By Matt Rodriguez

Why is sin a problem?

Ever wonder what sin is and why it’s a problem? We hear churches teach against sin. But we also sometimes hear them discourage practices we know are not sinful such as dancing and drinking a beer. So what constitutes sin and why is it a big deal?

Scripture explains Adam sinned in the garden by disobeying God’s command to not eat the forbidden fruit. Adam’s rebellion against God’s commandment resulted in death for all mankind (1 Cor 15:22; Rm 5:12, 18–19), with the only exception being Jesus Christ who is without sin. Adam’s sin resulted in both spiritual and physical death. Physically, Adam’s sin caused death to all mankind. Spiritually, sin eternally separated Adam and his offspring from God.

So because of Adam, our body and soul are totally depraved since birth (Ps 51:5). The sage explains everyone is sinfully unclean (Pr 20:9). Paul also says everyone has sinned and falls short of God’s glory (Rm 3:23). Although some people may say they are without sin, Scripture says everyone is a sinner (1 Jn 1:8).

Tragically, sinners who don’t repent of their sin and accept Christ as their savior receive eternal separation from Him for all eternity. They also experience conscious physical torment in hell (Rev 14:10–11). Because of this terrible situation, sin must be taken seriously. And for those who haven’t repented and accepted Christ as savior, now is a great time to do so (Jn 3:16).

By Matt Rodriguez

Was Jesus a good man, God, or both?

Many religions teach Jesus was a good man. But that’s where they stop. They reaffirm His historicity, that He loved others and lead an exemplary life.

But a careful investigation of the Bible reveals much more. Jesus’ own words claim He believed Himself to be divine. In addition, the Bible also affirms Jesus’ human-ness. So which is it? Was Jesus a man, God, or both? If the latter, how should we understand Jesus to be the perfect God-man?

Scripture and church history record Jesus possesses two unconfused natures as both God and man. Although Jesus temporarily emptied Himself of certain divine privileges while on earth (Phil 2:7), He was (and is) fully God (Col 2:9). As God, Jesus does not have a sin nature and is morally blameless (Heb 4:15).

In fact, Jesus is the only man who lived a sin-free life. He never lied, cheated, or stole. He was (and is) uniquely perfect in every way. His sinless perfection proves He is God.

As a human, Jesus experienced emotion like we do. He wept (Jn 11:35, Lk 19:41), had fun (Jn 2:1–11), and enjoyed fish (Lk 24:36–43). He was a man.

Jesus’ human-ness reinforces that our physical bodies are good (Gen 1:26–31), which contrasts with gnostic ideology. As man, Jesus provides the perfect model for how we are to love God and others sacrificially, which is the greatest pursuit in life (Mt 22:36–40). Do you know Him?

By Matt Rodriguez

Who is God anyway?

Have you ever wondered who is God? His name has recently surfaced on football sports shows, Jimmy Fallon comedy skits, and on websites. But since we can’t see Him, we often question what He’s like.

The Bible provides answers to questions about God and His relation to us. Since Scripture is inspired by God, we find comfort in knowing it is His very Word. So in God’s Word we find out much about who He is.

God is three persons in one essence. The first person of the Trinity is God the Father (Jude 1:1). The Father (along with the Son and Spirit) created all things visible (Gen 1) and invisible (See Col 1:16 and Jn 5:19). Also, the Father relates with personality traits such as a father’s compassion for his children (Ps 103:13).

The second person is the Son (Col 2:9). He is supernaturally begotten of the Father by way of the virgin birth. Jesus, as the Father’s Son, took on humanity including a physical body, which makes Him unique within the Trinity because He is the God-Man. Because Jesus is God, He possesses every attribute of deity and is the only historical human being that will ever perfectly exemplify the works, emotion, volition, and attributes of the Father.

The third person is the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). Although He does not assume physical form, He is a person with volition and emotion. The Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son. Unlike the Son, however, the Spirit is invisible to the naked eye like the Father. Because the Spirit is God, He possesses every attribute of God.

