We each sin as a human connected to other humans. We sin, as often as we sin, as fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, neighbors, coworkers, citizens, and, if Christians, members of the body of Christ.   J.C. Ryle is right when he observes that sin never announces itself to us with its full intentions. It never... Continue Reading

Is it your desire to become more like Jesus (Romans 8:29)? Do you want to be a holier Christian? Then you must train! You must put in the work to spiritually exercise your faith–in short, you must “train for godliness.”   Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for... Continue Reading

The hill of Jonah promises life, but will inevitably bleed you dry. Yet the hill of Christ, which promises your death, actually becomes a source of life.   “Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to... Continue Reading

The early church fathers considered eternal generation a first principle, essential to the Trinity, even indispensable for a biblical view of salvation history.   Each advent season, my family enjoys singing classic Christmas hymns. One Christmas, however, our family made a disturbing discovery. As we were singing, O Come, All Ye Faithful, my wife started... Continue Reading

Instead of thinking about sin talk as an endless stream of negativity and browbeating, think of it as something good. It is, after all, a part of God’s rescue package that is called the “Good News.”   Sin Is Heavy Suffering feels like our biggest problem and avoiding it like our greatest need—but we know... Continue Reading

Before, life was easy because God’s sovereignty always seemed inclined toward the things I wanted anyway, but now, life is hard because I see that God’s sovereignty may also be inclined towards the things I dread, the things I would not wish for.   The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Not... Continue Reading

The declining daylight at this time of year reminds us in a tangible way of the darkness that God’s people felt as they waited for their Messiah to arrive. This was sensed most keenly during the 400 silent years that followed the last utterance of true, Biblical, prophetic revelation that was given before Christ.  ... Continue Reading

If we are to be Bereans, we must not divorce the study of the Scriptures and doing of theology from the community. We need one another to discern the teaching of Scripture. Theology quite literally cannot be done apart from the church.   Growing up in conservative Baptist churches, there was no trait a Christian... Continue Reading

The Doctor had been misunderstood because he stood upon logic and church history instead of the Scriptures. Because of this mistake, he suffered the loss of both friends and influence.   Confusion hung over the crowd of the Second National Assembly of Evangelicals like a cloud of secondhand smoke. Moments earlier, the famed pastor D.... Continue Reading

The Word of God is sure, it is absolute, objective truth. Our enemies tell us that there is no such thing. Romans 8 tells us that we who are in Christ have nothing to fear from them so we are to stand firm and not fear.   16 For we did not follow cleverly devised... Continue Reading