The Crucifixion and Old Testament Prophecy
The point of the cross was for Jesus to bear our sins and bear the sanctions of the covenant
“I’ve heard sermons about the nails and the thorns. Granted, the physical agony of crucifixion is a ghastly thing. But thousands of people have died on crosses, and others have had even more painful, excruciating deaths than that. But only One received the full measure of the curse of God while on a cross.” ... Continue Reading
Jesus, the Fig Tree, and the Temple
Now did the tree do anything wrong? Of course not. So what is the significance of this “cursing?"
“If we keep reading we see that Jesus soon after goes into the temple. He comes upon a bustling religious event. There are lots of people, animals, noises, and activities. Imagine the sights, sounds, and smells that would have greeted the Savior’s senses. Jesus is infuriated with a holy anger, and he carries out a... Continue Reading
The Necessity of Preaching
Preaching is necessary because people need to hear Christ in order to believe in Him for salvation
“Preaching comes through Christ’s sent messengers. This implies that preachers are necessary for preaching and that God must equip and send them to preach on Christ’s behalf. This point builds upon the previous post, which defined preaching as a public authoritative proclamation of the gospel through Christ’s ordained ambassadors.” Salvation is an expansive term.... Continue Reading
Challenges in Advancing the Kingdom of God
“Transformation” is a word shunned by some, because it is understood as “arrogant and triumphalist”
Keyes does not shun the word “transformation,” but does see a danger of being simplistic in approaching cultural transformation, particularly in believing that political success will be decisive, since transforming a culture is extremely complex. But, he said, “if we are salt and light, we can’t avoid being transformative.” The transformation of society to... Continue Reading
Glorious Traitors
Human beings are neither semi-divine nor demonic, but creatures who have been given a royal dignity as God’s viceroys.
While we know by nature enough to condemn us, we can only be saved by the special revelation that God gives us in the gospel (3:21–31). The story of creation and the fall presents an apologetic basis for explaining both the dignity and depravity of man, and thus why all people are in need of... Continue Reading
Finding Contentment in a Discontented World
Paul claims that “whether living in plenty or in want” he has “learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.”
Whether it’s driving woes, health problems, job tensions, relational troubles, financial issues, our personal appearance, or numerous other circumstances, it is quite easy to become discontented/dissatisfied with the way things are. And discontentment tends to breed a whole host of additional vices: worry, frustration, envy, jealousy, condemnation, control, etc. How different our lives would be... Continue Reading
The ‘More and More’ of Holiness
Holiness is the great goal of Christ’s saving mission.
Holiness matters. And it matters far more than we are willing to admit. We may be quite happy to engage in argument and debate over the meaning of the concept in Scripture, but make little effort to fight the inward battles involved in the pursuit of holiness in our daily lives. Holiness has too... Continue Reading
Ultimate Blame Shifting
We live in a culture of blame, not a culture of admission.
We flail around looking for someone else to blame instead of putting our hands up and saying, “I was wrong”. Presidents, politicians, government officials, police, bankers, clergy, doctors, teachers, pupils, husbands, wives, parents, children—how much clearer the air would be if we could swallow our pride and say it. Instead we double down; we go... Continue Reading
Are We There Yet?
No, you are not there yet—you’ll know when you are.” And yet, the Bible tells us that there is more to the story.
In light of that biblical guidance, the question of whether Christians living today are “there yet” seems easy to answer. We are still running, walking, pressing on, and, as we do so, we face all manner of trials and sinful inclinations. We see, and to some extent experience, decay—both physical and moral—in this fallen world.... Continue Reading
How the Real Word Really Became Real Flesh
When the Word became flesh, it was really the Word, and he continued to be the Word even in the flesh.
The astonishing thing that is announced at Christmas and becomes conspicuous at the cross is that God the Son has added to himself a complete, real, personal human nature. It’s his as much as yours is yours. And in that nature he, the eternal Son, experiences growth, suffering, death, and alienation, not to have a... Continue Reading