The Christian’s Call to Purity
“For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.”
In 1 Cor. 12:27, Paul declares to the faithful in Corinth, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individuallymembers of it.” Paul’s words are just as applicable to every believer today as they were when they were initially uttered more than 2,000 years ago. I say that in the context that the church, to which Paul refers metaphorically... Continue Reading
“Give Us This Day”: Exalting God by Humbling Ourselves
God is our starting point in every theological and spiritual endeavor.
Up to this point, the Lord’s Prayer has revealed a great deal about the character of God. We have seen that for those who are in Christ, God is a caring Father. Jesus emphasized God’s transcendence and omnipotence by observing that he is “in heaven.” He established the worth of God and the value of... Continue Reading
Why It’s OK that God Loves Himself Most
Where God’s love is fundamentally different than a fallen human being’s love is that it is holy.
The Father beholds the Son and he loves the Son because he wants the Son’s glory in all things. His love for the Son is premised on the Son’s perfection, beauty, and righteousness. He says, “This is my beloved Son.” God’s Love Is Different As fallen human beings, we tend to think that God’s... Continue Reading
To Prefer Disputing Rather Than Living? (Van Mastricht)
In his major work on systematic theology, Van Mastricht was very clear that theology and practice go hand in hand.
In the first volume of this work, Van Mastricht discussed whether theology was theoretical or practical. He said it is not just theoretical, a matter of the intellect, but also practical, a matter of living. A Christian theologian should not just be noted for his learning and academic skills, but also for his piety... Continue Reading
Prayer and Comfort in Sachsenhausen
This is the story of my paternal grandfather’s last year on earth. He was a man of unwavering faith despite suffering arrest, incarceration, indignity, illness, and death.
You ask why there were so many Reformed people active in the resistance movement? This came about because of the outstanding education they had received in catechism classes and youth societies. Church, also as a body working in society, ranked first. The school was an extension of the family. You could rely on that community.... Continue Reading
The Self-Forgetfulness of Real Love
God’s love produces not a black hole but a universe exploding outward, growing ever larger and larger.
Truly loving another person means forgetting yourself long enough to pay attention to his or her section of the universe. Look at that planet! Look at that solar system! There’s always self-sacrifice at the beginning of love: you have to stop thinking about your own planetary system long enough to take notice of the other... Continue Reading
When Marriage Looks Different Than You Imagined
Wives, we make a grave mistake if we think, ‘If only my husband had different employment then I could be more cheerful and thankful’.
My greatest comfort must be found in Christ. Christ, who came to earth, away from the Father, to do the work set before Him. Christ, who reigns in heaven now, while His Bride, the Church, is here on earth. Christ is acutely familiar with the loneliness of separation. And He is greater than my loneliness and sufficient... Continue Reading
Sanctification in Motherhood
Being a mom reveals in a unique way the true nature of our heart. And like the dirty diapers we change each day, it isn’t pretty.
While motherhood shines a spotlight on our sin, it is not outside God’s perfect plan for us. In fact, these sins we notice, we notice them because the Spirit is at work revealing those sins to us. While God uses all areas of our life in our sanctification—work, relationships, suffering, and more—motherhood is another area... Continue Reading
Wibrandis Rosenblatt – A Quiet Matriarch
The Bride of the Reformation.
In Strasbourg, Wibrandis became an active participant of the community of pastors and their wives, which worked together to promote the Reformation in the city. As it was typical at that time, Capito and Wibrandis opened their home to a constant stream of visitors and refugees. Wibrandis Rosenblatt (1504-1564) is often nicknamed “the Bride... Continue Reading
Christianity: A Spiritual Contact Sport
Death has been defeated! Living in the reality of the Resurrection is what makes us bold in the moment of cultural intimidation.
Too many Christians face cultural intimidation and ask “What’s going on? Why is this happening?” Well, do you want to be a Christian? We must understand that Christianity is a spiritual contact sport. Expect to get hit. For followers of Christ in America, things are changing rapidly. If thirty years ago, you would have... Continue Reading
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