What does it mean to pursue Christ? What does making Him Lord of all mean? How do we give Him that place of preeminence He deserves in our hearts? Those questions will be answered throughout this series. Many of you remember the game call “Simon Says.” What does “Simon Says” have to do with following Christ? Even though that was a childhood game, t…

What does it mean to pursue Christ? What does making Him Lord of all mean? How do we give Him that place of preeminence He deserves in our hearts? Those questions will be answered throughout this series. Many of you remember the game call “Simon Says.” What does “Simon Says” have to do with following Christ? Even though that was a childhood game, t…

What does it mean to pursue Christ? What does making Him Lord of all mean? How do we give Him that place of preeminence He deserves in our hearts? Those questions will be answered throughout this entire series. In The Principle of Love, Dr. Gonzalez states that considering who Jesus is and what He has done for us, as Christians our response should …

What does it mean to pursue Christ? What does making Him Lord of all mean? How do we give Him that place of preeminence He deserves in our hearts? Those questions will be answered throughout this entire series. In The Principle of Love, Dr. Gonzalez states that considering who Jesus is and what He has done for us, as Christians our response should …

What does it mean to pursue Christ? What does making Him Lord of all mean? How do we give Him that place of preeminence He deserves in our hearts? Those questions will be answered throughout this series. In The Principle of Love, Dr. Gonzalez states that considering who Jesus is and what He has done for us, as Christians our response should be char…

What does it mean to pursue Christ? What does making Him Lord of all mean? How do we give Him that place of preeminence He deserves in our hearts? Those questions will be answered throughout this entire series. In The Principle of Exaltation, Dr. Gonzalez argues that the first thing we must endeavor to do is to exalt Him continually and consistentl…

What does it mean to pursue Christ? What does making Him Lord of all mean? How do we give Him that place of preeminence He deserves in our hearts? Those questions will be answered throughout this entire series. In The Principle of Exaltation, Dr. Gonzalez argues that the first thing we must endeavor to do is to exalt Him continually and consistentl…

If Christ is whom He claimed to be, if His is whom the Scriptures say He is, then the number one priority in our lives should be to pursue Him with everything we have. But what does it mean to pursue Christ? What does making Him Lord of all mean? How do we give Him that place of preeminence He deserves in our hearts? Those questions will be answere…

It is when we see the decay, destruction, and corruption around us that we realize the value and necessity of the Bible. In contrast to the world, the Bible is inexhaustible, inextinguishable, and life giving. In part 2 of God’s Provision for Spiritual Growth, Dr. Gonzalez looks at five specific ways the believer is to use God’s Word to ensure spir…

It is when we see the decay, destruction, and corruption around us that we realize the value and necessity of the Bible. In contrast to the world, the Bible is inexhaustible, inextinguishable, and life giving. In part 1 of God’s Provision for Spiritual Growth, Dr. Gonzalez reminds us of the absolute and critical importance of the Bible, pointing ou…

The promises of God are the lifelines of the soul, and the word “promise” is one of the synonyms used by the writer of Psalm 119 for the Word of God. Here we learn that God’s precious promises are to be: Discovered Loved Pondered Claimed Reciprocated Many people today leave their spouses, their churches, their jobs, or their families, claiming thei…

If you are a Christian: You have divine wisdom, a saving knowledge of God and of divine truth. You have a righteousness that secures your justification. You are renewed after the image of God and will finally be presented without spot or blemish before the presence of His glory. And you will share eternal redemption, full deliverance from all the e…

In today’s message, Dr. Gonzalez reminds us that we can’t overlook the importance of making good decisions, for decisions will play a role in determining the course of our lives. There are four pillars we can build on as a good framework for making decisions: God Facts Advice Impact Good decisions do not come from intellect or luck, but by using a …

Alexander the Great conquered the world yet died at age 33 in a drunken stupor. Hannibal may have crossed the Alps with elephants, but he had three bushels of gold rings he had taken off knights he slaughtered; and he later committed suicide. Julius Caesar conquered 800 cities across Europe and the Middle East, but he was stabbed by his closest fri…

The author of Hebrews writes, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” In today’s message, Jesus’s Present Work and Ministry, Dr. Gonzalez will consider several New Testament passages that reveal to us Christ’s present ministry. Let us listen as he…

