age, there will be those who insist that traditions, rules, and regulations are the key to pleasing God, but this is actually the heart of all worldly forms of religion. Paul sets out to remind us again that these things do not offer spiritual life—but that life is found only in Christ. Life is found not through rite and ritual, but through holding fast to Christ by faith.

For every Christian in every age, the great challenge is to continue to walk in Christ, rooted and built up in him—not swayed or derailed by winds of false teaching. To help us do this very thing, Paul reminds us of the foundations of what we have in Christ. These are the truths and realities that will keep us firmly rooted and growing, whatever the challenges we may face.

For every Christian in every age, the great challenge is to continue to walk in Christ, rooted and built up in him—not swayed or derailed by winds of false teaching. To help us do this very thing, Paul reminds us of the foundations of what we have in Christ. These are the truths and realities that will keep us firmly rooted and growing, whatever the challenges we may face.

Keep walking in the faith that you received and were taught. In the cross and the resurrection, Christ has done everything that is needed for our salvation, and he has given us everything we need for full spiritual life. Don’t be taken captive by worldly thinking and false gospels that take away from the gospel by adding to it.

Keep walking in the faith that you received and were taught. In the cross and the resurrection, Christ has done everything that is needed for our salvation, and he has given us everything we need for full spiritual life. Don’t be taken captive by worldly thinking and false gospels that take away from the gospel by adding to it.

There is plenty of false teaching and inauthentic Christian ministry to be found on the marketplace today—as there was in Paul’s day. Authentic ministry of the authentic gospel will be marked by suffering and toil for the sake of the church. We need to be on the lookout for fake ministry—and we need to be ready and equipped to identify true and authentic gospel ministry.

There is plenty of false teaching and inauthentic Christian ministry to be found on the marketplace today—as there was in Paul’s day. Authentic ministry of the authentic gospel will be marked by suffering and toil for the sake of the church. We need to be on the lookout for fake ministry—and we need to be ready and equipped to identify true and authentic gospel ministry.

Jesus has taken us hostile and sinful people and reconciled us to God through his blood. Having received such a gracious rescue, we need to be careful to continue in the faith, unmoved by the winds of false teaching.

Jesus has taken us hostile and sinful people and reconciled us to God through his blood. Having received such a gracious rescue, we need to be careful to continue in the faith, unmoved by the winds of false teaching.

Jesus Christ is preeminent in all the universe—above all things. With so many competing claims for truth and power in this world, we need to have a clear understanding of his supremacy—and we need to humbly recognize that all things in this universe, including us, were created for him.

Jesus Christ is preeminent in all the universe—above all things. With so many competing claims for truth and power in this world, we need to have a clear understanding of his supremacy—and we need to humbly recognize that all things in this universe, including us, were created for him.

We need to be clear: human beings begin life in the dark domain. Those who become believers have been qualified by Jesus for his kingdom and transferred there by his grace. Having received such grace, we are to walk worthy of the Lord and bear fruit for him. Paul sets out to show us what a worthy walk looks like.

We need to be clear: human beings begin life in the dark domain. Those who become believers have been qualified by Jesus for his kingdom and transferred there by his grace. Having received such grace, we are to walk worthy of the Lord and bear fruit for him. Paul sets out to show us what a worthy walk looks like.

When the gospel takes root in our lives, there will be fruit. This should be our expectation for ourselves and for others—and it is a cause for us to return praise to God. Pastor Jonathan begins a new series studying Colossians.

When the gospel takes root in our lives, there will be fruit. This should be our expectation for ourselves and for others—and it is a cause for us to return praise to God. Pastor Jonathan begins a new series studying Colossians.

Patience is vital to our understanding of who God is and what he is like. Were it not for God’s patience, you and I would not be here at all. Each one of us is the beneficiary of the extraordinary patience of God.

Patience is vital to our understanding of who God is and what he is like. Were it not for God’s patience, you and I would not be here at all. Each one of us is the beneficiary of the extraordinary patience of God.

Our God is fundamentally and in his character a generous God. His inclination is not in the direction of miserliness—but in the direction of bounty. That’s an outworking of both his goodness and his love. I hope that we will learn to trust God in his generosity—and then delight in him more as we see his abundant goodness in his lavish generosity.

