PASTOR'S CORNER

  Acts 8:25-40 Throughout redemptive history God has poured out His blessing to mankind through the channel of His covenant people.  But God never intended Israel to be the reservoir for storing up God’s blessing.  They were to be a funnel through which blessings be dispersed to the lost world.  Israel largely failed her mission and now the gospel has reached others, outside of Jerusalem; and the church is growing because of God’s master plan for the church.  In the 8th chapter of the book of Acts, we see the contrast between the faith that does not save and the faith that does save.   We see contrasts like this early in the gospels when Jesus preached His message on the Sermon on the Mount.  The Two Paths (Matthew 7:13–14) …. Jesus contrasts the wide gate and easy road (which leads to destruction and has many travelers) with the narrow gate and hard road (which leads to life and is found by few).  The Two Trees (Matthew 7:16–18) …. He...

Acts 8:9-25 A faith that does not save is a "dead faith" this is only mere intellectual belief or empty professions that lack… genuine repentance, a changed heart, and resulting good works.  It’s an outward emotional response or profession that fades away when tested by life or persecution.  It’s knowing facts about God, or Jesus, without personal trust or surrender, because even demons believe and shudder, but they do not have saving faith.  It’s living the exact same sinful lifestyle without any inner change or evidence of the Holy Spirit.  Faith doesn't save sinners; Jesus does.  Faith is simply the means through which the merit and work of Christ are applied to us.  There are so many people like the account of the rich young man, who think by doing they will enter Heaven, apart from repentance and faith in Christ alone.  There are so many people who will go so far, just so long as it doesn’t require any change, or giving up something to ...