Recent Entries

• THE WAY OF THE CROSS

  by David Maas December 13, 2022
  To follow Jesus wherever he goes necessitates a lifetime of self-denial and sacrificial service for others.    When Jesus dispatched his disciples to announce the “good news” to the “lost sheep of Israel,” he warned them to expect to find themselves as “shee...

• THE GREATER MOSES

  by David Maas December 3, 2022
  Matthew portrays Jesus as the Greater Moses who brings the Law and the Prophets to their intended goals.   In Matthew’s gospel, the life of Jesus echoes key events from the history of Israel. It is not that he reenacts what Yahweh did for Israel, but that he brings what God began in the...

• IN THE CHURCH

  by David Maas November 14, 2022
  John labels false teachers in the church as antichrists, and their deceptive teachings confirm that the last days have commenced.    The term “antichrist” occurs only in the letters of John, and he applies the plural noun to deceivers that are causing dissension in his congre...

• APPOINTED TO TRIBULATION

  by David Maas November 12, 2022
  Disciples escape God’s wrath, but they endure tribulation to which they have been appointed – 1 Thessalonians 3:1-4.    In the New Testament, the terms “tribulation” and “wrath” are NOT synonymous. “Tribulation” is what disci...

• WHAT SATAN FEARS

  by David Maas November 8, 2022
  What threatens the Devil’s plans is a church conformed to the Cross of Christ that trembles at God’s word.    Satan offers a smorgasbord of deceptions, and he cares not which one we choose. Only, do not venture in the “wrong” direction. And regardless of which lie...

• GRACE AND TRUTH

  by David Maas November 5, 2022
  The fullness, grace, and truth of God are found only in the Word made Flesh, namely, Jesus of Nazareth – John 1:14-18.   The prologue to John’s gospel introduces several key themes - Life, Light, Witness, Truth, and Grace.  Jesus is the Ligh...

• ONCE HIDDEN, NOW REVEALED

  by David Maas November 2, 2022
  God’s previously hidden mysteries are now revealed in Jesus, especially in his death and resurrection.    The Bible speaks of the “mysteries” of God, His ways that are hidden from human wisdom and defy our expectations. In his teachings, Jesus declared that not eve...

• THE LIVING WORD

  by David Maas October 29, 2022
  He is the Word made flesh in whom the glory of God is revealed, the same word by which He created all things is now unveiled in Jesus of Nazareth.   The gospel of John identifies Jesus as the Logos, the “word” by which God made all things. This is one of the central...

• SPIRITUAL WARFARE

  by David Maas October 26, 2022
  Disciples wage spiritual warfare through right conduct, acts of love, and by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.    “Spiritual warfare” is a common topic in popular preaching and Christian books. The idea is derived from a passage in which Paul writes to the church in Eph...

• BECOMING SPIRITUAL

  by David Maas October 22, 2022
  Christ crucified is the pattern disciple of Jesus are summoned to emulate, and the test of genuine faith in him. Only the spiritually minded understand that the Cross is God's "wisdom and power."   His death is the paradigm for discipleship, the measuring rod for Christian conduct, a...

• ONE NEW PEOPLE

  by David Maas October 19, 2022
  By his death, Jesus has formed one covenant community - “one new Man” - based on faith in him, not ethnicity or nationality – Ephesians 2:11-22.    Paul is adamant. Now, “in Christ Jesus,” no longer can there be “Jew or Gentile.” He has &ldq...

• IN THE LAST DAYS

  by David Maas October 17, 2022
  The outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost signaled the arrival of the “last days,” just as prophesied by Joel – Acts 2:17-21.   The application of Joel’s prophecy by Peter on the Day of Pentecost links the gift of the Spirit to the onset of the messianic age, the ...

• HEIRS OF THE COVENANT

  by David Maas October 4, 2022
  With the ascension of Jesus, the gift of the Spirit has arrived with blessings for all believers as promised to Abraham.   The “promise of the Father” is the gift of the Spirit that Paul links to the Abrahamic covenant, and its promises find their fulfillment in the new covenant i...

• THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER

  by David Maas September 29, 2022
  With the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost, the blessings for all nations promised to Abraham have commenced. The “promise of the Father” is the gift of the Spirit that Paul links to the Abrahamic covenant, and its promises find their fulfillment in the new covenant inaugurated ...

• THE KINGDOM OF GOD

  by David Maas September 20, 2022
  The message of Jesus focused on the “Kingdom of God,” the reign of God that bears little resemblance to the political systems of this age.    When Jesus appeared in Galilee, he began to proclaim the “Kingdom of God” – “Repent, for the kingdom is at han...

