Stand and Pray

Posted on August 23, 2026 by rgpriest

Ephesians 6:10-20

I am picking up from my last post. I wrote about the confidence we have to enter the throne room of God. Under the old covenant, the Most Holy Place was entered only by the high priest, and only once a year. Unauthorized entrance meant death. But because Christ has offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin, all who belong to Him are welcomed into God’s presence.

There, at the throne of grace, we receive mercy for our failures and grace for our present need.

This week we will look at another reason that access to this room is so important

The throne room of God is not only a place of mercy and grace; it is the place from which our King strengthens His people. If you will, it is the command center of His kingdom. We come to our heavenly Father through the Son to receive everything we need to live faithfully in a world that is increasingly hostile to Him.

It is no question our world has its issues. Unfortunately, we stopped using language like good and bad, light and dark, and especially the language of evil and righteous.

We disagree about many of the sources and solutions, but very few people would argue that everything is as it should be.

One thing the Bible makes clear is this is a battle. And in every battle there is a commander and a way for him to communicate, with and supply his troops with the strategy and provisions needed to prevail in the fight

That is prayer.

Scripture teaches that there are problems that cannot be understood merely through politics, economics, education, finance or psychology. Those things matter, and God can use them for good, but they cannot fully explain what is wrong with humanity.

These days talk of things like spiritual warfare, fighting the enemy, the battle over evil can get you labelled a crazy person. But I want to take a levelheaded, biblical approach.

The Unseen

We need to acknowledge the fact that there is a world we do not see and a fight that is taking place. We see the consequences here.

When Paul says that we do not struggle against flesh and blood he is not denying that we do actually struggle on the human level. He is saying that our struggle is not just on the material physical level.

People laugh at any suggestion that our problems are spiritual and, on a more serious note, accuse us of neglecting the real battle which in their opinion should be waged against such tangible things as poverty, oppression, hunger, and various forms of injustice.

But we have to look deeper at the source and solution. The problems are not solved with simple answers, more programs or money or protest. We need to get to the root of the issue

Here is a clear statement that there is an unseen world and, we see the results or the consequences every day

Whenever people speak about spiritual warfare, there is a temptation to fall into one of two extremes.

CS Lewis warning that the greatest scheme of the devil has been to convince us he is not real

In his preface to The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis writes: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence, the other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves [the devils] are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”

“Readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar.”

“The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” Unknown

Our Commander

Our commander already fought the fight that decided everything. He already defeated the enemy and passed through the heavens leading us with Him. But the enemy in his defeat is trying to take as many people as possible down with him

Now our commander has resourced us with what we need until the victory parade happens

Paul  does not say, “Be strong in yourself.”

He does not say, “Try harder.”

He does not say, “Believe in yourself.”

He says, “Be strong in the Lord.”

The Christian life has never been about self-confidence.

It has always been about Christ-confidence.

The strength we need does not originate within us. It comes from our Savior.

Another thing to remember is our adversary is not only real, he is evil and he is strategic

He seldom confronts a believer overtly but with cunning and guile. A Christian must be continually alert for the schemes of the enemy.

James Montgomery Boice said He does appear in multiple ways

As a roaring lion. Peter says that the devil comes to us as “a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). I do not think Peter means that Satan always appears as a lion to us, but he sometimes appears before us with a frightful roar—to terrify us into forgetting who we are and whom we are to serve.

2. As a friend. At other times the devil appears before us as a friend. This is how Satan came to Eve. He did not come threatening. He came with an offer to help out.

3. As an angel of light. He does not come looking like a monstrous, scary creature but in crafty disguise, even (mis)quoting Scripture.

Everything Paul is about to describe—the belt, the breastplate, the shield, the helmet, the sword—is ultimately found in Christ Himself.

We put on the armor by putting on Christ.

As we trust Him, follow Him, believe His promises, obey His Word, and depend upon Him in prayer, we stand firm—not because we are strong, but because our Commander is.

Our Defense

Belt of Truth

The belt holds it all together. Typical dress in the ancient world was a robe. It’s hard run around in battle. So, you need a belt

This is an OT picture

Isaiah 11:5 “Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.”

As we buckle on this piece of the Messiah’s armor, we live by His truth and speak His truth.

But what truth?

Certainly God’s Word.

Certainly sound doctrine.

Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” John 14:6

Truth is ultimately a Person.

John 8:32 “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Breastplate of Righteousness

The breastplate covered the chest, the vital organs

Believers must understand their righteous standing in Christ and live righteous lives that reflect their standing before God.

Our confidence is in the righteousness of Christ credited to us through faith.

When we trusted Christ, God declared us righteous because Jesus took our sin upon Himself and gave us His righteousness.

That is our justification. Not that we are perfect now, but we have a standing before God as a citizen, as an adopted child, that can not be taken away.

Satan loves to accuse. He reminds believers of their failures.

Their past.

Their sins.

Their weaknesses.

His accusation is often truthful.

We really have sinned.

But he leaves out the gospel.

Our answer is not,

“I’ve done enough good.”

Our answer is,

“Christ has done everything necessary.”

Shield of Faith

Knowing and believing the promise of God.

This was not a small shield like Captain America but more like the riot gear. And when you link them together you form a wall or barrier of defense.

Faith functions the same way.

Faith is not optimism.

It is not positive thinking.

Faith says I know and believe the promises of God. I believe Him, not the accuser, not even my own self.

The devil deploys various weapons against believers—fear, doubt, lust, anxiety—but Paul indicates that faith renders these weapons worthless by enabling believers to take God at His word and trust that He is more powerful than anything the adversary can deploy

Helmet of Salvation

1 Thessalonians 5:8 “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”

A helmet protects the head.

We know we have been reconciled to God. We know this is permanent

That confidence guards our minds against despair.

The enemy would have us believe there is no hope.

The gospel tells us otherwise.

Every believer can say,

“My Savior has begun a good work in me, and He will bring it to completion.”

That confidence enables us to stand when everything around us seems uncertain.

Our Offense

But we do not just stand firm. We also have a way of advance. To promote the truth of Jesus, not your truth, my truth, but His truth

Thus far, Paul has emphasized standing firm.

But Christians are not merely called to endure.

The Gospel Advances.

The church advances. Not by worldly power.

Not by political influence.

Not by intimidation.

Not by assimilation into the world

But by the Gospel, the Word of God and the power of prayer.

Feet Shod with the Gospel

Soldiers need the right shoes.

You don’t go into battle wearing Birkenstocks or crocs. Roman soldiers traveled incredible distances. Good footwear allowed them to remain steady on difficult terrain.

Christians also need firm footing.

What keeps us steady?

The gospel.

Notice the beautiful irony.

Paul has been describing warfare.

Yet right in the middle of military imagery he speaks of peace.

That is because Christ has already made peace between God and sinners.

The gospel announces that enemies can become children.

Isaiah 52:7 ESV How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Sword of the Spirit

Hebrews 4:12 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

However, Paul normally uses logos, but here he uses rhema, which usually refers to the spoken word. If that is the case here, then he is referring to speaking the word, which is powerful and effective by the Spirit of God. That reminds us that the gospel is not meant merely to be read silently; it is meant to be spoken.

Romans 10:17 ESV So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Remember Jesus as began His public ministry. He was led into the wilderness and tempted by Satan. And He resisted, not by performing miracles or calling down angels, but by speaking Scripture.

Three times Satan tempted Him.

Three times Jesus answered,

“It is written.”

That is our pattern.

The Christian’s greatest weapon is the living Word of God.

That is why we read Scripture.

Why we memorize it.

Why we meditate on it.

Why we teach it.

Why we preach it.

