What Is the Unpardonable Sin? (Matthew 12)
Blasphemy against the Spirit
To reject Jesus is not terminal, but to reject the Spirit’s testimony to him is. Sins of ignorance are pardonable. The case of Paul, blasphemer, persecutor, and apostle proves this (1 Tim. 1:12–17; Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–4). This implies that blasphemy against the Spirit must be a deliberate act. Hebrews 6:4–6 and 1 John 2:18–24 suggest it is a sober, measured... Continue Reading
Bottled Up Tears
This life is a vale of tears: so have declared countless hymns and sermons.
In deep compassion, the Father puts all our tears in his bottle. He does it for Jesus’s sake, the one He sent as a man of sorrows into this groaning world. While He was here, Jesus wept, mourning death, brokenness, and sin, and then conquering them by his cross. Now in Jesus’s name, God hears... Continue Reading
Marriage Happy, Marriage Holy
Marriage does, indeed, give us many opportunities to peacefully and proactively grow in holiness.
The couples who endure with joy are most often the couples who embrace one another as a complex bundle of strengths and weaknesses, helps and hurts, joys and sorrows, and who set their expectations for marriage accordingly. They are each more concerned with their own holiness than their spouse’s, each quicker to embrace an opportunity... Continue Reading
Preserving the Standards
By instructing ministers to not teach their differences, PCA presbyteries model cohesion as a denomination, prevent corruption of its theological tradition, and avoid confusion among PCA members.
Ordained PCA ministers (as well as those considering ministry in the PCA) who differ from the PCA’s theological Standards have two options before them: (1) They may lay aside their personal freedom and respect the denomination’s doctrine for the good of others and in the service of others, or (2) They may seek to enter... Continue Reading
Thanksgiving, William Bradford, 1590-1657
An excerpt from William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation, which is his account of the settlement of Plymouth Colony from 1620 to 1647.
They set apart a solemn day of humiliation, to seek the Lord by humble and fervent prayer, in this great distress. And he was pleased to give them a gracious and speedy answer, both to their own, and the Indians admiration, that lived amongst them. For all the morning, and greatest part of the day,... Continue Reading
Is It I, Lord?
We must not lose touch with this truth: we have all betrayed Jesus and are in desperate need of His grace and provision.
All of us can stand before the throne of grace with confidence solely because of what Jesus has accomplished (Heb. 4:16). Only Jesus accurately understands the depths of our sin and wickedness, and, incredibly, He still loves us. Not only that, but wonder of wonders, knowing the brokenness and frailty of our nature, He still... Continue Reading
Should Christians Reject Slavery and Affirm Same-Sex Marriage?
What movement if any do we see between the Old and New Testaments when it comes to sex and slavery?
In Jesus the Bridegroom, we unlock the meaning of male-female marriage. In Jesus the eternal King, who came “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45), we find the wrecking ball for slavery and the best foundation for human equality. Scripture’s trajectory isn’t toward... Continue Reading
The Hidden Life
In this hidden life, we do not doubt and we are bold in our humility.
Who doubts Him? Those who are not Spirit-filled doubt. Jesus tells us to not let our hearts be troubled. That is a command. How can we do it? Our Lord gives His peace and joy. With those within us we will have an irrepressible confidence because our life is hid with Christ in God. ... Continue Reading
The Importance of Remembering
Are you remembering what God has done for you?
Are you taking advantage of Lord’s Day worship, the stories of faith, and your regular prayer times to remember all the Lord has done for you? It is important to remember all that the Lord has done so as to strengthen and encourage your faith. Remember the Lord and His goodness! Praise Him for what... Continue Reading
From Metaphysics to Mealworms
How the resurrection changes everything.
The resurrection is the best argument for the reality and significance of Jesus Christ that has ever been made, and it is so because it is an argument made by God Himself. Thus, in an age of pluralism and profound epistemological uncertainty (which is to say, paganism and unbelief), I think the best course of... Continue Reading
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