Theological Primer: Divine Infinity
We can understand divine infinity in three ways
Most of us know the word “infinity.” Even kids love to use the word (“To infinity and beyond!” “I promise times infinity!”). We understand “infinity” to mean something like “going on forever and ever.” But what does the word mean when applied to God? There are a number of ways to categorize the attributes... Continue Reading
Jesus and the Federal Budget?
We continue to find ourselves in an environment where Christians of various stripes insist that the Bible gives us very specific commands for how the government should be run
“One of the clearest examples of this at the moment is last week’s announcement that over 100 evangelical and Roman Catholic leaders made a joint statement challenging the proposed budget set forth by the Executive Branch of the U.S. government.” One of the interesting aspects of Scripture is that it doesn’t tell us the precise... Continue Reading
Seven Unshakeable Promises for Anxious Souls
Believers are equipped with the tools we need to fight this battle for peace
“Time and again I’ve found that the greatest antidote to anxiety is to consistently remind myself of the unshakable promises we have in God’s word. When a circumstance suddenly threatens our peace, we can be ready to push it back and cut it down with truth. So here are seven unshakable promises for anxious souls... Continue Reading
A Truth Worth Dividing The Church (Sproul)
In order to get into heaven, will I be judged by my righteousness or by the righteousness of Christ?
“When you hear this glorious truth preached on Sunday rejoice and be thankful for the gospel of grace! If you don’t hear it preached, lovingly talk to your pastor and elders and discuss it. It’s not a side issue, nor is it a dry doctrine that is impractical for our daily living. “ At... Continue Reading
Are Cessationists Dinitarians?
Cessationists have put out some of the thickest and richest books on the Holy Spirit
“So, if cessationists reject a charismatic pneumatology, is there anything remaining to believe about the Holy Spirit? If so, what do they believe about him? Far from being dinitarians who do not believe in the Spirit, here are 20 things cessationists affirm.” The claim is heard often these days. It usually goes something like... Continue Reading
7 Powerful Steps To Overcoming Regret
God does not want us to be paralyzed by regret
“Though we all have done things we can regret, God doesn’t want regret to rob us of our joy in him or cripple us in our glorious pursuit of him. Here are seven keys to overcoming regret.” Most of us have to deal with regret from time to time. Sins we committed in the... Continue Reading
Can Christians Pray the Imprecations of Psalm 69?
Psalm 69 cannot conflict with New Testament religion because it is often quoted in the New Testament
“Someone may still suggest that whatever use the rest of the psalm may be to the Christian, the imprecations are foreign to us. But the New Testament contradicts this suggestion too. The imprecations themselves are quoted to explain Christian experience.” Psalm 69 presents familiar elements of lament and praise, but in a particularly pointed and... Continue Reading
Reformed Piety and Practice
History tells us that there is a monk within each of us, continually looking for new ways to corrupt Christian piety, seeking to draw our eyes away from Christ, His grace, and His piety.
By the late seventeenth century, however, there were those who were discontented with Reformation piety. They worried about nominalism in state churches and longed for an immediate experience of the risen Christ. Led by the Lutheran Philip Jacob Spener (1635–1705) and others, the Pietists favored small-group prayer meetings (conventicles) over Word and sacrament ministry. They... Continue Reading
Identity, Affinity and Christ
So many of the controversies surrounding the church at present center on concepts related to identity and affinity
A tangible loss of real spiritual joy will always accompany our misplaced quests for identity and affinity. There is a deep-seated joy that flows from realizing the newness of life that we have in Christ in the Gospel. So much of what we read or hear online today lacks this sense of Gospel joy. When... Continue Reading
Always Ask What They Mean by “God”
It is my experience that many people don’t believe in God because they have the wrong conception of God.
Once we begin to grasp the nature of God, we are ready to investigate whether or not that God exists. My concern is that many skip the investigation because of a misconception about God they started with. If you don’t know what you are looking for, you shouldn’t be surprised when you don’t find it.... Continue Reading