Truth For Life Blog

The Closing Argument of Romans 8: Facing Off Against Guilt and Suffering

TFL — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

As the apostle Paul concludes Romans 8, he offers a sort of closing argument in the trial of the Christian believer. The doubtful Christian has wondered, “Will I be able to persevere to the end?” Paul, with all the finality of Perry Mason revealing the real killer, has affirmed the believer’s acquittal, showing that God is for us and will give us the fullness of our salvation by carrying us on to completion (vv. 31–32).

But the prosecuting attorney, so to speak, has made some persuasive arguments in this case. The guilt of sin is nothing to laugh at, and the persistence of suffering would seem to show that we are on God’s bad side.

To these arguments Paul now applies his case in verses 33–36. God’s favor, he says, is not challenged by these realities. They are immaterial evidence, since the grace of God through Jesus Christ cancels guilt and belies suffering.

Accused but Not Condemned

Having already shown that since God is for believers, no one of any account can stand up against them, Paul then makes application to the question of our guilt before God’s law: “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?”

There are those who bring charges. Our own hearts accuse us, our friends sometimes oppose us, our enemies undermine us, and the Evil One—whom the Bible calls “the accuser of our brothers” (Rev. 12:10)—comes again and again to say, “You’re no Christian. Look at how you talk. Look at how you treat your spouse. Look how little you pray.” The accuser stands before the Father and says, “How can you possibly declare this one justified?”

Yet before God’s throne there is an attorney for the defense: “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (v. 34). Jesus can hold up His wounded hands, put forward His wounded feet, reveal His wounded side, and say, “The sentence has already been served. I was made sin so that they might become righteous.” (See 2 Cor. 5:21.)

The case, then, is closed. God is the Judge; the Evil One is not. And the Judge has banged His gavel. The prosecutor can make whatever accusation he likes, but there is no double jeopardy. No one can raise again the charges God has dismissed on Christ’s account. “It is God who justifies,” so “who is to condemn?” No one!

Our Advocate with the Father

Importantly, the risen Lord Jesus today is not nowhere (nor everywhere) doing who knows what; He is somewhere, and He is doing something. Jesus, in His physical body, has ascended to “the right hand of God,” and there He “is interceding for us” (v. 34). In Jesus, we have the best lawyer possible—one who knows the Judge intimately, who is ever present at the bench for us, and who, indeed, has already dealt with our penalty by paying it Himself.

The book of Hebrews teaches us that the priests of the old covenant “were prevented by death from continuing in office.” Jesus, on the other hand, “holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.” And “consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (7:23–25). In His position as our Priest-Advocate, He is both able and willing to finish what He has begun.

We may do a little test in our minds: Consider the question “Why do you think you will go to heaven?” With what pronoun are you tempted to begin your answer? Is it “Because I…”? Or is it “Because He…”? When we look to ourselves, we will only find reason to doubt. But when we look to our faithful Advocate, we can rest assured. He has done it for us!

Retained for Us, Forever

Furthermore, we needn’t doubt the faithfulness of our Advocate. He is retained for us, forever. The self-doubting Christian should not be discouraged by suffering, because the Savior loves us with an unfailing love.

As Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” we are to understand that none of the forces he names—“tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword” (v.35)—can ever do so. Indeed, far from being a sign of God’s abandonment, suffering may be a sign of our participation in Christ. It is for the Lord’s sake, Paul says (quoting Psalm 44), that we suffer.

Without a proper theology of suffering, we will be tempted to import what God promises for the then into the now. We will hear the promise that God will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Rev. 21:4) and wonder, “Why are my eyes still so full of tears?” Or else we will live in denial, pretending that all is well to reassure ourselves we are in God’s graces.

But we know that Christians really do suffer. There is no suggestion that the threats Paul names aren’t real, even expected. “Here,” Paul says, “are some of the enemies of our happiness. They can afflict you now for a little while, but they cannot separate you, ultimately.” The proper perspective on our sufferings, as he has already told us in verse 18, is to remember how glorious our eventual vindication will be: “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Paul knew tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword (2 Corinthians 11:16–29 ). Paul experienced intense opposition to his Gospel ministry. Yet he also knew the faithfulness of his Advocate—enough so that he could assure himself and every Christian that none of these sufferings or persecutions “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v. 39).

Holding, or Held?

There was a time not so long ago when parents could pile their small children into minivans and station wagons in all kinds of positions―some of them looking out of the back window like a dog, some of them sitting up in between the gear stick and the emergency brake, some of them hanging over the top—and drive off to wherever they were going. In contrast, today’s parents—perhaps wisely—can’t drive ten feet without securing their children in a five-point harness.

The picture we sometimes have of the Christian life like that old way of doing things: We think we’re on top of the station wagon, holding on for dear life as Dad propels the machine to Florida at seventy miles per hour. But this isn’t at all the case! Jesus Christ has buckled us in, with all the care of a mother for her infant. In the words of the old hymn, “He will hold me fast”—and He will carry us securely to our destination.

This article is the second in a three-part series examining Paul’s closing argument in Romans 8. You can read the first part here. Stay tuned to the Truth For Life blog for the third part, coming soon!

This article was adapted from the sermon “Case Closed!” by Alistair Begg.

Alistair Begg on the Importance of Prayer

TFL — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:59:59 GMT

Dear Friend,

One year to the day before my closing Sunday at Parkside, we began studying John chapter 17 together. Archbishop William Temple described the chapter as being perhaps the most sacred passage in all four Gospels. It takes us to the very heart of Jesus as He speaks to the Father on behalf of His own. Having spoken to the disciples, preparing them for His departure, Jesus then opens His heart and provides us with a glimpse that takes us, we might say, behind the scenes.

The High Priestly Prayer series at Parkside proved to be as challenging as it was encouraging. John Calvin observed that Jesus “shows teachers an example, that they should not only occupy themselves in sowing the Word, but by mixing their prayers with it should implore God’s help, that His blessing should make their work fruitful.”