Each Christian has a personal ministry, and many people exercise that ministry in the context of a local church. You're a Bible study leader, do evangelism visitation, volunteer with children or youth, or you’re a choir member. Beware of Satan's greatest tool -- discouragement. He wants us to become weary in well doing. Our greatest weapon is faith…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Paul's obsession with the cross was strange for two reasons. First, he refused to live for any of the things that people normally live for. He did not boast about his popularity, intellect, influence, appearance, income, or performance. Nor did he boast about his circumcision. Second, what Paul was willing to boast about…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES It must have been a dramatic moment. The Galatian church had gathered for the public reading of a letter from none other than Paul. As the letter ended, they heard these words: See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand (Gal. 6:11). What had probably happened was this: According to his usual custom,…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Do you remember the first time you observed a seed sprouting in a glass jar? It is a fascinating law of creation, governed by God's providence. God has also created seed so that whatever type of seed planted, that is the plant that will grow and bear fruit. You do not pick grapes from a thorn bush; you pick grapes from a…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES We learn by example; we copy things that we see. This is also true for developing spiritually. We call this biblical principle, modelling. Paul often gave examples to illustrate the principles that he had imparted. In today’s text, Paul exhorts us to live in holiness and in harmony, as we serve one another in love. He co…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES The Holy Spirit does not produce fruit in the Christian life without our cooperation. There are two things every Christian must do to remain fruitful. First, mortification, the putting to death the sinful nature and vivification, the coming to life of the regenerate nature. We find the death of our own sinful nature in t…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES What is spirituality? Who is spiritual? Is it accomplished by legalistic conformity to the Mosaic law? What part does the Holy Spirit have? The self? In Galatians 5:16-18, Paul explains the nature of spirituality. Verse 16 its command, Walk by the Spirit. In the first part of the verse, Paul defines the command; in the s…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Just as justification is not possible through the efforts of self, so sanctification cannot be achieved through one's own energy either. Both come from the provision and power of God. The basic meaning of "sanctify" is "to set apart." One of the four stages within the biblical concept of sanctification is Progressive San…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES The Judaizers charged that Paul’s teaching would lead the Galatians into lawlessness. Paul countered that the false teachers wanted to replace one expression of legalistic bondage for another. Who was right? In this section Paul argued that a proper apprehension of the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alo…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES The Judaizers charged that Paul’s teaching would lead the Galatians into lawlessness. Paul countered that the false teachers wanted to replace one expression of legalistic bondage for another. Who was right? In this section Paul argued that a proper apprehension of the doctrine of justification by grace through faith alo…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Paul effectively used a double approach to warn the Galatians about the dangers of Judaizing legalism. The first was personal and subjective (4:12-20), and the second was objective and historical (4:21-31). The characters and events of the OT have often been used as illustrations of NT principles. For instance, the Passo…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES In this section Paul effectively used a double approach to warn the Galatians about the dangers of Judaizing legalism. The first was personal and subjective (4:12-20), and the second was objective and historical (4:21-31). In verses 12 through 20, the direct address brothers, served to catch their attention. They were ge…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Although regeneration changed the spiritual position of a slave, it did not eliminate his social status. He was still a slave. Many NT epistles provided valuable counsel for the converted servants and slave owners. For example, Paul encouraged Philemon to receive the recently saved Onesimus no longer as a slave, but more…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES In cultures that practiced slavery, there were obvious differences between the one who served and the master, between the son of a slave and the son of a slave owner. Although the servant may have possessed greater physical strength and innate intelligence than that of the owner's son, the servant was still regarded as a…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES This major section begins with the rhetorical question: Why then was the law given? (3:19). In verse 19-25, Paul explained the purpose of God giving the law to Moses and to Israel. In the remaining verses of chapter 3, Paul explains the believer’s position under faith. He tells us that when a person was under the works o…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Paul has clearly demonstrated that the law could not give the Holy Spirit (3:1-5), could not give the righteousness of God (3:6-9), could not give the blessing (3:14), and could not change the original covenant (3:15-18). The law, however, could give a curse (3:10-13). In the remaining verses of chapter 3, Paul continued…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Since salvation is a matter of God's free grace, we do not earn it by working to obtain it. It is a gift, not something owed to us. We receive our inheritance from God the same way Abraham received it: by faith. We simply believe that God will make good on his promise to save us through the death and resurrection of Jesu…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Throughout this chapter Paul has been proving that justification and the Holy Spirit come by faith and not by works. First, he argued from experience—the experience the Galatians had when they received the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:1-5). Next, he argued from Scripture—the biblical record about Abraham, the man of faith (Gal. 3…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES If the law cannot bless us, then how can we receive God's blessing? This is the question Paul has been wrestling with throughout this letter. How do I stand in right relationship with God? What must I do to gain his favor? In a word, how can I be justified? There are two possibilities: Either I am justified by works of t…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Imagine the scene: An entire nation gathers on the sides of two mountains to worship. Half the people stand on one side, half on the other. They worship responsively, alternating their praise. First one group cries out to God, and then the other, with every man, woman, and child shouting in unison. This was the scene whe…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith (Gal. 3:8). The OT had the foresight to predict the coming of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. The Scriptures not only predicted that he would come, but also prophesied the precise way that he would save. He would justify sinners by faith, exact…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Undoubtedly the reason Paul has so much to say about Abraham in Galatians 3 and 4 is that the Judaizers made such a fuss over him. They claimed that Father Abraham and all his children belonged to God, not by faith alone, but by works of the law. In addition to misunderstanding the gospel, the Judaizers were also guilty …

