Dr Paul Allen

Our Lord Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ , who is the image of God , should shine unto them.” ( 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ) The “god of this world” is none other than Satan , who is also called “the prince of this world” ( John 12:31 ) and the one “which deceiveth the whole world” ( Revelation 12:9 ). It is sobering to realize that he and his demonic cohorts have the power to blind the minds of unbelievers, preventing them from comprehending even the simplest elements of the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ . However, Christ can make the blind to see! In answer to prayer and through the faithful presentation of the Word of truth , “the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that y...

worship (Photo credit: vicki wolkins ) True worship, says Jesus , is in spirit and truth . The “truth” part is plain enough — and with the coming of Jesus (“the hour is coming, and is now here”) that truth centers on his person and work, the one who is himself “the Truth” ( John 14:6 ) and the message about his saving accomplishments for us, which is “the word of the truth, the gospel” ( Colossians 1:5) and “the word of truth , the gospel of your salvation” ( Ephesians 1:13). It is this “word of truth” (James 1:18) by which we’re given new birth, this “word of truth” ( 2 Timothy 2:15) that Christian workers endeavor to handle aright, and this truth that anchors and saturates worship that is truly Christian. But what about “spirit”? Is this our spirit or God ’s Spirit? Jesus’s memorable statement in John 3:6 helps: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” It’s not either-or, but both-and. For those who are new creatures in Chri...