Perhaps, in the goodness of God, as this series airs on the Truth For Life daily program in March, each of us will be helped in the spiritual discipline of prayer. You may remember how when the late Billy Graham was asked toward the end of his life if he had any regrets, he said, “I wish I would have prayed more.” As with physical exercise, we know the benefit of participating even when we don’t feel like it. How often have we participated reluctantly in corporate prayer only to find our souls refreshed?

Spurgeon urged his congregation along these lines: “We should pray when we are in a praying mood, for it would be sinful to neglect so fair an opportunity. We should pray when we are not in a proper mood, for it would be dangerous to remain in so unhealthy a condition. Prayer is as suitable for any spot on earth as praise is suitable for any place in heaven.”

Susan reminded me this week of how her mother routinely quoted parts of Philippians 4:4–6 in a loose paraphrase: “Don’t worry about anything, pray about everything, tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers.” There are many books that help us to pray, and this month, Praying the Bible by my friend Donald Whitney is in that category. He shows us how to use the words of Scripture as the basis for our prayers so that we can experience a richer, more meaningful prayer life. I commend it to you warmly.

Thinking along these lines, it is important for me to let you know how much I covet your prayers. John Newton in 1776 told his congregation that he was much in need of their prayers: “It is ... no small thing to stand between God and the people, to divide the word of truth aright, to give every one their portion, to withstand the counter tides of opposition and popularity, and to press those truths upon others, the power of which, I, at times, feel so little of in my own soul. A cold, corrupt heart is uncomfortable company in the pulpit.”

And so, as we approach the end of the first quarter of a new year, our focus remains under God to see unbelievers converted (do take up the offer of requesting three copies of The Man on the Middle Cross), to see believers established, and to see local churches strengthened. (Your prayers for pastors and church leaders will help uphold their ministries.)

Thank you for your faithful partnership, which is making it possible for the good news of Jesus to be heard and read around the world.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9).

With my love in the Lord Jesus,
Alistair

The Man on the Middle Cross

TFL — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Imagine that you’re waiting at the gates of heaven, and you’re asked, “Why should we let you in?”

What would you say?

In his popular evangelism book The Man on the Middle Cross, Alistair explores this all-important question through the stories of three people whose lives were forever changed by meeting Jesus: the woman at the well, the paralytic man, and the thief on the cross.

Written with simplicity and clarity for those who have yet to know or trust in Jesus, this brief paperback introduces unbelievers to His invitation of salvation, closes with a suggested prayer, and directs readers to additional teaching about who Jesus is and why He came.

For believers, The Man on the Middle Cross is a concise, powerful tool for sharing the Gospel. Leave copies behind at coffee shops or school events, pass them out at outreach programs, give a copy to a friend or neighbor, and keep extras on hand for when God opens the door. This book was written specifically to help you introduce unbelievers to Jesus so they can come to know Him as their Savior, Friend, and King.

Request a bundle of three copies this month when you donate to Truth For Life.
(Offer available March 1–15, 2026)

More from the Truth For Life store:

Single Copies

Order individual booklets for just $1 each.

Tract Bundle

Purchase copies paired with a short Gospel tract that introduces unbelievers to God’s salvation plan for $1.20 each.

Box of 200

Purchase a box of 200 for your church, Bible study, school, or ministry for $200.

Wallpaper: In Christ

TFL — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

“When God looks upon us, He does not see us in isolation, but He sees us in Christ.”
—ALISTAIR BEGG

Click below to download your image:

Apple Devices:
iPads
iPhones

Other Devices:
Android Phones
Amazon Fire
Microsoft Surface

Social Media
Facebook Banner
Facebook Post
Twitter Post
Instagram Post

Desktop Computer
Large
Small

The Closing Argument of Romans 8: God Is on Our Side

TFL — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:15:00 GMT

Some days in the Christian life can feel like episodes of a soap opera, with twists and turns, changing allegiances, and a cliffhanger leaving us wondering what will happen next: “I know that Jesus has loved me to the end, but can I do that for Him? Will I persevere?”

In some ways, though, the Christian life is more akin to an episode of the 1950s detective show Perry Mason. Perry Mason always got his man before the hour was up. With the evidence presented, the guilty party found out, and the innocent party acquitted, the resolution was definitive. The viewers could rest assured.

In Romans 8, Paul, like Perry, works the jury on behalf of the beleaguered Christian, putting up the evidence to show that their acquittal is valid and permanent. The fact that “there is … now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (v. 1) is affirmed by the ultimate promise that nothing “in all creation … will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v. 39).

Romans 8:31–39 is something of a closing argument in this trial. And at the center of this closing argument is the friendly testimony of the star witness: God Himself.

The Case as It Stands

Verse 31 asks, “What then shall we say to these things?” To what? To all that has preceded! Paul has presented the evidence, and now he is about to tell us what it means. So what is the evidence?

In the preceding verses, Paul has asserted that Christ has stood in the place of sinners, and there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. And those who are in Christ demonstrate this glorious reality by a new mentality, centered on what the Spirit of Christ desires (v. 5).

Furthermore, he points out the evidence that should point to the new spiritual life filling the believer: “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (v. 11). This Spirit assures us of our adoption as children of God (vv. 12–17), helps us to persevere in hope amid suffering (vv. 18–25), and aids us in our weakness as we consider the glorious, electing love of God that knows us, predestines us, calls us, and justifies us in order that we might be ultimately glorified (vv. 26–30).

“What then shall we say to these things?” Paul then asks. Given all this evidence, how is the troubled Christian to understand his or her place in God’s kingdom?

The Theory of the Case

The crux of Paul’s argument is summed up in the next words: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (v. 31). It’s as if Paul were saying, “Judge and jury have already decided for you, defendant. The prosecutor can shout and scream and stomp his feet, but he cannot contradict them.”

If the God who calls us and justifies us is on our side, then the opposition is of no account. We may be tempted to set our eyes on own ability, but the Bible teaches us that our victory or failure really hinges on God:

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive” (Ps. 124:2–3).

