THERE are three phases to the Christian Life.  We are saved, being saved, and will be saved.  That is – at the point of cross, coming to faith in Christ, we find deliverance from sin’s condemnation – “saved.”  But it does not stop there.  Now in Christ we are “being

MY opening went long last time, so I’m going to be brief here; inviting you to reread the previous comment introduction for this intro, and consider carefully the lesson below, the continuation of Chapter 47 that is so well stated. AS a reminder, we have been studying The Complete Green

WE will close out now this chapter on “Romans Eight Reckoning.”  We have come to see that there are three aspects, three phases to the Christian’s life, as we have been saved from sin’s condemnation, are being saved from sin’s power or rule in our life, and will be saved

OKAY, we have looked at Reckoning from the perspective of Romans Six, Seven, and Eight.  Now we come to Chapter 48 in The Complete Green Letters, Part 4 – The Realization of Spiritual Growth, and an excellent summary in how this ought to be applied.  My introduction is brief so

REACTIVE or proactive; getting out front of the curve; avoidance tactics – there are all kinds of terms which talk to avoiding the “too late” our author described in the last paragraph in the previous section of review; heading off the unintended consequences of our failure to “enter into that

I’LL never forget observing a Jr. High teacher at Covenant Christian Academy addressing the students, introducing the month’s Character Trait definition for “Endurance.”  As he was explaining each word in the definition, the difficulty and challenge each presented, he stopped and said, “You know children, in each one of us,

WE completed Chapter 48 – The Self-Life and Reckoning in our study of The Complete Green Letters – Part 4 – The Realization of Spiritual Growth. To recap, we have previously reviewed Principles of Reckoning (again, Chapter 40); the Three Steps in Reckoning: 1) Know and Reckon, 2) Abide and

FOLLOWING the previous post Summary Review, we will now return to The Complete Green Letters and commence our reading in Chapter 49, Reckoning in Galatians 2:20. This is an important consideration, to be taken slowly, carefully, and prayerfully.  If you have the book I would encourage you to read the

WE come to our Part 2 reading of Chapter 49– Reckoning in Galatians 2:20.  THE writer of Hebrews says in 6:1, Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection [maturity], not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of

THE previous reading of Chapter 49 – Reckoning in Galatians 2:20 – Part 2, ended with: “The subject of our reckoning may be further clarified by separating the three parts of the one heart-attitude:” The three parts we will now be explored in our reading, referencing once again our: 1)

REMEMBERING that Romans 8 follows the struggle defined and delineated in Roman 7 – “you can’t get to Roman 8 without going through Roman 7” –  our author now brings to a close our review of Chapter 49—Reckoning in Galatians 2:20 with an excellent illustration of the principle of the

A STAR Moment BY now you – those who actually read these weekly missives – ought to be familiar with one of my favorite catch-phrases, A STAR Moment; taking a time-out to Stop, Think, Assess, and Reflect. (There is a long list of “R” words that could be used here.) 

WE come now to Chapter 50, titled Reckoning in Philippians 3:10, continuing our study of The Complete Green Letters, Part4 – The Realization of Spiritual Growth. As we approach this chapter our author’s opening remarks contain these words: Philippians 3:10 involves reckoning. It is often quoted but seldom understood. It

IAM going rather long with this particular introduction.  It is hard not to; there are critical points that need to be observed here. THERE is another favorite book I place alongside The Complete Green Letters, Devoted to God: Blueprints For Sanctification, by Sinclair B. Ferguson.  It takes the same approach

I’M repeating myself I know, but I said at the opening of this chapter study that, For many a year, if not most of my Christian life, Phil. 3:10 …had eluded my understanding, experience, and comprehension. I just didn’t get it, and as our author states in his opening, this

OUR author opens the next section saying, “Suffering is the lot of all men, the privilege of all believers. … There is no fellowship with, and growth in, the crucified Lord without suffering—physical, mental, and spiritual.”  Thinking on this, it would seem to beg the question – Then are there no blessings

We are now coming to end of Chapter 50 in our Complete Green Letters study of Reckoning in Philippians 3:10.  To repeat this vital verse:  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death LAST time we concluded the looked