The Precious Power of the Blood: Five Benefits Christ Purchased for You
It is fitting to sing of his blood and, in doing so, celebrate all the riches represented by it.
Our sin and rebellion against God has put distance between us and him. In his old-covenant grace, he drew near to his covenant people called Israel. But now, in the new covenant, he draws near not to a particular ethnic people, but to all who receive his Son in faith, no matter who they are... Continue Reading
Tried with Fire: Consider It All Joy
God has constantly placed His people in impossible situations, asking them to believe Him. He does the same with us.
We experience the discomfort of either a deficiency or a danger. We encounter a trial. When that trial comes, it gives us the opportunity to persist in believing God, often in spite of our circumstances. The trial is a chance to endure, and our endurance matters to God. We are most truly God’s people when we... Continue Reading
The Fall of Satan
It was the very excellency and greatness of Lucifer, according to Edwards, that became the occasion of his fall from heaven.
The account of Lucifer’s rebellion and the angelic objection in serving an incarnate Christ is not exclusive to Jonathan Edwards. In fact, the Italian Reformer Girolamo Zanchi (1516–90), a professor of Old Testament and theology at Strasbourg and Heidelberg, included several reflections about this in his own writings. Thomas Goodwin (1600–1680), who served as a... Continue Reading
David’s Greater Sin
David’s greater sin was being an unfaithful shepherd.
Pastors, elders, in kinship with David, guard your own heart and give yourselves to shepherd the church of God He has placed in your care. Let not numbers of salary or membership or square footage drive you. Rather, be driven by the compassion and care of Christ, who gave His life for His sheep, including... Continue Reading
By Good and Necessary Consequence
We pray for the Spirit’s help neither to fall short of teaching the fullness of His revelation nor to go beyond it and crush people with unnecessary burdens.
But the particular concern I want to address in relation to “good and necessary consequence” is pastoral. Namely, we must learn to distinguish between “good” consequences and “necessary” ones. Failure to do so will lead either to a legalistic or a disobedient life. In short, unless a teaching we have derived from Scripture is both... Continue Reading
The Right Side of History?
Only Christians have a spiritual right, an historical right, and the moral duty to say they are on "the right side of history."
Whenever someone says “I am on the right side of history” they are presuming that their understanding of right and wrong is the same as whoever or whatever is in control of history. Since a large number of those who have adopted this phrase are self-avowed atheists, agnostics, or religious liberals their use of this... Continue Reading
Are You Chasing Happiness or Holiness?
By distancing holiness from happiness, we create a false dichotomy.
Like every generation before, we face the same ancient choice, and it’s not a choice between happiness and holiness, but between two different quests for happiness (one evil, one holy). Such a question actually reveals a common mistake of pitting holiness and happiness against each other. “God is more interested in you being holy... Continue Reading
Why Did Blood and Water Flow from Christ at the Cross?
“So that you also may believe.”
The blood and water are not only realities (res) but also, according to John, “signs” (John 20:30). Signs point to things. A stop sign points to the requirement to stop. In the Gospel of John, the signs of blood and water point to the institutions of baptism and the supper. And these two institutions themselves... Continue Reading
What Do We Mean by Sacrament, Sign, and Seal?
Sacraments, signs, and seals are not magic nor are they mere memories.
The sacraments are the gospel made visible. We need the these visible promises and guarantees because we are sinners and our faith is sometimes weak. We waver. So, we say to the believer (this qualification is essential), that just as surely as you were washed with water, that is how certain it is that you... Continue Reading
A Heartfelt Open Letter to CNN’s Alisyn Camerota
I know, Alisyn, you just don’t understand, as I didn’t.
I am so thankful for the goodness of my Lord and the forgiveness I received for my sins and my very wrong, angry attitudes. My faithful Lord did change my heart. And I pray He will change yours too. I pray you will come to understand why abortion is the tragedy, not children born with... Continue Reading