How and Why Do Christians Imitate Christ?
We look first to Christ’s merits for us and then only should we talk about imitation.
According to Paul, when Adam sinned, we all sinned in him and when he died spiritually, so did we. By nature, after the fall, we are incapable of doing anything toward salvation. We are utterly helpless. To blur the line between Jesus and his people then creates the impression that if we only pull a... Continue Reading
Semper Reformanda in Context
The part of religion that always needs reforming is the human heart….Formalism, indifferentism, and conformism must all be vigorously opposed by a faithful ministry.
What did van Lodenstein mean by his famous phrase reformed and always reforming? Probably something like this: since we now have a church reformed in the externals of doctrine, worship, and government, let us always be working to ensure that our hearts and lives are being reformed by the Word and Spirit of God. Whatever other... Continue Reading
Context Matters: The Love Chapter
Paul describes this more excellent way, the way of love. And what he says about love directly and explicitly corresponds to what these people are not.
1 Corinthians 13 may be one of Paul’s most eloquent chapters. Perhaps only Romans 8 or Philippians 2 can rival it. But the mood is absolutely not a warm and fuzzy one. Its character is one of sustained rebuke, not one of pleasant encouragement. To miss this mood may be to miss the point. Perhaps you’ve heard... Continue Reading
Is a Miracle a Violation of the Laws of Nature?
A miracle is a naturally impossible event—an event which the natural causes at a certain time and place cannot bring about. It is beyond the productive capacity of nature
Is the occurrence of a miracle logically impossible? No, for such an event involves no logical contradiction. Is the occurrence naturally impossible? Yes, for it cannot be produced by natural causes; indeed, this is a tautology, since to lie outside the productive capacity of natural causes is to be naturally impossible. We sometimes hear—from Christian... Continue Reading
Should All Preachers be Going Deeper with New Testament Greek?
Many a young preacher has asked, “Is learning Greek and Hebrew really necessary?"
“Going Deeper is divided into 15 chapters, which makes it ideal for the average 15-week seminary semester. The authors take a “middle of the road” approach when it comes to what they include and exclude from their text. If Dan Wallace’s grammar Beyond the Basics is more of an intermediate to advanced grammar, then Going... Continue Reading
A Renewed Mind, a Transformed Life
According to Romans 12:2, a renewed mind leads to a transformed life.
The renewed mind is marked by a reliance on the Bible, the only infallible rule for faith and practice. Through the light of Scripture, we begin to understand God’s holy character and realize our sinfulness. We begin to understand all that was lost in Eden, and discover why we long to return from exile to... Continue Reading
The Comfort Of The Glory
Jesus desires to encourage us with the glory that is to come, a glory that shall shine brighter than the sun
“As sudden as it appeared, the glory was gone, the Father’s voice stilled, Moses and Elijah had retreated, and on the slopes of Mt. Hermon were only Peter, James, and John with Jesus. This is what all of our experience, all our theology, all our ministry, all our work should come to––seeing only Jesus.” ... Continue Reading
How Jesus Brings Peace
World peace belongs squarely within the realm of the horizontal dimension of the cross.
Cosmic, consummative worldwide peace is entirely dependent on Jesus’ death on the cross. The effects of creaturely reconciliation are felt for all of eternity on account of His saving works. The vertical reconciliation of fallen men to God is foundational to the horizontal reconciliation of man to man. The former necessarily accomplishes and secures the... Continue Reading
Even the Smallest Sin…
All sin--even the least sin--is a worshipping of self or some other created thing.
Sin is transgression against the infinite and Eternal God and therefore each and every sin deserves infinite and eternal punishment. The writer of Hebrews captures this principle when he writes that according to the Law of God, “every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution” (Heb. 2:2). I was intrigued to read the results... Continue Reading
Preaching from Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther
We can trust that what God has planned and promised will come about, and it will often be in surprising ways.
The day-to-day reality for the vast majority of God’s people does not include supernatural events. This is where the books of Ezra-Nehemiah (presented as one book in the oldest manuscripts) and Esther can actually provide tremendous help and encouragement. One of the things that distinguishes them from most other Old Testament narratives is the lack of... Continue Reading