Because God has chosen to accomplish His work through His Word.

We proclaim Christ.

We speak His promises to one another.

We encourage one another with Scripture.

We answer temptation with Scripture.

We answer discouragement with Scripture.

Prayer in the Spirit

This is not a physical piece of armor. John Piper compares it to the walkie talkie

Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief.

God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world.

We come to the Father, through Christ, by the Spirit. And because of the gift of the Spirit, the Christian warrior has constant access to God in the midst of the war

A soldier does not carry a radio because it is impressive.

He carries it because he cannot fight alone.

He constantly calls headquarters for orders, intelligence, supplies, strength, and direction.

That is exactly what prayer is for the Christian.

Prayer is not simply asking God to make life more comfortable.

It is our constant dependence upon Him as we seek to live faithfully in a broken world.

The Victory

This is hope not despair, confidence not fear

As we come to the end of this passage, it is important that we leave with the emphasis Paul gives us.

This text is not primarily about Satan or demons.

It is not even primarily about armor.

It is about Christ.

Every piece of the armor points us to Him.

He is the truthful One.

He is our righteousness.

He is our peace.

He is the object of our faith.

He is our salvation.

He is the eternal Word made flesh.

He intercedes for us.

Everything we need is found in Him.

That means the Christian life is not fundamentally about trying harder.

It is about abiding in Christ.

Trusting Christ.

Following Christ.

Resting in Christ.

Growing into the likeness of Christ.

The enemy is real.

The battle is real.

The suffering is real.

But so is the victory.

Listen again to Paul’s repeated command:

Stand.

Stand firm.

Stand.

Not because you are strong enough.

Not because your faith never wavers.

Not because your obedience is perfect.

Stand because Jesus Christ has already won the decisive victory.

At the cross He disarmed the rulers and authorities.

At the empty tomb He conquered death.

At His ascension He was seated far above every rule and authority and power and dominion.

And today He reigns as King over all.

One day the battle will end.

Faith will become sight.

We will stand—not as weary soldiers, but as joyful worshipers around the throne of the Lamb.

Until that day, Paul has one message for the church:

Be strong in the Lord.

Not in yourself.

Stand firm in Christ.

Not in your own strength.

1 John 4:4 ESV Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

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The High Cost of Prayer

Posted on August 2, 2026 by rgpriest

Introduction

How much does prayer cost?

And who is able to pay the price?

Milton Vincent writes in A Gospel Primer:

“God is radically committed to my life of prayer. He shed the blood of His Son so that I might be cleansed and rendered fit (Ephesians 1:7) to stand before Him in love. He also permitted the brutal rending of His Son so that I might now have a way into the Holy Place through the torn flesh of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19–20)… How can I not feel the infinite sincerity of these invitations, especially when considering the painful lengths that God endured so that I might enter His presence with prayer?”

Draw near He says in Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Enter in He says in Hebrews 10:19–20 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 simply says “pray without ceasing,”.

These are not reluctant invitations. They are not invitations from a God who merely tolerates our presence. They are invitations purchased by the blood of Christ Himself.

That raises an important question:

What did it cost to open that way?

The Cost of Admission

Hebrews answers the question.

Hebrews 4:14 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”

Under the Old Covenant, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place only once each year on the Day of Atonement. Passing through the outer court, then the Holy Place, and finally into the Holy of Holies, he carried the blood of sacrifice before God on behalf of the people.

Jesus passed through the heavens.

He did not merely enter an earthly sanctuary made with hands. He “passed through the heavens” into the very presence of the Father.

His sacrifice was not the blood of bulls and goats.

He offered His own blood.

The One who welcomes us into God’s presence is not merely sympathetic because He is God.

He is sympathetic because He became man.

Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Jesus knows what it is to be weary.

He knows what it is to be misunderstood.

He knows rejection, sorrow, loneliness, hunger, exhaustion, and temptation.

Yet unlike us, He never sinned.

Even though he was tempted in every way as we are, he never sinned and he has passed through the heavens into the very throne room of God to be our mediator

That means when we come to Him, we are not approaching someone who looks down on struggling sinners with impatience.

We come to One who perfectly understands our weakness while remaining perfectly holy.

If we had a high priest who was cold and heartless; who simply performed the external duties of his office without entering the sympathies of those who came to seek for pardon; who had never experienced any trials, and who felt himself above those who sought his aid,

There would be no motivation, no desire, to approach a High Priest who looked down on us because we struggle, who could not understand what we are going through.

It is our unwavering confidence that Jesus Christ truly is who He claimed to be—the incarnate Son of God, crucified for sinners, risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now reigning as our Great High Priest and coming back one day in victory to claim His own.

If Christ really is Lord

That Christ really rose from the dead

If Christ truly sits at the Father’s right hand…

If He truly intercedes for His people…

If He truly opened the way into God’s presence…

Then why would we neglect prayer?

The cost of this access? The Son of God laid down His life, torn in the flesh, blood poured out. So, I can enter in. So I can approach the Father myself.

The price?

Incarnation

Temptation

Suffering

Crucifixion

That leads to the

The Privilege of Admission

After showing us how much it cost to get us access to God we will look at just how great a privilege this access is.

Hebrews 10:19–20 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,”

He does not say since you have confidence in yourself

He says,

“Since we have confidence…by the blood of Jesus.”

Our confidence is not found in the strength of our faith but in the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice.

Confidence. The idea of being a citizen and you know what your rights are.

The entrance into the most holy place was forbidden to all but the high priest; but now access to the real “holy of holies” was granted to all in the name of the great High Priest of the Christian profession.

The high priest entered only once each year, carrying sacrificial blood, and only according to God’s exact instructions. The result of failing to follow God’s instructions precisely, was death.

The Holy of Holies proclaimed one unmistakable truth:

One does not simply walk into the presence of a holy God.

What was the punishment for doing so? Death

The blood of Jesus is how this access to heaven is secured. The Jewish high priest entered the holy of holies with the blood of bulls and of rams ; but the Saviour offered his own blood, and that became how we may have access to God.

Not because God had become less holy, but because His justice had been fully satisfied in His Son.

The place that once meant certain death has now become the place where believers are welcomed.

A throne is the seat of a sovereign;

A throne is the seat of a king.

It speaks of authority.

Power.

Majesty.

Justice.

God has not ceased to be the sovereign King of the universe

Yet Hebrews adds one remarkable word. Only time this phrase appears in Scripture

Now it is a throne of grace is designed to represent a sovereign seated to dispense mercy and pardon

He did not merely tell you to pray.

He gave His Son so that you could.

Prayer is not an afterthought of the Christian life.

It is one of the great blessings Christ died to secure.

The Prize of Admission

At his throne, Christians can find grace to help them in their times of need.

You are welcomed into the throne room of the King. Not as an alien but a citizen

You come, not as a stranger, but as an adopted son or daughter.

Not because you deserve to be there.

Because Christ deserves to be there—and you are united to Him.

Notice the order in Hebrews 10.

We receive mercy first.

That is because our greatest need is forgiveness.

We do not first come asking God to improve our circumstances.

We first come praying Lord be merciful to me a sinner.

We still need the Father’s forgiveness.

And every time we come through Christ, mercy is found.

But we do not receive mercy alone.

We also find grace.

Grace to endure suffering.

Grace to resist temptation.

Grace to obey difficult commands.

Grace to forgive those who have wounded us.

Grace to persevere when faith is costly.

Grace for today’s burdens—not merely yesterday’s failures.

God never calls His children to a task without also supplying the grace necessary to accomplish it.

Conclusion

We have the privilege of coming before such a throne. We are sinful—and need mercy; we are feeble and need grace to help us. There is not a day of our lives in which we do not need pardon; not an hour in which we do not need grace.