This is the constant testimony of the Old Testament Scriptures. The success of God’s people is not to be looked for in God’s people but in God Himself. It was God who defeated Pharaoh (Ex. 14:4). As the people trembled at the thought of giants, Joshua and Caleb reminded them, “If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us” (Num. 14:8). God knocked down the walls of Jericho while the people stood by (Josh. 6:15–20). God defeated overwhelming forces before them as they conquered Canaan (Josh. 10:14). And “time would fail … to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets” (Heb. 11:32).

The Scriptures are clear: When God is on someone’s side, victory is certain, even if the odds seem slim from a human perspective. The whole world and all the spiritual powers may stand up to accuse our souls; still the answer to Paul’s question—“Who can be against us?”—would be: No one of any account whatsoever!

The Knock-Down Argument

It’s no question that if God is on our side, victory is ours. And if we are left with any question about whether God is on our side, Paul reminds us of this fact, established already in the record: God the Father, he writes, “did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all” (Rom. 8:32). As the hymn writer puts it,

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.¹

We were sinners. Nevertheless, the Father, Son, and Spirit covenanted from eternity to save us from sin through the sacrifice of the incarnate Son on the cross: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Nothing in us deserves God’s love. Nevertheless, the cross demonstrates the marvelous fact that He has indeed loved us!

This incredible fact raises another question: “How will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). If God has given us the greatest and the best in Jesus, He will not withhold all of the blessings of grace that will complete His work in the lives of His children. In Christ, we have the promise of every grace—for “if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Rom. 5:10).

John Murray helpfully explains, “‘All things’ is an obvious example of an expression in universal terms used in a restrictive sense.”² In other words, God will not literally give us anything we ask, but He will definitely give us the whole package of grace that comes with knowing Jesus. If Jesus were a present opened on Christmas morning, we would never find the words “Batteries not included.” In giving Him, God has given us all we need; and having started us off, He will not fail to bring us to completion.

The work which His goodness began
The arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is Yea and Amen
And never was forfeited yet.³

This article is the first in a three-part series examining Paul’s closing argument in Romans 8. You can read the second part here. Stay tuned to the Truth For Life blog for the third part, coming soon!

This article was adapted from the sermon “If God Be for Us…” by Alistair Begg.

Stuart Townend, “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” (1995). ↩︎
John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans: The English Text with Introduction, Exposition and Notes, vol. 1, Chapters 1 to 8, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1959), 326.↩︎
Augustus Montague Toplady, “A Debtor to Mercy Alone” (1771). ↩︎

Wallpaper: Amazingly Joined

TFL — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

“The relationship into which we have been brought with Jesus Christ is an indissoluble union that will last for all of eternity. We have been immediately and amazingly joined to Jesus Christ.”
——Alistair Begg

Click below to download your image:

Apple Devices:
iPads
iPhones

Other Devices:
Android Phones
Amazon Fire
Microsoft Surface

Social Media
Facebook Banner
Facebook Post
Twitter Post
Instagram Post

Desktop Computer
Large
Small

4 Lessons About Faith in Suffering from Naomi

TFL — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:01 GMT

In the opening verses of Ruth, we read about the tragic triple bereavement of one of the book’s central figures, Naomi: “In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land” (v. 1). And in that famine, both Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, die.

Left with only her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to comfort her, Naomi sets out with them on a journey from Moab to Judah. Her action sets in motion the familiar events of God’s unfolding purpose: Ruth’s conversion; her subsequent marriage to Boaz and motherhood; the coming of David, the king of Israel; and, ultimately, the birth of Jesus Christ Himself.

But long before we reach that joyful culmination, Naomi’s grief and the faith that she displays in the face of it confront and challenge us.

Faith Can Endure Severe Trials

The first lesson we can learn from Naomi’s faith is a simple one: She had it, even in the face of severe trial. Anyone can espouse faith and champion trust in a sovereign God when the band is playing, the crowd is marching, the sun is shining, and all is well. The real tests and challenges come when faith is pushed to its limit by the pains we endure.

Naomi must have felt that her life’s story was falling apart. To lose her husband was to lose her provider, the head of the family table. The death of her two sons compounded that loss. We might imagine her as an alien in Moab—not the land of her nativity but the land of her sojourn—standing in the doorway of her home, looking down the street, with no prospect of the three men she loved coming up the road.

Yet while Naomi’s faith was tried faith, it was still faith, not unbelief. She did not say, “I no longer believe in a God who is sovereign over the affairs of life.” Nor did she say, “I disavow a God who would place me in this dreadful predicament.” Instead, she expressed faith—screaming faith, crying faith, challenged faith—in God’s sovereignty. When she hears “that the Lord had visited his people and given them food,” she acts in faith, “set[ting] out from the place” (vv. 6–7), undertaking the return to Judah. And when she declares her intent to depart, she wishes God’s blessing on her daughters-in-law, telling them, “May the Lord deal kindly with you” (v. 8), and “The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” (v. 9). Despite her pain, she never doubted that Yahweh was in control. And that is an important reminder for all who face dark days.

Faith Can Struggle to See God’s Provision

Though Naomi did not give in to unbelief, however, her faith had its limitations. We see, secondly, that her faith, though still faith, was nonetheless blind to God’s provision in her trial.

Naomi didn’t doubt that God could come to the aid of His people in a generic way. (Again, see verse 6.) But in her little world, it still felt like everything had collapsed. She still believed, but she was in danger of missing the fact that the God who provides via the barley harvest is the same God who knows when the sparrow falls (Matt. 10:29; Luke 12:6), knew her entirely, and knew exactly what she, as Naomi, required.

As the biblical story unfolds, we discover that Ruth was to be the means of God’s provision for Naomi. In fact, in providing for Naomi personally, Ruth would bless all of Israel and, eventually, all of the world through her descendent, Jesus. And yet Naomi, on the road from Moab, can’t see the provision. Instead, she actually insists multiple times to Ruth and Orpah that they abandon their plans to accompany her to Bethlehem. Her motivation is wonderfully selfless. But in the moment, she misses that in front of her very eyes, God has given her the answer to her affliction.

The Bible teaches that alongside afflictions, God provides means of comfort and solace (1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:4). He will not bring us into trial without also providing His fatherly care. The great danger is that we resist His provision, if we don’t miss it altogether. Our minds and hearts may even perversely enjoy our predicament—the attention, the self-pity, the sense that nobody knows trouble like we have—more than the hope of salvation from it.

