What Does Paul Mean When He Says, “Act Like Men”?
Many assert that the apostle makes a positive case for acting in a masculine manner.
The phrase “act like men” translates a single Greek word (ἀνδρίζομαι) which means to act in a courageous and virtuous manner. To understand the meaning of the verb translated above as “act like men,” we can refer to its dictionary definition, its use in contemporary sources, and its contextual meaning in 1 Corinthians. At... Continue Reading
Healing His Patient Slowly
Van Til sought to explain Old Testament redemptive-ethical concessions by means of the analogy of a sick child who was not able to receive, all at once, all the medicine that he needed in order to live.
“The case of polygyny being tolerated in the Old Testament is the classic illustration of the supposed low type of Old Testament ethics. Yet…Jesus himself interprets this as a pedagogical measure on the part of God in order to lead Israel on to the absolute ideal. It was for the hardness of man’s heart, and... Continue Reading
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven
The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven reveal something of the mysterious progress and imperceptibility of the kingdom of God.
These twin parables illustrate the growth of God’s kingdom between Jesus’ first and second advents. In them, Jesus showed that the manner in which He ushered in the kingdom of God need not sow any doubts concerning the power and legitimacy of His messianic office and the kingdom. The humble inauguration was no mistake—it was... Continue Reading
How the 10th Commandment Makes Sense of the Prior 9 Commandments
“You shall not desire your neighbour’s household; you shall not desire your neighbour’s wife, male servant, handmaiden, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.”
I think Jesus deepens the logic already implicit in God’s Ten Commandments. He certainly gets to the heart of the matter. But what he gets at was already present in Exodus 20, albeit without the same level of specificity. As my pastor recently emphasized, the Ten Commandments come from the mouth of God. He... Continue Reading
What Apostates Don’t Say
Like Pilate, apostates wash their hands of Jesus and add, by their silence, “I find no guilt in him.”
I write this with no malice toward those who have walked away. My heart breaks for them. Being a Christian is hard enough; pretending to be one would be excruciating. But instead, I want to point this out and, by way of warning, direct professing Christians to “consider Jesus” (Heb. 3:1). When people walk... Continue Reading
A Biblical Approach to an Overly Guilty Conscience
What do we do when guilt feels stuck in our stomach and refuses to go away?
Each of us knows the sickening feeling of guilt over our sins. It isn’t pleasant, and sometimes it comes unannounced. Yet, we also know it was by recognizing our smothering guilt that we confessed our sins and trusted in Christ for salvation. Is this guilty feeling good, even though it feels so bad? What do... Continue Reading
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Not everyone who thinks he is forgiven is actually forgiven, but that is not because of a shortage of forgiveness with Christ.
When Christ spoke this parable, He was on His way to the cross. It’s only because of His one sacrifice on the cross that there can be forgiveness for any sinner. And from the crucified Savior flows the power to manifest this forgiveness to others in the community of faith. It is the good news of... Continue Reading
What Does It Mean To Be The Apple Of God’s Eye?
Because of the true Son of David, we become the apple of God's eye.
How can David claim to be the apple of God’s eye? Can he say this because it’s before his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, her husband? Did he forfeit this claim after he committed such sins? And, what about us? Surely we couldn’t lay hold of this title. We know our sin.... Continue Reading
Repeated Sinning and the Hope of Forgiveness
When we return to God in brokenness and in confidence that he has already provided forgiveness in the blood of Christ, we will make it our renewed aim to be well-pleasing to him.
God has redeemed us so that we would walk in paths of righteousness. Jesus died to both the guilt and the power of sin so that those for whom he died can walk in newness of life. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,” writes the apostle, “training us to... Continue Reading
The Blessed and Only God: Part One
What Christ has done flows out of who God is.
Let’s be honest, the knowledge of God is a bit of an acquired taste. At first it seems too remote or intellectual, like a piece of classical music; but on closer inspection, after repeated exposure and listens, you pick up on the beautiful patterns, the intricate textures, the emotions and images that are provoked and... Continue Reading