With a true heart in full assurance. In other words, we can now stand before God certain that our sins are forgiven by virtue of our faith in Jesus.

This throne is always accessible. There IS A GOD. He is always ready to pardon. There IS A REDEEMER. He is the Great High Priest of men. He is always interceding

This is why prayer is indispensable to the Christian life.

Prayer is the God-ordained means by which His children lay hold of the mercy and grace He delights to give.

Don’t give up.

And He is praying for you

And He is inviting you into the Holy place, to pray

Run into the throne room, it is open to you.

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Whose Voice Are You Listening To?

Posted on July 19, 2026 by rgpriest

The Truth or The Lie?

Genesis 3 contains two primary questions.

One is asked by the serpent. The other is asked by God.

One question leads to rebellion. The other begins the work of restoration.

From the beginning, humanity enjoyed perfect fellowship with its Creator. Adam and Eve walked with God in unhindered communion. Nothing stood between them and the One who had made them. They knew God as He had revealed Himself, and they trusted His goodness.

Then another voice entered the garden.

The serpent’s first words were not a command but a question:

“Did God actually say…?” (Genesis 3:1)

With that single question, the enemy planted seeds of doubt. Notice what he did. He ignored God’s overwhelming generosity. God had given Adam and Eve every tree in the garden except one. The serpent shifted their focus away from God’s abundant provision and fixed their attention on the one thing God had withheld.

Isn’t that still his strategy today?

He whispers, “Is God really good? Is He keeping something from you? Wouldn’t life be better if you ignored His Word?”

The temptation was never merely about fruit. It was about trust.

Would Adam and Eve believe God’s Word, or would they believe another voice?

The serpent escalated the deception.

“You will not surely die.”

In other words, God is lying to you. He cannot be trusted. He knows that if you disobey Him, your life will actually become better. You’ll be like Him.

At its heart, every temptation invites us to believe the same lie: that life apart from God’s rule is better than life under His loving authority.

Tragically, Adam and Eve believed the serpent.

What is striking is that they never questioned him. They never stopped to seek the Lord. They never asked, “Is this really true?”

Instead, they acted.

The moment they ate, everything changed.

Shalom gave way to shame.

Peace gave way to fear.

Instead of walking toward God, they hid from Him.

Sin always promises freedom but produces slavery. It promises life but brings death. It promises wisdom but leaves us hiding in guilt.

Then comes one of the most beautiful moments in Scripture.

God comes into the garden.

He asks a question.

“Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9)

God was not asking because He lacked information. The all-knowing Creator knew exactly where Adam and Eve were. His question was an invitation of grace. He called them out of hiding and confronted them with the reality of what had happened.

Adam replied, “I was afraid… because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

Fear had entered a relationship that had once known only perfect fellowship.

Then God asked another question:

“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” (Genesis 3:11)

Again, God already knew the answer.

His questions exposed the deeper issue.

Who had they believed?

Whose voice had they trusted?

That remains the great question for every generation.

When Adam and Eve listened to God’s voice, they enjoyed peace, joy, fellowship, and life.

When they listened to the voice of the deceiver, they found shame, fear, alienation, and death.

The tragedy was not simply that they broke a command. They distrusted the God who had never given them a reason to doubt Him.

Yet the story does not end with judgment.

It continues with grace.

God pronounced the consequences of sin, but He did not abandon His people. He clothed Adam and Eve with garments of skin, a picture that reminds us that sin brings death and that covering requires sacrifice. Even here, in the opening pages of Scripture, we see the first rays of the gospel. God Himself provided what they could never provide for themselves.

He also promised that one day the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). The garden points us forward to the cross, where the Second Adam would succeed where the first Adam failed.

The Lord did not erase the consequences of sin. Adam and Eve would leave Eden. Death would now mark human existence. Yet God did not leave them without hope. He pursued them, covered them, and promised redemption.

That is still His way.

God still comes seeking sinners.

He still calls people out of hiding.

He still confronts us with truth.

He still offers mercy through Christ.

So Genesis 3 leaves each of us with two searching questions.

Where are you?

Are you hiding behind success, religion, busyness, or shame? Are you avoiding the God who already knows your heart but still calls you to Himself?

Whose voice are you listening to?

Are you believing voices that tell you God is restrictive, unloving, or holding you back? Are you trusting a culture that promises fulfillment apart from Christ?

Every day we choose which voice will shape our lives.

One voice says, “God cannot be trusted.”

The other says, “Come to Me.”

One voice leads to shame and fear.

The other leads to forgiveness, peace, and life.

The temporary taste of forbidden fruit has never been worth the loss of fellowship with God.

The good news of the gospel is that the God who sought Adam in the garden is the same God who seeks sinners today through Jesus Christ. His call remains the same.

Come out of hiding.

Come back to the One whose voice has always spoken truth, grace, and life.

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Freedom Worth Celebrating

Posted on July 5, 2026 by rgpriest

Happy 250th Independence Day!

Here in Pennsylvania, there is much to celebrate. Fireworks, parades, family gatherings, the FIFA World Cup, and even Union Pacific Big Boy have made this a memorable summer.

As grateful as I am for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, Independence Day also reminds me of a much deeper freedom.

Long before the Declaration of Independence was signed, long before the American Revolution, and even before the ideas of Greek democracy, humanity longed to be free.

That desire was not an accident. God placed it within us.

The question has always been: Where is true freedom found?

The Apostle Paul answers that question in Galatians 5:1 (ESV):

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Paul is not speaking primarily about political freedom. He is speaking about something much greater.

He is speaking about the slavery of trying to earn God’s acceptance.

Every religion built on human effort asks the same question: Have I done enough?

Have I obeyed enough?

Have I been good enough?

Have I earned God’s favor?

The gospel gives a radically different answer.

Christ has already done what we never could.

As Paul continues in Galatians 5:13 (ESV):

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Christian freedom is not permission to ignore God’s Word or redefine His truth.

Rather, it is freedom from the impossible burden of trying to save ourselves.

God’s law is good because it reflects His holy character. Jesus did not abolish it; He fulfilled it perfectly.

The law was designed to show us how to live together in a community.

The law teaches us what pleases God, but it cannot forgive sin. Just read the 10 commandments. Not once does it say do this to be saved, or be forging, or go to heaven.

Forgiveness requires payment. All the OT sacrifices were God’s way of dealing with our sin until the ultimate payment in Christ would be made

Every one of us has accumulated a debt we could never repay.

That is why the cross is such glorious news.

Paul writes in Colossians 2:13–14 (ESV):

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”

Because Christ has paid our debt, those who belong to Him no longer have to live asking:

  • Have I disappointed God beyond His grace?
  • Have I done enough to earn His love?
  • Have I somehow lost His favor?

The answer is found at the cross.

Christ has already accomplished everything necessary for our salvation.

That does not produce careless living. Rather, it produces grateful obedience.

As 1 John 5:3–5 (ESV) reminds us:

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

That is freedom.

Freedom to rest in Christ’s finished work.

Freedom from striving to earn what has already been given by grace.

Freedom to joyfully love God, obey His Word, and serve others through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we celebrate America’s Independence Day, may we also rejoice in the greater freedom that belongs to every believer:

“For freedom Christ has set us free.”

The audio and song can be found at https://youtu.be/STAUUYJJ99Q

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Freedom, Responsibility, and the Gift of Liberty

Posted on June 28, 2026 by rgpriest

This is a big week here in the United States. On July 4, 2026, our nation marks its 250th anniversary, and the celebration will stretch far beyond a single day.