Perhaps Naomi was tempted in one of those directions. And if we would not be likewise tempted, then we must remember that in both the immediacy of our circumstances and in the entire journey of our lives, our vision only extends so far.

Faith Finds Hope in Small Signs

Even if Naomi missed the big picture, though, we can see that she still found hope in small signs of God’s providence—as, indeed, should we.

Faith sees the provision of God in little things: a home to return to, food for the table, companions for the journey. That Naomi, with Ruth, “went on until they came to Bethlehem” (v. 19) shows that she saw enough to greet her in each new day to press forward. That she responded to Ruth’s request to glean in the fields with “Go, my daughter” (2:2) shows that she held out hope God would still provide. As the sun shone upon the barley, perhaps there was the inkling of a new beginning and a new day.

Fast-forward a few chapters, and we find that Naomi’s small hopes have become great joys. Ruth gleans in the fields, meets Boaz, marries him, and bears a child. By 4:14, the Lord’s provision is so evident that the townswomen can’t help but point it out to Naomi: “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!” And as she takes the new baby in her arms and lays him on her lap in v. 16, so great is her joy that they say not “A son has been born to Ruth” (which would have been true!) but “A son has been born to Naomi” (v. 17). Here, now, in this most ordinary, tranquil scene, she whose tested and tried faith is still faith is scarcely able to grasp the significance of what God has done.

Faith Never Guesses What God Can Accomplish

This leads us to a final observation: Naomi could never have guessed what God would accomplish through her trials—and neither can we. As the opening of Matthew makes clear, this child, Obed, would be the father of Jesse, the grandfather of David, and ultimately the forebear of Jesus Christ Himself. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (KJV).

When we bear the wonder of God’s provision in mind, in Naomi’s life and in our own, it should change the way we think about faith in the face of hard trials. There should be little doubt, for instance, that Christians will be far more effective in speaking to their friends and neighbors when they are honest about pain, suffering, sadness, and disappointment—and the fact that our faith, though stretched to the limits, is still faith.

Triumphalistic ramblings grate on the ears of the tenderhearted and brokenhearted. As we face pain and uncertainty, the Bible gives us a God who came in the person of His Son and experienced to the fullest all the bitterness, wretchedness, animosity, and difficulty that life could throw at Him—all to make eternal, saving provision for our sake. We should ask ourselves: Are we missing the provision of God right before our very eyes? Will we not bow our knees before the only one who offers to us a peace that passes human understanding?

Do “All Things” Really “Work Together for Good”?

TFL — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:09:28 GMT

As he reached the end of Romans 8, Paul presented a triumphant closing argument, grounding Christian assurance in God’s decisive action in Christ. Because God did not spare His own Son, believers can be confident that nothing essential will be withheld from them. Every charge is silenced by Christ’s death, resurrection, reign, and intercession, Alistair Begg explains in his sermon “Confident in Christ.” Though suffering and opposition remain real, they cannot sever believers from Christ’s love.

Commenting on Romans 8:28 in particular, which he says “has the kind of potential for what we might call a ‘shaving mirror verse,’” Alistair explains,

When it says here “all things,” be careful, especially in your Bible study groups and in your house. …

“‘All things’ is an obvious example of an expression in universal terms” that is being “used in a restrictive sense”¹ … in the same way that we take verse 28, that “all things for good.” “For good.” Who determines the good? The Father determines the good. What does the “all things” mean? Does it mean that if you will follow Jesus, then you will get a BMW 2002, and you will get a law degree, and you might get the girl as well? No! He knows all the things that are necessary for us. He knows all the things that are best for us. He’s our Father. …

Do you remember the sinking feeling you had when on Christmas Day you were waiting for that train set, and you took the train out of the box, and you saw the dreaded phrase “Batteries not included”? And some people got the idea that somehow or another, that’s going to be our experience. And Paul is saying, “Don’t be crazy! If God has given us his best in Jesus, will he not then also provide you with all that is necessary?” And he knows what is best. The Father knows what’s best.

Stream or Read the Full Sermon

John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans: The English Text with Introduction, Exposition and Notes, vol. 1, Chapters 1 to 8, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1959), 326 ↩︎

Wallpaper: Discern What is Pleasing

TFL — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

“Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
Ephesians 5:10–11

Click below to download your image:

Apple Devices:
iPads
iPhones

Other Devices:
Android Phones
Amazon Fire
Microsoft Surface

Social Media
Facebook Banner
Facebook Post
Twitter Post
Instagram Post

Desktop Computer
Large
Small

The Hand of God: Finding His Care in All Circumstances

TFL — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:30:00 GMT

Few stories declare God’s sovereignty over all circumstances more powerfully than the Bible’s dramatic account of Joseph as recorded in the book of Genesis. His story is one of twists and turns that include jealousy, deceit, slavery, sibling rivalry, and, in the end, forgiveness. In The Hand of God, Alistair invites you on a journey through this epic Old Testament narrative. He unpacks this unforgettable story and reveals its timeless relevance for believers who are navigating uncertainty, disappointment, or unexpected detours.

You’ll see God’s sovereign hand at work as He shapes the events in Joseph’s life to ultimately redeem and reconcile his family. You’ll also discover that you, too, are an object of God’s providential care. Through your hardest trials and your greatest triumphs, you reside under God’s guiding and protecting hand. Joseph’s story is a reminder of the amazing and comforting fact that God rules and overrules to bring about good—even in what you may perceive to be your darkest moments.

In The Hand of God, Alistair explains how resting in the truth that God governs all things—not just the joyful moments but the painful ones, too—gives you a confidence that will free you from bitterness and fear and give you the full measure of peace by relying on God’s faithfulness.

Request your copy when you donate to Truth For Life today.

The Prophet, the Well, and the Wardrobe: The Bible’s Call to Gentle Restoration

TFL — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In his epistle, after a barbed warning against false teachers amid the congregation, Jude suddenly takes a gentler tone: “Have mercy on those who doubt” (v. 22). This is not so different from the Pauline admonitions about sinners: that for the fallen, we ought to “restore him in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal. 6:1), and that “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone …, correcting his opponents with gentleness” (2 Tim. 2:24–25).

