No private matter – Pt.2
For Paul a public contest between Christians meant both parties were already defeated regardless of rights or wrongs.
There is undoubtedly a place for healthy discussion, for a forum in which issues of major and minor, congregational and personal, concern can be worked through. But to wade into the marketplace with vitriol and vindictiveness against a brother or sister is never the gospel way, and is always a loss for the cause of... Continue Reading
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
He is the God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or could even think.
After Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to inspect the temple, only to find it not in working order, He left to spend the night in Bethany. On His return to the temple the next day, Jesus paused by a fig tree. Looking for figs, He found none. Mark makes clear the reason why. It was... Continue Reading
Power of Problems vs Power of God
4 spiritual lessons we glean from David’s insight so that we can learn to trust god in our trials.
David moves his attention from the power of his problems to the power of his Savior. He doesn’t minimize the problems, he doesn’t ignore the difficulty; he merely puts them in perspective, next to a towering vision of God. God’s protection is a shield: God can and does provide physical protection for his children. In... Continue Reading
The Trinity and Easter
This triune God ensures we will not finally fail, for the Son’s resurrection and ours are one reality.
The resurrection is a window through which we glimpse eternal triune life. Initially, this is perhaps more clearly seen when attending to the Father and the Son. Yet, according to Romans 8:11, while the Father raises the Son, just as He eternally generates Him, He does so through the Holy Spirit. The resurrection by the Spirit confirms Jesus’... Continue Reading
How Can I Explain the Gospel?
Jesus had each one of us in mind when he went to the cross.
Our pastor went on to say, “In the analogy, Jesus has a piece of paper too. He has his name at the top and underneath are all the sins that he committed. His paper, of course, would be blank because he lived a sinless life. At the cross, Jesus exchanged his paper with ours. He... Continue Reading
Beware of the False Prophets Who Come to You in Sheep’s Clothing
In order for us to know what is sound doctrine and what isn’t, we must first know what is holy.
In our day, the false prophets are all around us. They may preach about “Jesus,” but they don’t preach Jesus, which is the whole Gospel of the Holiness of God and His Law and the truth of our utter lostness in light of that. Then the preacher of righteousness tells of the coming of Jesus... Continue Reading
A King Like the Nations
Israel demanded to have a ruler like all of the other nations.
The shout for a king like the other nations still reverberates through churches today. The cry is not so much verbalized from the pulpit, as it is demonstrated through a church’s approach to ministry and their undergirding values. The effect is the same that the nation of Israel experienced: churches become less of a distinct... Continue Reading
The Ascension: Jesus’ Victory March Through the Cosmos
The King has conquered His enemies.
When he ascended into heaven he caused the treasures of his victory to rain down upon his church. The ascension of Christ is an important part of Jesus’ exaltation, and without it the application of redemption becomes impossible. When he ascended, he poured his Spirit upon the church and gave gifts to his people. I... Continue Reading
When Does Temptation Become Sin?
When does sexual or romantic desire become sinful?
Temptation becomes an evil desire (e.g., adultery in the heart) when we look at a person for the purpose of lusting. Recognizing the aesthetic beauty of a person is not an evil desire—even if that person is not a spouse. Yet the moment that this recognition births evil desire in the heart by looking with... Continue Reading
Did God Make Mayor Pete Gay?
According to Buttigieg, the devil is not responsible for his sexual orientation, God is.
There is nothing outside of the sovereign providence and care of God, including Mayor Pete, but when Buttigieg implicitly invokes the providence of God to justify his homosexuality he assumes some facts that are in dispute and he fails to distinguish between those things we may attribute to God directly and those things we may... Continue Reading