Am I Free If God Is Sovereign?
Calvinism does not claim to solve the mystery, but properly relates God’s sovereignty and human freedom as friends, not enemies.
Calvinism rejects this rationalistic spectrum entirely and provides us with a third option that is most consistent and faithful to God’s revelation in Scripture. Man’s freedom is established by God’s sovereignty. Man’s moral and rational capacities are created and maintained within the eternal decree of God and therefore have real existence and significance. God’s sovereignty and... Continue Reading
The Reality of Living Before God
As I reflect on the wonderful relationship I have had with my in-laws, I am reminded of the covenant that exists not only between myself and them but the covenant that exists between myself and the Lord.
Although the conversation that took place between Laban and Jacob, recorded in Genesis 31, was different than the conversation I had with my father-in-law, there is one thing the two conversations have in common. They both recognized the reality of the Lord’s sovereign direction and accountability in the covenant of marriage. I have a good... Continue Reading
Finding God’s Grace While Waiting for a Prodigal
Martin’s life of addiction was no surprise to God, and he had sovereignly chosen Susan to be his mother.
It’s not hard to understand how a parent’s love for a prodigal child can be a kingdom parable because that’s the point of the most famous parable Jesus ever told. In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of a wealthy man with two sons. One requests his inheritance early, leaves home, and lives like there’s... Continue Reading
The Exception and the Rule
The love of the exception--as over against that of the rule--seems to be prevalent in Christian circles in our day.
Christians confess that Scripture is the only rule for life and godliness insomuch as it contains everything necessary for those things. God’s will revealed in His moral law is unchangeable because He is unchangeable. On account of that fact, we must proceed with the utmost care and caution when insisting on the exception without necessarily emphasizing the rule. Over... Continue Reading
Death is a Vapor
Someday, whether near or far, death will step in front of you and hold your gaze.
Human beings will do nearly anything to avert their eyes from death; it’s a pathological and universal impulse. You can think about it abstractly and in others, but try to turn your mind to the thought that your body will one day decompose—that your brain, your heart, your skin, your muscles will sprout mold and shrivel up... Continue Reading
The One Who Endures: The Parable of the Soils
The Bible teaches that those who make genuine professions of faith will continue in those confessions of faith; they will bear fruit as a consequence of God’s working in them.
Consider your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Is it bearing fruit? Does it continue stable and steadfast in the Lord? Are they subtle ways that it is shifting from the gospel? Just as one might see warning signs as you drive down the road and you apply the brakes and respond responsibly, so God... Continue Reading
What About Divorce And Abuse?
No matter what one’s view on divorce is, all faithful Christians must be absolutely clear that abuse is a sin and a crime.
When it comes to abuse, one’s view of divorce is not the immediate issue. Those who hold the 2-exceptions view and those who hold the “no divorce ever” view must agree on this: No matter what one’s view on divorce is, all faithful Christians must be absolutely clear that abuse is a sin and a... Continue Reading
What Does It Mean That Scripture Is Inspired?
Scripture is God’s inspired word, but what exactly does that mean?
The biblical word for inspiration is the Greek word theopneustos, but it appears only once in Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). There is no OT word for “inspiration”; one will search the Septuagint in vain for theopneustos or any word like it. Even so, I argue that Scripture teaches its own verbal plenary inspiration. What that means is best... Continue Reading
One Great Difference Between A Covenantal Piety And The American Conversionist Alternative
By conversionism I mean the view that unless one can remember a specific time, event, or experience during which one became a believer, one is most likely not actually converted
“Suffice it to say that the biblical picture of salvation is rather different. Our Lord in no way implied in Revelation 3:20 that humans have the ability to will the contrary. The same God who sent 10 plagues upon Pharaoh and Egypt, who parted the Red Sea, and who delivered his people through it on... Continue Reading
Why Deprived Communities Need More Than A Social Gospel
The main issue with the social gospel is that it doesn’t save anybody
“Nobody is ushered into the kingdom because we put on some nice social services for them. Nobody came to Christ because we were really nice to them without bothering to share the gospel with them. Any social work we might do is only of any value if we actually use it as a vehicle for... Continue Reading