Gnat-straining, Camel-gorging
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”
Gnats and camels were the smallest and largest ceremonially unclean animals. Jesus picks the smallest creature to the eye; a gnat. These tiny bugs would fly into a wine container. So, people would strain them out by pouring the wine through a permeable cloth. It speaks of meticulous activity to remove the smallest little bugs... Continue Reading
The Apostle’s Creed: Born of the Virgin Mary
“Born of the Virgin Mary” does indicate that Jesus’ humanity is made of the same stuff as Mary, and that he is the same kind of creature as she – and as you and I!
Mary’s humanity was the material for the Spirit’s creation. We share the same humanity with Jesus and Mary, only newly created in Jesus as a kind of second humanity. Both sources (maker and material) rule out sexual union. His humanity is “conceived by the Holy Spirit,” rather than by the ordinary means, and “born of... Continue Reading
4 Huge Theological Challenges (and How the Exodus Story Helps)
Reflecting on the exodus story, and particularly its echoes throughout the Bible, can help us face the challenges of our generation
Some of these echoes are clear as a bell (“for Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed”), and some are much fainter (chariots and water in the Elijah story). But they all increase our insight into, and enjoyment of, the redemptive shape of the biblical story. Every generation faces specific theological challenges. If asked... Continue Reading
The One Who Endures: The Confession
We are often tempted to look for the source of our endurance in one place (our free will or our desire to persevere) when, truly, it is found in another (the unchanging decree of God)!
One should clarify, in this age of spiritual and religious transience, that perseverance really does exist. There are those who will not fall away and will finally enter into eternal rest. However, the Westminster Confession of Faith goes a bit further on that point, saying not just that folk WILL not fall away but that... Continue Reading
Is It Arrogant For Christians To Say They Know the Truth?
We as Christians have to clearly understand the truth. Our Western culture has found a way to skirt around Christian truth claims by calling Christians “arrogant.”
We have a good and gracious God—an external reality—who revealed himself as truth because we would not know what truth is unless the Truth himself told us and showed us. Is it of utmost importance to understand that the most significant and practical revelation of truth is found in God’s Word—written and incarnate. Relativism Everybody makes... Continue Reading
A Time to Mourn
We weep in the graveyard now just as sure as we will dance at the resurrection when Jesus returns.
Grieving reader, I want to begin by saying, “I’m sorry. Could we gather together around the Bible, in your time of sorrow, and let the Lord place His arm around our shoulders, hearing Him invite us to do what His people have done and will always do until the day of no more tears—to mourn,... Continue Reading
5 Spiritual Disciplines That Will Change Your Life
Here are a few “Spiritual Disciplines” or practices that produce fruit and blessings in our lives.
The more we obey Jesus’ commands to serve others, the more joy it will bring into our lives…. A “discipline” is something we do regularly. So don’t wait until you’re in trouble to pray. Do it every day….God gives us these “spiritual disciplines” for our joy and gladness in him. Start small. Build habits. ... Continue Reading
Coveting Beauty
The initial seed of sin is when we do not obey the voice and commandment of the Lord.
There is nothing wrong with beautiful things. But when their beauty captivates our eyes and our heart more than the beauty of Christ, then we have begun to worship false gods. Achan had cherished the things devoted to the LORD more than he cherished the LORD. And the consequence for his false worship was that... Continue Reading
The Key To The Christian’s Joy
Sometimes we struggle to grasp the biblical view of joy because of the way it is defined
In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul speaks about joy and about the Christian’s duty to rejoice over and over again. For example, he writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (4:4a). This is one of those biblical imperatives, and it leaves no room for not rejoicing, for Paul says Christians are to rejoice... Continue Reading
For God So Loved The World
When He died, Jesus actually accomplished expiation and propitiation for sins, but for whom?
“The term world here is synonymous with the word sinners. In view is not the extent of the atonement, but the degree of God’s love and the quality of those for whom Christ died. How much did God love us? He loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son.” To many,... Continue Reading