Sanctification: The Triumph of Grace Over the Power of Sin

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1-2 (LSB) 

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you go on presenting yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:15-16 (LSB) 

As I stated in yesterday’s post, if the Gospel is preached correctly, that is, with justification by faith alone being central with absolutely no merit or work by the believer having any bearing on it, then the two rhetorical questions Paul raised in the two passages above should be on the forefront of the minds of all hearing it…. Continue reading

CRN Headline News 9/11-9/15

Need to read articles you may have missed this week. Plus, Most Popular, Past Popular and Quotable Quote.

MONDAY 9/11

What Game is Hunter Biden Playing?

Letter to the Editor From Two Women: What Are We Doing Wrong?

Acts 29 Pastor Says Gay Atheist Came to Christ Through a Psychic Tarot Card Reader Consulting a Native American Spirit Guide

TUESDAY 9/12

Impeachment Inquiry Into Joe Biden May Be Imminent Continue reading

Justification: The Imputation of Righteousness

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11 (LSB) 

Much of the apostasy we are witnessing in our time is rooted in a history of generations of ministries in which preachers, because they feared men more than God, preached in such a way that they talked about God or they talked about His Word rather than actually preaching what God’s Word says…. Continue reading

The Mormonization of American Christianity

“When we look at the claims of the apostles recorded throughout the New Testament, they appear to follow this same approach. Rather than appealing to their own feelings or internal experiences, they continually pointed to that which they heard with their ears, saw with their eyes, and touched with their hands (1Jn 1:1, 3).”

(Shane Rosenthal – The Humble Skeptic) In 1835, just a few years after the initial release of The Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith published a supplemental volume called Doctrine & Covenants in which he claimed to have received the following revelation from God: Continue reading

Stanford ‘Star Chamber’ restricted early COVID research to protect profit opportunity: professor

(Greg Piper – Just the News) Stanford University rewarded recently resigned President Marc Tessier-Lavigne with further research opportunities and tenure after belatedly finding that labs he had run for over two decades, including ones at Stanford, had an “unusual frequency of manipulation of research data.”

The elite Silicon Valley university allegedly took a drastically different approach, however, when medical professor Jay Bhattacharya threatened government narratives and Stanford’s bottom line by setting out to determine how far SARS-CoV-2 had spread locally in spring 2020. Continue reading

Something Is Seriously Wrong With Our Leaders

“Where does this stuff finally stop—and what will be left of our country when these people get everything they want?”

(Lee Duigon – News With Views) Have you a nose for nooze? Can you tell the chaff from the wheat?

We call our leaders “newsmakers” (not “noisemakers”—be polite) because most news stories are about them: they’re always on center stage.

Let’s see how well we understand them…. Continue reading

Before you get your teen jabbed, you need to see what the CDC just admitted to…

“That’s a very startling revelation, and the numbers are jaw dropping. We genuinely hope that parents grasp the gravity of this situation and take the time to gather more information.”

(Revolver) Most of the readers here probably wouldn’t consider having their children vaccinated. However, if you’re contemplating the idea or know someone who is, it’s important for you to know what the CDC has recently admitted to. This knowledge will help you or a loved one make an informed decision, because there are red flags flying everywhere. Continue reading

Justification: The Blessings of Righteousness

22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written THAT IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be counted, as those who believe upon Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over on account of our transgressions, and was raised on account of our justification. Romans 4:22-25 (LSB)

We have completed Paul’s case that God justifies sinners on the basis of faith alone. In the passage above (Romans 4:22-25) we have his concluding remarks to that part of his dissertation. He has made it clear that those truly in Christ did not get there according to merit or works, but on the basis of faith alone, but now we begin the section of Romans that if not taken in context can cause much confusion…. Continue reading

How the Contemporary Church Has Eroded and Perverted True Worship of the Living God

“…worship” typically refers solely to the musical or concert portion of the service, while the preaching is often viewed as a separate, even lesser, component. This is a serious error as the preaching of the Word of God is not a mere add-on. It is the foundation of worship.”

(The Dissenter) When we take a look at biblical history, we find a pattern of worship that couldn’t be more distant from what we see in most modern churches today. Ancient Israel, a people set apart by God, was given meticulous laws and guidelines on how to worship the Creator of heaven and earth. It was an awe-stricken approach, deeply rooted in reverence and governed by God’s holy Word…. Continue reading

Hunter Biden meeting with associates at VP mansion underscores role father played wooing clients

A 2015 meeting with VP Biden and son Hunter’s client being wooed for Burisma deal involved discussion about influencing UN Secretary General race: One of many meetings that dispel the Democrat narrative of mere ‘illusion of access.”

