The hope of resurrection, of a new heavens and new earth, of the return of Jesus—these are all out of our reach and beyond our ken. Very little in the modern world reinforces such expectation. And yet, like Abram, we hope against hope (c.f. Romans 4:18). We profess together that there is nothing firmer and... Continue Reading

God’s righteousness means that He will and must act in accordance with His own will, His own moral perfections, and His own truthful faithfulness. His character and conduct is always right and must do what is right. The Scripture says: “You are righteous and your judgments are right (Psalm 119.137).   God is righteous and... Continue Reading

Are you under siege? Do you feel there is no hope? Read Psalm 18 over and over again. Study God’s ways in the life of David and then call out to God for help. He delights in those who delight in Him, and He has always been faithful to those who turn upward and not... Continue Reading

A Gospel without wrath is not the Gospel. If people don’t believe they’re under judgment, they won’t see the need for a Savior. The absence of hell in our preaching leads to apathy in our pews.   A young man pulled me aside after a recent sermon. “I’ve been in church my whole life,” he... Continue Reading

The good things, the beautiful things, the haunting things are only messengers, heralds calling you to Someone truly good, beautiful, numinous. They can never satisfy the desire; they only whet it intolerably. They are images and symbols and signposts — bright shadows, echoes of Eden, gloaming glories that divine the dawn. They summon us to... Continue Reading

Pelagius truly exemplifies a strikingly modern spirit in ancient times, and if he were born in modernity, he probably would have been regarded as a leading theologian and philosopher. His confidence in human ability, emphasis on free will, and strongly contrarian spirit would make him fit perfectly with many during the Enlightenment and post-Enlightenment periods.... Continue Reading

Men are called to strength. At the end of King David’s life, he summoned his son to his bedside and said: Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies that you may prosper in... Continue Reading

We are made to know God and only in knowing him can we ever find satisfaction. We have what Pascal called a “God-shaped void,” which no created thing can fill, try as we might. Only God can fill it and, consequently, we only truly become who we were created to be, and only truly find... Continue Reading

In his final temptation of Jesus, Satan proposes a “better” alternative to receiving universal dominion than the long path of obedience and the suffering it will entail. He offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he will simply fall down before Satan and worship him (Matt. 4:8–9). But rather than choose the path... Continue Reading

We acknowledge that money matters and that we are accountable to God for the ways we use or misuse it. Yet we also acknowledge that it’s only money, that it is a wonderful servant but a terrible master. And the harsh reality is that we can be mastered by our money by spending too much... Continue Reading