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Deep down, the Galatians knew that they were justified by faith alone, for this is how they had come to Christ in the first place. To stop them from going back to the law, Paul made a personal appeal to their spiritual experience. This appeal came in a series of rapid rhetorical questions—four of them in all: A question …

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES How can God accept me? Only if I trust in Jesus Christ. This is the biblical doctrine of justification by faith that Paul taught the Galatians. I cannot be saved by anything I do; I can be saved only by what Jesus did when he died on the cross and rose from the dead. There is no way for me to make myself right with God b…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES The only way to get what Christ has to offer is to be united to him by faith. John Calvin said, "We must understand that as long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are separated from him, all that he has suffered and done for the salvation of the human race remains useless and of no value for us." But once we are in…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES In today’s study, Dr. Gonzalez will begin his exposition of Galatians 2:17-21. What Paul said in Gal. 2:16 bears repeating: "We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ." This is the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone. As John Calvin (1509-15…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES In today’s study, Dr. Gonzalez will conclude his exposition of Galatians 2:11-16. He will point out that: Paul’s concern was the Gospel. Even when it came to another apostle, Paul cared enough to confront. For him, it was not peace at any price, but the gospel at all costs. Paul strongly objected to the hypocrisy of Pete…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES It must have been an awkward moment when Paul and Peter, two pillars of the Church, had a confrontation during a church potluck. The confrontation was unexpected. Paul and Peter had been friends ever since they got acquainted in Jerusalem. The last time they were together, Peter had given Paul the right hand of fellowshi…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES In today’s study, part two of Galatians 2:1-10, Dr. Gonzalez’s discusses the two positive results of Paul’s visit to Jerusalem: Titus, Paul’s Gentile convert, was accepted. Titus did not have to be circumcised to be saved. Paul’s commission was acknowledged. The apostles acknowledged Paul's commission to preach the gospe…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!" These words were spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the close of his address at the 1963 March on Washington for Civil Rights. Dr. King's words conveyed something besides freedom's joy; they also hinted at its long, hard struggle. They were spoken…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES You will remember that in his opening remarks Paul defended his apostleship against those who had tried to discredit him (Gal. 1:1). After describing the work of the gospel (Gal. 1:4), he then pronounced a divine curse on anyone who would distort the gospel of grace (Gal. 1:6-9). In the remainder of chapter 1 he once aga…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Paul wrote Galatians to combat false teaching. Somehow the apostle got news of the trouble and he wrote to call the churches back to the true gospel that he had originally delivered. He founded the churches in Galatia himself and was particularly attached to them. In most of Paul's letters, we typically find some praise …

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES Paul wrote Galatians to combat false teaching. Somehow the apostle got news of the trouble and he wrote to call the churches back to the true gospel that he had originally delivered. He founded the churches in Galatia himself and was particularly attached to them. Today’s podcast is brought to you by Time in the Word. As…

GALATIANS EXPOSITORY SERIES The book of Galatians is called the "Christian's Declaration of Independence." Paul teaches and clearly establishes the fact that the Christian is free from the curse and bondage of the Law. After introducing himself, He powerfully argues the doctrine of justification by faith. Today, Dr. Gonzalez will be looking at the …

END TIMES PROPHECY SERIES In his final message of the end times prophecy series, Dr. Gonzalez will discuss the intermediate state. If invited to a party or a funeral, which one would we rather attend and why? Contrary to conventional wisdom, Solomon counsels that it is better to go to a funeral home (“a house of mourning”) than to attend a party (“…