Overall, each person of the Godhead is unique from each other. Despite their uniqueness, Scripture teaches that God is one (Deut. 6:4). Each person interpenetrates the other so that there is no confusion between each person but yet there is unity in action and cooperation. Jesus’ words illustrate this when He says, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?” (Jn 14:10a).

By Matt Rodriguez

In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.
Proverbs 16:9 NIV

As we begin a brand new year, many of us will make new commitments to better our lives. We will promise to hit the gym three times a week, read ten books, spend more time with our family, or reduce our debt by making larger payments. And on it goes with resolutions we hope will lead to a stronger, more vibrant life.

And while these goals prove worthwhile, many of us fail to set new promises with the goal of bettering our spiritual life. Perhaps some of us don’t see the value of the various spiritual disciplines such as prayer, reading the Bible, acts of service, sacrificial giving, to name a few. These disciplines may seem unnecessary for our jam-packed schedules.

And yes, it’s true. Spiritual disciplines take time out of our schedules. They require us to intentionally integrate them into our routines. Bottom line: they take hard work, commitment, and perseverance.

So, are spiritual disciplines worth it? Should we engraft them into our list of New Year’s resolutions? Will they make our lives better?

Although these are valid questions, may I suggest we approach these questions from a different perspective? Perhaps we can ask ourselves these questions: Can I survive this new year without God’s help? When difficulty comes, will I have the spiritual wisdom to handle it? Does my life have eternal meaning and purpose? If we answered no to any of these, then yes, we must create new spiritual goals for this new year. The following are five suggestions to help us get started.

Who is God?

If you need a refresher on who God is, consider reading and reflecting upon these passages from the Bible.

• God the Father: Gen 1, Mt 28, Jude 1; Deut 6; Jn 17
• God the Son: Isa 7, 9; Phil 2; Jn 1, 3, 14; Col 2; Heb 4; 2 Cor 5; 1 Cor 15; Eph 2
• God the Spirit: Acts 5; Rom 8, 12; 1 Cor 6; 1 Jn 3; Eph 5

Who is man?

To better understand who man is, consider these verses.

• Man as the image of God: Gen 1; Psa 139; 1 Thess 5
• Man as fallen: Gen 3; Rom 1, 3, 6; 1 Cor 15; Psa 51; Prov 20; 1 Jn 1
• Man as a Christ-follower: Rom 8; Gal 5; 2 Thess 2; Jas 2; 1 Thess 5; 1 Cor 14

How can I be a better spouse?

To relate better with our spouse, consider these Bible passages.

• Conflict management: Mt 5
• Sexual intimacy: Song of Songs
• Role of husband: Eph 5; Gal 5
• Role of wife: Prov 31; Eph 5

What is prayer?

For a refresher on what prayer is and how to do it, consider these verses.

• Prayer as thanksgiving: Psa 8; Mt 6
• Prayer as petition: Psa 5; 1 Thess 5
• Prayer as lament: Psa 22

What is the Bible?

To learn about the importance of Bible study, here are some helpful verses.

• Bible as God’s Word: Jn 1; Psa 119
• Bible as transformative: 2 Tim 3; Rm 12; Jn 17

Because spiritual disciplines take time, let’s keep at it and not give up. When we slip back into our old routines, let’s not get discouraged. Let’s focus on one day at a time and commit to bettering our spiritual life this new year. And when difficulty comes, know He is there with us helping us to become more like His Son.

by Matt Rodriguez

For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.
(Proverbs 2:6, 12-15 NIV)

We live in a society full of paths, but little peace. Self-help books line the aisles of our favorite bookstores offering practical steps to happiness. And a visit to the religions section offers a plethora of options promising to conjure up a better life. To make matters more confusing, we have family and friends who share advice, which doesn’t always help. So whether it’s self-help books, religions, or personal advice, we often struggle to navigate the best path to a peaceful life.

Some of us turn to the news for answers. We download our favorite apps and read articles discussing “how to do this” and “why such and such is so.” But sometimes what we read in print doesn’t match reality. News sound bites don’t address the underlying root of our problems.

