Category: What do you think?

The Problem of Sin

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

TEXAS GOSPEL CANADA STAFF

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” – Romans 5:12

Have you ever wondered why everything feels broken? Why relationships strain, why we hurt each other, why nothing seems to work quite right? The Bible gives us a straightforward answer: sin entered our world and broke everything.

This isn’t just about breaking rules. It’s about a fundamental disconnect from our life source—God Himself. Like unplugging a lamp from its power source, our separation from God left us in darkness.

But understanding our brokenness isn’t meant to leave us in despair. It’s the backdrop that makes God’s solution so breathtaking.

The Comforter

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

A modern adaptation of C.H. Spurgeon’s sermon delivered on January 21, 1855

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.” – John 14:26

The elderly Simeon called Jesus the consolation of Israel, and indeed He was. Before Jesus actually appeared, people looked forward to His coming like someone watching for the morning star that promises the dawn. When Jesus walked the earth, He must have been an incredible source of comfort to those lucky enough to be His companions. We can imagine how quickly the disciples would run to Jesus with their problems, and how His voice alone would calm their fears.

Like children with a father, they brought Him every need, every complaint, every sorrow, and every struggle. And Jesus, like a skilled doctor, had the perfect remedy for every pain and the right medicine for every problem. What a blessing it must have been to live alongside Jesus! Even sorrows then must have felt like blessings in disguise, since they gave people a reason to seek Jesus for help. Some of us might wish we had been born in that time, when we could have rested our tired heads on Jesus’s shoulder and heard His kind voice saying, “Come to me if you’re tired.”

But Jesus had to leave. Important prophecies needed to be fulfilled and crucial purposes accomplished. He had to die to take away our sins. He had to rest in the grave for a while to make death less frightening for those who would follow Him. He had to rise again so that we who will die believing in Him might also rise in glorious bodies. And He had to ascend to heaven to claim His victory, to defeat the forces of evil, and to show His power.

“It’s necessary for me to go,” Jesus said, “because if I don’t go, the Comforter won’t come.” Jesus had to leave. The disciples had to weep. His followers would be left without their comforter. But listen to Jesus’s kind words: “I won’t leave you alone like orphans. I will ask the Father to send you another Comforter, who will stay with you forever.”

Despite His enormous mission – a mission so huge it might have consumed anyone else’s attention completely – Jesus didn’t abandon His small flock of followers. Before leaving, He gave them words of comfort, like a Good Samaritan tending to wounds. He promised: “I’ll send you another Comforter – someone who will be what I’ve been to you, and even more. This Comforter will console you when you’re sad, clear up your doubts, support you in hard times, and act in my place on earth, doing what I would have done if I had stayed.”

Now, before we talk about the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, let’s look at this word more carefully. The original Greek word has several meanings. Sometimes it means “teacher” or “instructor.” Often it means “advocate.” But most commonly, it means “comforter,” which is what we’ll focus on today.

Let’s look at three main points:

  1. Who is the Comforter?
  2. What is the comfort He gives?
  3. Who receives this comfort?

First: The Comforter

Let me describe what makes the Holy Spirit such a perfect Comforter. First, He is incredibly loving. When we’re hurting and someone who doesn’t really know or care about us tries to help, their words just bounce off like rain on marble. But when someone who deeply loves us offers comfort, their words are like music to our ears. They know exactly how to reach our hearts.

The Holy Spirit loves you more than you can imagine. Try to measure heaven’s size, weigh all the mountains, count every drop in the ocean, or number all the grains of sand on every beach – and still you wouldn’t come close to measuring how much the Holy Spirit loves you. He has loved you for ages past, loves you now, and will love you forever.

He’s also completely faithful. Nothing hurts more than having a friend desert you when times get tough. But the Holy Spirit never does this – He stays faithful forever. You might be sick and unable to go to church, but He’ll visit you in your sickness. You might face overwhelming problems, wave after wave of trouble, but He remains faithful. You might sin and feel unworthy, but that doesn’t change His love. He knew all your faults before you were born and loved you anyway.

The Holy Spirit never gets tired of comforting you. Sometimes when we try to comfort others, we get frustrated because their problems keep shifting or they resist our help. But the Holy Spirit never gives up. Even when we run from comfort or refuse help, He persistently pursues us with His consolation.

He’s also infinitely wise in how He comforts. Human comforters often misunderstand the problem and give wrong advice. But the Holy Spirit perfectly understands what’s wrong and knows exactly how to help. He never makes mistakes in His comfort.