Jude understood that there is a difference between those who are convinced and those who are not. There are convinced sinners, and there are convinced believers—and between them are those who are undecided, those who are doubting what’s right, those playing with fire, and those who have polluted themselves with sin. Where repentance is possible, then, the godly leader is to seek restoration with all possible gentleness, even as he remains wary of the twin dangers of temptation’s flame and sin’s corruption (Jude 23).

A Story of Danger and Restoration

Jeremiah 38 doesn’t speak directly to this question of restoring the sinner. Nevertheless, as it portrays the restoration of a battered human body, it suggests to us how we should think of that important spiritual task.

As a prophet of doom who confronted sin and pronounced judgment, Jeremiah was understandably unpopular with the authorities in Jerusalem. Eventually, things got so bad that some of the king’s officials set out to silence him: “They took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud” (Jer. 38:6).

In the court was an Ethiopian, Ebed-melech, who took up Jeremiah’s cause. Convincing the king to show mercy, he took thirty men with him to lift Jeremiah out:

Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe in the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did so. Then they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. (38:11–13)

Ebed-melech, seeing the bodily peril Jeremiah was in, had mercy on him and pulled him out of the well while showing concern for the toll the procedure might have on the prophet’s body.

A Picture of Gentleness

One can imagine the conversation as Ebed-melech led the party not to the well but to the wardrobe. “Wait a minute!” someone might have said. “Jeremiah’s in a pit. Why are we going to the wardrobe?” And Ebed-melech perhaps responded, “Trust me.”

We might equally imagine Ebed-melech’s words to the prophet: “Jeremiah, we’re throwing you down a rope. But make sure that the rags are there to protect your armpits from the ropes—because when we pull you out, we don’t want to hurt you. We want to bring you out firmly, but we want to bring you out safely.”

Many pastors and Christian leaders, in their zeal to see sinners restored, rush directly to the well, as it were, bypassing the wardrobe. “We have to get the ropes down there!” they say to themselves. “We have to get him out now, quickly!” But such a sense of urgency may end up doing more harm than good. We need to be careful that in pulling people out of the mud, we don’t end up pulling their arms off!

Of course, there is the opposite danger too. Some Christian leaders are tempted to simply throw some rags down the well: “Wipe yourself down, Jeremiah. Clean yourself up a bit, and make the most of it. We won’t throw you a rope. We wouldn’t want to hurt you!”

The proper answer takes both dangers into account: “Jeremiah cannot stay in the well, or he will die there. But if we are not careful, we will only hurt him further as we take him out. We must remove him—yet we must make every effort to remove him gently.”

Saving the Sinner

James tells us, “Whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (5:20). Sin and repentance are a matter of life and death. We cannot leave people in their sin.

But neither does the Bible give us leeway to treat the sinner with contempt. Our heart is to be the same as our Savior’s: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench” (Matt. 12:20). We restore sinners knowing that eternity is at stake. It may be necessary, even, to “[snatch] them out of the fire” (Jude 23) or, as with a frantic drowning man, to keep our distance until it is safe to step in. Yet in mercy, we ought never to show contempt for the doubter and the sinner as we lead them to repentance. We restore them, and we do so gently, because they are precious before God.

This article was adapted from the sermon “Remembering and Keeping” by Alistair Begg.

The Church Is God’s Pilot Scheme for the Reconciled Universe

TFL — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 13:35:53 GMT

Writing to the Christians of first-century Rome, the apostle Paul acknowledged that creation, believers, and even the Spirit Himself groan in hopeful anticipation of final renewal. Present suffering is real, Scripture affirms—but it is eclipsed by the promised glory to come. In his sermon “Groaning and Glory,” Alistair Begg traces the inseparable link between suffering and glory in God’s redemptive purpose, reminding us that the Spirit sustains believers in weakness and that God is at work in all things for our ultimate good:

If you’re looking at the text, you will notice that what he’s dealing with here is not simply a personal matter, but it is a matter that is cosmic in its implications: “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:19).

The creation is waiting for the day of liberation. And as staggeringly challenging as it is, the church actually is God’s pilot scheme for the reconciled universe of the future. The church is like a little charcoal sketch of a glorious technicolor reality that will one day be revealed for all the world to see. And when people make their journey through the world, if they say, “Is there anywhere that I can find anybody or anything that remotely resembles what the Bible is speaking about?” the answer is supposed to be “Yeah, come to our church.” …

… I’ll tell you what the deal is with creation: The creation is waiting “with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” The story of the world is: good, bad, new, perfect. God made it good. It’s bad because of sin. In Jesus, He makes it new. It’s not perfect yet, but one day it’s going to be. And we know that includes not only our personal journey but includes the totality of the universe.

Stream or Read the Full Sermon

Wallpaper: Purity of His People

TFL — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

“God takes the purity of His people seriously.”
—Alistair Begg

Click below to download your image:

Apple Devices:
iPads
iPhones

Other Devices:
Android Phones
Amazon Fire
Microsoft Surface

Social Media
Facebook Banner
Facebook Post
Twitter Post
Instagram Post

Desktop Computer
Large
Small

What to Look for in a Healthy Church: Four Key Marks

TFL — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In the business world, flashiness or virality may lead to short-term success, but it’s not a recipe for long-term flourishing. The companies that succeed in the long run are the ones that do the basics well most of the time.

The same is true of churches. Many churches suppose themselves to be doing well because they don’t know what they’re doing. If there are bodies in the seats and envelopes in the offering plates, that’s a sign that all is well. But full auditoriums and steady giving (grateful as we are when we have them) are not the mission of the church of the Lord Jesus. Our mission is to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19).

What are signs that a local church is in step with this God-given mission? When Luke describes the beginnings of the church in Jerusalem in Acts 2:42–47, he gives us a clear picture of at least four basics that we ought to commit to doing well.

