Category: What do you think?

True Freedom Comes Through Christ

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JEFF TURNER

Religion often promises to make people better. It claims to help them overcome bad habits and sinful desires. However, these efforts fail to free us from guilt and condemnation. Many believe that by following rules, practicing rituals, or striving to obey perfectly, they can earn God’s favor. This is the essence of human religion: a cycle of trying harder to fix ourselves.

The problem lies in the human heart. Every person has a God-given conscience that reminds us of our guilt before Him. Deep down, we know He exists, and we feel accountable to Him. Yet, instead of turning to Him, the natural response is to attempt self-improvement, hoping to make ourselves acceptable. But this leads to slavery to sin, guilt, and an endless cycle of failure.

Scripture tells us the truth: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Only Jesus can set us free from sin’s power and the weight of condemnation. Religion is man’s effort. But salvation comes as a gift through faith.

Have you experienced this life-transforming freedom? Come to Jesus in simple faith, and He will lift the burden of guilt and give you peace with God.

Staying Connected to Christ

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

The Church, made up of believers, is the body of Christ, with Jesus as its head. Our spiritual life and growth come from Him alone. Throughout your journey as a Christian, you may encounter people or movements promising unique ways to deepen your faith—through extreme practices, unusual rituals, or dramatic experiences. They might claim that without these, your faith is lacking.

However, these distractions often lead away from what truly matters: a steady, faithful walk with Christ. The Christian life is not about chasing trends but about consistent connection to Jesus. This means meeting Him daily in His Word, confessing sin, seeking His grace, and regularly gathering with fellow believers. It involves prayer, service, and staying rooted in Him.

Ephesians 4:15-16 reminds us that “we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.” As we remain connected to Him, Jesus will strengthen and sustain us, shaping our faith over a lifetime.

Who Rules Over Hell?

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

When believers discuss hell, some mistakenly think of Satan as its ruler. However, Scripture paints a very different picture. In Matthew 10:28, Jesus says, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Here, Jesus does not name who’s in charge, but the context makes it clear: this is not Satan. It is God.

God, not Satan, is the sovereign ruler. Satan is not its king; he is its prisoner. Revelation 20:10 confirms that Satan, along with the beast and the false prophet, will be cast into the lake of fire. This lake of fire, prepared for Satan and his fallen angels, was created by God.

Jesus’ warning to fear God is serious. While people can harm our bodies, only God has the power to determine the eternal fate of our souls. He will judge all, including Satan, demons, and sinners who reject Christ.

The message is clear: fear God, the righteous Judge. Physical harm is temporary, but the eternal destiny of your soul is what matters most. Through Jesus, God offers salvation, but rejecting Him leads to judgment in hell.

God’s Eternal Perspective

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JEFF TURNER

Unlike humans, God does not dwell on the past, nor is He limited by the present or anxious about the future. He sees all of history—past, present, and future—simultaneously and vividly. From the creation of the world to the call of Abram, from the rise and fall of Israel to the life of Christ, and even the moments of today, all of time is before God’s eternal gaze. For Him, nothing is forgotten or filed away. As Psalm 90:4 reminds us, “For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”

This truth teaches us something profound: God is eternal. To say that God is eternal means He is not bound by time. Time, like all creation, is His workmanship, and as the Creator, He is above it. Unlike us—creatures limited by an unchangeable past and an uncertain future—God exists outside of time. His existence is timeless, standing above all He has made.

Understanding God’s eternal nature gives comfort and perspective. It reassures us that He sees the whole story of our lives, and nothing is beyond His reach or care. His eternal presence reminds us that while we may feel confined by time, we worship a God who is limitless and unchanging.

The Book of Matthew

The Call We Often Ignore

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Many Christians today find comfort in their Sunday routines – singing hymns, taking communion, and worshiping with fellow believers. While these practices are important, Jesus gave us a much bigger responsibility.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands His followers to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” This wasn’t a suggestion – it was a direct order from our Savior.

But how many of us actually follow this command? We often limit our Christianity to comfortable activities like attending church or making online donations to missionaries. While supporting missions through giving is valuable, Jesus’s instructions were personal and active: He told us to go ourselves.

The real question each believer must answer is: “Have I personally shared the Gospel? Have I stepped out of my comfort zone to tell others about Jesus?” Is sitting behind a keyboard or sending a fulfillment of the Great Commission? Jesus calls us to do more – to actively participate in spreading His message to all creation. Does Matthew tell us to send others, or did Matthew tell us to go?