Hi, my name is Bob, and this is Common Man Guitar, where I share my faith through music and a few honest reflections along the way. Today’s post is about political freedom. Next time, Lord willing, we’ll look more closely at spiritual freedom—the freedom we have in and because of Christ.

The song I’m sharing today is called Freedom.

Freedom is one of the core values of the United States, but it is also one of the deepest longings of the human heart. People everywhere desire freedom—not only as a political ideal, but as part of what it means to live with dignity.

But what is freedom? Is it merely something a government grants, or is it something deeper—something given by God? The Declaration of Independence says that human beings are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,” and then names “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Liberty, in that sense, is not presented as a gift from rulers. It is presented as something rooted in our Creator.

That matters, because if freedom is only given by government, then freedom can also be taken away by government—or by any other powerful institution.

I want to talk about that God-given aspect in a moment. But first, we need to remember something important: freedom is not the same thing as license. I’m afraid many of us have come to think freedom means, “I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, without consequences and without concern for anyone else.”

Freedom does not mean I have to accept, condone, and celebrate everything someone does even if it offends my conscience. Freedom does not mean anything goes. Even in a free country somethings are still wrong. Especially when it comes to truth, biblical truth. God has not changed his mind. Sin is still sin. Freedom and liberty do not negate that.

You can see it in small, ordinary places—like the sample tables at Costco. People will nearly block an aisle push you aside to get half a meatball, with very little regard for the people around them.

Or think about the grocery aisle: “I need my gallon of milk now, so everyone else needs to get out of my way.”

Or the group catching up in front of the bread while someone else is trying to reach the shelf. We may laugh at these examples, but they reveal something about the human heart.

We see the same thing in traffic. “Where I’m going matters more than where you’re going. If I can get one car ahead, ignore the merge sign, and force my way in, then that’s what I’ll do.”

Yes, in one sense, I may be free to make choices. I can drive too fast. I can ignore the rules. But freedom does not remove consequences.

And that is true not only in traffic or grocery stores. It is true morally, spiritually, and culturally. When we disregard God’s design for human life, family, community, and truth, there are consequences—whether we see them immediately or not.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am deeply grateful for the freedoms I enjoy. I do not know how I would handle living in a place where those freedoms were far more limited.

And while I may not like every restriction a government imposes, I also recognize that I live in a community. The exercise of my freedom requires me to consider my neighbor, my responsibilities, and the consequences of my actions.

According to Scripture, governing authorities have a God-given role: to preserve order, promote what is good, and restrain evil for the good of the community.

In Romans 13, Paul writes, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”

Now, the question of exactly what rights we do or do not have is a larger conversation. But this much is clear: liberty does not mean we are free to do whatever we want without consequence.

Biblically, freedom is the ability to live according to what God has designed and called us to. I Do not get to make up a God in my own image who does whatever I want.

Government, at its best, protects the wellbeing, safety, and flourishing of the community so people can live responsibly before God and one another.

It is a God given institution.

Freedom is God’s gift, and government is meant to protect that gift—not replace God as the source of it.

But if God gives freedom, then God also defines both our rights and our responsibilities.

So much of the Old Testament shows us God forming a people and teaching them how to live. The Ten Commandments give us a helpful summary: the first four focus on our relationship with God, and the remaining six focus on our relationship with one another.

God places us in community, and then He gives us ways to live together in a healthy and flourishing society.

That touches everything: how we worship, how we conduct our business, how we care for our families, and how we treat our neighbors.

God also established structures of authority—families, local communities, elders, judges, kings, and governments—to help maintain order and protect liberty.

At the same time, just as individuals do not have unrestricted freedom to do whatever they want, governments do not have unrestricted authority to command whatever they want.

America’s founders understood that no human being is fit to exercise total authority. We are fallen and fallible, so power needs checks, balances, guidelines, and restraints.

And when a government permits, requires, or pressures people to violate God’s clear commands, Christians must obey God rather than man—and be willing to accept the consequences.

That distinction matters. If I drive as fast as I want, I cannot complain when I get a ticket or lose my license. Consequences are part of moral order.

When Nebuchadnezzar demanded worship, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused—and they accepted the the fiery furnace.

When Daniel was told it was illegal to pray, he prayed anyway—and accepted the the Lion’s Den.

Neither had any guarantees God would intervene as He did. They went in accepting the consequences of their actions

When the apostles were told to stop preaching, they kept preaching—and accepted the consequences. At one point they were delivered. But they all lost their lives obeying God over man.

Even Paul, when arrested, appealed to his rights as a citizen and took his case through the proper authorities. He obeyed the governing authorities where he could. When obedience to man conflicted with obedience to God, he followed God and accepted what came with it.

God has given all people dignity, life, and the need for protection. IT is part of being made in the image of God. I am grateful to live in a country where many of those rights have been preserved, even though the times are changing.

So I must exercise my rights with responsibility—to my community, to my neighbors, and to the governing authorities God has placed over me.

Where I can obey, I must obey. Where a law is unjust or unbiblical, I must resist faithfully, humbly, and courageously.

And in either case, I must be willing to accept the consequences.

I may not always like or agree with my leaders.

I may not always like or agree with their laws.

But I am not free from the responsibility to honor and obey those whom God has placed in positions of authority, insofar as I can do so without disobeying Him.

And I also have a responsibility to work for laws and leaders that are just, wise, and aligned with what is good.

I also do not want to forget the debt of honor we owe to those who have served, fought, and even died to help secure and preserve the freedoms we enjoy.

And we should remember those who, even today, put themselves on the line for the benefit, safety, and security of our communities.

So as we celebrate freedom, let’s do it with gratitude, humility, and responsibility. Let’s give thanks for political liberty, but let’s not confuse it with ultimate freedom.

Next time, we’ll take a further look at the freedom we have in Christ. Until then, may we use our liberty not simply for ourselves, but in love for God and neighbor.

And part of that freedom is to Create, Not Copy

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Behold I am Coming Back

Posted on June 14, 2026 by rgpriest

Promises Kept Revelation 22:7

Everything is moving toward completion. History is not a random collection of events. God is directing all things toward a specific end according to His sovereign purpose.

In the last post, we looked at God’s promise to make all things new. That naturally leads to another question: When will that work be completed?

Jesus answered this in another statement of Jesus I am quotes, describing what He is doing

Jesus answers that question in Revelation 22:7:

“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7, ESV)

These words come immediately after John’s vision of the paradise God is preparing for His people. They remind us that God has a purpose in all He is doing and a destination toward which history is moving.

This world is not random, chance or fate. That would make life miserable if everything we went through had no purpose. That we live life with joy and sorrow and then become worm food. If the difficulties had no purpose. If the joys had no meaning.

What is the point?

But if there is a purpose, and reason, a destination then it is worth it.

I am not going to try to explain every purpose for the joys or sorrows we face. That is way beyond my ability. But God does understand it all. And everything is going according to his plan, purpose, and result.

And regardless of if we will ever understand it all, it will be worth it, for those who believe. One way Paul puts it in Romans is the glory will outweigh the pain

Christ’s return means the fulfillment of God’s promises:

  • To complete what He has started.
  • To make all things new.
  • To reward the faithful.
  • To establish perfect justice.

The Old Testament contains hundreds of promises concerning the coming Messiah. God promised a Savior who would be born of a virgin, come from David’s line, where He would be born and accomplish His redemptive work. More than 300 Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ’s first coming were fulfilled exactly as God declared.

Likewise, many Old Testament and New Testament passages point to Christ’s return.

Before going further, let me be clear: I am not going to focus on prophetic timelines or secondary debates about the details of the end times. I want to focus on the one certainty that all faithful Christians affirm:

Jesus is coming back.

