Tag Archives: faith in Jesus

The Despair of Atheism and the Hope of Christianity

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

The atheist’s worldview denies the existence of God and believes the universe and earth happened by a chance explosion billions of years ago. Rather than intelligent design, he believes in unintelligent chaos, that the earth, with all its complexity of life, is merely the product of accidental evolutionary processes over millions of years. His worldview believes everything is merely the product of matter, motion, time and chance; that we are the accidental collection of molecules; that we are nothing more than evolving bags of protoplasm who happen to be able to think, feel, and act. The conclusion is that we came from nothing significant, that we are nothing significant, and we go to nothing significant. Ultimately, there’s no reason for us to exist, and no given purpose to assign meaning to our lives. We are a zero. Some have thought through the logical implications of their atheism and understand this well. Continue reading →

Posted in Apologetics, Biblical Worldview, Christian Theology, Hot Topics, Inspirational Writings, Worldview | Tagged Aldous Huxley and LSD, atheism argues for no absolutes, Atheism argues for no truth, Atheism leads to despair, Atheism offers no hope for humanity, Atheistic worldview, Biblical worldview, Burning Man, Christian apologetics, Christian worldview, Darwin and racism, Evolution and racism, Evolution could also logically lead to racism, Evolution could lead to racism, faith alone, faith in Jesus, Francis Schaeffer on truth and absolutes, General revelation about God, God's common grace to everyone, God's sovereignty, Hope in the Bible, Hope in the Christian gospel, John Calvin and the Meaning of Sensus Divinitatis, John Sartre, John Updike vision of death, Mark Twain view on life and death, materialistic communism, Nazis who murdered millions of Jews, Negative volition, Positive volition, Presuppositional apologetics, Satan's world system, saved by grace through faith, Sensus Divinitatis, Special revelation in the Bible, Supressing God's truth in unrighteousness, The Christian argument against atheism, The Despair of Atheism, The Despair of Atheism and the Hope of Christianity, The Gospel message, The Hope of Christianity, the Meaning of Sensus Divinitatis, Theism vs atheism, Unyielding despair by Bertrand Russell, Worldview | Leave a comment

The Lesson in the Storm

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

During His time of ministry on earth, Jesus was constantly teaching His disciples and developing their walk with Him. This development required testing. Some of the situations the disciples faced were turbulent, which exposed their weaknesses and provided teachable moments. Because of positive volition, Jesus’ disciples would, over time, learn His lessons and advance to spiritual maturity. Continue reading →

Posted in Counseling, Hot Topics, Inspirational Writings, Leadership, Living by Faith, Suffering & Persecution | Tagged A fortress in the soul, Christian suffering, Does God test our faith?, faith in Jesus, God uses trials to strengthen our faith, God's sovereignty, Growing our faith, How does God grow our faith, Jesus calmed the sea, Jesus calmed the storm, Living by faith, Matthew 8:23-27, Perception and reality, suffering, The Lesson in the Storm, The storm on the sea, The storms of life, the suffering of the righteous, The tests of life, What does it mean to have little faith, When God gives us a test, When life sends a crisis, When we face a crisis, why do the righteous suffer | Leave a comment

The Gospel in two Minutes

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

The gospel is the solution to a problem. There are two parts to the problem. First, God is holy (Ps. 99:9; Isa. 6:3), which means He is positively righteous and can have nothing to do with sin except to condemn it (Hab. 1:13; 1 John 1:5). Second, all mankind is sinful and separated from God (Rom. 3:10-23). The gospel message is that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Jesus died in our place, “the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18; cf. Rom. 5:6-10). In order for us to be reconciled to God, we must simply trust in Jesus as our Savior (John 3:16; Acts 16:30-31). Continue reading →

Posted in Inspirational Writings, Salvation | Tagged a short rpesentation of the Gospel, Are works necessary for salvation?, election, faith alone, Faith in God, faith in Jesus, illumination, Is faith in Jesus enough to be saved?, Is heaven a real place?, revelation, saved by grace through faith, Soteriology, The Gospel, the Gospel in a minute, the Gospel in thirty seconds, the Gospel in two minutes, What does the Bible say is necessary for salvation?, what is the gospel, what must I do to be saved | 22 Comments

