Like Us, Jesus Had To Grow Up Too
There is someone who knows exactly what is to grow up in this fallen, broken world
“Even though nearly all of the first 30 years of Jesus’ life are hidden, from what we know of the geography, history, culture and religion of Israel at that time, as well as the glimpses we get from the biblical accounts, we can build a picture of what it would have been like for Jesus... Continue Reading
Sola Scriptura: Four Profitable Words
As I thought about the phrase sola Scriptura, I thought of this story
“I am not suggesting that we dispense with reading anything but the Bible. However, I am suggesting that we have a propensity for looking everywhere but the Bible for help. In other words, we read something in the Bible and we think, “I wonder what book I can read to help me with this or... Continue Reading
God’s Sovereignty and Glory
Nothing happens without God’s willing it to happen, willing it to happen before it happens, and willing it to happen in the way that it happens.
God is sovereign in providence. Traditional theism insists that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent—all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere present. Each assertion is a variant of divine sovereignty. His power, knowledge, and presence ensure that His goals are met, that His designs are fulfilled, and that His superintendence of all events is (to God,... Continue Reading
How was Christ Administered in the Old Testament? Introduction
The Old Covenant itself was an administration of the one saving work of Christ just as is the New Covenant
Was the saving work of Christ somehow administered mystically, with no specific words, sacraments, or structures, as if Christ were applied to the saints of old in spite of the Old Covenant, without them even really knowing, placing their hope in merely ethnic, national, and earthly covenantal promises? In short, how do those who reject... Continue Reading
Wise and Innocent
What are Christians to do when it is wrong to withdraw from public engagement, but threatening to so engage?
Because Jesus has sent us out, our place is indeed, “in the world,” and even among the “wolves.” Christians must not withdraw from public space and public dialogue, but their presence is to be wise and innocent. Sometimes Christian engagement in the public sphere is less than wise; at other times it is far from innocent. Wise engagement... Continue Reading
5 Verses Used to Justify Abortion
These five passages are the abortionist’s attempt to use the Bible to justify their sin.
The abortionist sees himself as doing good for the world—living out his faith in the midst of a society that finds his work appalling and immoral. To the abortionist, Christians who oppose abortion are the “faith without out works” people, and the abortion doctor is the “faith with deeds” person. But this mangles the scriptures... Continue Reading
What’s Wrong with Women’s Bible Studies?
This women’s Bible study was missing the point of the Bible; that God gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Here is where our study failed to teach the Word of God. The stories and verses were taken from the Bible, for sure, but the stories were not understood in light of Christ. In an effort to speak to women, the story began and ended with women. The words were ripped from their Christocentric purpose and... Continue Reading
Are The Remonstrants Heretics? (1)
It all comes down to the definition of heresy.
It is not possible to reject the doctrine of the ecumenical doctrine of the Trinity and be saved nor is it possible to reject the ecumenical doctrine of the two natures of Christ and be saved. The ecumenical faith is summarized by the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed (325, 381), the Definition of Chalcedon (451),... Continue Reading
An Evolving Foundation
In the modern period, there has been a concerted and, to some extent, successful effort to divorce science from religion, especially from Christianity.
Belief in Christianity, unlike belief in unguided evolution, has a foundation. Its foundation is what God has said, first in his Word and also his world. With that foundation, science can be grounded. Without it, there is no place left for the scientist to stand. He is unable to produce the coherence needed for science... Continue Reading
Run To Win! The Lifelong Pursuits of a Godly Man
Just as self-control is the key to victory in athletics, it is the key to victory in the Christian life.
In Paul’s mind, self-control brings freedom. Like an athlete, he exercises self-control to free himself to achieve what he most wants to achieve, to live how he truly wants to live. No longer controlled by illicit sexual desires, he can live in purity; no longer controlled by the love of money, he can be content... Continue Reading