A Healthy Church Learns Christ Through the Preaching of the Word

The first thing we learn about the first converts after Pentecost is that they “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42). Indeed, it was Peter’s preaching that had been the catalyst for their repentance (2:37). It’s no surprise, then, that they continued to look to the apostles’ teaching for help.

These days, preaching is largely out of style. Even many Christian pastors suppose that there are more effective ways to communicate. But the authority of the preacher is the authority of God, the Holy Spirit, who has chosen “the folly of what we preach” (1 Cor. 1:21) as His means of delivering His Word. The church of Jesus preaches Jesus: that He was a historic figure, not a mythology; that His death on the cross was on account of sin and brought forgiveness; that He rose from the dead and will raise up those who believe; and that the Spirit He sent brings the power for a brand-new life.

A healthy church is not full of “lifelong learners” looking to stimulate their minds or warm their hearts. A healthy church is full of men and women eager to learn Christ (Eph. 4:20). That’s how the church was born in Acts 2, that’s how it proceeded, and that is what we endeavor to do today. Acts 2:42 describes how three thousand believers took themselves off to biblical kindergarten to learn about the Lord Jesus Christ, who fulfills the Scriptures and gives life to those who trust Him.

A Healthy Church Shares in Fellowship Around the Truth

Acts 2:42 also tells us that long with the apostle’s teaching, “they devoted themselves to … the fellowship.” The Greek word for “fellowship” is koinōnia, whose root is the word for common. The church, in other words, is to have a common understanding of the Word and a common fellowship with God (1 John 1:3).

The fellowship that unites a church is not ultimately a matter of shared interest, stage of life, mutual regard, or any such thing. It is a shared experience of God’s grace, and it is built on humility and honesty. As sinners forgiven in the Gospel, we can be honest with each other and with outsiders about our own faults, looking to Christ and not to ourselves for assurance and forgiveness. The church is thus a place where genuine friendship and affection can grow up around the Lord Jesus, without appeal to worldly pride regarding age, sex, race, interest, intellect, or status.

A significant consequence of this fellowship is that believers regard nothing as their own (Acts 4:32) and so share things in common. Such sharing is not communism or poverty for poverty’s sake, but it is an ongoing, mutual care that puts the needs of others above our own desires. When the circumstances arose, not only were the first Christians prepared to give what they had on hand, but also, they sold their belongings to serve the needs of the church. In a healthy church, spiritual fellowship overflows in practical sharing and sacrificial giving.

A Healthy Church Worships Reverently and Joyfully

Among those first believers, “awe came upon every soul” (Acts 2:43), and they were “attending the temple together” and “praising God” (vv. 46–47). To be sure, there was reverence for the manifest presence of God among them in signs, wonders, and repentant hearts—but the reverence was not at the expense of gladness. The gathering of the people of God should naturally lead to joyful celebration of the mighty acts of God through Jesus Christ.

The presence of reverence and joy together is important. Some churches are like crematoriums, all downcast looks and dead bodies. Others are like carnivals, frivolous and unordered. The true church of Jesus Christ recognizes that the solemn fact that Jesus died for sins is good news about which we should rejoice. And that worship can be both formal, in the regular gatherings of God’s people, and informal, around the hearts and under the rooves of Christian homes. It is worship, in other words, that encompasses all of life.

We shouldn’t forget, though, that if we are to worship truly, we first need to be spiritually alive, spiritually assisted, and spiritually active. We need to have been brought to new life by the Spirit, helped by the Spirit, and engaged with the Spirit. True worship is spiritual, rational, and volition—by God’s help, engaging the mind and the will to offer thankful praise to God.

A Healthy Church Grows with God’s Help

Finally, Luke tells us, “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). After receiving the Gospel preached to them, the congregation in Jerusalem went out and preached to others. Yet Luke understood that it is always God who changes hearts and brings people into the fellowship.

A great danger in our churches is that a preacher would think that because he can convince many people to stand up at the end of a service, many people are therefore being converted. In fact, over the centuries, it may be that many people with a small amount of social courage have convinced themselves that they are saved when they have had no change of heart, no repentance—no more faith, in fact, than the demons have (James 2:19).

A healthy church is a preaching church. It preaches through the godly behavior that is able to win “favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47) and through the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, both formally from the pulpit and informally in the course of life. Yet a healthy church never supposes that mere assent to the Gospel is what God seeks. It grows through repentant faith that bears fruit in the life of a believer. It’s one thing to say that we have invited Jesus into our hearts. It’s quite another to see Him truly at work there.

“Pray to the Lord of the Harvest”

Our Lord Himself declared, “The harvest is plentiful” (Matt. 19:37). People have a spiritual hunger that needs to be filled. How sad it is when they walk into a church that cannot fill it! Let us pray earnestly that our own churches will not let them down but that we can demonstrate the power of God among us through biblical teaching, loving fellowship, living worship, and ongoing, God-helped evangelism.

This article was adapted from the sermon “True Living” by Alistair Begg.

Trust God and Get Going!

TFL — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Genuine Christianity is not just a new set of beliefs or even a new pattern of behavior; it’s a matter of new belonging. After declaring the glorious truth that there is “now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” the apostle Paul called his Roman readers to live “not in the flesh but in the Spirit.” In the message “Living in the Spirit,” Alistair Begg examines the reality and results of the Spirit’s presence in the life of the believer—as well as the responsibility that falls to those who are in Christ:

The issue is actually stated very clearly in verse 13: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” John Stott says, “There is a kind of life [that] leads to death, and there is a kind of death [that] leads to life.”¹

Keep in mind that Paul is addressing believers. And the doctrine of the security of the believer does not eliminate the warnings of the Bible. Think Hebrews! “See to it,” the writer to the Hebrews says: “See to it … that [you do not have] a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God” (Heb. 3:12 NIV).

Now, if you read that and say to yourself, “I wonder who that’s for,” you’ve immediately made a mistake. It’s for you! And it’s for me. Later on, he says, “We are not those who would shrink back and are destroyed, but we are those who continue and are saved” (Heb. 10:39, paraphrased)—that the ground of our relationship, the ground of our salvation is in the work of Christ; the evidence that we are in Christ is in our continuance. It’s a “long obedience in the same direction.”² We daren’t mistake a false sense of security in sin from a true experience of salvation from sin. I find that quite helpful.