An Ambassador for Christ

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

An ambassador is an official dignitary who represents the country that sent him into a foreign land, and his message is derived from the sending ruler. The Christian ambassador represents the Lord Jesus Christ who has called and equipped him to speak on His behalf to those outside of Christ’s kingdom (John 18:36; Acts 26:17-18; Col. 1:13-14). The Christian message is simple, that God reconciles us to Himself through the cross of Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-21; Eph. 2:13-16; Col. 1:19-20; 1 Pet. 3:18), providing us forgiveness for all our sins (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:13-14), and the gift of His righteousness which makes us acceptable to Him (Isa. 61:10; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 5:17; Phil. 3:9). Continue reading →

Posted in Hamartiology, Inspirational Writings, Righteous Living, Salvation | Tagged ambassador, ambassador for Christ, atonement, atonement for sin, Christ to the cross, Christian ambassador, elect to salvation, election, Faith in God, faith in Jesus, forgiveness of sins, free grace, reconciled to God, reconciliation, reconciliation for sins, speak the truth in love, The Cross of Christ, the doctrine of reconciliation, what does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ?, what does it mean to be reconciled to God? | 7 Comments

The Gospel

Posted on March 29, 2014 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

Salvation is never what we do for God, but rather what He has done for us by sending His Son to die in our place and bear the wrath for sin that was due to us (Isa. 53). We are helpless to save ourselves because we are completely crippled by sin (Rom. 5:6-10; 6:23; Eph. 2:1); therefore, salvation comes to us only as a free gift from God (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5), “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24). Continue reading →

Posted in Salvation | Tagged 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Acts 16:31, Believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation, do good works save?, do works save, eternal life, faith alone, faith in Jesus, forgiveness for sins, gospel message, Jesus death burial and resurrection, John 3:16, saved by grace through faith, The Gospel, what must I do to be saved | 36 Comments

O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head! – Anne Ross Cousin

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head! Our load was laid on Thee; Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead – To bear all ill for me. A victim led, Thy blood was shed; Now there’s no load for me. Death … Continue reading →

Posted in Hymns & Poetry, Suffering & Persecution | Tagged Ann Ross Cousin, faith alone, faith in Jesus, Jesus' death, O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head! | Leave a comment

Christ to the Cross

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

The Raising of the Cross was painted by Rembrandt sometime around A.D. 1633. In the painting the artist portrayed himself as one among many who placed Christ on the cross to bear the sin of all mankind. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and the Bible, Salvation | Tagged atonement, Christ to the cross, Christian suffering, faith alone, faith in Jesus, I and the Father led Christ to the cross, salvation by grace, salvation by grace alone, saved by grace, saved by grace through faith, The Cross of Christ, the raising of the cross by Rembrandt, what is the gospel | 4 Comments

Saved by God’s Grace

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as … Continue reading →

Posted in Salvation | Tagged do good works save?, do works save, faith alone, faith in Jesus, free grace, free grace gospel, saved by Christ alone, saved by faith alone, saved by God's grace, saved by grace, saved by grace alone, saved by grace through faith, what is the gospel | 7 Comments

God’s Great Grace

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9) Grace (Grk. charis) is the … Continue reading →

Posted in God's Grace, Salvation | Tagged do good works save?, do works save, faith alone, faith in Jesus, free grace, Free Grace Salvation, God's Great grace, grace that saves, salvation by grace alone, saved by grace, saved by grace through faith | 5 Comments

Learning to Live by Faith

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

Everyone lives by faith; it’s a fact of life. We trust in things and people in order to live from day to day. We trust in chairs to support us, cars to transport us, employers to pay us, telephones … Continue reading →

Posted in Living by Faith | Tagged faith alone, faith in Jesus, how do we live by faith, Learning to live by faith, living by fiath, saved by grace through faith | 29 Comments

God’s Grace to Save

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Dr. Steven R. Cook

For by grace [charis] you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8-9) Charis is the Greek … Continue reading →

Posted in God's Grace | Tagged atonement, atonement for sin, barabas, do good works save?, do works save, faith in Jesus, free grace gospel, God's Grace to Save, salvation, salvation by faith alone, salvation by grace alone, saved by grace through faith, The Gospel, trust in God, what is the gospel | 2 Comments