God has appointed the time. Just as Christ’s first coming occurred exactly when and how God ordained, so His second coming will occur according to God’s perfect plan.

I am reminded of Acts 1:9-11:

“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.'” (Acts 1:9-11, ESV)

The disciples wanted to know whether the kingdom would be consummated at that time. The angels essentially told them to stop staring into the sky and get to work. Their calling was not to calculate dates but to faithfully carry out the mission Christ had given them.

The same is true for us.

Our responsibility is not to predict the timing. Our responsibility is to be faithful.

Jesus will return, and when He does, the work of making all things new will be complete.

This promise echoes Christ’s words in John 14:

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3, ESV)

The return of Christ is not merely a doctrine to be studied. It is a promise to be treasured.

The Final Act of Justice

Christ’s return will also bring the final establishment of justice.

Matthew 24-25 and Revelation 20 speak of the separation of the sheep and the goats, the righteous and the unrighteous, those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and those whose names are not. Resurrection to eternal life with Christ or eternal separation in torment.

One of humanity’s enduring questions is why evil people often seem to prosper while faithful people suffer.

The first thing we must remember is that there are no truly good people. We are all sinners. Sin has affected every person and every part of creation. Any good we have or do is because of God’s grace.

Yet we still struggle when we see wickedness rewarded and righteousness opposed.

Scripture repeatedly tells us not to lose heart.

In other posts I referenced Psalm 37:4 which says Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37 begins:

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.” (Psalm 37:1-2, ESV)

Later, David writes:

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.” (Psalm 37:7-9, ESV)

We should absolutely work for the good of our communities. We should seek justice, love mercy, and walk faithfully before God.

We should also see those who do wrong held accountable.

God gave the state, the governing authorities the responsibility to protect the community and punish the criminal.

But ultimately, final justice belongs to Him.

God sees. God knows. God will judge rightly.

God will mete our final justice and make all things right. That is part of making new.

Christ Comes With His Reward

Revelation 22 also reminds us that Christ returns with His reward.

He comes to reward faith and faithfulness—not because believers have earned salvation, but because God graciously rewards the works that His Spirit produces in His people. The faithfulness of people who respond to God’s gift of salvation.

Some passages speak of crowns that believers will receive. Yet even those crowns will ultimately be laid at Christ’s feet, for everything we have done has been accomplished only through His grace.

Revelation 22:12-13 says:

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12-13, ESV)

The word recompense refers to repayment, reward, or judgment.

Jesus is coming back to execute perfect, righteous justice.

History began with God speaking the world into existence. And man failing to be faithful.

History continues through God’s great rescue mission as He calls sinners to Himself through Christ.

And history will conclude when Christ returns, bringing His reward and judgment with Him.

He is the Alpha and the Omega.

The Beginning and the End.

The First and the Last.

Every promise concerning Christ’s first coming was fulfilled exactly as God declared.

And every promise concerning His return will likewise be fulfilled—in His perfect time and according to His perfect plan.

So until that day, let us not be consumed with speculation.

Let us be faithful.

Let us keep the words of this prophecy.

And let us live in joyful expectation of the day when the King returns.

Even so, Come Lord Jesus.

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The Ultimate Upgrade

Posted on June 9, 2026 by rgpriest

Jesus is Making all Thins New Revelation 21:5

“Better. Life‑changing. You need this.” That’s the message behind every ad you’ve ever seen. What you have is fine… but something better is out there.

We’re always chasing the next version. 1.2 → 2.0 → 2.5 → “New and Improved.” Sometimes it’s a tiny tweak. Sometimes it’s a total overhaul. But it’s always the same promise: newer is better.

And then Jesus steps in with a claim no marketing team can touch. In Revelation 21:5, He doesn’t say, “I’m upgrading a few things.” He says: “I am making all things new.”

Not just the processor. Not just the camera. Not just the detergent formula.

All things. Cosmic‑scale renewal. A new creation, not a new version.

This isn’t an update. It’s restoration. It’s the world — and you and I— remade from the ground up.

It is what we were meant to be.

It’s what you’ve been looking for all along.

I have just done a series of posts on Jesus as the I Am, starting with the Exodus 3 declaration of God identifying Himself as I Am. And then Jesus took that phrase and 7 times Jesus used that designation to describe Himself, and claim to be God, to be the one and the same God of Exodus 3. His hearers understood what Jesus claimed which was their accusation and grounds for crucifixion

The next two posts I will take two I am statements where Jesus describes what He is doing not who He is. There are more than 2 but that is where I will wrap up this series.

All throughout Scripture the message is God is making all things new. So that begs the question, what needs to be made new and why? I will focus on a broad area and a specific area.

Before I address that we must ask, why does it need to be made new?
This is the common theme of the Bible. God created a perfect world with perfect humanity.

The first 2 humans, Adam and Eve, were deceived, exercised choice, deciding to ignore God’s specific instruction and ruined everything. Enter sin. Not that everything was totally ruined and useless, but every part of creation has been infected with sin, and it reveals itself in many ways.

And the Bible is the story of how God came to rescue us from our own sin and foolishness and renew us, renew everything.

That is the message from the book of Genesis, through the Psalms, Prophets, Gospels, Epistles, and Revelation, all of Scripture

God is renewing the created world. Romans 8

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now[1]

Yes, this world has much beauty to it, from an aurora borealis, the changing season, to a smoked brisket. But the world also groans.

Earthquakes, hurricanes, Ebola outbreaks, glasses, dentures and hearing aids. Cancer and Alzheimer’s. All evidence that there is something broken in the world.

While we have cured many diseases, and made incredible advances, one microscopic mutation in a single cell can change a life with cancer — or send the whole world into chaos like the plague or Covid.

And Romans 8 promises that while the world groans under this pain, God is restoring things, that all the advances we are making are evidence of God common grace. Still, every disease, every disaster is a reminder that the struggle isn’t over.

But the promise stands: One day every disease, every tear, every natural disaster will be gone.

Secondly, God is making us new. 2 Cor. 5

Romans 8 mentioned that we are awaiting the renewal. And 2 Corinthians 5 says

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. [2]

Again, sin is affecting us in more ways then we will admit.

We’ve made progress in medicine, technology, and comfort — but deep down we all sense there must be something more.

This passage makes it clear as Romans did that those in Christ have this hope of renewal. That because of what Jesus did at Calvary He answered once and for all to renew what sin destroyed. As the Christmas carol said, as far as the curse is found.

That is how far Christ’s renewing extends.

Sin has a long, compounding effect. Look at sexuality. We went from two genders, monogamous heterosexual marriage to an ever-growing string of letters. We can’t even agree on how many genders there are or what constitutes a family. We used to be able to do so.

We went from defending life in all its phases, conception, old age, through disease and birth defects and now we are selecting who deserves to live or not based on our own ever-changing criteria.

And we used to be able to have a civil discussion about what we disagree over. Now we claim that if you disagree you must be a hateful, closed-minded bigot. WE demand people must celebrate a choice and never disagree.

Just look at how sports teams, county courthouses and employers demand compliance.

No, I do not have to agree with you and you don’t have to agree with me. Disagreement is not evil or hateful. You need to be willing to accept the consequences of your actions as do I.

It is all a sign that this world is broken and needs more than legislation and protests and special days on a calendar or theme nights at a hockey game.

Until Then

We have rebelled against God, thrown of His leading and gone our own way

And we are reaping the consequences.

And all Scripture is telling how God is restoring us. He is calling out a people of His own.

Part of that passage in 2 Cor 5 says God is using His people, His church to bring His influence into a world wandering away from HIm. That God is on a rescue mission and Christians are the messengers.

