John 10:30 is the Best Verse Ever
It is this verse where Jesus unambiguously claimed to be the God of the Old Testament.
By claiming to be God, Jesus is saying that all of God’s dialogue and actions were His own. This means that his teachings in the New Testament must be interpreted in light of His teachings in the Old Testament. Considering that God told Israel to go to war, gave them regulations on how to conduct... Continue Reading
Ten Words of Advice for Seminarians
Here are ten things every incoming seminary student should know, consider, and keep in mind over the next few years.
Get involved in the local church. Star this one. Underline it. Put it in italics and don’t forget. The seminary exists to serve the church. You are in seminary, presumably, because you desire to be a servant in the church. So don’t neglect the very reason you are where you are. Find a good church.... Continue Reading
Do Women Make Men Civilized?
A reply to Glenn Stanton's "Why Man and Woman Are Not Equal"
You see, what’s missing from Lord of the Flies is not women. If there had been girls on the island, I imagine their fate would have been worse than Piggy’s. What generally happens to women when all traces of “civilization”are removed from a society? What’s missing from Lord of the Flies is God. Without salvation, without the work... Continue Reading
Sexual Identity: The Way We Were and Who We Are: Our Identity Crisis is Re-railed Into Christ
May Dr. Butterfield's "train wreck" conversion describe your and my daily sanctification experience as we keep re-railing and riding with Jesus Christ
“Let us recognize in witnessing the Gospel to people who identify themselves within the LGBT community that a major part of our conversation should deal with one’s deep commitment to an identity, not only of his or her person, but also being part of a people. We see its manifestation also in identity (or group) politics... Continue Reading
10 Things You Should Know About Male Headship
Headship is never portrayed in Scripture as a means for self-satisfaction or self-exaltation
“Headship is not the power of a superior over an inferior. Human nature is sinfully inclined to distort the submission of the wife into the superiority of the husband. That some, in the name of male headship, have done precisely this cannot be denied, but it must certainly be denounced. We must also remember that... Continue Reading
A High View of the Efficacy of Baptism
The grace promised in the ordinance of baptism is actually conferred in God’s appointed time “by the right use of this ordinance.”
Covenant Baptism is not merely a symbol (Zwingli) or a “wet dedication service” where water is used. If anyone is dedicating himself in covenant baptism, it is God who is dedicating himself to keep the promises he has made to Christian parents. This is a high view of the efficacy of covenant baptism. It is... Continue Reading
What Is Worship?
Worship is a humble serving the Lord in all of life because he is the only one deserving of honor.
God was careful to define the exclusivity of worship to the people of Israel. He commanded his people to destroy the idols of the land of Canaan when they took possession of it. He does so because he requires worship to be shown to him alone (Cf. Ex. 34:14). Worship is then described as sacrifice... Continue Reading
Conviction and Consolation in the Gospel
Throughout the Bible, God’s unified work of redemption includes both an element of conviction and an element of consolation, and the gospel of Jesus Christ gives clear expression of these two elements
“The conviction and consolation we receive in Christ grandly correspond to the character of God the Father as both just and gracious (Gen 34:6-7). Though we may naturally prefer the consolation of the gospel, we must also learn to acknowledge and then to celebrate the element of conviction of the gospel.” Throughout the Bible,... Continue Reading
The Lie Of Sinning Without Suffering
In our world today, we think that we can get the pleasure of sin without its consequences
The punishment is unending–we may escape it for a day or two, or even a month or two, but it has a way of lingering for a lifetime. Verse 33 says that the one committing adultery “will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.” We’re all getting catfished. In... Continue Reading
He Made Them Male and Female
The problem that continues to raise its pesky head is the problem of essential attributes.
So we take the general observation that men are stronger than women and then we make it an essential attribute of maleness. In other words, when men are physically weak, they are no longer men. Do you see the problem? If these assertions are correct, what are we to make of a man who become... Continue Reading