So we turn to our fallback: Google. The world’s most power search engine will list the right results we need, right? And with so many kilobytes, megabytes, and terabytes ready for download, we should certainly find a fix to our moral dilemmas. While googling, we hope personal peace is just one click away.

Tragically, the Bible says our world will only get worse. We will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation. Our earth is rebelling against its Creator. In the end, peace will not come to pass until the Prince of Peace returns.

So don’t believe what “they” say—that all spiritual paths lead to heaven. That each religion serves the same God. That we have different spiritual options to choose from. If all religions are valid and noble, then why is there still moral chaos? Why do we sometimes hurt our neighbors, loved ones, or even ourselves!

May I suggest our lack of peace stems from the fact we have too many religions. There are too many so-called spiritual paths. Too many lying and deceitful religions begging for our time, money, and affirmation. Our problem derives from the religious fragmentation, which our ancestor Adam introduced long ago.

Before his rebellion, Adam had only one spiritual path to walk in the cool of the day with God. This pathway was the way, truth, and life. But after eating the forbidden apple, Adam introduced moral decay into his body, his children, and every creature in the earth.

To make matters worse, Adam’s sin introduced moral decay into us too. We are not immune to moral depravity. Ever lie, cheat, or steal? We all have. It’s part of our sin nature DNA. It’s what we inherited from grandpa Adam. The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, right?

So no, we don’t need more religious paths. We need just One. And all paths don’t lead heavenward. Only One does. His name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

And what our Prince of Peace secured on the cross for those who believe in Him is peace between us and the Father. And when we follow His pathway, we guard against anxiety through rejoicing and thanking Him for what He’s done for us and praying to Him when we encounter problems along the way. Only His way provides true peace, which transcends all understanding.

Do you know Him?

by Matt Rodriguez

I am a guppy—I mean yuppie. Although I dislike the negative connotations this social classification presents, I am a young urban professional that, according to global economic statistics, lives in an economically privileged state. Whereas almost half the world live on less than $2.50 a day, I enjoy MET-Rx bars, Gap jeans, The Office DVDs, and my iPhone. Even water, I have plenty of it that doesn’t contain potentially deadly cholera, typhoid, botulism, dysentery, and e-coli. Unlike the 1.1 billion that suffer without clean water, I pout when needing to drink from public water fountains rather than enjoy water packaged in shiny bottles.

And when I eat, I demand quality ingredients: grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, wheat bread, ripe mangos. I complain when eating fast food or other lesser-quality cuisines. Although eating healthy is important, my problem stems from my ungrateful expectation of fine food. But I have a hunch I’m not the only person with demanding expectations—20% of the world’s wealthiest consume 45% of all meat and fish—the poorest 20% only 5%.

And time, I spend lots of it watching Mexican cooking shows, reading spiritual books, and cross-training at the Landry Fitness Center. I obsess about nutrition—measuring fat calories, grams of protein, and high fructose corn syrup. But one thing I often neglect is my Omega-3. Yes, fish oil is good for my body but what I’m referencing is my spiritual Omega-Three.

The Bible says that God is the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8), the beginning and the end. He existed from the very beginning of time—and He will be there in the end. In fact, He transcends time—He steps in and out whenever He desires. Truly, God is bigger than anything I can conceptualize.

And God consists of three persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. Although each person is distinct, they share in one essence. Christians describe this relationship as the Trinity. God is three persons in one being. Perfectly three-in-one.

What’s amazing is that our Triune God chooses to come close to us when we need Him. One example is when Jesus took on humanity and chose to dwell in ancient Palestine over 2000 years ago. He stepped into time to draw close to us—to eternally satisfy our spiritual hunger.

Having looked up, Jesus saw a bustling crowd coming toward Him. He turned to Philip and asked,

“‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, ‘It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’

Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish” (John 6:5b–11 NIV).

Jesus, our Alpha and Omega, second person in the Trinity, is ready to satisfy your spiritual hunger. Will you let Him?