The ultimate consequence of this sin, outside of all the brokenness we see, is our separation from God, which leads us to separation from His ways and from each other

And one by one He is calling us to repentance. To restoration. To reconciliation.

And He is saying those who are in Him are new. Our sin is forgiven. Our relationship with Him is restored.

That means our desires are for Him and His ways. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart[3]

That means we can reconcile with one another. That we can relate to one another, respect one another, be honorable to one another.

Another passage (Ecclesiastes 3:11. Right after the time to . . passage. You know the song for every season turn, turn, turn. A time to to be born, a time to die, time to weep and time to laugh, a time to sow and a time to reap. You remember the song.

Right after that the Scripture says He has made everything beautiful in His time, and He has put eternity in our heart.

We are made by Him, in His image regardless if we are perfectly fit specimens of humanity or plagued by health issues.

Deep down we have a desire for something more. We are pursuing something more. The reason we keep looking for the newest upgrade or version is we are looking for what Gods put in our heart. We do not realize it, but all the things we are seeking for are found in the one who made us, and gave us those desires, and wants to meet those desires.

But right now sin has it all out of order.

Acceptance, contentment, fulfillment, purpose, relationship. All that is what God has put within us. And we will never be fully satisfied until we come to that realization that He gave us the desire and He is the way to satisfy that desire.

God is going to restore this world to its original intent.

He is preparing us now, restoring us as we walk with him.

Those in Christ will experience a complete renewal and restoration and we will experience eternal life in a perfectly renewed, restored world.

Where I will sing and play guitar in tune, on key, and in time

Where my golf shots will never land in a bunker or water.

Where my garden will have no weeds or thorns or invaders.

Where the storm center will not predict hurricane seasons.

Where the geological society will not need to warn us of earthquakes.

Where police and ambulance and hospitals will not be needed.

My relationships will never be broken

Where my body and mind will never fail me again.

God is making all things beautiful, in His time.

And He invites us into that beauty

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ro 8:19–22). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2 Co 5:17–19). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ps 37:4). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

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From Withered to Flourishing

Posted on June 1, 2026 by rgpriest

The True Vine

Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the right things but not making any progress? You’re busy, you’re trying, you’re working hard, but somehow you feel stuck. In John 15, Jesus gives an illustration that explains why some people flourish while others slowly wither—and it has nothing to do with trying harder.

I Am the True Vine (John 15)

In John 15, Jesus doesn’t tell us to try harder, work harder, or become better people. He tells us something far more important: “I am the true vine.” The Christian life isn’t about how hard you work or how much you do—it’s about abiding in Christ. It’s about who you are connected to. It is about what He has done, not what you do.

This is the last of the seven “I Am” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John.

Like the previous statement, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life,” this is not a public declaration before the crowds. It takes place in the Upper Room, where Jesus and the Twelve have gathered to observe the Passover meal. Within hours, Jesus will be arrested, falsely accused, unjustly condemned, and crucified.

The disciples are stunned by what they are hearing. Their world is being turned upside down. Yet none of this catches Jesus by surprise. He knows exactly what is coming. He has been preparing for this moment from eternity past. He is going willingly to the cross to accomplish the mission the Father has given Him—to glorify the Father through the salvation of many people.

In these final hours, Jesus is preparing His disciples for life after His death, resurrection, and ascension. He is teaching them—and us—what a true disciple looks like.

John 14 closes with Jesus saying:

“You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”
— John 14:28-31 (ESV)

Then Jesus says:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”
— John 15:1 (ESV)

Notice the word true. If Jesus is the true vine, then there must be false vines as well. There are many things people attach themselves to in search of life, purpose, and fulfillment, but only Christ can connect us to God, save us, and produce genuine spiritual fruit.

Jesus’ hearers would have immediately understood this imagery. In Isaiah 5, Israel is described as God’s vineyard, planted and cultivated by Him with the expectation of fruit. Yet instead of producing good grapes, Israel produced wild grapes.

The imagery would have been familiar not only from Scripture but also from everyday life, as vineyards surrounded much of the countryside.

Understanding the Imagery

Jesus begins with a simple picture.

Branches do not produce life. The vine does.

A branch only bears fruit if it remains connected to the vine. The vine only flourishes because it is rooted and nourished.

When a vine is left sprawling along the ground, its branches become dirty, diseased, and unproductive. A good vinedresser removes dead branches and throws them away because they serve no purpose beyond firewood.

He also lifts healthy branches from the dirt and supports them with a trellis so they can grow and bear fruit. At times, he prunes away unnecessary shoots that consume resources but produce nothing. By cutting away what hinders growth, he directs the vine’s strength toward fruitful production.

Jesus then applies this imagery to His people.

Apart from Christ, There Is No Fruit

The first lesson is simple: disconnected branches bear no fruit.

A branch may look healthy for a time, but once severed from the vine, it begins to die. Every gardener knows this.

Jesus says:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
— John 15:5 (ESV)

Notice how absolute His statement is.

Not “you can do a little.”

Not “you can do less.”

“You can do nothing.”

Before we go further, we should ask: What fruit is Jesus talking about?

Paul gives us a helpful description in Galatians:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
— Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

We could also talk about reproducing more disciples, which again can only be done by being connected to the vine. But for this conversation I will stick to these types of fruit.

In John 15, Jesus repeatedly emphasizes love, obedience, and abiding in Him. To bear fruit is to love God, love others, obey Christ, and increasingly display the character that the Holy Spirit produces in believers.

Fruit is not merely activity. Fruit is transformed character flowing from a transformed heart.

Christ Produces the Fruit

Jesus makes it clear that fruit-bearing begins with Him.

He says the disciples are already clean because of the word He has spoken to them. Later, John writes:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
— 1 John 1:9 (ESV)

We do not clean ourselves up before coming to Christ.

A grapevine does not plant itself.

A dead person cannot perform CPR on himself.

Likewise, sinners cannot save themselves.

Christ cleanses us when we come to Him in repentance and faith. The work of salvation is His from beginning to end and settled a the cross, resurrection, ascension and eventual return.

What Does It Mean to Abide?

The key word throughout this passage is abide.

To abide means to remain, to stay, to dwell with someone.

Jesus says we abide in Him, and He abides in us.

He further explains that His words abide in us. This means that Scripture shapes our thinking, directs our decisions, convicts our sins, comforts our sorrows, and renews our minds.

Not the Bible as we wish it were.  A Pollyanna that only says nice things about us

Not the Bible edited to fit our preferences.

Not a collection of inspirational quotes.

The Word of God as God has given it.

If our connection to Christ is like a branch connected to a vine, then Scripture is like the life-giving flow that naturally accompanies that connection.

Jesus speaks to us through His Word.

We respond through prayer.

And we abide

The Holy Spirit illuminates the Word and reveals Christ to us. Through these ordinary means of grace, we abide in Him.

Jesus says:

“Abide in my love.”

And then He immediately explains what that means:

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love.”
— John 15:10 (ESV)

Abiding is not sentimentality. It is obedience born out of love.

And we can’t know His commandments if we don’t know His word.

Verses 12-16 reinforce the truth that friendship with Christ expresses itself in submission to His Word.

Notice what Jesus never says.

He never says, “Try harder.”

He never says, “Do more.”

Instead, He continually points us back to relationship, trust, dependence, and communion with Him.

The Necessity of the Local Church

Healthy vines need support structures.

They need a trellis.

God has provided a support structure for believers as well: the local church.

Throughout the New Testament, believers are gathered into local congregations devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, prayer, worship, and shepherding by elders and deacons.

Grapes do not grow as isolated individuals. They grow in clusters.

The Christian life was never intended to be lived alone.

