Michael Kruger Responds to Two Challenges to the New Testament
"If one wants to portray the New Testament canon as developing in a way that was entirely haphazard and open-ended until the fourth century, that’s simply not the case."
“When we look into the early centuries of the church, particularly the second century, we realize that the core of the New Testament canon was in place almost from the very beginning. What do we mean by “core”? What we mean is the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and at least ten, if... Continue Reading
Natural Theology and Christian Apologetics: A Brief Primer
A number of truths are implied, rooted, or presupposed within the ability to give a rationally coherent explanation that accurately expresses God’s word.
Romans 1:20 tells us that God’s invisible attributes, his eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen through what has been made (by him) so that all people are without excuse (for their sin). Because some in the history of Christian theology have used the term natural as a synonym for the physical creation, some have spoken of... Continue Reading
The Illusion of Control
Control allows us to adjust our environment so that everything is in its right place—at least, according to us.
Perfectionism isn’t simply striving to do well. Striving to do well is good, worthwhile, and commendable. The Bible calls us to it (Col. 3:23). If that’s what we’re doing, we’re not worried about what other people think, and we’re not judging ourselves for our poor performance. For example, if we’re learning to play the guitar, we... Continue Reading
Natural Revelation: Is Natural Theology Reliable?
Can a theology which excludes special revelation effectively reveal God to man?
Romans 1 says, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them” (v. 18). The apostle then states what can be known, God’s “invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that... Continue Reading
The Ache for Friendship
"God created man for society and not for solitude."
The first problem in human history, the first problem on the pages of Scripture, the first problem in any human life, was not sin—it was solitude. This means that the not-goodness of Adam’s aloneness was not a result of his fallenness. Adam stood there in Eden without fault, yet he also stood alone and therefore incomplete.... Continue Reading
Is Your But Keeping You From Obedience?
It’s our human nature to see how close the line of disobedience we can get.
In Luke 10:29 Jesus talks about love for neighbor and the dude wants to have a theological debate about what constitutes his neighbor. He’s not looking for reasons to obey, he wants to “justify himself” and he’s going to make himself feel better by hiding behind a theological argument about what constitutes a neighbor. We do the... Continue Reading
Do You Fight the Comparison Game? 3 Things to Remember About Your Calling
Most of us are more insecure than we’d like to admit.
Why is becoming secure in our own calling important? When I get a sense of security in my own calling or ministry, I’m happy with who I am, what I am, what I do, and how I do it. I don’t obsess about what everyone thinks or says. I’m freed up from the opinions of others.... Continue Reading
The Statement on SJ&G Explained: Article 3, Justice
Justice is a vital gospel issue because the atoning work of Christ turned divine justice in favor of sinners who trust Him as Savior.
We tend to think of justice predominantly as a legal standard or civic paradigm, and righteousness as something more personal. Again, Scripture makes no such distinction. In the Bible, justice and righteousness are the same thing, encompassing all the legitimate connotations of both words. [Editorial Note: This is the third post in a series of posts in which we... Continue Reading
Justice: Between Certainty and Doubt
In the pursuit of justice we often find ourselves in the uncomfortable space between certainty and doubt.
The hours of statements, questions, outbursts, and media commentary remind us that acheiving justice isn’t always an easy thing. And, if I can admit it, it’s this that gives me a measure of gratitude for what we have in Christianity. As the senate committee stumbled and fumbled in their confusion, I was led to be... Continue Reading
Living for God
To glorify this gracious God and not to displease Him are necessarily the desires of those whom He redeems.
Calvin saw himself as a sinner who owed all that he was to God. It was God who subdued his mind to the knowledge of Christ. The piety that was recovered at the Reformation has sometimes been caricatured as a life of cold, austere obedience to God. But the caricature rests on ignorance of the... Continue Reading