A Reading in Aquinas, with Commentary: Or, a Problem with Theological Retrieval Demonstrated
No human art can accurately represent Christ as he is now. Jesus’ present appearance is such that John strained the limits of description to give an idea of it and was overwhelmed (Rev. 1:12-17).
Our objection to worshiping images is that it is idolatry because that worship does not pass through them to Christ, but is actually just worshiping artwork in the same way that ancient idolaters were actually just worshiping statues. Such images do not direct our devotion to Christ, but away from him (who is invisible to... Continue Reading
Make Disciples
The Great Commission is a command to bring people to Christ to listen, learn, and practice.
Bringing people to Christ to become learners is a high calling and a privilege. Human disciple-makers are powerless in themselves, yet they are accountable to Christ, and they are active in Him. So, move ahead in faithful obedience to preach the Word. The exalted Christ ultimately makes disciples as He causes His Word to germinate... Continue Reading
Is God Moody?
God is never out of control.
God’s actions are always perfectly proportionate to his character. God’s character never changes. When it looks like God has changed in the Bible, we should explore those passages for changes in the situation: people’s attitudes, behaviors, and decisions—not changes with God’s character or being. Have you ever seen someone so moved by emotion that... Continue Reading
Profane Sacrament
A Deeper Evil Than Other Forms of Murder
If you’ve gone to a clinic or hospital or pharmacy to try to erase what you thought was a mistake, if you’ve killed your child only to receive heartache, pain, remorse, and more suffering, that doesn’t need to be the end of the story. This universe was created by a God who chose to walk... Continue Reading
On the Nature and Frequency of the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Every bit of data we possess points us in the direction that the early church celebrated the Lord’s Supper whenever they assembled for worship as Jesus had instructed them to do.
In the absence of frequent observance of the Lord’s Supper, the gap created in the apostolic order of worship becomes rather noticeable. There is a reason why those fundamentalists who stand in the revivalist tradition place the “altar call” or an appeal to make some sort of re-dedication or re-commitment to Christ at the end... Continue Reading
Sleeping on Rocks Right Now? Jesus Is Right There
God pulls aside the curtain to show Jacob what is going on behind his desolate circumstances.
Jacob had betrayed family and God and had lost everything. Yet God was working right then even in Jacob’s betrayal and desolation to fulfill his promise. God was there, heaven and earth were joined. God’s ministering servants rushed up and down for Jacob. How gracious God is! How kind, patient, and longsuffering. How wise and mighty... Continue Reading
Clement of Rome Remembers Jesus Christ
Clement regularly points, not only to the voluntary humility of Jesus Christ for our salvation, but to the final glory of Christ.
Clement remembered Jesus Christ. He saw the incarnation of Christ, his taking to himself our flesh and nature, as the model for all Christian humility and consequent unity. Jesus consummates the decree of election by shedding his blood as high priest and rising from the dead as the firstfruit for our redemption. Through him, the... Continue Reading
None But Zion’s Children Know
Recent events have reopened numerous questions about the place of the state of Israel, and the city of Jerusalem, in the consummate purposes and plan of God.
It would do us good to be settled in our minds about the fact that all who are united to Jesus by faith have been made children of Abraham and heirs of God (Galatians 3:29). Believers are the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem (Philippians 3:20). This is the only Jerusalem that ultimately matters. As John... Continue Reading
Are You Fighting against God? Or for Him?
According to Jesus, if you are not explicitly for Him, then you are actually against Him!
Acts 5 reminds us that our actions matter. Moreover, we have a choice. We can fight against God and His purposes in the world, which will bring us to ruin. Or we can fight with Him, join Him in His battle, and see the world come actively under His Lordship. Introduction In our quest... Continue Reading
Politics and Law
Christianity and Politics IX: Divine and Human Law in the State
Both biblical law and natural law serve as our guides, though we must determine what aspects of biblical law were unique to Israel’s existence under the Mosaic covenant. Put differently: the basis of contemporary human law consists in the moral core of biblical law that is perpetually binding, whether that be determined through the general... Continue Reading
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