Why is it that some hear the gospel but don’t really hear it? Paul tells us it is because the Spirit hasn’t worked in a saving way in those people. In order for a person to understand spiritual truth he must be given the Holy Spirit.
Read 1 Corinthians 2
The Bible teaches that humans have free will. What that means is that humans freely choose to do whatever they wish to do. It does not mean that humans, untouched by God’s grace, are able to choose for God. Before someone can choose for God their heart and inclinations must be changed by the Spirit of God. Then, and only then, will they love what God loves.
Read Romans 6
When Elijah calls on God to defend his divine appointment God sends down fire on the Ahaziah’s captain of fifty and his men. When Ahaziah sends another contingent god does the same. This shows that God is not someone to be messed around with; he is a consuming fire. When the third captain pleads for mercy he is spared. God shows mercy to those who ask for mercy because the Lord Jesus was judged in their place.
The Christian name for God is "Father". Those who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ have received the Holy Spirit of adoption who assures God’s children that they are God’s children and heirs of God.
Read Romans 8:1-17
In Ahab's murder of Naboth we see that the righteous suffer and that God will vindicate his people by punishing the wicked. Because of the death of the Lord Jesus, the righteous sufferer par excellence, God can offer grace and forgiveness to his suffering servants whose eternal inheritance will never be taken away.
Read 1 Kings 21
Christ as our Mediator is one of the foundational doctrines of the Church. It is a doctrine that is thrilling to the heart of the believer, but also amazingly complex, and in many ways beyond our ability to fully comprehend it.
Read Hebrews 5:1-10
In Jesus' temptation in the wilderness he prevailed over Satan, a direct contrast to Adam's failure in the Garden of Eden. Since Adam failed and Christ prevailed to escape the condemnation of Adam's sin we must by faith be united to the Last Adam, Jesus Christ.
In God's call to Elisha we see that God calls us to joyful and total commitment to him. His total ownership on our lives is reiterated in Jesus' words about the cost of discipleship.
Read 1 Kings 19:19-21
Elijah prosecutes the people of God for their persistent disobedience and idolatry. God announces judgement against his people but that is not his final word or his preferred word. His final and preferred word is his Son Jesus Christ who is full of grace and truth.
Read: 1 Kings 19:9-18
