Why Creeds?
The word creed comes from the Latin “credo” meaning “I believe.”
Many creeds commence with the formula, “I believe…” or “We believe…” Throughout church history, Christians have articulated their convictions of truth in statements of faith. As the hand of time rolls a creed through the debris of error, its content grows larger and denser until it comes to rest as an immovable mass of solid... Continue Reading
Plead To God Like Your Life Depends On It—Because It Does
Biblically, there is a powerful history of lament—in the wilderness, throughout Psalms, during the exile.
As our hands crack from the ever-growing stain of soap and hand sanitizer and we breathe recycled air through masks, the current season of pandemic presents the joyous opportunity to have our faith strengthened through this foreign, but ancient, form of prayer. When life gets hard, I find myself turning to slave narratives and... Continue Reading
What Is Providence?
Historically, Christians have had an acute sense that this is our Father’s world and that the affairs of men and nations, in the final analysis, are in His hands.
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:29–30). ... Continue Reading
Grace for Service
There is nothing static about grace, it is as living and vibrant and dynamic as is Christ himself.
Paul draws attention to this in what he says in Ephesians. Having expounded the grace of salvation as experienced by God’s people collectively as the church in the first half of the letter, he goes on to show how this is worked out practically in its second half. The fact he begins this applicatory section... Continue Reading
Will Christians Be Taken in a Secret Rapture?
The imagery here is that of a conquering king arriving at a city.
When Jesus returns, those who have already died will be brought with him as a great, royal entourage. Those believers who are alive on the earth will rise to meet the returning Lord after the bodily resurrection of those who have already died. Notice how the Lord returns: with a “a cry of command, with the... Continue Reading
Set Your Minds on Things Above
For a person in Christ, your pain in this world is the only pain you will ever experience.
Every Christian serves Christ, but none of us serves the Lord as we would like to serve Him. All who love Christ worship Him, but none of us worships as we would like to worship. Don’t you find yourself at times asking, “Why is my heart so sluggish? Why is my response to the grace... Continue Reading
The Unchanging God
God is immutable because he is from himself and recognizes no cause above himself.
God was not changed by the incarnation; the Word (logos) was made flesh, not by a conversion of the Word (tou logou) into flesh, but by an assumption of the flesh to the hypostasis of the Word (logou). It is one thing to change the will; another to will the change of anything. God can will... Continue Reading
The Christian’s Incompatibility With Sin
I am convinced that God is using this Covid-19 Pandemic to do a mighty work in the Body of Christ.
The truly Born Again will have love growing at the center of the character. It will be the central part of their new nature. Yes, God will make each of them an exhibit of His own holiness through them, but He will also bring each to places where this love for one another will be... Continue Reading
The Will of God
The New Testament is clear that the Lord’s will in these times will be increased perseverance, dependence on Him, humility and compassion for others.
It may feel for some of us as though we are going through our own version of Gethsemane. But- I wonder whether for some of us we will need to say through tears- “Father I accept this as your will for me. Help me to submit to it.” In the end God’s will always has... Continue Reading
Faithfulness Is Not Theologically Complicated
Many in Christendom today are taking their cues from Pilate. They are more concerned with satisfying the crowd than being faithful to Jesus.
There is only one answer to the Philippian jailer’s question, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul gave it: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30–31). Simple and straightforward, uncomplicated and unambiguous. Do not be confused. Lately I have been mystified by—and distressed with—a trend I’ve seen... Continue Reading