Abiding: By the Rules, or In Christ
Either a person tries to improve his lot in life by what he does, or he will rest in Jesus Christ
Seeking to create a better future, every person will live in one of those two ways. Either we try to abide by the rules (and force others to abide by the rules). Or, a person will abide in Jesus Christ. In biblical terms, each person seeks to live by law or by grace. English... Continue Reading
Every Sorrow Will Be Swallowed in Joy
Christian theology has a deep and abiding interest in the topic of happiness
“Three things must be considered when it comes to the supreme and unsurpassable happiness of the people whose God is the triune Lord: (1) the supreme good that will constitute our supreme happiness, (2) the manner in which we will possess our supreme happiness, and (3) the context within which we will enjoy our supreme... Continue Reading
Defining Creation
Creation is an act of God. This definition is important for it upholds a Creator/creature distinction.
Creation is of another order of being than that of divine being. Divine being is; created being is brought into existence by God. There are two orders of being: created being and non-created, or divine, being. The former is finite (i.e., having bounds or limits according to its created capacities); the latter infinite (i.e., having... Continue Reading
What Happens When You Pray
Jesus lives to make our weak, stumbling prayers effective
“The word intercede means literally, to move or pass between. It is to stand in the gap between two parties. This is what Jesus Christ is doing now! He stands in the gap between us and the Father, bringing us to the Father and holding us in relationship with him. He lives for this purpose!... Continue Reading
Is it ‘Unspiritual’ to be Discouraged?
We may experience discouragement; but we will not be defeated by it.
This teaching certainly seems logical: if the gospel saves us, it must save us from discouragement! It also appears to be wonderfully spiritual. After all, are we not ‘more than conquerors through him who loved us’ (Rom. 8:37)? But this is not biblical logic, nor is it true spirituality. From time to time over the... Continue Reading
5 Common Causes of Conflict in Marriage
There are many surface causes of conflict in marriage, but we can boil them down to five common root issues.
One or more of these five causes is usually at the heart of ongoing conflict within marriage. Often they seem small (what’s a little selfishness in an otherwise okay relationship?), but if these unhealthy roots are allowed to remain without being addressed, the relationship will weaken over time. Our first fight as a married... Continue Reading
Your Body Is A Temple Of The Holy Spirit, So Cigars Are In And Prostitutes Are Out
The Holy Spirit has made my body a temple for his presence.
The Holy Spirit has made my body a temple for his presence. How dare I commit adultery or watch porn or engage in ANY sin within the temple? How dare I pollute God’s glorious, holy presence with something so repulsive to him? When scripture says our bodies are temples, it’s not forbidding activities that may... Continue Reading
Just Stop it, Part 2: How To Repent Of Lying
What is the right path to repentance for lying?
You can’t do this without Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit is the one who empowers us to stop, to change our thinking, and then realign our ways with God’s ways. You need to be right with God by putting your faith in the salvation bought by Jesus on the cross and then, with the Spirit’s... Continue Reading
The Devil Is Not in the Details: Fighting Temptation with Specific Truth
The devil can’t make us sin; he can only appeal to our propensity to desire sinful things.
In saying that temptation’s power lies in the impression it makes on us, I’m referring to the very moment of temptation, when we recognize and feel its luring appeal. But deceitful impressions only have a luring appeal to the degree that we already have a vulnerable disposition to a sinful desire. The power of... Continue Reading
Did Jesus Demand We Kill His Enemies?
It’s the king in the story, not Jesus, who issues the order to kill his enemies.
The concern is that Jesus seems to be identifying Himself as the nobleman (or the king) in the story. Does that mean He was ordering His followers to round up those who refused to be under His rule and have them executed? No, for at least two reasons. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus... Continue Reading