Our God is fundamentally and in his character a generous God. His inclination is not in the direction of miserliness—but in the direction of bounty. That’s an outworking of both his goodness and his love. I hope that we will learn to trust God in his generosity—and then delight in him more as we see his abundant goodness in his lavish generosity.

Whereas the world’s megalomaniacs grab hold of power and glory out of an ugly selfish ambition—whereas they grasp for something that is not theirs—the Bible would remind us that the God of heaven is supremely glorious in and of himself and perfectly worthy of all honour. And so, when the Bible tells us that God is a jealous God—it is simply telling us that he has an appropriate concern—a rightful zeal—for his own glory.

Whereas the world’s megalomaniacs grab hold of power and glory out of an ugly selfish ambition—whereas they grasp for something that is not theirs—the Bible would remind us that the God of heaven is supremely glorious in and of himself and perfectly worthy of all honour. And so, when the Bible tells us that God is a jealous God—it is simply telling us that he has an appropriate concern—a rightful zeal—for his own glory.

If there is a distinction between grace and mercy—it is that God’s mercy speaks of his goodness to us in our misery and distress when we cannot save ourselves, while his grace speaks of his goodness to us in our guilt when we deserve only his punishment. In mercy God spares us destruction—and in grace he forgives us and makes his children, lavishing his kindness upon us.

If there is a distinction between grace and mercy—it is that God’s mercy speaks of his goodness to us in our misery and distress when we cannot save ourselves, while his grace speaks of his goodness to us in our guilt when we deserve only his punishment. In mercy God spares us destruction—and in grace he forgives us and makes his children, lavishing his kindness upon us.

God’s “righteousness” is his character of total rightness, integrity, goodness and truth—and his “justice” is his expression of that character in his governance of the universe. And the two ideas, although distinct, belong together in the Bible’s portrait of God.

God’s “righteousness” is his character of total rightness, integrity, goodness and truth—and his “justice” is his expression of that character in his governance of the universe. And the two ideas, although distinct, belong together in the Bible’s portrait of God.

There is something deeply attractive to us about the faithfulness of God. Faithfulness is something we value and long for—but so often fail to see in our society and in our own lives. As fallen people, we do not behave as we ought to behave—we don't even behave as we want to behave.

There is something deeply attractive to us about the faithfulness of God. Faithfulness is something we value and long for—but so often fail to see in our society and in our own lives. As fallen people, we do not behave as we ought to behave—we don't even behave as we want to behave.

The holiness of God is supremely important to understanding who he truly is. As some have said before me, God’s holiness is his “attribute of attributes.” It gives shape to all the others. There is a real sense in which holiness summarizes who God is.

The holiness of God is supremely important to understanding who he truly is. As some have said before me, God’s holiness is his “attribute of attributes.” It gives shape to all the others. There is a real sense in which holiness summarizes who God is.

No love is more important to us than the love of God himself. Beyond the love of spouse or parent or friend is the significance of the love of God. Nothing matters more to us than to know that the God of heaven loves us—and that in his character, he is indeed a God of love.

No love is more important to us than the love of God himself. Beyond the love of spouse or parent or friend is the significance of the love of God. Nothing matters more to us than to know that the God of heaven loves us—and that in his character, he is indeed a God of love.

Our God is always good, entirely good, uncompromisingly good in every way. And for us who long to find true goodness—to know reliable goodness—that simple but profound truth comes to us as a balm to the soul.

Our God is always good, entirely good, uncompromisingly good in every way. And for us who long to find true goodness—to know reliable goodness—that simple but profound truth comes to us as a balm to the soul.

At the most fundamental level, the term “glory” speaks of the excellence of God himself: his worth and his beauty, the perfection of his character, his holiness and his power. But this language is also used to speak of the visible display of God’s worth and majesty—the visible expression of the fact that this glorious God is present.

At the most fundamental level, the term “glory” speaks of the excellence of God himself: his worth and his beauty, the perfection of his character, his holiness and his power. But this language is also used to speak of the visible display of God’s worth and majesty—the visible expression of the fact that this glorious God is present.

Essential to our humanity is our limitation when it comes to space. But not so with God. Essential to his divinity is his ability to be in all places at once—fully present everywhere there is to be. Our God is omnipresent.

Essential to our humanity is our limitation when it comes to space. But not so with God. Essential to his divinity is his ability to be in all places at once—fully present everywhere there is to be. Our God is omnipresent.