(John Solomon – Just the News) Adorned with the Queen Anne-era of grand architecture and tightly guarded by Secret Service agents, the 9,000-square foot vice president’s mansion on the U.S. Naval Observatory grounds is rarely accessible to everyday Americans.  But Hunter Biden – as the son of a sitting vice president – was able to score the sort of VIP meeting inside the mansion that most lobbyists could only dream of. Continue reading

Veggie Tales Creator Releases Series Ft. Woke Xtians Complaining About Being Judged

(Protestia) VeggieTales creator and Holy Post podcast host Phil Vischer has gotten beat up on social media over the last few days, and for good reason. The shots have been coming after he criticized a conservative TV network for not featuring LBGTQ characters in films, compared Christians who oppose legal same-sex marriage to ‘confederate theologians’, and refuses to publicly condemn same-sex marriage, all the while doing so in a smarmy voice that would make even Andy Stanley jealous. Continue reading

Repost: ‘The Words You Spoke Are Disturbing’: Kennedy Stuns As He Reads Explicit Kids’ Books During Hearing

This repost includes the link to Townhall’s article

“So tell me what you want, who gets to decide? And all I’ve heard is the librarians. And parents have nothing to do with it. And if that’s your response, what planet did you just parachute in from?” 

(Leah Barkoukis – Townhall) Sen. John Kennedy showed his Democratic colleagues exactly what they’re defending in public schools and libraries when he read sexually graphic excerpts from some of the “banned books” at the center of this culture war battle. Continue reading

Reporter Gets Destroyed After Claiming ‘No Evidence’ for Biden Impeachment

“The impeachment inquiry doesn’t need to convince the public Joe Biden is corrupt; they know it already. The mainstream media may be pushing the narrative that this is about political revenge, but the evidence of political corruption has been out there for some time.” 

(Matt Margolis – PJ Media) While conservative media has been reporting on the evidence of Biden family corruption for some time now, the mainstream has been turning a blind eye to it, even actively dismissing evidence and testimony. So when a reporter told Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) that Americans “can’t see” evidence that Biden committed any crimes meriting impeachment, Perry shot back with receipts. Continue reading

Justification: Abraham’s Example

27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that faith, is one. 31 Do we then abolish the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. Romans 3:27-31 (LSB) 

In our last post we ended with the passage above in which Paul makes it very clear that genuine salvation is by the law of faith not by a law of works. In v28 he says, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” Justification is by faith alone and does not depend at all on doing any works of the law…. Continue reading

On Evangelical Instability And The Remedy

(R. Scott Clark – The Heidelblog) Sometimes people who come from the non-confessional evangelical world look at confessional churches as though they are hide-bound traditionalists. Doubtless, that is sometimes true. The words “we have never done it that way” have been heard from time to time in Reformed churches. In recent years, however, I have noticed a remarkably rapid shift in segments of the non-confessional church world. Two large Bible churches with which I am familiar have, in different ways, undergone impressive doctrinal shifts…. Continue reading

Only 2% of Parents with Preteen Children Have a ‘Biblical Worldview

“A majority of the youngest teens (61%) either believe Jesus Christ sinned while He was on Earth or hold open the possibility He did. Not even half (45%) believe that God created the universe. And an overwhelming majority believe that there are no absolute, objective truths.”

(Protestia) Veteran pollster and researcher George Barna is reporting that less than 2% of parents with children under the age of 13 have a “biblical worldview,” according to his new book Raising Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind and Soul, with the overwhelming number of parents reporting a “hodge-podge mixture of competing and often conflicting worldviews.” Continue reading

Forget the police, the left now has a plan to DEFUND the Supreme Court of the United States…

(Revolver) One thing we can say about the left is that they never stop cooking up evil plans to take down their enemies. And one of their biggest enemies right now is the Supreme Court of the United States and they’re doing everything in their power to stop the hight court who has delivered a few doozies to them lately, like the Roe v Wade ruling and the affirmative action ruling. Many believed that the left would push stacking the court, however that’s proving to be a dud. Americans don’t want to see that happen, so they’ve come up with a totally new way to cripple the court: DEFUND THEM. Continue reading

‘The Words You Spoke Are Disturbing’: Kennedy Stuns As He Reads Explicit Kids’ Books During Hearing

“So tell me what you want, who gets to decide? And all I’ve heard is the librarians. And parents have nothing to do with it. And if that’s your response, what planet did you just parachute in from?” 