While we are connected to Christ, we are also connected to one another. We need a faithful, Bible-believing church that encourages us, corrects us, supports us, and receives our support in return.

The Painful Work of Pruning

None of this is painless.

The Christian life is not a perpetual field of sunshine and comfort.

There is pruning.

There is weeding.

There is cutting.

There is harvesting.

But none of it is without purpose.

The Father, the divine Vinedresser, uses every tool at His disposal to remove what hinders our growth so that we may bear greater fruit.

Sometimes we experience dry seasons.

Discouraging seasons.

Difficult seasons.

During those times it is worth asking:

Am I neglecting communion with Christ, the source of life?

Have I become entangled in the dirt of worldly distractions and sin?

Is the Father pruning away something that is hindering my growth?

Every believer experiences these seasons. Yet we endure them knowing that the Vinedresser is producing a harvest far greater than we can presently see.

The Fruit of Union with Christ

A disciple of Jesus bears fruit because it is the natural result of being united to Christ.

The life of the vine flows into the branches.

Break that connection, and the fruit withers.

The life of Christ flows through every believer.

Apart from Him, we can do nothing that pleases God.

Certainly, we can sing in the choir, give offerings, attend Bible studies, serve on committees, hand out bulletins, or participate in church programs.

But if those things are disconnected from Christ, they are merely acts of human effort.

They may impress people.

They do not impress God.

The fruit God desires is not self-righteous activity but Spirit-produced transformation.

Jesus is not merely a vine.

He is the Vine.

The one source of spiritual life.

Time does not allow us to explore the entire chapter, but John 15 also highlights several additional fruits of abiding in Christ:

  • Answered prayer
  • Full and lasting joy
  • Sacrificial love

If those realities are absent from our lives, perhaps we need to examine whether we are truly connected to the Vine or merely attached to a powerless substitute.

Conclusion

Let me close with this

“If you are connected to the vine, God is going to do whatever it takes to cause you to bear fruit. God will cut you and prune you and trim you and chop you. He is not content to let you stay on the vine bearing little fruit. God is ruthlessly determined to shape you into something much better and more beautiful than you are right now. He is determined to make you more like his Son Jesus. The only way that will happen is through cutting away the parts that are dying so you can grow more and more healthy. God’s commitment to your fruit bearing is greater than your commitment to comfort. God will do whatever it takes for you to bear fruit.”[1]

[1] Carter, M., & Wredberg, J. (2017). Exalting Jesus in John (p. 305). Holman Reference.

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The Way The Truth The Life

Posted on May 24, 2026 by rgpriest

Finding Clarity in an Age of Confusion

There is no shortage of advice in our world today. Open any social media app, watch a few videos, or browse through a bookstore, and you will quickly discover countless voices telling you how to live, what to believe, and where to find fulfillment.

But with so many competing messages, how do we discern what is good, true, and trustworthy?

In John 14, we encounter one of Christ’s great “I Am” statements. Earlier in John’s Gospel, these declarations were often made publicly before crowds. Here, however, Jesus speaks intimately to His disciples. His hour is drawing near. He has gathered with them in the upper room to celebrate the Passover. He has told them He is going away, and they cannot yet follow Him.

We also see how relevant this passage is for our current times

Into their confusion and sorrow, Jesus speaks these familiar and comforting words:

, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” [1]

There is much we could say here about Christ’s deity, His promise of His return, or the comfort of heaven. But I want to focus on Christ’s statement:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

Thomas asks a deeply human question: How can we know the way?

It is a question we all ask at critical moments in life. How do I make wise decisions? How do I know what is right? Whom can I trust?

Christ’s answer confronts several popular but deeply misleading forms of advice that dominate our culture today.

Bad Advice #1: “Follow Your Heart”

This may be one of the most common slogans of our age. Follow your heart. Follow your passion. Do what makes you happy.

It sounds uplifting and freeing. Yet Scripture paints a far more sober picture of the human heart.

The Bible tells us:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
— Jeremiah 17:9

And Proverbs exhorts us to:

“Keep your heart with all vigilance.”
— Proverbs 4:23

Why would Scripture command us to guard our hearts if our hearts were naturally trustworthy? The answer is simple: because our hearts can be misled, manipulated, and corrupted by sin.

It is unpopular to say this but because of original sin, because of sin, we cannot trust our hearts

Because of original sin, the human heart is not a flawless compass. At times our desires are selfish, impulsive, or short-sighted. Many disastrous decisions have been justified simply because someone “felt” it was right.

People plunge into crushing debt chasing dreams they never carefully counted the cost for. Relationships collapse because someone believed in their heart they could change another person. Others abandon responsibilities because their heart tells them they need something different, even when there is no plan, no safeguard. Where wisdom would say stay.

Our hearts make poor gods.

Jesus does not tell Thomas to look inward for the answer. He points him to Himself.

“I am the way.”

Christ does not merely give directions; He Himself is the path. He leads us to the Father. He shepherds His people in truth and righteousness.

Scripture also teaches that the Holy Spirit guides believers through the Word of God. The Christian life is not about blindly following feelings but learning to submit our desires to Christ.

Psalm 37:4 is often quoted:

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

But notice the order. The promise is not that God exists to fulfill every earthly desire we already possess. Rather, as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He reshapes our desires to align with His will.

When Christ becomes our treasure, our hearts begin to desire what He desires.

Jesus does not say follow your heart, but follow Him, be led by the Holy Spirit.

Bad Advice #2: “Live Your Truth”

Another common phrase today is: “Speak your truth.” The idea sounds compassionate and liberating, but beneath it lies a dangerous assumption — that truth is subjective and personal.

But truth cannot simply be whatever each person wants it to be.

Gravity does not cease to exist because someone rejects it. Financial realities do not change because someone dislikes mathematics. Moral truth does not disappear because society grows uncomfortable with it.

If truth is entirely personal, then what happens when truths collide?

One person’s “truth” may justify hatred, exploitation, or injustice. Another’s may contradict it completely. Without an objective standard outside ourselves, truth becomes nothing more than power, preference or opinion.

Scripture presents a radically different foundation.

Jesus does not say He speaks a truth. He says:

“I am the truth.”

Truth is grounded in the very character of God Himself. His Word is unchanging, eternal, and trustworthy.

This is why societies flourish when built upon moral truths that reflect God’s law: do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, love your neighbor, pursue justice.

Our culture often celebrates self-definition while simultaneously contradicting itself. We are told that people are “born this way” in one moment, while in the next we are told human nature itself is entirely fluid and self-determined.

One minute we are born this way and you must accept and affirm me and at the same time I am born this way, I don’t like it, you have to accept and affirm my choice to change how I was born

Again, we go from born this way I can’t change to born this way let me change.

Which is it?

What if I am a deviant and I can’t help myself. I am born this way? Am I left alone or am I to seek treatment and rehabilitation?

Such confusion reveals what happens when truth is disconnected from God.

It is shaky ground when we look inward to define reality. We must look outside of ourselves, upward to the One who created reality.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

So are there God given rights that every human has, or are they given to use by our government or community which means they can be taken away

And if your government says its ok to marry children but mine says it is not. Who is right?

We do not need our truth, but the truth.

Bad Advice #3: “It’s My Life”

Modern culture prizes autonomy above nearly everything else. We are told our lives belong entirely to us and that we alone determine their purpose and value.

But Scripture asks a deeper question:

Who gave us life in the first place?

If God is the Creator, then life is not ultimately ours to define or discard at will. Human dignity does not come from accomplishments, productivity, intelligence, independence, or usefulness. It comes from being made in the image of God.

This truth has profound implications.