… The reality of what he’s urging us to here is the very antithesis of a kind of mentality that I was exposed to as a young man in Scotland. And you may actually still be exposed to it, and I may be about to offend you as I point it out. And it goes along these lines: “Let go and let God.” It sounds, really, very spiritual, doesn’t it? “Well, this is not something I do. Let’s let go and let God.” But what Paul is actually saying here is not “Let go and let God” but is “Trust God and get going.”³

Stream or Read the Full Sermon

John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans: God’s Good News for the World, rev. ed., The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1994), 221. ↩︎
Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future, trans. Helen Zimmern (New York: Macmillan, 1907), 107, quoted in Eugene H. Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society, 2nd ed. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2000), 17. ↩︎
J. I. Packer, Keep in Step with the Spirit (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity, 1984), 157. ↩︎

Alistair Begg on Reaching the Next Generation with the Gospel

TFL — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Dear Friend,

A year ago, I had just returned from Sydney, Australia, where I had enjoyed the privilege of speaking for the Anglicans at their CMS Summer School. My thoughts have been very much there, as I know there are thousands presently attending the 2026 event. They have gathered in the Blue Mountains, known for sandstone cliffs, eucalyptus forests, and charming towns like Katoomba, to hear from God’s Word and to learn of the work of mission throughout the world. I could easily have succumbed to nostalgia, were it not for the fact that I was spending the opening days of this new year in Louisville, Kentucky.

As I set out on the afternoon of January 1 to drive from my home, I found myself bemoaning the absence of rail travel. Surely I am not alone in wishing it were possible to take a high-speed train from Cleveland to Louisville with quick stops in Columbus and Cincinnati. The journey was uneventful and provided me time to anticipate the privilege and responsibility that was before me.

You may by now be wondering why I was making this trip.

Cross Con is a conference primarily designed for 18-to-25-year-olds and their leaders. The emphasis is on the Gospel, the local church, and God’s heart for the nations. In the publicity for the event, young people are urged to come not to make their lives easy but to make them count. There are a number of underlying convictions: that everyone has a role in the Great Commission, that the years from 18 to 25 are trajectory-setting, and that we are encouraging one other to: “Make your life count” and “Make His Name known.”

I had been asked to share a breakout session with my friend Jonathan Carswell (CEO of 10ofThose, the publishing house that recently released our book The Man on the Middle Cross). Our discussion topic was “How to tell people about Jesus without sounding like an idiot.” I anticipated that there might be a couple hundred students in attendance. I was wrong. The Marriott ballroom seated one thousand—and every seat was taken! The young people asked questions that were pointed and thoughtful and showed how serious they were about witnessing.

In the evening, I had the joyful challenge of speaking on my assigned topic: “Entreating the Extravagant Generosity of God.” The large space, commonly used for trade shows, like selling tractors or RVs, was not particularly suited to preaching. Hearing an echo is always off-putting. However, any such concerns were quickly ignored as I recognized the serious listening on the part of the 12,000 (yes, 12,000!) young people in the crowd. Before I left, I was asked to record a video clip encouraging others to consider Cross Con ’27, which will be held in St. Louis, where there is a much larger venue. You see, the ’26 event sold out, and so a part two, involving another several thousand students, is taking place as I write.

Much is being written about the growing interest in religion, faith, and spiritual matters by the younger generation. If Cross Con is any indication of that, then we must be quick to pray that God will move in a mighty way and then to encourage young people to take up the challenge to “Make their lives count.” Here at Truth For Life, we are keen to invest our resources to see many of this generation become committed followers of the Lord Jesus. Your partnership is making it possible for us to expect great things from God and to attempt great things for God.

With sincere thanks for your generosity and with my love in the Lord Jesus,

Alistair

J Is for Jesus: Enjoying Who Jesus Is from A to Z

TFL — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:00:01 GMT

In this newly released book, Alistair Begg walks through the alphabet from A to Z, using a word for each letter to help children discover who Jesus is and what He is like. Each carefully chosen word is grounded in Scripture and highlights an aspect of Jesus’ nature and character, faithfully introducing children to their Shepherd, Redeemer, and King.

Alistair offers a one-page reflection to explain how each word describes Jesus. He also includes a Bible verse, a colorful illustration to aid learning and memory, thoughtful discussion questions, and a prayer, making this book both engaging and spiritually formative for children and families.

J Is for Jesus invites parents, grandparents, and Sunday school teachers to lead children through a rich exploration of the unique attributes of Christ, giving children the opportunity to come to know Him, trust Him, and love Him. The book is wonderfully suited for reading one word at time week by week during Sunday school class and comes with free downloadable worksheets and a poster to facilitate classroom learning and discussion.

“In this book, I’m going to tell you about someone far more important and wonderful than me. I’m going to tell you about the most remarkable person who ever lived. And I’m going to use 26 words to do it. I’m talking about Jesus. Twenty-six words that are nowhere near enough to describe Him—in fact, there could never be enough words to sum up His greatness—but hopefully the 26 words I’ve chosen will help you see how amazing He is and how exciting it is to know Him.” —Alistair Begg

Wallpaper: Divine Physician

TFL — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

“Whatever our spiritual malady may be, we should apply at once to this Divine Physician. There is no brokenness of heart that Jesus cannot bind up.”
—C. H. Spurgeon

Click below to download your image:

Apple Devices:
iPads
iPhones

Other Devices:
Android Phones
Amazon Fire
Microsoft Surface

Social Media
Facebook Banner
Facebook Post
Twitter Post
Instagram Post

Desktop Computer
Large
Small

A Puritan’s Guide to Keeping Yourself Kept

TFL — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:45:00 GMT

The book of Jude, as it nears its conclusion, includes a pair of apparently paradoxical statements. First, Jude encourages the Christians to whom he writes, “Keep yourselves in the love of God” (v. 21), exhorting them to do the practical work that it takes to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus. On the other hand, in his great doxological conclusion, Jude praises God as the one “who is able to keep you from stumbling” (v. 24). We keep ourselves, and God also keeps us.

