Discerning the Lord’s Will
Those who are in the light of Christ “try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”
Scripture often emphasizes our need to please God in all circumstances. The Psalmist hoped that his prayer would please the Creator (Ps. 104:34). Paul and his ministry partners aimed to please the Lord (2 Cor. 5:9). Christians who support the work of the gospel present a “fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable to God” (Phil. 4:18).... Continue Reading
The Atonement and Our Redemption Through the Blood of Christ
Christless Christianity is friends of the world and eager to welcome those of other ‘religions,’ except for those troublesome orthodox Christians who preach the whole Gospel.
We must become very familiar with the truth; therefore, we must become immersed in God’s Word. We must know what we really believe and why we believe it. I cannot think of better place to start than a study of our redemption through the blood of Christ. 3 Then Moses came and recounted to... Continue Reading
Confession ≠ Repentance
Why does genuine transformation still evade us?
We shirk repentance when we agree with the truth of our sin (confession) without choosing the gospel-motivated response. To be sure, repentance is jump-started by confessing our sin to one another (1 John 1:9–10), but it must extend further. We must make no provisions for the flesh, viciously renounce temptation (Matthew 5:24–27), and eagerly walk the tangible... Continue Reading
The Pain of Personal Sin
Sin is not just inward, but when I go against what God says, I am doing damage to all that I am.
I want to think about the dissonance which sin brings to me as a person, the cognitive and even physical effects of transgression, the holistic devastation that resisting God realises in every atom of my being. I’m considering this in the belief that my life (and possibly your life) with God can be enhanced and... Continue Reading
The Necessity of Doing “Christology From Above”
Christology from above will help us see why we need the Jesus presented in Scripture as our only Lord and Savior.
Without divine speech from above that gives the true facts about Jesus and the authoritative interpretation of his identity, Christology loses its integrity, uniqueness, and truthfulness, and it is set adrift to wander into the mire of pluralism. A Christology from below undercuts the epistemological grounds for a normative Christology. Only a Christology from above... Continue Reading
How Important Is the Gospel?
The gospel brings hope. Without it, there is only despair and ultimate doom.
Do you cherish your life more than you do testifying to the gospel of grace? We probably cherish our jobs more, our money more, our reputation more, our status in the community more. I suspect we often make the grand claim that we would die for the sake of the gospel but then refuse even... Continue Reading
A Simple Gift to Give the Next Generation
One of the greatest and most simple gifts we can give to the next generation is the discipline of telling stories.
Stories matter. They matter not only for sheer entertainment value; they matter because stories root us in who we are. They help us to remember where we came from, and even more than that, they help us remember that the Lord has been faithful to us in the past. And because He has been faithful... Continue Reading
How to Fight When You Fail
When you fail, fall on him. He won’t resent your repeated returns to his throne of mercy.
Micah shows us that even at our very worst, there remains a God in heaven who will not reject repentant sinners. “Look to him,” Micah says — “the sooner, the better!” Satan loves to tempt you, trap you, and then taunt you with your guilt. He loves to watch you wallow in the mire of your... Continue Reading
Love & Believing the Best – Refresher
Love errs on the side of believing a favorable reality.
I wonder how our relationships might change if we gave each other as much grace, leniency, and benefit of the doubt as we do ourselves? When it comes to others, we are proficient prosecutors, even, and especially, when we do not have all the data. When it comes to ourselves, we are pervasive permittors, believing... Continue Reading
Why God’s Election Gave My Wife Comfort as She Entered the Hospital
Unconditional election is not mainly a theological debate. It’s not tertiary to our hope.
She entered the hospital—and the trial of trust it brought—she could know that she was chosen, that she was on God’s side, that she was saved, not because God saw anything commendable in her (if that were the case she’d have to keep being commendable), and not because he foresaw her faith, but strictly because... Continue Reading