The Spirit ordinarily regenerates people by the preaching of God’s Word. The Apostle Peter uses another picture for new life, drawn this time not from animal but plant life: “since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” (1 Pe 1:23) This change... Continue Reading

Virtue-signaling is a recent innovation, and we’re still refining it, but it’s a way of show-casing your own virtue to gain you higher standing in a social group. Some good ones I’ve seen on social media are: “Saying prayers for the poor in Africa,” or, “Grieving over global warming.” Social media has also made it... Continue Reading

Remember this the next time you think you are too busy or burdened to ask God for help, or direction, or protection. Pray while you’re studying for or taking a test, making a sales presentation, apologizing to your spouse, or explaining the gospel to your children. God hears your prayers!   “My God will hear... Continue Reading

Christ’s fullness is given to us. Fellowship with Christ means fullness in Christ. The Christian, by Christ’s Spirit, is united to Christ in fellowship, and in Him we have everything. We are filled. We lack nothing.   The Christian faith is quite simple. For many Christians, it seems too simple to sum up our faith... Continue Reading

Scripture reveals that humans are creatures created to fear. But like every other part of our spiritual constitution, we twist the design into perversion. God’s design is for you to live in the joyful fear of the Lord as the only escape from the terrifying fear of man. So let’s dive in.   In part 1,... Continue Reading

Does Scripture give us a hint as to whether the world will end, and if so, how? Yes, it does. Of course, as you already know, it doesn’t tell us what everyone really wants to know, namely, when will it end? That is a mystery that God has chosen to keep hidden within his own heart. But... Continue Reading

Scripture gives us example after example of men who finished poorly. David’s adultery left his family in shambles. Solomon’s appetites turned his heart to idols. Asa fell prey to a prideful spirit that kept him from relying on the Lord when he grew ill. Hezekiah’s pride left the kingdom vulnerable. Moses’ moment of faithlessness kept... Continue Reading

From late in my high school days, my plan was always to have five children.  We would have a boy, a girl, a boy, a girl and a boy.  Each child would come two to three years apart.  We would start our family three years after we were married.   Not only that, I would be... Continue Reading

The loss of this distinction makes it more difficult for us to understand Paul on his own terms, in his setting. Further, it removes from us an important way to think about Scripture more broadly, about ourselves as image bearers (theological anthropology), about our eschatology, and about life in the here and now.   In part... Continue Reading

False teachers are not always argumentative or divisive; often they are some of the nicest people we know. They usually creep in not with scowls on their faces but with big smiles. They don’t normally creep into churches and teach obvious heresies and falsehoods; they usually subtly question the truth and teach partial truths, and... Continue Reading