Jesus

Is it a sin to be tempted? No: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) Jesus Christ was without sin, and yet He was tempted just like us. Hebrews says there is a difference between temptation and sin.

Recently I was asked by someone not from our church, “How much of my income should I give to God?” This is a wonderful question - and by the way, it is the right question to ask. It also demonstrates spiritual growth and a heart to please and honour the Lord. I did my best to address their "tithing" question with the following comments:

An analysis of the relationship between grace and the Holy Spirit. It does this by showing the works of grace under two categories of grace, Chesed and Chen, and describing the role of the Holy Spirit in those works. The significance of the Spirit of God of the Old Testament being the Holy Spirit of the New Testament is then presented. The theological gain of this recognition is demonstrated.

You may have heard the rather pithy sounding phrase “Let Go and Let God” from inspirational calendars or as an off the cuff comment in a sermon, but do you know what it implies or where it comes from?

The phrase was coined as a catchcry for what is known as Keswick Theology which was formulated in the late 1800s in an attempt to spur the church onwards toward what they called a higher life.