Category: Top articles

Yes, sinners appear in Jesus’ family line

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JEFF TURNER

The Gospel of Matthew contains a genealogy that lists the ancestors of Jesus. Within this family record appear some surprising names. Tamar had an incestuous relationship with her father-in-law Judah. Rahab worked as a prostitute in the city of Jericho. Bathsheba committed adultery with King David. These three women all engaged in conduct that brought scandal and shame. Their presence in this ancestry raises an important question about why God would include such troubled history in the lineage of Christ.

The answer reveals something essential about our relationship with God. Every person has different failures and wrongdoings in their past, but ultimately God must choose from among sinners because that describes all of humanity. Nobody comes to God with a clean record.

These women appear in the genealogy. Their inclusion demonstrates grace. The family line also contains Abraham, who displayed his sinfulness through his failure to trust God. David appears as well, and his actions as both an adulterer and a murderer mark him as someone who committed serious wrongs. Yet these women carry particular significance because they illustrate how God’s plan to redeem humanity moves forward through people who have received grace rather than earned their place.

If God’s purposes depended on people who deserved to participate in them, nothing would ever happen. Everyone who receives anything from God receives it through grace, not merit. The apostle Paul described himself as a murderer and someone who spoke against God, yet he received grace and God placed him in ministry. This pattern shows how God works.

God accomplishes his remarkable plan to rescue and restore people by working through individuals who are what they are solely because of grace. Their presence in scripture shows us that God’s redemptive work does not require perfect people. It requires people who acknowledge their need for mercy and receive what God offers freely.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV).

Westward Road’s ‘He Knew’ tackles shame head-on with message of grace

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Nobody gets through life without regret. Westward Road’s latest single, “He Knew,” speaks directly to that feeling, and offers something better on the other side.

The song opens with a line that pulls no punches: So ashamed of my past, didn’t even want to look back. It’s the kind of lyric that lands because so many people have lived it.

Scott Roberts of Westward Road says that vulnerability was entirely intentional.

“How many times have we felt that? How many times have we felt ashamed?” Roberts said. “And Satan just points it out, especially in our quiet times.”

But the song doesn’t stay in that dark place. The title itself, “He Knew,” is the turn. Roberts says the message is about a grace that doesn’t wait for perfection.

“He didn’t save us because we were perfect or we were trying to be perfect,” Roberts said. “He saved us because he wanted to extend his perfect grace and mercy.”

It’s a straightforward message delivered without pretense, which is exactly what makes it connect. “He Knew” is on regular rotation now, and it’s worth a full listen, especially on a day when the past feels a little too loud.

Understanding the unforgivable sin

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JEFF TURNER

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks about forgiveness and warns about a sin that will not be forgiven. This has raised concern and questions for many readers. The warning focuses on what is called blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and what it meant in its original setting. What is it? I can only tell you what I understand the Bible to say. Let’s start with some background.

This sin took place during the time when Jesus lived and taught in Israel. The people involved were not hearing stories passed down over time. They were seeing events with their own eyes. They listened to Jesus speak, watched how he lived, and saw the power shown through him. During his ministry, sickness was driven away across the land. This happened in an age without medical cures or clear diagnoses. The events pointed to a power that could not be explained by human means.

Jesus explained that everything he did was carried out by the power of the Holy Spirit. He chose to obey the will of the Father and relied on the Spirit while living among people. This was part of his mission and how God’s work was shown through him.

Some people who witnessed these acts refused to accept what they saw. Instead of recognizing God’s work, they claimed that Jesus was acting by the power of the devil. By doing this, they did not simply doubt or misunderstand. They took the work of the Holy Spirit and said it came from Satan. Jesus said this was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and that it could not be forgiven.

The heart of this sin was a full rejection of the truth about who Jesus is. The people involved decided that he was not sent by God but was working for evil. This was not said in ignorance. It was a settled judgment made while clear evidence stood in front of them.

Consider, forgiveness is found through accepting Jesus Christ. To reject him is to turn away from the only path God has provided for forgiveness. Salvation does not come through other means. If someone refuses Christ, forgiveness is not possible, because the offer of grace has been rejected.

This teaching is not meant to trap people in fear. It explains the seriousness of rejecting what God has made known.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” — John 3:36


Living in the world without confusing the kingdom

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JEFF TURNER

Christians have often argued about how much they should take part in public life. Some ask whether believers should seek government positions. Others wonder if voting matters or if public protests and boycotts are worth the effort. These questions often come up when faith meets politics and culture.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks to Pilate, who was a Roman authority. Jesus says that his kingdom does not belong to this world. Those words give important guidance, but I think they are sometimes misunderstood. Do they mean that Christians must avoid all public activity? Or do they help believers understand where their main loyalty should be?

Christians are free to run for office if they choose. They can take part in elections and cast their votes. They may also speak out in public when they believe a law or policy is wrong. Standing against actions that go against what is right can be a proper response. These choices are allowed, and for some people they may even be necessary.

However, these actions should not be mistaken for building the kingdom of God. Political systems and governments belong to the present world, not to the heavenly kingdom that Jesus spoke about. Because of this, believers are called to think carefully about how much time, money, and effort they put into worldly causes. The question is not only what can be done, but what should be done.

There is also a limit to what human effort can change. Scripture teaches that the world, as it is now, is not under human control. It is broken and marked by sin. Christians are not given the task of fixing every part of society or making the world pure through laws and power. Trying to repair everything through political struggle can lead to frustration, because the problem runs deeper than policies.

Jesus was not leading a political movement. He explained that if his rule were based on earthly power, his followers would have fought to defend him. They did not, because his reign comes from another place. His kingdom does not rise or fall with elections, governments, or public opinion. It is not protected by force, and it does not advance through conflict.

Because of this, believers are encouraged to think about where they invest their lives. Energy spent only on worldly battles can be misplaced, especially when those battles cannot bring lasting change. Christians are reminded that they are not the ones in charge of the present world order. That role belongs to forces that oppose God, and no amount of human effort can fully undo that reality.

Christians live in the world, but their hope is not rooted in it. They can take part in society, but they are warned not to confuse temporary systems with God’s eternal reign. Shouldn’t we be more concerned that our actions lead people to Christ rather than winning a political battle?

“Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’” John 18:36

Joseph Habedank shares family news as he and wife Lindsay prepare for twin daughters

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Lindsay and Joseph Habedank have shared joyful news as they prepare to welcome twin daughters later this year.

The couple announced they are expecting twin girls, with a due date of Oct. 22. They noted, however, that twins often arrive earlier than expected.

The Habedanks said they are both excited and grateful as they prepare for what they describe as a “crazy fall.” They also shared that twins run in Lindsay’s family, and that they had a strong feeling early on that they would be expecting two children.

That feeling was confirmed during a doctor’s visit, when two babies were seen.

While acknowledging that raising twins can be challenging, the couple said they are looking forward to what they called “the best adventure of a lifetime.”

They are also asking for prayers as they prepare for the arrival of their daughters.