When Miracles Fail
What do we expect these signs and wonders to accomplish?
Do we think a sign or wonder will communicate the Gospel? Is it leading people to Christ? The answer here is actually shocking. If you read all of Acts 14 as one narrative, as Luke wants you to, then the thesis to the chapter is not, “Paul does miraculous works.” Instead Luke records the thesis in Acts... Continue Reading
Three Ways Christians Misunderstand Obedience
Make no mistake, humans crave order and accountability.
Often Christians dismiss rules, as if the most joyful kind of life is the life without restraint, as if grace means we are free to live enslaved to our desires. But the gospel teaches a different way. Here are three ways Christians misunderstand obedience. I’ll never forget the conversation my wife and I had... Continue Reading
Living All The Bible: A Response To A Faddish Argument
Of the Old Testament law, only the moral law, summarized in the Ten Commandments was intended to be permanent and even that law, as it was expressed at Sinai (Ex 20) had temporary features.
The living-the-Bible-for-a-year approach ignores basic literary conventions like types and shadows. A type is an illustration of a future reality. A shadow is a sketch of future realities. According to the New Testament, the types, shadows, and sketches of future realities were fulfilled in Christ. It was on this principle that the Holy Spirit revealed to the Apostle... Continue Reading
The Complexity of Applying the Speeches of Job’s Friends
That closing stanza of Eliphaz’s third speech (Job 22:21-30) is one of the loveliest poems in the book.
Job suggests that silence will be their best wisdom (Job 13:5), and he sarcastically proclaims they have a corner on the market of godly wisdom (Job 12:2). Elihu burns with anger at their failure to answer to Job’s defense (Job 32:3). Yahweh declares they have not spoken of him what is right (Job 42:7). Does... Continue Reading
Be All the More Diligent to Make Your Calling and Election Sure
Peter tells us that we are to make every effort to supplement our faith.
However, our sanctification is the will of God; therefore, we are to grow more and more humble as our pride is put to death. This makes us become Christlike. Only genuine Christians can overcome the world and deny their flesh. Everyone can make temporary decisions to do something or stop doing something, but that is... Continue Reading
5 Good Things to Remember in Times of Sudden and Excruciating Loss
Even in the midst of tribulation, we have the peace and love of our Father in heaven because of Christ our Savior.
If you’ve lived long enough, you know from experience that some past events or circumstances that didn’t make sense at the time had a purpose after all and brought about some good. We see a clear example of this in the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis (see Gen. 37-47). Throughout the hardships... Continue Reading
The Glory of the God-man: Cur Deus Homo?
Jesus is not only the covenant Lord come in the flesh, but He is also the faithful covenant servant, performing our duty for us.
Evangelicals often speak of the Christian faith as being about a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” While this is often reflective of warmed over emotionalism and sentimentalism, it isn’t far from what the Gospel actually teaches when correctly understood. Indeed, we have the most personal and intimate of relationships with the God of the universe... Continue Reading
What Apostates Don’t Say
The road to apostasy is paved with indifference to the glory of Christ.
The truth is, people don’t often turn away from the faith and talk much about Jesus. He is neither impugned nor discredited. They may talk about the church. They may wince at the Bible’s teaching. They may talk about their personal journey. But Jesus? He remains as he was before Pilate. When people walk away from Christianity,... Continue Reading
10 People in the Bible Who Remembered to Thank God
Ten people in the Bible who remembered to thank God, encouraging us to follow their excellent example.
Ten lepers came to Jesus and asked him to heal them. Jesus sent them to the priests, and they were all healed along the way. Only one of the ten healed people returned to thank Jesus, and that person was not even a Jew. He was a Samaritan who was considered to be a foreigner... Continue Reading
God Will Be Good Again Tomorrow
Taste and see that he really is good — and trust him for that grace to come again tomorrow.
God knows the suffering you carry, he knows the hurdles you face, he knows how insufficient and insecure you feel, and he knows exactly what you need. It may not always be safe or pain-free or clear to you in the moment, but he will bring you to a faith and joy and life through... Continue Reading