by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 14, 2024 | Uncategorized
After John records the end of v.3 in John 21, it’s apparent that the disciples’ overnight fishing efforts were completely fruitless. This fishing expedition serves as a final lesson from Christ, teaching them what they can accomplish on their own. When...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 8, 2024 | Uncategorized
We all probably have heard statements like the following from others or perhaps in our own thoughts: “If God would just show up so that I could see him, then I would believe that he exists.” Or…”If Jesus would just speak to me audibly, then I’d know he’s real.” Or…”If...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 31, 2024 | Uncategorized
As we commemorate the resurrection of our Lord this year, it must be noted that without faith you will not benefit from Christ’s resurrection. In other words, the resurrection is of no consequence for those who do not believe. That being said, there are many who would...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 24, 2024 | Uncategorized
What is the common way that wives can fear with regards to their husbands?—Is it not fear that your husband’s immature decisions or lack of decision making will supersede God’s sovereignty and surely lead you and your family into spiritual and physical...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 17, 2024 | Uncategorized
Paul then concludes this opening exhortation in 1 Tim. 2:9-10 with what women should focus on. The NIV is helpful here—10 but with good deeds, [which is] appropriate for women who profess to worship God [or make a claim to godliness.] As we would expect from Paul or...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 11, 2024 | Uncategorized
In Eph. 5:25-26, the Apostle Paul puts forth that the intention of Christ’s love for his bride, the church, was her sanctification. Now a husband cannot sanctify his wife, for he lacks the power in himself, but there are a couple main ways that husbands can...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 4, 2024 | Uncategorized
Self-protection is a more subtle obstacle than self-infatuation, even though it is a form of it. Because of the definition of manhood, namely taking responsibility and leading out in front in some way, it is risky to step into something like that: “What if I serve or...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 26, 2024 | Uncategorized
The Apostle Paul proclaims the ramifications of believing in the gospel in 1 Cor. 15:1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 18, 2024 | Uncategorized
Here are 8 glorious accomplishments of the cross that were solidified when Jesus said, “It is finished!” 1. Prophecies Were Fulfilled 2. Promises Were Secured 3. Righteousness Was Achieved 4. Wrath Was Satisfied 5. Love Was Defined 6. Sinners...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 12, 2024 | Uncategorized
If we do not have a Savior who completed his work, then we do not have any hope for a complete salvation, for in that scenario, at least part of the finishing work would originate in us. But if we do not trust exclusively in the finished work of Christ, then we...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 5, 2024 | Uncategorized
The unjust treatment of Christ in his trial should lead us to think through some things for our own lives, namely that proving our innocence cannot be our greatest quest—even in times of relational conflict. We certainly may need to clear up the truth, but our...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jan 29, 2024 | Uncategorized
There is some difficulty in harmonizing this statement with the timing of events in the other gospels. For instance, Mark and Luke record that Jesus and his disciples already ate the Passover meal the night before, so why did these members of the Sanhedrin not partake...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jan 21, 2024 | Uncategorized
This was a necessary lesson to be learned by Peter. Left completely to ourselves, this is the inevitable outcome and Christ was completely clear in his teaching in Matt. 10:33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven....
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jan 8, 2024 | Uncategorized
Notice what Paul does NOT write in 2 Tim. 4:2-Preach about the word; Preach with the word; Preach from the word. No! He writes, preach the word. Therefore, the first question to ask when assessing preaching is not whether you liked the sermon, but rather: Did the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jan 1, 2024 | Uncategorized
It’s clear that biblical hospitality requires sacrifice, but what exactly needs to be sacrificed?-The comfort of being able to relax at dinner without worrying about serving anyone else. You have to sacrifice viewing your home exclusively as the place where you...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 25, 2023 | Uncategorized
We know from Scripture that God is the source of truth, God is the revealer of truth and God is the enabler of people knowing the truth. Even the most common teachings of Scripture presuppose these understandings of truth. For instance, listen to how essential knowing...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 17, 2023 | Uncategorized
What exactly was in this cup from the Father to the Son? Clearly, it’s the identical cup that is mentioned in the Synoptic gospels, as Jesus prays in this same garden immediately prior to these events taking place—Mark 14:36 Abba! Father! All things are possible for...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 11, 2023 | Uncategorized
In John 17:26, Christ supplies an intended result of making the Father’s name known—indwelling love. To know more of God’s name is to possess more of God’s love. However, this is not a verse that merely teaches that believers are the objects of God’s love, as...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 4, 2023 | Uncategorized
The unity Christ prays for in John 17 has its focus on the glory of God and is produced by the love of God. So if this unity is truly focused on God’s glory, then all self-focus is banished. It’s true that along with abandoning Christ’s teaching, the other major...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 27, 2023 | Uncategorized
In Ephesians 6:16, the Apostle Paul supplies the 4th way to stand firm by putting on the armor of God and that is to take up the shield of faith. At the outset, we must discuss the significance of the prepositional phrase at the beginning of v.16—in addition to all...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 20, 2023 | Uncategorized
According to the Apostle Paul in Eph. 6:11, putting on the whole armor of God allows one to resist or stand firm against the craftiness or schemes of the devil. In other words, if one does not put on the complete armor of God, then Satan will take that person out by...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 13, 2023 | Uncategorized
In an effort to distinguish godly sorrow from worldly sorrow, Thomas Watson puts forth several qualifications for godly sorrow in his book, The Doctrine of Repentance: i. Godly sorrow is inward—It is an inward, heart sorrow that manifests itself externally; godly...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 30, 2023 | Uncategorized
This means that we are going to have to dive into arguably the greatest biblical tension in the NT. This tension I am referring to is captured in this statement: We are informed that our old self is dead because it died with Christ, but on the other hand we’re...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 23, 2023 | Uncategorized
The fear of the Lord is a reverential awe of his holiness, majesty, love, omnipotence and omniscience, which produces a dread of hindering our relationship with him by dishonoring or disobeying him. Based on that definition, here are a couple of questions to help us...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 15, 2023 | Uncategorized
If the Spirit is present in someone, then the fruit of Gal. 5:22-23 will be evident instead of the deeds of the flesh in Gal. 5:19-21. This means that sanctification is not measured primarily by major decisions and turning points in our lives, but rather by the day in...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 8, 2023 | Uncategorized
It’s impossible to be sanctified without pursuing both the negative and positive avenues of sanctification with faith-filled effort. With regards to the negative, listen to Rom. 8:12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 2, 2023 | Uncategorized
A.W. Pink rightly remarked about the truth of a Christian as stated by Jesus in v.14: The truth of this verse applies in a sevenfold way: First, Christians have a different standing from those who belong to the world: their standing is in Adam, ours in Christ; they...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 25, 2023 | Uncategorized
In John 17:11, there is the 1st of 3 requests in the remainder of John 17 that demonstrates Jesus’ desire for the unity of his followers. In addition to that repetition, it’s also instructive that the first time Jesus asks the Father to keep his people, it’s for the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 18, 2023 | Uncategorized
John 17:4 contains a clear connection between the Son glorifying the Father and something specific—here, it’s the accomplishment or fulfillment of the Father’s work given to Jesus to do. What is remarkable about verse 4 is that, like the final verse in ch.16, the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Sep 11, 2023 | Uncategorized
Once Jesus rises from the dead and ascends back to the Father, the disciples are given the simple instruction, at the end of John 16:24 to ask and they will receive with the result that their joy would be made full. In ch.15, this full joy was promised to the...
