Don’t Reap to the Edge of Your Field
Even though I’m not a farmer, the principles that seem to relate only to the farming society of Israel are applicable in the 21st century, one driven by technology and business.
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edge of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the resident alien; I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 19:9-10). I’m not a farmer. I’ve wondered... Continue Reading
Abraham’s Seed
The promise of a righteous seed is the thread running through every covenant promise.
Abraham’s seed was physical. God promised that Abraham would be a father of many nations (Gen. 17:5). Nations arose from his offspring with Hagar and Keturah, but the seed of promise was Isaac, the son of Sarah. From Isaac came Jacob and then the nation of Israel. The development of this physical seed was essential to... Continue Reading
How Can the Fallen Mind Accept Exodus 4:22?
"Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.”
I have read this verse countless times over the years. What struck me today is how utterly and totally foreign a text like this sounds to fallen ears. After all, this is God pronouncing a judgment on Pharaoh, on his house, and on his dynasty—one that would take the life of Pharaoh’s own child. What... Continue Reading
The Reason for Dort
After the Reformation, one of the greatest challenges to the Apostolic faith arose within the Dutch Reformed Church from a minister and professor named Jacobus Arminius and from his followers.
In 1608, Arminius was required to write out his views — his Declaration of Sentiments — for evaluation by the civil government, which supervised the university. This declaration showed his rejection of a Calvinist doctrine of election. Recent studies of his work have concluded that he was motivated not so much by a desire to assert... Continue Reading
Canons Of Dort (15): The Death Of Christ Is Of Infinite Worth
Do not the Reformed affirm that Christ died only for the elect whereas the Remonstrants affirm that Christ died for all men and every man?
We need to stop and consider how the Remonstrants limited the value and efficacy of the atonement since in their doctrine that Christ died for all men and every man, what do they say that he accomplished by that death? In their Opinions (2.2) the Remonstrants confessed: “Christ has, by the merit of his death, so reconciled... Continue Reading
How Jesus Conquered the World and Why it Matters
Jesus described his death as a victory over the ruler of the world, as being lifted up from the earth, as drawing all people to himself.
Much of Israel’s hope was well placed. God did intend to save his people. God did intend to end tyranny and oppression. But God had chosen to do it contrary to their expectations. Jesus would establish his kingdom through becoming a crucified king. John makes this point by the way he paints the crucifixion story... Continue Reading
The Growing Christ
Perhaps this year, we could continue focusing our attention on the incarnate Son of God--especially with respect to what the Scriptures tell us about his growth from an infant to a boy to an adult in his work as the Redeemer.
Of the four Gospel records, only Luke’s tells us about the days between the birth and infancy of Jesus and the inauguration of his public ministry when he was 30 years old. In just 4 verse (Luke 2:39-42), 12 years have passed from the birth of the Savior. The only things that we know about... Continue Reading
A Prophet like Moses
One of the most amazing things about the Christian faith is the reality that the eternal and holy God of the cosmos chose to condescend to speak to us.
Moses’ significance in redemptive history cannot be overstated, and the shadow of the exodus stretches throughout the entire corpus of Holy Scripture. The exodus was a redemptive event that typified the future redemption secured by Jesus Christ. This means that the primary role of Moses in revelation was to set the stage for Jesus Christ,... Continue Reading
Canons Of Dort (14): Only We Sinned But Only God Saves
Believer, you have been saved by the blood of the lamb and not because Christ made salvation possible for those who do their part.
The doctrine that, in the atonement, God intended to save his elect, is not a Reformed peculiarity.1 It is a mainstream doctrine which has been held by some of the greatest teachers in the Christian tradition, among them Augustine, Prosper of Aquitaine, Gottschalk, Peter the Lombard, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Bradwardine, Gregory of Rimini as well as... Continue Reading
When Our Waiting Will Be Over
"You’ll gather us together in Your arms of endless grace, as Your Bride forever when we see Your face."
My soul very much needs this song’s reminder, especially as another year passes and I am another year older, still fighting against the relentless darkness, still waiting, still desiring something that has never actually appeared in my experience. Not yet. It remains a desire for a promised appearing — an appearing I’m growing to increasingly... Continue Reading