Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem in order to fulfill this ancient prophecy. This was the plan God had established before the foundation of the world. Therefore, in accordance with God’s plan, the ruling power of Caeser was used to call for a taxation that would require Joseph and Mary to comply with a... Continue Reading

As much as Advent is a season for gathering with family and friends, for the church it is a missional launching point for us to inhabit and take the gospel to the world. The world sits and waits year after year for a savior. They make functional saviors of sex, power, possessions, comfort, and a... Continue Reading

“How many loaves do you have?” (Mark 8: 5). Jesus does not ask you to resolve all the problems of the world. But as your King he determines the nature of his kingdom. He asks you to have deep and sincere feelings for the needs of the world, to see this faceless mob of humanity... Continue Reading

The Psalter poetically retells the story of Israel in a way that assures its reader that YHWH directs human history, the entirety of human experience is accounted for, a new Davidic king will return, and a new Zion will accompany him. Each of these perspectives is present throughout Scripture, but they are all enhanced when... Continue Reading

“God with us” is more than a nice Christmasy slogan; it is a shocking metaphysical claim. God—infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth—with us—creatures who are definitively not infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in our being (We get old.), wisdom (Are we all wise?), power (We get weak.), holiness... Continue Reading

If one rejects the inspiration of scripture, but still wants to claim to be a Christian, now you’re left with an epistemological dilemma. How can you possibly know what parts of the Bible are inspired and to be believed and obeyed, and which parts can be dismissed? Every solution will be to place yourself or... Continue Reading

Christ’s incarnation was a greater and more wonderful thing than ever had yet come to pass. The creation of the world was a very great thing, but not so great as the incarnation of Christ. It was a great thing for God to make the creature, but not so great as for the Creator himself... Continue Reading

We’re able to comprehend the natural world because God made human beings in his image (Gen. 1:27). We’re rational beings made in the image of a rational God, able to make sense of the logical structuring of the universe. Johannes Kepler expressed this interconnectedness of the natural order, human reason, and the divine mind when... Continue Reading

Proper prayer demands repentance–Calvin cautions that God closes the door to us without it. For this reason, they who delight in their own foulness aspire not at all. Lawful prayer, therefore, demands repentance. Hence arises the commonplace in Scripture that God does not hearken to the wicked [John 9:31], and that their prayers [cf. Prov.... Continue Reading

Christ’s mercy says, “Do not despair. Do not lose hope, for you have living hope in Christ, an imperishable and incorruptible hope.” May you rejoice in this hope, and may you embrace it in faith. Every Christian has the sure hope of the forgiveness of sin and the resurrection. In Christ, the end of your... Continue Reading