A Reading in John of Damascus, with Commentary: Or, Another Problem with Theological Retrieval Demonstrated. (Part One)
Beware of those who have begun to commend retrieving the teachings of Eastern Orthodoxy. Of particular interest is John of Damascus.
Basil also said that “the idea of the image would be lost were it not to preserve throughout the plain and invariable likeness”. By that standard any image purporting to show Christ cannot be deemed his image, since we cannot know it preserves “plain and invariable likeness” to him—and since there are as many purported... Continue Reading
Facets of Gospel Grace (Part 2)
The Gospel as a Diamond
If the hearers of the gospel do not witness the glory of Christ in the image of God through all the blessings of the gospel, then we have not yet seen what finally makes the gospel truly good news—the Person of God himself. We have pictured the gospel as a glorious diamond reflecting biblical... Continue Reading
The Third Best Gift to Give Our Children
Adults have allowed children to not accept the responsibility of work.
From an early age, work must be taught, positively modeled by adults, and regularly practiced by children. This is one of the best gifts we can give to children. I guess it could be subjective as to what is best to give our children. Even though God is the one who changes their heart,... Continue Reading
Walking with an Unseen Limp: God’s Enduring Faithfulness in the Private Pain of a Pastor’s Wife
The pain of a pastor’s wife is often as unseen as her work.
When other Christians cause us pain, we can be tempted to think, I love Jesus, I just don’t want anything to do with the church. But Jesus is not a brideless groom. His bride is the church, and he has called every believer to be a part of her and to fiercely love her because... Continue Reading
What Are We Looking At?
The psalmist prayed: “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things…”
Sometimes, we hear people say they are “living the dream,” and we feel sorry for them, because their “dream” life is inferior to the better things and life that God gives. They are deceived as to what is valuable and what is worthless. In Psalm 119:37a, the psalmist prays for something important that you... Continue Reading
A Protestant Appraisal of “Rock & Sand”: Sola Scriptura Properly Understood
“Rock and Sand” is useful, not as a refutation of classical Protestantism, but as a mirror held up to evangelical weakness.
What is needed is not a retreat to Rome or Constantinople, but a retrieval of the Protestant tradition that predated the individualism and heart religion that came from the Great Awakenings. Protestantism is the solution, not the problem. Fr. Josiah Trenham is one of the top online personalities influencing people to convert to Eastern... Continue Reading
Is Jesus Christ the Natural and Adopted Son of God?
The doctrine of adoption in union with Christ stands at the heart of the gospel’s account of filial communion with God.
Editor’s Note: This post contains two essays, the first by Dr. Robert Letham and the second by Dr. Lane G. Tipton. Because these essays interact with David B. Garner’s view concerning the Son’s adoption as set forth in his book Sons in the Son, Ref21 has invited Dr. Garner to respond in these pages if he... Continue Reading
The LORD Will Provide: A Father, a Son, and a Sacrifice on Moriah (Gen. 22:1–19)
God did provide for Himself the Lamb. His name is Jesus.
When Abraham named the mountain Yahweh Yireh, he wasn’t just talking about the ram in the thicket. He was prophesying. Two thousand years later, on that very same mountain range, another Father led His “only Son, whom He loved” up the hill. That Son also carried the wood of His sacrifice on His back. That... Continue Reading
Enemy Engagement
Christ’s solitary battle would not be for His victory alone. It would be for ours.
Just as Satan in the Garden appealed to human desire so he did with Jesus who had gone forty days and forty nights without food. Just as he did in the Garden, Satan sought to lead the second Man to test God. Just as the devil quoted God’s word in the Garden, so he twisted... Continue Reading
One Day, God Will Wipe away His People’s Tears
Our tears are all recorded in Heaven’s books.
When Jesus wipes away all our tears with His gentle, omnipotent hand, I believe our eyes will fall on the scars that made our suffering His, so that His eternal joy could become ours. “He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the... Continue Reading
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