Truth For Life Blog

The book of Jude, as it nears its conclusion, includes a pair of apparently paradoxical statements. First, Jude encourages the Christians to whom he writes, “Keep yourselves in the love of God” (v. 21), exhorting them to do the practical work that it takes to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus. On the other hand, in his great doxological conclusion, Jude praises God as the one “who is able to keep you from stumbling” (v. 24). We keep ourselves, and God also keeps us.

Topics: Articles

The seventeenth-century minister Thomas Jacomb once wrote of Romans 8, “From first to last, it is high gospel.”[1] Beginning with “no condemnation” and ending with the assurance that nothing can separate us from God’s love, it is one of the most magisterial and encouraging chapters in all of Scripture. In his message “No Condemnation in Christ,”  Alistair Begg begins a short tour through its profound depths, helping us to grasp the solution to the predicament of sin, the relationship between freedom and the law, the call to walk in newness of life by God’s Spirit—and, in this excerpt, the significance of being “in Christ”:

You know that Paul actually doesn’t use “Christian” at all in his writings. He refers to the believer as being “in Christ.” Classically, perhaps, 2 Corinthians 5: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new [have] come” (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV 1984).

So this is the real question, isn’t it? …

… When Paul writes to the Ephesians and he begins with that great paean of praise of the amazing electing grace of God, he’s way up in the heights, and then you get to the thirteenth verse, and he says, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13 NIV 1984).  Are you in Christ? When were you included in Christ? Well, one answer to that is “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). …

… Becoming a Christian is a bit like getting married, you know.

… Imagine that it’s Christ and you standing at the front of the church, and God the Father is conducting the ceremony. And He says, “Son, do you take this sinner?”

And He says, “I do. I died for her.”

“And sinner, do you take this Savior?”

“I do.”

Stream or Read the Full Sermon 

[1] Thomas Jacomb, Sermons on the Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, (Verses 1–4) (Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1868), 12

Topics: From the Archives

“I want to make sure that we’re really serious about listening to the Word of God—not because of the person who is proclaiming it but because it is the Word of God.”
—Alistair Begg

Topics: Weekly Wallpaper

By its very nature, life confronts us with the question of our meaning. We ask ourselves, as the famous piece by Gauguin puts it, “Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?” We urgently need to know the answers to these questions.

Topics: Articles

“The providence of God is the foundation of all our security. It is this which gives to us comfort in the face of difficulty.”
—Alistair Begg

Topics: Weekly Wallpaper

Few stories declare God’s sovereignty over all circumstances more powerfully than the Bible’s dramatic account of Joseph as recorded in the book of Genesis. His story is one of twists and turns that include jealousy, deceit, slavery, sibling rivalry, and, in the end, forgiveness. In The Hand of God, Alistair invites you on a journey through this epic Old Testament narrative. He unpacks this unforgettable story and reveals its timeless relevance for believers who are navigating uncertainty, disappointment, or unexpected detours.

Topics: Monthly Resources

Trapped in a dark world without a clear view of God, the writer of Ecclesiastes went on a desperate search for meaning. He indulged in everything this life could offer—pleasure, achievement, wealth, and wisdom—only to find himself empty and unfulfilled. After climbing high on life’s ladder, he made a sobering discovery: It was leaning against the wrong wall. So where is true purpose and lasting satisfaction found?

Topics: Monthly Resources

For a short time in the first century—between the events of Matthew 4:11 and those of Matthew 4:12—Jesus and John the Baptist were both ministering, each in his own way. The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus’ disciples were baptizing in Judea and that John’s disciples noticed the growing impact of Jesus’ ministry, leading them to feel curious and perhaps even envious (3:25–26; 4:1–2).

Topics: Articles

“To you, O LORD, I call;
 my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
 I become like those who go down to the pit.
Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
 when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
 toward your most holy sanctuary.”
Psalm 28:1–2

Topics: Weekly Wallpaper

“What’s it like to work just one day a week?” While many pastors find themselves on the receiving end of such questions, the reality is that as Gospel workers, pastors know their jobs are never really finished. As Alistair Begg notes in his sermon “Pastoral Responsibilities,” Paul’s instructions to his protégé Timothy make clear that the church is always in need of pastors who will study God’s Word diligently so they can remind their congregations of the essentials of the faith and present themselves to God as ones approved:

Topics: From the Archives