Like the “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” he expressed in Romans 9:2 over his Jewish kinsmen who had wholly rejected their Messiah, Paul wept over these self-professed Christians who had rejected the very core of the gospel and made themselves “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18). He shed real tears over the “destruction”... Continue Reading

A true grasp of God’s grace is especially helpful for people who are afraid that God is hard and severe, as the man who buried his one talent thought (Matt. 25:24). Such a viewpoint of God is more than a little tinged by the rigor of the first covenant. And it is marvelous to see... Continue Reading

While we need not fear losing our salvation, this warning in Deuteronomy still drives us to action (Deut. 29; John 10:28–29; Rom. 8:35–39). We should choose safety—true safety. Safety is a word we may not quickly equate with righteousness. We tend to choose other words like holiness, godliness, goodness. Those are good descriptions, but we... Continue Reading

What was happening at Sinai was that God from his heavenly throne room was touching down to earth: the mountain was the place where heaven and earth met. There, Moses was revealed a heavenly blueprint for the tabernacle which was a terrestrial facsimile intended to prefigure the celestial authentic. That tabernacle was according to the... Continue Reading

Like those disciples, we are still on the way, and we are still arguing in many cases about that which does not relate to the true nature of the kingdom. And if that is so, then surely we also need a redirection from Jesus. We need a new posture as we continue to go forward... Continue Reading

When you look at the person in the seat next to you at church—or online while viewing a worship service—do you see one who for whom Christ died; or, do you see one who is either living up to or failing in your personal expectations?   If we have discovered anything about Christians during this... Continue Reading

Keswick theology is pervasive because countless people have propagated it in so many ways, especially in sermons and devotional writings. It is appealing because Christians struggle with sin and want to be victorious in that struggle now. Keswick theology offers a quick fix, and its shortcut to instant victory appeals to genuine longings for holiness.... Continue Reading

If we were to take a poll of “average” pew sitters to see who could define the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ I think the results would be very discouraging. If we were to go by what is usually preached in the vast majority of “evangelical” churches Sunday after Sunday then we will see... Continue Reading

Singing becomes a (super)natural expression of enjoyment from the heart, which is beautiful and true. And as we grow in conformity to Christ, who himself loved to sing Psalms, we will find ourselves sanctified in our singing.   Singing, specifically Christians singing praise to God, will be an activity that echoes on into the everlasting... Continue Reading

Is there not sufficient evidence in the Scriptures that the Apostles saw the legitimacy of theological instruction from a distance? And is it not clear that they believed their apostolic authority was communicated even through epistolary form? It is not very hard for us to make the leap from first century letters, then, to twenty-first... Continue Reading