No Divinity, No Decency
Human sin is so destructive that we should expect to find only selfishness on earth.
After the flood and Noah’s worship of God, God made this promise: “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done” (Gen. 8:21). The human decency we see around... Continue Reading
Should We Qualify Our Prayers with “If It Be Your Will”?
We come to the presence of God in boldness, but never in arrogance.
When we come before God, we must remember two simple facts—who He is and who we are. We must remember that we’re talking to the King, the Sovereign One, the Creator, but we are only creatures. If we will keep those facts in mind, we will pray politely. We will say, “By Your leave,” “As... Continue Reading
Two Hands, Two Souls, and the Glory of God Displayed
We were in disbelief as we considered what the Lord had done that day.
Deformity and handicaps are some of the hardest things in the world. They are a stumbling block for many, and perhaps an excuse for many people to keep themselves from forsaking their sin and coming to the Lord. Even for us believers, it is very easy to forget that God is Sovereign over these deformities... Continue Reading
The Anxiety of Idolatry
Our Lord concludes by insisting that what we treasure and set our sights on is actually what we truly love.
Here is the connection between idolatry and anxiety. Christ says “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life.” The importance of this principle is highlighted by the fact that Jesus repeats it in vs 31 and 34, as well as by the fact that each time he teaches it he prefaces it with... Continue Reading
Setting a Course for Faithfulness
Why is it important to express and defend a biblical Christology?
“Consider this: Can we have the gospel without a biblical Christology? The answer, of course, is no. And without the gospel, we cease to be the church. We are called to proclaim the gospel and live out its ramifications. The heart and soul of the gospel is a biblical Christology. We must confess it, teach... Continue Reading
The Utter Horror Of The Smallest Sins
There are some who argue that there is really no such thing as big sins or little sins
“Our discussion of big sins and little sins tends to revolve around the fact that not all sins are the same and that some are bigger than others. This is true and it’s a worthwhile discussion to have, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that small sins reveal the sheer extent of our... Continue Reading
Paul’s Twofold Citizenship And Ours
Our older Reformed writers regularly mentioned “two kingdoms” in different ways
“As Americans approach another Independence Day celebration and this one in the midst of what seems like a super-heated cultural-political context, it seemed like a good time to reflect again on the teaching of the Apostle Paul where he reminded the Philippian congregation about where their most fundamental loyalties lie.” Our older Reformed writers... Continue Reading
What Is a Sacrament?
Sacraments are not so much things we do for God but are the means God uses to bless us
“Sacraments are not practices the church made up or that evolved over time. The sacraments are specific practices Christ himself gives to Christians for their sake. Thus, these things are vitally important for the church and Christians to practice and should always be done with the Word of God and in the way the Word... Continue Reading
6 Reasons You Should Preach Through Numbers
Numbers teaches us that when God is with his people, the only thing they need to fear is their own sin
“The apostles regularly make reference to the wilderness generation without comment or explanation. When Paul is warning against idolatry, three of his four illustrations come from Numbers (1 Cor. 10:7–10). Balaam’s story comes up several times to make a variety of points: immorality (Rev. 2:14), greed (Jude 11 and 2 Pet. 2:15), and Messianic expectation... Continue Reading
Getting My Goats
When people think about goats from a Biblical perspective, they often view them as a loser animal
On the Day of Atonement, two male goats would be used. By casting lots, the priest would choose one for an offering and the other to be set free. The first goat would be sacrificed and its blood sprinkled in the Holy Place to make atonement because of “the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.”... Continue Reading