Acts 15 — Part 1

Are Christians required to keep the Law of Moses? If someone were to ask you this question, how would you answer? If Christians are required to keep the Law of Moses, what does that mean? If they are not, what does that mean?

This very question was a thorny one for the early Church, and it led to considerable controversy. It has remained a key question among those calling themselves Christian ever since then.

Did the decision of the Church recounted in Acts 15 negate the requirement that Christians must obey God’s commandments? Are Christians free to sin with impunity, based on the results of this conference? And if not, what is the controversy about and what are the ramifications of the decision made?

Learn from the Bible the answers to these questions.

Continue reading

Satan is the Enemy

Every one of the festivals of God have significance not only for us as individuals in our spiritual journey towards God’s kingdom, but also prophetic significance in terms of God’s plan of salvation for mankind, and how that plan is to be accomplished in a step-by-step fashion.

The day of Atonement has to do not only with the removal of sin, but also the removal of the chief instigator of sin, the enemy of God and of mankind, Satan the devil. Rod Reynolds relates how the Bible reveals Satan as God’s enemy, and our enemy, and how he will ultimately be defeated and removed, once and for all.

Continue reading

Whose World is It?

Many people assume that this is God’s world, that God is fully in control, and that all that happens in the world is in accordance with God’s will. But the reality of the situation is not quite that straightforward or simple.

If this is God’s world why is there so much violence, so much poverty, so much sickness, so much evil of every kind and description? If this is God’s world why aren’t the problems that have plagued it for thousands of years solved?

Whose world is it that we’re living in? Is it really God’s world?

Listen as Rod Reynolds discusses the answers to these questions from the pages of the Bible.

Continue reading

God Is Gracious

There are many ways in which God’s grace is revealed and demonstrated throughout the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Unfortunately, the idea of “grace” has often been perverted and misrepresented by false teachings, implying that there is a conflict between the concept of God’s grace and that of obedience to his commandments.

One reason that some turn aside from God is that they don’t really believe that God is gracious. Some believe in God just enough to have a morbid fear of what might happen to them, but they don’t have enough faith to really believe that God can or will forgive their sins and save them from death. The Old Covenant God made with Israel at Mt. Sinai was predicated on grace, as shown in Exodus 34:5-7. But God in his love and mercy also is a just God, and in his mercy and love for mankind he requires obedience to his laws which are given to us for our benefit. In God mercy, grace, longsuffering, and truth are united with holiness and justice. Like the Old Covenant, the New Covenant is also predicated upon grace, and it is through grace that we are ultimately saved (Acts 15:11; Romans 6:23; II Timothy 1:9).

God knows our frame, our weaknesses and our inherent sinfulness, but he is always ready to pardon us upon repentance, and his plan is not a plan of destruction for mankind but one of salvation. In this message, I point out some ways in which God’s grace towards all mankind, including you and me, is demonstrated. And also, specific things you can do to enjoy the fullness of God’s grace.

Continue reading

Did Jesus Break the Sabbath?

It’s been asserted that Jesus broke the Sabbath, and hence we are free to disregard it as well. But did Jesus break the Sabbath?

The basis for the idea that Jesus broke the Sabbath is the accusations made by Jesus’ enemies among the Pharisees and scribes. Because Jesus performed miracles of healing on the Sabbath, and did not honor their man made rules regarding Sabbath observance, the Pharisees accused him of breaking the Sabbath. But did he in fact, break the Sabbath?

Rod Reynolds discusses this question and its implications in this message. Continue reading