Always Count the Cost
There are at least four costs to being a Christian—costs that we do not pay once, but over the whole course of our Christian lives.
It costs very little to maintain the outward appearance of a Christian—just attend church on a regular basis and live by some standard of basic morality. This is cheap and easy, and demands no self-denial or self-sacrifice. But if this describes true Christianity, we’d need to alter the Bible to read “Wide is the gate... Continue Reading
Preaching Christ: The Guarantor of the Covenant of Grace
He is its guarantor because he has fully satisfied all its requirements and stipulations.
Whether we are preaching the word to those who are lost, seeking to persuade them of their need of salvation; or to those who are already believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the persuasive power of the message is found neither in its logic, nor even in the attractiveness of what it promises; but rather... Continue Reading
Indwelling Sin and the Believer
This is a humbling but a just account of a Christian's attainments in the present life, and is equally applicable to the strongest and to the weakest.
The Lord has given his people a desire and will aiming at great things; without this they would be unworthy the name of Christians; but they cannot do as they would. Their best desires are weak and ineffectual, not absolutely so (for He who works in them to will, enables them in a measure to... Continue Reading
Is Impassibility Really Biblical?
Why impassibility is far more biblical than some think.
Those who argue that impassibility is an unbiblical doctrine have been quick to point out the absence of an explicit proof text. Nevertheless, as this article will argue in the brief space below, divine impassibility emerges as a necessary implication of other divine attributes that are expressly set down in Holy Scripture. Is impassibility... Continue Reading
Gregory of Nyssa and His Compassion for the Poor
His reflections on the making of mankind are evident in his insistence on seeing every man as bearer of the image of God.
Like Macrina and the other Cappadocian fathers, Gregory put great emphasis on the community’s responsibility for the poor and needy, including the lepers, who were traditionally excluded from society. His sermons challenged the rich to give of their wealth and the healthy to give of their strength. I have written about Basil of Caesarea... Continue Reading
A Magnum Opus
How often do we consider the fact that our lives show, or should show, the work of our mentors, coaches, or pastors?
We are a letter from Christ, and our lives display the ministry that has been poured out on our behalf. Matthew Henry said of this text, “There is nothing more delightful to faithful ministers, nor more to their commendation, than the success of their ministry, evidenced in the hearts and lives of those among whom... Continue Reading
The Apostles’ Creed: The Forgiveness of Sins is Fundamental
Considering that “the forgiveness of sins” was a cause for early persecution of Christians and that it was a part of the Apostles’ Creed from its inception, is the placement of this clause near its end significant?
We are always forgiven! Yet Witsius reminds us throughout this section of the Apostles’ Creed that in stating it we imply that our sin is the transgression of God’s law, multitudinous, and worthy of everlasting punishment. He thus gives a wonderful summary of the doctrine of the remission of our sins that should move us deeply.... Continue Reading
4 Approaches to Understanding the Redemptive Nature of Scripture
An approach to understanding the redemptive nature of all biblical texts is to identify how God’s Word predicts, prepares for, reflects, or results from the person and/or work of Christ.
Every text, seen in its redemptive context, is reflecting an aspect of humanity’s fallen condition that requires the grace of God. Focus upon this fallen condition will inevitably cause readers to consider the divine solution characteristic of the grace that culminates in the provision of the Savior. All of Scripture Bears Witness We should... Continue Reading
Did the Church Create the Bible?
This question of whether the church is over the Bible also comes up in the world of critical scholarship.
Critical scholars will often make the point that, historically speaking, the church essentially created the canon sometime in the fourth or fifth century. The canon is merely a human product. So, there is unexpected common ground here between the Roman Catholic view and the historical-critical view. While the former believes these books are divinely inspired,... Continue Reading
Do I Need to Follow a Pattern While Praying?
Following the structure and topics of the biblical prayers is a good practice.
Consider this: we find many prayers in the Bible, but we don’t find any texts that say, “You must pray according to this pattern.” The closest we get is the Lord’s Prayer. Teaching His disciples how to pray, our Lord prefaced the prayer by saying, “When you pray, say . . .” (Luke 11:1–4), and, “Pray... Continue Reading