As in Philippians 2:12–13, Jude shows us that we work, and God works. God’s grace has started us off, and God’s grace will carry us to completion—and in the shadow of God’s wing we labor to do what He says, clinging to Him as our hope.

If, however, in God’s grace we are to keep ourselves, a question arises: How? The Puritan pastor William Jenkyn, in 1652, published a commentary on Jude in which he offers practical counsel on how we can go about keeping ourselves. Three steps in particular are worth our consideration.

We Keep Ourselves by Hating Sin

Jenkyn says we may keep ourselves in God’s love, first,

by keeping ourselves in a constant hatred of all sin. As love to sin grows, love to God will decay. These are as two buckets; as the one comes up, the other goes down.¹

We cannot keep ourselves in the love of God if we are playing fast and loose with willful sin, allowing ourselves luxuries and privileges that God does not. “Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world,” James reminds us, “makes himself an enemy of God” (4:4).

You may remember, when you were young, looking forward to your favorite meal. You couldn’t wait. Nevertheless, as you waited, perhaps you got yourself a candy bar and a large soft drink at the corner store. And since you were there, you threw in a bag of chips as well. By the time you got to the dinner table, your mother, or grandmother, or whoever cooked for you, would have said, “Why aren’t you eating? I thought you loved this.”

“I do love it,” you replied.

“Then what’s going on?”

“I guess I filled myself up with things that I shouldn’t have.”

We do the same thing with willful sin. As we fill our souls up with what God has forbidden us, we drive a wedge between ourselves and our heavenly Father. We find that when we come to the Scriptures and come to prayer, we might nibble at the edges, but, already filled up with sinful pleasures, we don’t have much desire to fill ourselves with the Bread of Life nor much joy in what we do eat.

Sin and godliness cannot live together. We need to actively choose to avoid the junk and fill ourselves up with the bread of life.

We Keep Ourselves by Choosing Good Friends

Second, we may keep ourselves in God’s love

by keeping ourselves in the delight of God’s friends and favourers, who will ever be speaking well of him, and by taking heed of those misrepresentations that sinners make of him and his ways.²

We understand, of course, that we are not to so isolate ourselves from the world as to cast away every opportunity to show the love of Christ to unbelievers. Yet we can live in the world so as not to love it, and we can prepare our hearts and minds for the slander that the world levels against God so that we might not be tempted to believe it.

Meanwhile, recognizing the influence our friends have over us, for good or for ill, we want to foster our richest relationships with those who share our love for the Lord. Relationships are a limited resources; most people can only maintain a few intimate friendships at any given time. We want to make friends of the friends of God, who can help us love Him all the more.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne is alleged to have said that a congregation’s greatest need is not a gifted pastor but a godly one. Whether or not M’Cheyne actually said it, the point stands as a strong one—and the same can be said of our friendships. Many traits may be desirable in a friend; none will serve us more than his or her godliness, which will encourage our own.

We Keep Ourselves by Delighting in the Sacraments

Finally, we may keep ourselves in God’s love

by keeping ourselves in delight of the ordinances, wherein his glory and beauty are displayed, and communion with himself is enjoyed, and our love is increased by these in exercising it.³

In other words, we ought to enjoy and rejoice in the Lord’s Supper and baptism. These are Christ’s gifts to the church, to represent Himself to us through outward signs.

The sad reality is that many people today just toy with the ordinances. It hardly matters to them whether they are baptized or not. To miss Communion week after week is not of much consequence. But we can’t keep ourselves in the love of God while avoiding the means of grace, for the means of grace are given to enable us to keep ourselves in the love of God.

Stay Where It’s Hot

An old coal fire helps to illustrate our point. A lump of coal in the fire amongst all the other lumps ignites and burns with the help of all the energy around it. A coal taken from the blaze and set to one side of the hearth soon dwindles cold and dim. It has become isolated from the context that allows it to grow and glow bright.

So it is with us. If we are to heed the command to “keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11 NIV), then we ought to take make every effort. We can do this by avoiding sin, clinging to God’s people, and taking advantage of the God-given means of grace. With God’s help, we will burn bright, and brighter still day by day.

This article was adapted from the sermons “‘Now to Him…’” and “Remembering and Keeping” by Alistair Begg.

William Jenkyn, An Exposition of the Epistle of Jude (1652; repr., London: Samuel Holdsworth, 1839), 345. ↩︎
Jenkyn, 345. ↩︎
Jenkyn, 345. ↩︎

The Real Question: Are You “in Christ”?

TFL — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:34:46 GMT

The seventeenth-century minister Thomas Jacomb once wrote of Romans 8, “From first to last, it is high gospel.”[1] Beginning with “no condemnation” and ending with the assurance that nothing can separate us from God’s love, it is one of the most magisterial and encouraging chapters in all of Scripture. In his message “No Condemnation in Christ,” Alistair Begg begins a short tour through its profound depths, helping us to grasp the solution to the predicament of sin, the relationship between freedom and the law, the call to walk in newness of life by God’s Spirit—and, in this excerpt, the significance of being “in Christ”:

You know that Paul actually doesn’t use “Christian” at all in his writings. He refers to the believer as being “in Christ.” Classically, perhaps, 2 Corinthians 5: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new [have] come” (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV 1984).

So this is the real question, isn’t it? …

… When Paul writes to the Ephesians and he begins with that great paean of praise of the amazing electing grace of God, he’s way up in the heights, and then you get to the thirteenth verse, and he says, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph. 1:13 NIV 1984). Are you in Christ? When were you included in Christ? Well, one answer to that is “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). …

… Becoming a Christian is a bit like getting married, you know.

… Imagine that it’s Christ and you standing at the front of the church, and God the Father is conducting the ceremony. And He says, “Son, do you take this sinner?”

And He says, “I do. I died for her.”

“And sinner, do you take this Savior?”

“I do.”

Stream or Read the Full Sermon

[1] Thomas Jacomb, Sermons on the Eighth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, (Verses 1–4) (Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1868), 12