His comfort is completely safe. Some kinds of comfort are dangerous – like telling people to drown their sorrows in entertainment or pleasure. The devil sometimes offers false comfort too, telling people they’re fine when they’re not. But the Holy Spirit’s comfort is always true and safe.

He comforts actively – not just with words, but with real help. He prays for us, gives us promises, and provides grace. And He never fails in His mission to comfort – when He sets out to console someone, He always succeeds.

Best of all, He’s always present. You never have to send for Him or wait for Him to arrive. He’s always right there when you need Him.

Second: The Comfort

Some people misunderstand how the Holy Spirit works. They think He gives new revelations or messages. But that’s not how He comforts us. Instead, He reminds us of truths we already have – especially truths about Jesus. He helps us understand and remember what God has already said.

The Holy Spirit whispers to our hearts: “Remember, someone died for you. Look at Jesus on the cross. See His wounds, His sacrifice. That proves you’re secure and loved. God loves you eternally, and even this trouble you’re facing is for your good. Every hardship is helping you grow. God disciplines those He loves, just like a good parent.”

Sometimes the Holy Spirit pulls back the curtain a bit and lets us glimpse the glory of heaven. That’s when believers can say, “Let troubles flood in like a tidal wave – I know I’m heading home to God, and that’s all that matters.”

Third: Who Receives This Comfort?

Now, let’s be clear about who can expect this comfort. You can’t pick and choose which parts of God’s gifts you want. Some people want forgiveness but don’t want to change their lives. Some want heaven but don’t want holiness. It doesn’t work that way – God’s gifts come as a package deal.

You can’t have true comfort without first experiencing conviction of sin. The Holy Spirit first shows us our guilt and need for Jesus before He comforts us. Have you felt this conviction? Has your soul been humbled before Jesus? Are you looking to His sacrifice alone for your salvation?

If not, you shouldn’t claim His comfort yet. The Holy Spirit convinces us of our sin before He comforts us. You need His complete work in your life, not just the comfortable parts.

Conclusion

As you leave today, ask yourself: Do you know this Comforter? If not, remember this: if you don’t know Him as Comforter now, you’ll meet Him as Judge later. This isn’t a truth we can afford to ignore – we’re not guaranteed tomorrow.

But here’s the wonderful news: Anyone who believes in Jesus will be saved. Your sins, no matter how terrible, are no barrier. Your guilt, no matter how great, is no obstacle. Whether you feel like the worst sinner alive – if you believe in Jesus tonight, every sin will be forgiven, every crime erased, every wrong made right. You’ll be saved through Jesus Christ and stand secure in heaven.

That’s the glorious good news. May God help you trust in it today.

May these words find their home in your heart through the work of the true Teacher – God Himself.

Unity in Christ: A Call for Racial Equality

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

In the early 1960s, racial and social divisions shaped the everyday experiences of many people in the English-speaking world. At restaurants in Canada and the U.S., Black kitchen workers often labored behind the scenes while White patrons dined inside. Black customers, on the other hand, were restricted from the dining area and had to pick up their food orders at the back door—an everyday policy that reinforced racial inequalities deeply embedded in society at the time.

While much progress has been made, the journey toward true equality continues. Scripture offers a profound vision for unity and inclusion, as seen in passages like Romans 10:8–13. In the family of God, there are no distinctions; everyone, Jew and Gentile, is welcomed the same way, without restrictions, through belief in Jesus. Entry into this family is not marked by social status or racial identity but by faith alone.

Romans 10:11 tells us, “…Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” (NASB.) In God’s eyes, no barriers divide people; no distinction separates Jew from Gentile. The same Lord is Lord of all, richly blessing all who call on Him. This message of equality and belonging is a call to continue growing as a society that respects and values every individual fully, honoring each person as part of a shared humanity made in the image of God.

Abraham’s Ultimate Test of Faith

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

BASED ON A WRITING BY GEORGE WHITEFIELD (c. 1750)

Genesis 22:12 says, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld your only son from me.”

The Apostle Paul tells us that everything written in the past was for our learning, so that through the scriptures we might have hope. Since faith is essential to please God, the examples of strong faith in the Bible were meant for our guidance. That’s why Hebrews 11 highlights the faith of Old Testament saints, encouraging us to follow their example. Abraham, called the “friend of God” and the “father of the faithful,” stands out among them. He faced many trials, but the hardest was God’s command to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. This is the story we reflect on today.

