Wade's Weekly Word

Genesis 45 is one of the greatest demonstrations of forgiveness in the Bible because it reveals what forgiveness looks like when God's grace has transformed the human heart.

Although using "forgiveness" as a tool of therapy may be healthy, and most of the above benefits a result, this definition and use of forgiveness has become pervasive and the primary understanding that so many Christians hold as to what the scriptures mean by forgiveness. This is an unbiblical position and problematic.

Adoption is an act of God's free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of, the sons of God. (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

In the final analysis it is no doubt correct to say that the manner of disposal is not a matter of vital importance. We do not believe, for instance, that in the resurrection there will be any difference between those who are buried in the graves of the earth and those whose bodies were destroyed by fire, or devoured by wild beasts, or drowned in the sea, or blown to bits by the explosion of bombs. Certainly, the martyrs who were burned for the faith and whose ashes were scattered by the winds will arise in the resurrection, and their bodies will not be one bit less glorious than those of others who received burial. There is no limit to the power of God. He who in the first place made the body from the elements of the earth can bring again the body that has been disintegrated by whatever means. The iden¬tical particles are not essential to resurrection. A sailor buried at sea rises as surely as if he had been expensively embalmed and buried in the family plot.

Wherever God's children are faithful in preaching the gospel and making committed life-long, lovers, and learners of Jesus, they will see the kingdom coming more and more fully in every sphere of life. We will see ourselves as salt and light and pursue the cultural mandate, to apply God's truth to every area of life.

“If you are not firmly rooted in the gospel and have not learned to preach it to yourself every day, you will soon become discouraged and will slack off in your pursuit of holiness.” - Jerry Bridges

I am in agreement with Professor Charles Hodge as he wrote that on the basis of God’s electing grace: “We have reason to believe that the number of the finally lost in comparison with the whole number of the saved will be very inconsiderable. Our blessed Lord, when surrounded by the innumerable company of the redeemed, will be hailed as the Savior of Men, as the Lamb that bore the sins of the world.”

Mormonism and Christianity are not the same. Far from it. Though the language sounds similar at times, the beliefs are quite distinct. Mormons do not understand history, God, man, salvation, heaven, hell, the cross, Jesus, or the Trinity as the canonical Scriptures teach, nor do they agree with the basic, fundamental doctrine taught by the one, holy, universal, apostolic church over the last two thousand years.

“The present age, for us as Christians, is Easter time, it begins with the resurrection of the Redeemer, and ends with the resurrection of the redeemed.

There are moments in history when a single sentence changes everything. But no words have ever carried more weight than the words spoken by Jesus from the cross on that dark Friday, as Jesus declared - not in defeat - but in triumph - “It is finished!”