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Sweet Surrender

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    Sweet, sweet surrender Live, live without care Like a fish in the water Like a bird in the air   John Denver, an amazing songwriter and musician, wrote the above words for his 1974 song "Sweet Surrender," which follows a theme common to many of his songs. a journey of self-exploration tied to themes of nature and environment. Like many, he is pursuing the meaning of life and what his future might look like in light of his past and present. It is not clear that he ever found that the true meaning of life is manifested in a person, Jesus Christ, who has paved the way for everyone to find their purpose and, therefore, real happiness.   Other songwriters of his day expressed this journey in unique constructions. Ian Anderson, leader of the band Jethro Tull, formulated his viewpoint in this way: “And as you cross the wilderness, spinning in your emptiness, you feel you have to pray. Looking for a sign that the Universal Mind has written you into the Passio...
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Salvation: Past, Present, & Future

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But we ourselves have had the answer of death in ourselves and at this time still have that experience, in order that we should not be trusting in ourselves but in the God who raises the dead; who delivered [ rhuomai – snatched from danger] us out of so great a death and will deliver [present middle indicative – does deliver] us, on whom we have placed our hope and right now still maintain that attitude of hope that also He will yet deliver us, you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication, in order that thanksgiving may be given for the gracious mercy shown to us by reason of the many [who prayed for us].                            2 Corinthians 1:8   Wuest Salvation is the central theme of the Bible, and the very heart of the gospel. The promise of salvation stirs the new believer's heart and continues to encourage Christians until they are called home. Salvation is a promise, a reality...
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The Jews and the New Covenant

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"Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.          Matthew 24:32-35 In the verses preceding the above, Jesus defines the signs of the times in relation to His Second Coming and the initiation of the Kingdom Age. The fig tree in the Bible is often a picture of Israel (Hosea 9:10; Luke 13:6-10), and the other trees would picture the nations of the world. The budding of the trees indicates that summer is near; it speaks of the fruitfulness of the tree prior to His Second Coming. The beginning of these signs indicates that the Lord's coming is near. These signs indicate that many Jewish people will come to know...
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Seeing Him Who is Unseen

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By faith , Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith , Moses, when he had grown up, refused [denied] to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing [ haireo – preferred] rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith , he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen . By faith , he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. By faith , they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned .                 ...
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The Glory of the Lord Manifested

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                           And he said, "Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory [ doxa – superior reputation,                          splendor, perfection] appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he                lived in Haran .                            Acts 7:2 So Moses and Aaron said to all the sons of Israel, “At evening you will know that the Lord has brought you out of the land of Egypt; and in the morning, you will see the glory [ kabod – weighty, splendor, noteworthy, impressive] of the Lord, for He hears your grumblings against the Lord; and what are we, that you grumble against us? ”  Moses said, “This will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening,...
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