Preparing to Encounter Skeptics
Believers must regard Christ’s control, authority, and presence in the center of their being.
First Peter 3:14–17 is a classic text for Christian apologetics. Peter tells believers that they are always to be prepared to make an apology, translated “a defense” in the ESV, for the hope that is in them. This defense is to be a reasonable presentation of the gospel that has brought them hope and why... Continue Reading
In Pursuit of Excellence: “How We Can Be Excellent” Part 2
The pursuit of excellence requires practice, determination, and focus to hone your skills.
The call to excellence may seem like a heavy burden. How can I be excellent in every area of my life? Fortunately, God is not calling us to do what he hasn’t made or empowered us to do. Excellence is working to the best of your ability in the areas and ways God has called... Continue Reading
God Saves Confused Sinners Who Cannot Save Themselves
It doesn’t take a deep dive into theology to see the obvious fact that carnal people are committed to sin.
When we could not come to God nor could we find our way, God came to us. It is, therefore, our duty to exercise ourselves unto godliness—pursuing holiness as a means of bringing glory to our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Recently, in my men’s group, we were reading George Swinnock on the subject... Continue Reading
Good News from a Far Country
Learning the Gospel from a Nineteenth Century Scotsman
More than anyone else I’ve ever read Bonar makes the central truths of the chief article of the gospel piercingly and pastorally clear. And a clear gospel is essential for both the heart and work of a minister, indeed every Christian. When I found that Banner of Truth was slated to reissue nineteenth-century Scottish... Continue Reading
Who Is Representing You—Adam or Jesus?
Adam’s one sin was a representative action—God imputed, or credited, his one sinful deed to all humanity. Conversely, God imputes Christ’s representative obedience to all who believe in him.
People from every nation, age, social, and economic class are subject to death. Why, for example, are infants subject to death if they have never personally committed a conscious sin? Quite simply, they are subject to death because of Adam’s representative action. In the highly individualistic age in which we live, few embrace the... Continue Reading
Christine de Pizan—Theologian and Mother
Christine based her defense of the dignity of women on both Scriptures and the example of virtuous women in church history. She even took a Latin proverb that men used to slander women (“God made women to weep, talk and spin”) to show how Christ had compassion on the tears of many women. Christine... Continue Reading
The De-conversion of Saruman
Five Lessons to Learn
Perhaps one of the most remarkable (and often overlooked) examples of apostasy is Saruman in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. I’ve been re-reading the books lately in my coronavirus quarantine, and I was struck anew by the role he plays in the overall story. There’s been a lot of chatter the last couple years... Continue Reading
Christians, Don’t Waste Your Covid-19 Moment
God has the right to throw everything into chaos for a greater end, and he doesn’t need different kinds of saviors wrapped up in all the wrong causes.
The mere fact that everyone is obsessed at present with failed policies and bad government is proof that the Lord has our attention. What people need right now is to think about their status before their maker. We are all soon to die even if Covid-19 doesn’t make the death certificate. What people need right... Continue Reading
The Antidote for Despair
"Is there no balm in Gilead?"
Camus, in his classic novel, The Plague, describes the agony of a priest trying to come to terms with the horrible death of a child. In such circumstances one of the key questions that Christians seek to answer is: where is God in all of this? The answers fly out from the keyboards and on the airwaves.... Continue Reading
3 Good Things to Remember When You Feel Overwhelmed by Your Sin and Failures
The Lord uses our failures to train us, to discipline us.
It is good to self-examine and learn from our failures. Yet, perhaps more important than lessons learned is the question: how is God glorified in this? Is it possible that even in our self-inflicted trials—when we are acutely aware of our fallen, sinful nature—the glory of God is manifested by his work in and for... Continue Reading