One possible confusion with divine impassibility involves the cross since Christ suffers on the cross. I should note that the same problem exists for divine simplicity, immutability, and so on. The answers to these possible problems generally involve reflecting deeper on the doctrine of God and the Trinity as well as Christology.    Recently, I... Continue Reading

In my own grief, I’ve experienced a tension between grieving deeply and intensely while trusting fully and faithfully in God. On the one hand, it is challenging to reconcile how someone can trust in God and yet feel so depressingly low emotionally. Is grief a sign of weak, dying faith? On the other hand, a... Continue Reading

I recently taught a seminary class on baptism in which I asked my students to read an article written by a Baptist brother on why he believed paedobaptism is unbiblical. What surprised me most about this brother’s article was how frequently he misunderstood covenant theology and its implications for baptism.   As a Presbyterian minister,... Continue Reading

Edwards demonstrates in stroke after stroke how and why the devils lack saving grace.  He applies his thesis to the hearts of men.  The Puritan divine accurately diagnoses the human condition apart from grace.  But he concludes by contrasting the graceless state of devils with the gracious state of a person who trusts Christ: “By... Continue Reading

A coworker of mine sent out a note Sunday morning, asking for prayer because both his cousin and grandmother had died from COVID-19, the disease caused by this new coronavirus. And the latest forecast is that, in the U.S. alone, there will be 100,000 or more deaths from this virus. Yet God tells us—His very name... Continue Reading

The presence of typology leads the biblical theologian to go so far as to say Christ is not only the centre but the telos of redemptive history: all previous revelation points to him and finds fulfilment in him. Every type, in other words, has its antitype.   On March 24, 2020, Matthew Barrett’s new book,... Continue Reading

If you want to grow in the Christian life, there are certain things you must do, certain things to pursue in the power of the Spirit, and “if you possess these qualities in increasing measure they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive” in your knowledge of the Lord. You must “make every effort”... Continue Reading

As I listened, I found several common threads (click here for the complete notes from every sermon). These threads will make up most this article—a state of American preaching, if you will. Most of it will be negative. But first: what positive feedback would I give these sermons?   What’s the preaching like in America’s biggest churches? That’s the... Continue Reading

Are you tempted, if you’re young and healthy, to breathe a sigh of relief? To think, with a sense of optimism, “Even if I get the virus, I’ll be OK”? Perhaps you find the current social distancing policies somewhat draconian and are just itching for life to get back to normal.   The COVID-19 pandemic... Continue Reading

I’ve been involved in church life all my life. Being born into a pastors family means church is part of my life and lifestyle of my weekly rhythms–as it is for many Christians around the world. And it is in this time of uncertainty and alleviated stress where we seek the rhythms of familiarity.  ... Continue Reading