Great Power in its Effects
Prayer is powerful, it is effective, it is eternally weighty and valuable.
In James 5:16-17, where we find that memorable verse about the prayer of a righteous man having great power in its effects, we also see a reminder from Elijah’s life. James does not offer Elijah’s prophetic command that it will not rain as any sort of example to us (see 1 Kings 17), but the... Continue Reading
The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength
As you live, serve others as consistent with what the Bible says, and rejoice in the Lord.
Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites led the people in worship. The people listened well, were attentive to the Word, and considered what they were supposed to do. In fact, the people were heartbroken because they realized they had not been doing everything God expected from them. So notice what advice they were given… Go, live, serve,... Continue Reading
Why Do (Modern) Christians Rarely Talk about Rewards in Heaven?
Rewards are clearly presented as a motivation in the Christian life; why don’t we hear more about rewards in our pulpits? We have been convinced that our obedience doesn’t matter.
“Yet notwithstanding, the person of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works are also accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreproveable in God’s sight; but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied by... Continue Reading
How Could a Sovereign, Good God Allow Suffering?
The Bible is clear: God does not passively allow things to happen, but instead actively ordains them for His own sovereign purposes.
This is a conversation that has often brought into question the goodness of God. It raises uncomfortable questions. Yet it is helpful to ask these questions not just of each other, but of our faithful brothers and sisters throughout church history. One Puritan, in particular, can help us here. Puritan Thomas Watson looks to Romans... Continue Reading
The Thing Itself
God does not remove our idolatry by simply withholding from us religious objects that we would otherwise worship; He heals our idolatrous hearts by imputing our sins to His Son.
Whether we are tempted to pay homage to athletes, actors, politicians, religious leaders, books, music, a landscape, or religious objects, we must understand that Jesus alone can cure our hearts of the propensity we have to churn out idols. As we look to Him by faith, our hearts are drawn off of the world and... Continue Reading
Works in the Book of James—“Fruits and Evidences of a True and Lively Faith”
Those whom God has justified by faith in Christ show themselves to be true people of faith by their sanctification as they bear the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith.
Abraham’s justification by faith—an act of God—was shown to be real in his sanctification, a work of God—his faith was tested and yielded the fruit of good works (James 2:22). God’s justification necessarily leads to God’s sanctification. Abraham and those whom God has justified by faith in Christ show themselves to be true people of... Continue Reading
Living Under God and Unto God: Proverbs 3
What Proverbs 3 is all about: Wise living is living through Christ under God and unto God – for his honor and for our good.
Every one of us who has come to Christ knows what it is to trust God. We came to Christ acknowledging that we have nothing to offer – that we have Christ alone. That’s all. And we entrust ourselves wholly to him, believing his promise and trusting in his saving work. And not just for... Continue Reading
Bible Stories Too Dangerous for Sunday Morning
Dangerous Bible stories show us a God who has no problem whatsoever using the muck and mire of our worst days to make his progress toward his good goal happen.
The students in my college classroom generally arrive with the assumption that, if they ever finally decided to open the book, their Bible contains stories about religious superheroes whose level of certitude, model of righteousness, and moral living is a model to which they could never aspire. So why bother reading about them, much less... Continue Reading
More Thoughts on Theological Anthropology: Man as Male and Female
What does it mean that God created Adam/man as “male and female”?
This topic never seems to be far from the surface of conservative evangelical discourse. The recent publication of Aimee Byrd’s latest book, Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, and the reviews that have followed (see here and here) are only the most recent entries in a decades-long conversation (along with these, see also Kevin DeYoung’s recent post). A couple... Continue Reading
3 Reasons Why You Must Mortify Sin in Your Life
Absence of the mortification of sin in the contemporary church has not removed the principle from Scripture.
Paul is not saying, “I want you to stop doing these things only so that you can appear moral and pious.” He’s saying, “I want you to put these sins to death, because as Jesus said, you are to be holy.” The sin in your life needs to be rendered completely helpless with regard to... Continue Reading