The Lord’s Supper Is the New Bread of Presence
Both the bread offering of the Presence and the Lord’s Supper function as memorials.
Jesus speaks of “my blood of the covenant” which is “poured out.” When Moses makes the covenant with Israel in Exodus 24, he pours out blood and claims that this is “the blood of the covenant” (Exod 24:8). Jesus also makes speaks of the blood of the covenant with the twelve apostles while God made the... Continue Reading
Give Attention To
First and foremost it is the reading of God’s Word that should fill our churches.
In 1 Timothy 4:13 “give attention to” translates the verb πρόσεχε (proseche) the second singular, present active imperative case of προσέχω (prosechō), which was a nautical term for holding a ship in a direction, to sail onward. The idea, then, was “to hold on one’s course.” What course was Timothy to hold? Not entertainment or... Continue Reading
The New Monasticism
A genuinely integrated Christian perspective of life and work must be cognizant of both perspectives of the world.
As John Calvin wrote in his helpful little Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life, “Nothing is more difficult than to forsake all carnal thoughts, to subdue and renounce our false appetites, and to devote ourselves to God and our brethren, and to live the life of angels in a world of corruption.” And to make matters... Continue Reading
What Is Discernment?
Discernment functions as a key to Christian freedom.
Jesus’ discernment penetrated to the deepest reaches of the heart. But the Christian is called to develop similar discernment. The only worthwhile discernment we possess is that which we receive in union with Christ, by the Spirit, through God’s Word. Discernment is learning to think God’s thoughts after Him, practically and spiritually; it means having... Continue Reading
A Delightful Restriction
God’s prohibition of pursuing our own pleasure on the Sabbath doesn’t mean the Sabbath becomes a dreary, sad, dark day.
The moment we hear of prohibitions, the temptation is to be resentful. We don’t likeprohibitions. We want to be unrestricted. But think back to Deuteronomy 25:4, which prohibited a new husband from going to war or even doing business for a year so that he could put all his effort into making his wife happy. Who... Continue Reading
The Church, Israel, and “Replacement” Theology – Part III
We see an emphasis on the one people of God, comprised of believing Jews and believing Gentiles.
There seems to be no escaping the fact that John sees the OT hope of Israel’s restoration and all its attendant blessings fulfilled in the salvation of the Christian multitudes who comprise the church, both believing Jews and Gentiles. (6)In Revelation 21:14 the wall of the New Jerusalem has “twelve foundation stones” on which were written... Continue Reading
3 Ways Sex in Your Marriage Can Be Sinful
Sex within marriage can be good, but if we aren’t careful it can be just as selfish as sex outside of marriage.
In marriage, Christ calls husbands to love their wives like he loved the church (Eph 5:25). Jesus’ love for his bride was utterly selfless in that he gave himself up for her (v.26). This call to love unselfishly extends to our sexual relationship within marriage. We should, as Paul exhorted, have the mind of Christ,... Continue Reading
The Feel-Good Gospel: How We Use God for Comfort
The feel-good gospel loves the effect of the Christian faith while tragically forgetting its God and true gospel.
God has much to say to the anxious, the depressed, the angry, the grieving, the confused, the despondent, to all the discontent who will trust him. But God’s revelation isn’t primarily about meeting these ailments. Jesus did not come into the world to first save us from our sadness — but our sin. Yet that... Continue Reading
Reforming Apologetics
Retrieving the Classic Reformed Approach to Defending the Faith
From the perspectives of systematic and historical theology, Fesko seeks to recover a classical Reformed approach to defending the faith, with a special emphasis on the use of natural theology in apologetics. J.V. Fesko, Reforming Apologetics: Retrieving the Classic Reformed Approach to Defending the Faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019. 250pp. Paperback. Christians... Continue Reading
The Church, Israel, and “Replacement” Theology, Part II
Abraham is heir, not merely of Canaan, but of the world!
The point is that the patriarchs did not seek in the physical land of Canaan their everlasting possession. The focal point of the OT land promise was on land, to be sure, but on the heavenly land (Heb. 11:16) of the new earth with its central feature, the New Jerusalem. In Parts One and... Continue Reading