• MANY DECEIVERS

  by David Maas September 10, 2022
  Christ’s Olivet Discourse opens with warnings about coming deceivers who will propagate false expectations and information about the end.    Jesus begins his Olivet Discourse with an ominous warning about coming deceivers, men who will claim his authority and spread rumors about ...

• THE CENTURION

  by David Maas August 31, 2022
  Only at his death did the Roman centurion who was present at his execution recognize who Jesus was.    In Mark, all men prove incapable of recognizing who Jesus is, even his disciples. The only exceptions are John the Baptist and the Roman centurion at Golgotha, the very man in char...

• A CALLTO PERSEVERE

  by David Maas August 24, 2022
  Through a series of seven “beatitudes,” Revelation summons believers to faithfulness despite hostility and persecution.    The book of Revelation is not a tool of divination for deciphering mysteries, but a summons calling God’s people to vigilance, right ...

• YEA AND AMEN

  by David Maas August 21, 2022
  The types and “shadows” of the Hebrew Bible find their substance in the Son of God, Christ Jesus.    The fulfillment of the promises in the Hebrew Bible is found in Jesus - “In him” all the promises of God find their “yea” and “amen.” ...

• FOR ALL NATIONS

  by David Maas August 20, 2022
  The Gospel of the Kingdom announced by Jesus is a message of life and salvation for men and women in every nation.    After his resurrection, Jesus declared - “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all nations!” - As the ...

• PERSECUTED DISCIPLES

  by David Maas August 17, 2022
  Our human tendency is to avoid conflict. Understandably, we prefer our daily lives to be characterized by peace, acceptance, and prosperity, a life devoid of difficulties and afflictions. And the New Testament does promise believers peace now and everlasting life later. Yet it also exhorts us to exp...

• CHRIST AND CAESAR

  by David Maas August 16, 2022
  Satan offered Jesus unlimited political power to achieve his messianic mission if only he would accept the Devil as his overlord.    Satan tempted Jesus by offering him political power over “all the kingdoms of the world,” but he refused the offer. Instead of power and g...

• SPIRITUALITY

  by David Maas August 7, 2022
  The spiritually minded man understands that Christ Crucified is God’s true power and wisdom - 1 Corinthians 2:14.   Overused today, the English term ‘spiritual’ is virtually meaningless. To some, it is synonymous with religion. To be religious is to ...

• WAY OF THE CROSS

  by David Maas August 6, 2022
  When Jesus dispatched his disciples to announce the “good news” to the “lost sheep of Israel,” he warned that they would find themselves as “sheep among wolves.” Hostile men would haul them before “councils and whip them in their synagogues,” and his f...

• PERSECUTION, SUFFERING & DISCIPLESHIP

  by David Maas August 3, 2022
  To follow Jesus means self-denial and a willingness to suffer, and for disciples, persecution is the highest honor – Matthew 5:10-12.   For his disciples, retaliation and violence are NOT appropriate reactions when persecution occurs. Rather than respond in kind, the...

• RESPONDING TO PERSECUTORS

  by David Maas July 30, 2022
  When Christians react in kind to hostility, whether from government, society, or individuals, Satan wins.    The reality of persecution raises serious questions. How should we react to our persecutors, especially when we are targeted by governing authorities? Should disciples respond...

• HASTENING THE END

  by David Maas July 24, 2022
  HASTENING THE END   Before he ascended, Jesus tasked his disciples with proclaiming the gospel to all nations, “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you.” But he did not leave them powerless in this endeavor.   Not only does he now poss...

• SMALL THINGS MATTER

  by David Maas July 22, 2022
  Do not fear or hesitate to do the small tasks that God puts into your hands, especially those that serve the needs of others.    Before he left the Temple for the last time, Jesus observed a Poor widow depositing “two mites” in the treasury. In contrast to many others, she &l...

• BEASTS IN THE CHURCH

  by David Maas April 24, 2022
  The term “antichrist” occurs in John’s first two epistles. In his first, he warns “it is the last hour, and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.” The letter does not deny that an individual “ant...

• CALL HIS NAME JESUS

  by David Maas April 21, 2022
  The name ‘Jesus’ means “salvation of Yahweh,” In him, the salvation promised to Israel by Yahweh has arrived – Matthew 1:18-21.    An angel appeared to Joseph and informed him Mary was with child “begotten of the Holy Spirit,” and he ...

• INCOMPARABLE NEW COVENANT

  by David Maas April 9, 2022
  In his death, Jesus inaugurated the promised and vastly superior new covenant, rendering the old one obsolete.   According to Hebrews, the “word of the Son” surpasses all past revelations “spoken in the prophets.” He went beyond his predecessors, having “ach...