If it is the case that apart from Christ we can do nothing that means that disciples must be taught what it means to abide in Christ and how to abide in Christ. Otherwise, all the disciplines and rituals of Christian practice are just for show.   As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,... Continue Reading

Stop worrying that the enemy is stronger than Jesus. How many Egyptians have to drown in the Red Sea before we will stop fretting? How many Hamans have to hang on their own gallows? How many Jezebels have to be thrown over the wall? How many Philistines have to be covered in boils? God is... Continue Reading

The conflict between good and evil is at the heart of all great stories, and the best ones offer thoughtful insights into this conflict. Is it possible that we might be able to learn something about good and evil from a fantasy story such as The Lord of the Rings? It is quite possible indeed.... Continue Reading

Let’s begin with the most obvious meaning of legalism. At its core, legalism is when we base our justification on our own law-keeping rather than on the finished work of Christ.  If we depend on our own merits, our own efforts, even our own rituals, to make us acceptable before a holy God, then we... Continue Reading

Not only is it helpful to frequently revisit why we believe what we believe, but a new generation is always rising for whom the complementarian/egalitarian arguments are new. Every year, a new batch of young men and women encounter afresh questions surrounding what the Bible teaches about men and women, and many are wrestling with what biblical... Continue Reading

Equality seeks a subjective outcome without regard to the truth. In other words, equality is outcome-based whereas equity is truth-based. When it comes to justice, Scripture teaches that we are to judge with equity in mind, not equality. That principle is underscored in John 7:24, where Jesus says, “Do not judge according to appearance, but... Continue Reading

Theological health and fidelity have often come not by way of innovation, but retrieval. This occurs when insightful theologians, looking backward, see that the Church previously stated and conceived of different theological realities with greater clarity than in their own day. Theological retrieval roots itself in Christian theologians prizing nuance over novelty, which in turn,... Continue Reading

Though I do love Him, and truly I do, I still have some love for sin. There is still some of the traitor in me. I pledge allegiance to Him but too often prove allegiance to myself. What could there be for Him to love here? I’ve had this all wrong. As I study God’s Word... Continue Reading

Your glorified Savior is meek and mild with his lambs, and his voice is one of tender freedom—freedom from the would-be oppressors. The spirit of this world, your flesh, and the devilish hoard want only to enslave and control you. They do not have your freedom and best interest at heart. Yet they will disguise... Continue Reading

We long for every wrong to be punished with exactly the punishment it deserves.  We long for every good deed to be rewarded with exactly the reward it deserves. Isaiah saw that Jesus’ rule would be perfectly fair, and that it would bring about exactly this kind of perfect justice: “He will reign, establishing and... Continue Reading