by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
We need to be careful that we maintain a proper understanding of the significance of these matters, because some people talk as if OT Jews should have disregarded the Mosaic law completely and just waited for the Messiah to come. That represents utter biblical...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 8, 2024 | Uncategorized
In Acts 9, Luke supplies one of those summary statements that gives a status update of the advancement of the church—v.31 Therefore the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being strengthened and going on in the fear of the Lord, and in the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 1, 2024 | Uncategorized
How often do you consider the mercy of God in your life; especially with regards to your pre-converted state? One way to assess that is by asking this follow up question: Is it a consistent thought that your current life right now is so much better than what you...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 25, 2024 | Uncategorized
This spiritual lesson was essential for the great Apostle Paul to understand, for even if he now believed in Jesus Christ, he must not continue on in his ministry with any shred of self-reliance. He must be absolutely convinced that on his own, he is blind and...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 18, 2024 | Uncategorized
How certain are you that God desires to save by pouring out his grace on sinners through the gospel of Jesus Christ? Your level of certainty will be directly related to your faith in the following truths: 1) God’s merciful disposition—Eze. 18:23 Do I have any pleasure...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 10, 2024 | Uncategorized
In Acts 8:18, we begin to see what’s behind the curtain of the façade of Simon’s false profession. He did not come to Christ because he was desperate for forgiveness of sins and an external righteousness to be given to him—those being the only marks of true conversion...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 4, 2024 | Uncategorized
Besides a focus on what God has said, the Psalmist then focuses on what God has done in Ps. 33:4—and all his work is done in faithfulness. The Hebrew word, faithfulness, has been defined as being “totally or completely dependable.” It’s as if the Psalmist...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 28, 2024 | Uncategorized
No one can be dogmatic about an answer, but I think there are a couple of strong possibilities: First, it could signify that Jesus does not just sit by passively merely watching events unfold, but stands ready and willing to pour out grace for the needs of his people....
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 21, 2024 | Uncategorized
It follows that if any of us do not believe in the word of Christ by banking our entire lives on it, then we could easily be interacting with the word in an unprofitable way and be guilty of neglecting so great a salvation.In order to further consider this danger,...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 14, 2024 | Uncategorized
In Acts 7:9-43, Stephen focuses briefly on Joseph and then on Moses, which will bring forth a key theme in his sermon—there have always been a large percentage of those among God’s people who repudiate God’s word and live in idolatry, while esteeming the outward...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 7, 2024 | Uncategorized
Why do you have a share in the salvific blessings made to Abraham? On what basis are you right with God and heaven-bound? According to what the Apostle Paul teaches in Gal. 3, both answers are simply by faith in the finished work of Christ. Based on what we profess,...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 30, 2024 | Uncategorized
Upon reaching Acts 6, we will encounter a threat to the church that we have not yet seen. Thus far, the threats we have come across include external opposition and persecution and even the infiltration of unrepentant sin in the body, but it is likely that the threat...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 23, 2024 | Uncategorized
It’s undeniable that the consequential sins of others greatly affects us, whether it is someone who is not personally known to us, but has been influential in our growth in Christ OR maybe is a family member or friend who has claimed salvation in Christ. Even if...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 16, 2024 | Uncategorized
Therefore, the apostles leave the Council rejoicing after being flogged and threatened?? This is certainly shocking. We would think the text would read: They left dejected or discouraged or they left fearful; or they left doubting their calling and questioning the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 9, 2024 | Uncategorized
Twice in the first eleven verses of Acts 5, Luke records that fear is the result of swift judgment of sin, with the second verse (v.11) indicating that the fear spread beyond the church into the community. The principle is this: When God’s holiness is upheld through...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 2, 2024 | Uncategorized
Even though the term for fellowship existed before the start of Christianity, the Christian idea of fellowship involves a vastly different motive and goal. Instead of being forced or desiring some immediate earthly gain, the motive of this fellowship is the love of...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Aug 25, 2024 | Uncategorized
There is a repeated word that functions as the main theme of Acts 4:13-31 and it can be found in vv.13, 29 (translated confidence) & 31. Now when you think of boldness, don’t think of loud, brash or argumentative speech; think instead of one who speaks freely,...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Aug 19, 2024 | Uncategorized
What is the reason Luke follows Acts 4:3 with v.4? It’s to demonstrate that persecution from the world, whether religious or secular, is going to be concurrent with the gospel going forth AND the Lord saving and adding people to his church. This is in stark contrast...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Aug 12, 2024 | Uncategorized
As Peter continues highlighting the preeminence of Christ in his sermon in Acts 3, he cites Moses’ prophecy about a future prophet found in Deut. 18. The only acceptable response to this prophet (Jesus Christ) appears at the end of v.22 and that is to listen...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Aug 5, 2024 | Uncategorized
A biblical understanding of how God’s promises relate to repentance will not only prevent us from presuming on God’s promises apart from a turning to him, but also guard us from taking credit for any of our repentance. Accordingly, Acts 3:19-21 will answer a...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 29, 2024 | Uncategorized
How Peter addresses the crowd in Acts 3:12 leads us to the conclusion that God has determined that true, spiritual work requires God’s power so that he gets all the glory. Now there are no apostles today and even the miraculous works of the apostles were distinguished...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 21, 2024 | Uncategorized
The early church’s unity and togetherness was was very apparent and affected all aspects of their lives, according to Acts 2:44-45. Additionally, Luke writes at the end of v.46, that they were doing this with joyful and sincere or humble hearts. This indicates...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 15, 2024 | Uncategorized
Here is a statement that I believe is implied in Acts 2:40 and is undeniably found all over the NT: The certainty of the Spirit’s activity in a church is based on the church’s conformity to Christ, which is directly tied to how much the church separates herself from...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 7, 2024 | Uncategorized
Baptism not only demonstrates one has been saved by Christ and added into Christ’s body, but also that Christ occupies the position of Lord or Master in one’s life (Rom. 6). Therefore, if these people truly wished to have forgiveness of sins, then they needed to...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 30, 2024 | Uncategorized
We left off last time in Acts 2:36 with Peter concluding this premier Christian sermon with the ultimate indictment—Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified. This serves as...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 24, 2024 | Uncategorized
It’s obvious that we need Jesus to be our Savior to save us from the judgment our sins deserve, but we also need him to be our new master, since before Christ, all we do is obey Satan, the world and our sinful flesh. So is what you have made him in your life...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 16, 2024 | Uncategorized
There is so much rich theology found in Peter’s explanation in Acts 2:23, but the grammar makes it very clear—The ultimate cause for Jesus’ execution was not the wicked actions of man, but rather the will of God. Notice this Jesus wasn’t delivered over to...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 3, 2024 | Uncategorized
Upon reaching Acts 2:14, it’s time for Peter to explain what is taking place and in doing so, we witness the first sermon of the church age as he explains what has happened on this particular day of Pentecost straight from the OT Scriptures. More specifically,...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 27, 2024 | Uncategorized
We have seen in this opening section of Acts 2 how God made the Spirit’s work manifest to the 1st Christians and all who were present in Jerusalem. Likewise, God has given all Christians the gift of the Holy Spirit to accomplish his own purposes. These purposes...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 21, 2024 | Uncategorized
So in light of the examples in the book of Acts and the repeated mandate for the practice of prayer in the NT epistles, why might it be lacking in our lives? There are a few reasons: 1) Self-reliance; 2) Self-righteousness; 3) Self-deception. Self-reliance can easily...