The Bible says God “tested” Abraham, though this doesn’t mean God tempted him to do wrong, as James tells us God never tempts anyone to sin. Instead, God tested Abraham’s faith, just as he sometimes tests ours to strengthen our trust in Him. When God called Abraham, he responded without hesitation, ready to obey, showing the close relationship between God and those who trust in Him.

God commanded Abraham to take Isaac, his beloved and only son, and offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham could have questioned the command, reasoning that it went against natural love for his child and God’s promise of descendants through Isaac. Yet, Abraham obeyed without delay, trusting that God could even raise Isaac from the dead. His faith was so strong that he believed God’s promises despite the command seeming impossible to understand.

This teaches us that true faith trusts God’s word, even when it doesn’t align with human reason. Like Abraham, we must believe in God’s promises, even when they seem beyond our understanding. Where reason fails, faith begins.

Let’s look again at Abraham’s story. God commands him to sacrifice his son Isaac, yet Abraham does not object or question God. Instead, we are told he rises early, gathers what is needed, and begins the journey to the place God had shown him. The fact that Abraham rose early suggests God spoke to him during the night. Perhaps it was right before dawn that God said, “Take your son.”

Despite how difficult this command must have been, Abraham obeys, showing deep humility and faith. He saddles his own donkey and keeps the sacrifice a secret from everyone, including his wife Sarah, knowing she might try to intervene. After three days of walking, Abraham spots the place where he is to offer Isaac. Although he must have struggled internally, Abraham shows no hesitation. When Isaac asks about the missing lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham replies that God will provide, though he knows Isaac is to be the offering.

Isaac, unaware of the full plan, carries the wood for the sacrifice, unknowingly carrying the very instrument of his own death. Abraham binds Isaac and places him on the altar. Just as he lifts the knife to sacrifice his son, an angel stops him, saying, “Do not lay a hand on the boy.” Abraham’s faith had been proven, and God provides a ram to sacrifice instead. Abraham’s obedience is rewarded with a renewed promise that through his offspring, all nations will be blessed.

This story prefigures the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God. Just as Abraham was willing to give up his only son, God actually gave His only Son for our salvation. While Isaac was spared, Jesus was not, and He bore the weight of our sins on the cross.

The lesson here is that faith in God requires trust, even when His commands seem impossible. Like Abraham, we are called to obey without hesitation, believing that God will provide in His time. Abraham’s faith was shown through his actions, and so must ours be—faith without works is dead. True faith changes our hearts and leads to a life of obedience and love for God.

Let this story remind us to hold loosely to worldly things and to be ready to surrender everything to God, just as Abraham did with Isaac.

God’s Glory the Purpose of Man’s Life

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

Based on a writing by Rev. Hugh Binning (c. 1650)

Romans 11:36 —“For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (NASB) 1 Corinthians 10:31—“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.” (NASB)

The essential question for all people is: What is our purpose, and how do we achieve it? Like any skill or science, true religion has foundational principles that guide all other knowledge. These principles are few and simple, but they must be considered carefully. When ignored, what is clear becomes difficult and burdensome.

The most important principle is our purpose—our end. Without understanding this, all our actions will be in vain. What is our great purpose? It is to glorify God in everything we do, because he is the source and reason for all things.

God is completely independent and perfect, existing for his own glory. We, on the other hand, are dependent on him. Everything comes from God and should return to him. This principle is written in our very nature: we are made to glorify God, just as we are created by his power. Ignoring this truth leads to confusion and destruction in our lives. God’s pursuit of his own glory is not selfish, because in glorifying himself, he blesses and fulfills his creation.

Unlike the rest of creation, humans bear God’s image, making us uniquely created for his glory. All creation serves humanity, and humanity, in turn, is meant to reflect all glory back to God. We are the mediators of creation’s praise, offering it back to the Creator. Though sin has broken this relationship, through Christ, we are restored to fulfill this purpose once again.

To glorify God is to reflect his attributes in our thoughts, words, and actions. We must live in a way that shows God’s justice, power, goodness, and mercy. This is the ultimate reason for our existence, and failing to do so makes us worthless, like salt that has lost its flavor. But through Christ’s redemption, we are renewed and empowered to glorify God once again.

Our lives should focus on God’s glory. We must ask ourselves: Why are we here? If we neglect this purpose, we will face judgment for wasting our lives on lesser things. Our primary duty is to serve and glorify God in all that we do.