(Leah Barkoukis – Townhall) Sen. John Kennedy showed his Democratic colleagues exactly what they’re defending in public schools and libraries when he read sexually graphic excerpts from some of the “banned books” at the center of this culture war battle. Continue reading

Justification: The Source of Righteousness

19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are in the Law, so that every mouth may be shut and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:19-20 (LSB) 

The real Gospel is not entertaining. It is not “fun.” It is not hip. It is not cool. No, it is blunt and abrupt and not politically correct. It calls everyone a sinner with no exceptions and those who are justified by God are so on the basis of the righteousness of another while they remain completely undeserving…. Continue reading

Christian-Cloaked Occultism

“These practices, seductive as they may be, drift away from the core biblical teachings and often have more in common with New Age or occult beliefs than they do with orthodox Christianity. It’s a growing concern that necessitates unwavering discernment.”

(The Dissenter) In Part XIII of our hard-hitting series on the Snares of the Modern Church, we unmask one of the most pernicious yet insidious traps that have ensnared unwitting believers—occultism. Yes, you read that right. We’re talking about occult practices that have slithered their way into modern Christianity, camouflaging themselves as “spiritual disciplines” or “deep prayer methods.” From Lectio Divina promoted by well-known figures like John Piper, to Contemplative Prayer endorsed by many leaders including the late Tim Keller, these practices have wormed their way into mainstream Christian thought. Continue reading

The Sting

“The scorpions who control most media companies are more driven than ever to impose progressive policies and get pliable people like Biden and Kamala elected.”

(Bill O’Reilly) Picture this: You serve four years as president of the United States. During your term, inflation stays under two percent. Real wages and consumer spending power rises about 9 percent for American workers; unemployment is less than 4 percent after the pandemic.

Fairly good showing, correct? Continue reading

Media Clown World: ‘Meet the Liars’

Watch the short video to see for yourself that the mainstream media talking heads are liars and clever manipulators. What they do is unconscionable.

(Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel) For your early Tuesday morning enjoyment, we have Greg Kelly’s ‘Meet the Liars,’ if you want more, go to NewsmaxTV and the Greg Kelly show, which they update daily.

In the media clown world, reporters praise themselves for the wonderful job they do and the grand experience it all is as they collect their multi-million dollar salaries. Continue reading

BREAKING: Impeachment Inquiry Into Joe Biden May Be Imminent

(Matt Margolis – PJ Media) After months of stringing us along, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is reportedly now expected to endorse an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. McCarthy has long been reluctant to get behind impeachment without an airtight case. The evidence is damning, and frankly, we’ve waited long enough. Sources tell ABC News that “the next logical step” in the investigation of Joe Biden’s corruption is an impeachment inquiry, which will give Congress the ability to obtain bank records and other documents. Continue reading

Condemnation: That Which Awaits All in Need of God’s Righteousness

9 What then? Are we better? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” 13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; 14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”; 15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, 17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.” 18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” Romans 3:9-18 (LSB) 

In my post, The Righteous Shall Live by Faith a few days ago, we looked at Romans 1:15-17, which gives us Paul’s theme for this Epistle. which is The Gospel of the Righteousness of God. My intent for this post is to cover a lot of ground, Romans 1:18-3:20. Why?… Continue reading

Acts 29 Pastor Says Gay Atheist Came to Christ Through a Psychic Tarot Card Reader Consulting a Native American Spirit Guide

(The Dissenter) In a cultural landscape teeming with ideological disarray, even the dialogue surrounding Christian interaction with the LGBTQ movement has been pulled apart by polarizing narratives. A particularly concerning viewpoint comes to light through the Acts 29 Network, which we wrote about last week, as represented by Justin Anderson and Mike Sullivan. Their perspective, under the guise of compassion and inclusivity, distorts biblical truths to a dangerous extent that it could mislead even the elect, if that were possible. This compromising theological view is not just problematic—it could lead souls astray, particularly when dealing with issues of sin and repentance. Continue reading