Note: A special thanks to Ilie Ciorba for creating the online tutorial on how to create a clown fish in Adobe Illustrator.

by Matt Rodriguez

Why do I doubt what God says? Why do I choose my own ways instead of His? What makes me do things on my own terms rather than conform to the will of the Creator of the universe? Shouldn’t He of all people know what’s best since He made it all?

Like a stubborn mosquito, I thirst after desires, only to come back for more. Like Esau, I want the red stuff. And when I know what I want, I want it quickly! I go after my selfish desires and don’t consider the stinging consequences.

What makes this dilemma worse is knowing His blood eternally satisfies any need I have. It’s by His blood I am saved from sin. It’s by His blood I have a relationship with the Triune God. It’s by His blood I am sealed by the Holy Spirit. It’s by His blood I have meaning and purpose. So why do I fly around like a mosquito and chase after perceived needs that don’t have eternal value?

Here’s my dilemma: My propensity to doubt God’s Word and prefer my own is because of my sin nature. My unquenchable thirst for the red stuff in life is part of my DNA. Having inherited a sin nature from Adam, my flesh craves the apple in the garden. It strives after “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life” (1 John 2:16b NASB).

Ironically, my selfishness reinforces the reality of God’s presence in my life. That I have unsatisfiable sinful cravings confirms the need for a transcendent Satisfier. Someone who can eternally meet my deepest need: Love.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NASB).

by Matt Rodriguez

God, which way should I go?

As the sun sets, dark shadows creep. Reflective fonts on street signs blur, making direction difficult to discern. Headlamps stare at me, whiz by, and leave me in a cloud of indifference. Gasoline fumes choke my voice. But I keep going, moving, rolling through the potholes in life.

So many paths, which should I take? Do they all lead to the same place? Do they all lead to Life? If so, why do some streets pop my tires with nails of affliction? Why are some easier to travel with their wide lanes of tolerance, but fail to satisfy in the end? Why does life in the fast lane get me going quickly, but fail to let me exit?

And how about those I pass. Should I slow down and let them inside my life? Like a metro bus, should I open my doors and let the down and depressed inside. And how about the dynamic and diligent? As each takes his seat in my life, the windows fog but not my thoughts. I keep moving.

Should I take the next right toward the Lamp in the distance? Like the magi’s star, I travel toward a white speck across the horizon. I notice my darkness fading into the shadows of sacrifice. I take up my… and keep going, moving, persevering through the rough roads and cutting pain.

A giant hill of discouragement awaits. Its massive black belly, full of other victims of the past, reclines. Down, I sludge along through the wet asphault. My tires burrow into the black goo. But morning is coming, and joy too, so I keep moving.

“God, which way should I go?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

By: Matt Rodriguez

God, save me from my storm

Flashing lightning, turbulent waters, and wind lashed against my skin. Salty drops pierced my weary eyes—mixing with tears wrought by bad choices. Like a dinghy caught in a tempest, the storms I created tossed me around until my life was spiraling downward.

Anchorless, my sin pushed me farther along the channel to destruction. I had navigation tools to get me back on track but I didn’t want them. Instead, I decided to cope with my pain by giving into temptation.

A dark deluge encircled me like a killer whale hunting his prey in the open ocean. I was in trouble. Fiery darts shot across the night—thunderous bolts scared me. My selfish heart felt empty inside while the salty sea crashed against my pride.

I knew my life was drifting out of control and I needed to do something quick. I had ignored God’s warning—I had ignored Him. I knew He was the rescue boat I needed most. In fact, He has always been in the business of rescuing others from sin.

The Psalmist Asaph knew God used storms to grab the attention of those sinning. God allowed sinners to spiral out of control so they could repent and seek Him. So when Asaph’s enemies sought to kill him, he prayed to God:

“…so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm. Cover their faces with shame, LORD, so that they will seek your name.” (Psalm 83:15–16)

So there I was in the tempest myself. I felt shameful over my sin. I was ready to turn to God for help.

“God, save me from my storm.”

And He did. And He can save you too if you ask.