A child with severe disabilities possesses the same God-given dignity as a successful businessman. The elderly person suffering with illness is no less valuable than the young and healthy. The unborn child is not a “potential” human life but a human life with potential. It has all the genetics and DNA of a human and is deserving of human, God given rights,

Who gets to decide whose life is worth preserving? And why them and not someone else.

Why not a committee of doctors, or lawyers or philosophers?

Once society begins defining which lives are valuable and which are not, we enter dangerous territory. History repeatedly shows us where that path leads.

Christians affirm the sanctity of life because life belongs to God.

Jesus says:

“I am the life.”

Life is not merely biological existence. True life is found in Him. He is both the author of life and the giver of eternal life.

I recently heard a challenge to turning back immigrants saying we could be turning away the doctor who could cure cancer. We could say the same thing when it comes to abortion or assisted suicide.

The Scriptures tell us our times are in His hands. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing falls outside His sovereign care. He knows the beginning from the end.

Psalm 139 goes to lengths to say God knows my comings and goings, words I speak all about me. Then in verse 6 says For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. [2]

And remarkably, Christ does not simply offer advice for living, reaching your potential, living your best life now.

He offers Himself.

Christ Is Better Than Cultural Slogans

The world offers shallow slogans that sound comforting but cannot bear the weight of real life.

Follow your heart.
Live your truth.
It’s your life.

Yet each one ultimately turns us inward, making self the center.

Jesus redirects us away from ourselves and toward Him.

He is:

  • The Way — the One who reconciles sinners to the Father and guides His people in righteousness. Who shows us how to get to the Father
  • The Truth — the unchanging standard in a world of confusion.
  • The Life — the source of both physical life and eternal life.

This does not mean Christ tells us every small detail of our future. He may not tell you what house to buy, what town to live in, or which career to pursue. But He does teach you how to live faithfully wherever He places you.

The Christian life is ultimately simple, though not easy:

To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

When we trust in Christ, delight in Him, and walk in His ways, we begin to see life rightly. Our desires are reshaped. Our understanding becomes clearer. Our lives begin to reflect His goodness.

Not because we found ourselves.

But because we found Him.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Jn 14:1–7). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ps 139:13–14). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

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Not Too Late: Meeting the God Who Raises the Dead

Posted on May 17, 2026 by rgpriest

“I am the Resurrection and the Life” Jesus Christ

John 11 is a familiar story. Jesus receives word that His friend Lazarus is sick. But instead of rushing to his side, Jesus waits. He tells His disciples, “This illness does not lead to death.”

Two days later, the announcement comes: Lazarus has died. What is happening here?

Mary and Martha likely never heard Jesus’ earlier statement, but the disciples did. They must have wondered, “How can You say this won’t end in death… and now he’s dead?”

Then Jesus decides to go to Bethany, to the home of Mary and Martha. The disciples are concerned—Jerusalem’s authorities are looking for Jesus, and returning puts them all at risk. Jesus tells them, “Lazarus has fallen asleep, and I am going to wake him.”

The disciples misunderstand: “If he’s asleep, he’ll recover. Why risk danger?” So Jesus speaks plainly: “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.”

When Jesus arrives, Mary and Martha are understandably heartbroken and confused. Martha meets Him first: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.”

Jesus replies, “Your brother will rise again.” As faithful Jews, they believed in the future resurrection at the end of the age. But Jesus says something far more personal and astonishing:

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live; and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Martha answers with a confession that echoes Peter’s in Matthew 16: “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Mary comes next, with the same grief, the same question, and Jesus weeps with her. Then He goes to the tomb. Most assume He is there to mourn. But Jesus reminds Martha: “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

Here it is—the very thing He told His disciples, the truth He is revealing to Mary and Martha:

I am not late. This is not the end of the story. This is not a hopeless situation.

This moment is another demonstration that Jesus is the great “I AM,” the living God in the flesh. Nothing is too hard for Him.

He calls Lazarus by name. The stone is rolled away. And Lazarus walks out alive.

I wonder if this is why Jesus waited four days. If He had come sooner, people might have claimed Lazarus was unconscious or in a coma. But four days meant the community had declared him dead, wrapped him in grave clothes, and sealed him in the tomb. There was no doubt. Death had done its work.

So what is going on here? A few things to notice:

1. Jesus delays not out of indifference, but purpose.

He knew exactly what was happening. He knew what He would do. And He knew this miracle would validate His claims as the Christ, the Son of the living God.

2. Jesus is the life.

He is the source of life—from the womb to the tomb. Every human life is an act of God. To take innocent life is to rebel against the Creator and to harm an image‑bearer of God. (Here we are not discussing self‑defense, just war, or capital punishment—only the willful taking of innocent life.)

All life is in God’s hands. For the womb to the tomb life is the work of God and a gift of God.

3. What is resurrection?

I want to speak of resurrection in two ways.

A. The final resurrection.

At the end of the age, all humanity will be raised—some to everlasting life, others to everlasting judgment. On that day, God will not ask how many good deeds you did, how moral you were compared to your neighbor, or whether you were baptized, confirmed, or catechized. Those things matter, but they do not save.

The only question is this: Is your name written in the Book of Life? Have you been born again?

B. The spiritual resurrection.

Ephesians 2 says:

Ephesians 2 says And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind[1]

I was dead. You were dead. Maybe you still are. Like the rest of all mankind, we are all born in sin and the language the bible uses is dead. Not sick, not weak, not broken. You are, I was dead.

You don’t need to reform your ways, adopt a resolution or intention or adopt some new moral behavior.

Not sick. Not weak. Not morally struggling. You are not broken. You are Dead. That is the language God uses to describe us.

Dead people do not revive themselves. They need someone from outside to intervene and give life.

No dead person ever performed CPR on themselves. Their only hope was an outside agency intervened. And for the spiritually dead we do not revive ourselves. We need someone from outside of ourself that can give life.

You may not feel dead. You woke up, you went about your day, maybe even went to church. But a corpse doesn’t feel the weight of 200 pounds placed on it. It feels nothing—because it is dead.

Spiritually, apart from Christ, we are the same. We do not feel the weight of our sin because we are spiritually lifeless.

But then come two of the most hope‑filled words in all of Scripture:

“But God…”

Lazarus is dead—but God. You were dead—but God.

You are dead, but God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast[2]

Did you hear that? When you were dead, God made you alive. He raised you up. He seated you with Christ. He considers you already home.

This is the gospel. This is the message of the Bible.

We enter the world spiritually dead, separated from God. Every day He gives us is an act of mercy—a chance to taste His goodness, to receive His grace, to be made alive.

4. God’s immeasurable grace.

What is this grace?

You were dead in sin. You rebelled against Him. You ignored Him. And He alone can make you alive.

Politics cannot do that. Money cannot do that. Education, science, and medicine—good as they are—cannot create life or resurrect the dead.

Only God can. And He is willing. And He is able.

Jesus is the resurrection. He has conquered death. He is life—the very source of our life.

I do not know why God seems to delay. But His delays are only delays from our perspective, not His. He knows the end from the beginning and every moment in between.

And He is the One who shows up at the right time—every time—to reveal Himself as the source of life and the Lord of resurrection.

The Bible describes our condition with three devastating words: “You were dead.”
But then come two of the most hope‑filled words in all of Scripture:
“But God…”

But God, rich in mercy.
But God, great in love.
But God, making the dead alive.

You cannot save yourself. Your works cannot save you. Your goodness cannot save you. Only Christ can. And He offers Himself freely—His life for your death, His righteousness for your sin, His resurrection for your grave.

If today you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Turn to Him. Trust Him. Rest in Him.
He is the resurrection and the life—and He delights to save.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Eph 2:1–3). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Eph 2:4–9). (2025). Crossway Bibles.

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