I John

Downplaying the Devil

August 11, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

Christians spend too much time downplaying the Devil. I’m sure you are familiar with the old adage, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” The typical response to hearing that is a smile and a knowing nod. Did you ever consider how ridiculous that statement is? Hell has no fury like a fallen human? Are we serious? It’s one more example of how flippant we can be when discussing things we should take with the utmost seriousness.

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We’ve reduced the power of Satan to that of a byline or a joke. This is where it is typical for a writer to give the caveat of something like, “We have to be careful not to take this to extremes, or fall into legalism.” But you know what? I hate caveats. Truth is truth, and the fact it makes some uncomfortable is no reason to soften it. We need to treat the power of Satan and the power of God with the respect and trepidation both deserve.

Redeemed from Sin

August 7, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

There is nothing in this world we need or should even desire that has any connection with sin. Sin is a great offense to God, and if we love Him, we will do nothing against Him on purpose. Why would we, being redeemed from sin, desire to continue to dabble in it (Romans 6:1-2)? In his first epistle, John remarks that if we love God, we will not indulge in habitual sin (1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18).

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When God transforms your heart, you no longer desire your old life (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are a new creation with new dreams and desires. Those dreams and desires will align with the will of our King and Savior (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:13). True repentance leads to real transformation, and real transformation cannot result in a heart that continues to burn for sin.

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God’s Call to Holiness

July 24, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

God’s call to holiness is not optional for any believer. Holiness is the standard God set for us in the beginning and continues to expect from us (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15–16). When we love the Father, we will desire to do what pleases Him because we all want to be counted like Paul when we die (2 Timothy 4:7).

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We all want to run the race well and hear Jesus speak the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant; enter into my rest” (Matthew 25:21). We dare not approach Heaven with stained garments uncleansed by the sacrificial blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:10). Sanctification always follows true repentance, so if we aren’t concerned with holiness, it is hard to conceive of our repentance as genuine.

What’s Your Excuse?

July 21, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

Never in history has there been less of an excuse to know God’s Word and fill your mind with sound teaching and doctrine. Television, radio, books, magazines, and, of course, the internet provide endless hours of teaching that no single person could ever exhaust in a lifetime. So, if you are not growing daily in the Lord, I have to ask, what’s your excuse?

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The only thing keeping anyone from growing deeper in their faith is their choosing not to. We all choose how we will spend our time, and if you aren’t choosing God or His Word, what are you choosing? Will you be comfortable with your answer when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10)?

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He Is Able to Fill All Our Needs

July 3, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

The gospels of Matthew and Mark both record two separate instances of Jesus feeding multitudes of people. Some skeptics like to argue these were retellings of the same miracle, but the setting and details of each are so different that their argument is without merit and not worthy of further discussion. It is no surprise Jesus performed a similar miracle more than once, because He often repeated miracles such as restoring sight to the blind (Matthew 9:27-30; Mark 8:22-25),

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cleansing lepers (Luke 17:12-14; Matthew 8:2-3), healing the paralyzed (Matthew 9:1-7; John 5:5-9), and even raising the dead (Luke 7:11-15; John 11:43-44). We are confident in God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16), and thus we can be confident that Jesus fed vast multitudes at least twice during His ministry. Then, as now, Jesus wants us to see that no matter how impossible the challenge, He is able to fill all our needs.