Matthew 7:1
“Who are you to judge?”
What kind of “judging” is Jesus talking about? As in all cases, the context is a great help in understanding what Jesus is getting at. This text is in the Sermon on the Mount, which demonstrates the nature of true righteousness versus superficial religion. In this text, Jesus is concerned about the hypocrisy of the... Continue Reading
Why Satan Is No Friend of the Family
If family truly comes from the mind of God and plays such an essential role in his world, don’t you think this explains why there are so many attacks on the family?
It’s pretty clear that Satan is going to be no friend of the family. Think about all that Satan can disrupt if he disrupts family. He disrupts our task of bringing more of God’s image-bearers into this world while also eroding the most basic and foundational social structure that supports and strengthens human beings so... Continue Reading
3 Reasons Why Christians Should Lay “R.I.P.” to Rest
"Rest in peace" gives the sense that the deceased are "in a better place"—a place of rest and peace.
I’ve noticed something of a concerning trend over the past several years. It is the way in which believers speak about culture-impacting individuals at their deaths. Instead of simply expressing appreciation for their life and achievements, it has become commonplace for Christians to use the shorthand “R.I.P.” (rest in peace) on social media when speaking of individuals... Continue Reading
Jeremiah 29:11
The context of Jeremiah 29:11 indicates that it is not meant as a blanket promise of worldly blessing.
This verse contains comforting words, to be sure. But what does Jeremiah mean? Some have taken this verse and applied it to themselves and others in an unqualified way. “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” they say. “He has mapped out the course of your life, and you only have... Continue Reading
Does God Want Everyone to Be Saved? (1 Timothy 2)
What does this verse mean in light of the fact that, in the end, not all will be saved?
Paul tells Timothy not only that the congregation needs to pray; he also tells him for whom they should pray: “for all people.” Included in the “all people” would be those spreading error within the church. For them, the church ought to pray that God might grant them repentance (2 Tim. 2:25). But they must... Continue Reading
The Biblical Story of the Body
I want to encourage you as we look together at what the Bible has to say about the story of the body, starting at creation and culminating in the resurrection body.
The doctrine of creation tells you what you are: A body/soul unity. God made the body of Adam from the dust of the ground. It was a biodegradable corpse, but then into this corpse, he breathed the breath of life. So the life of Adam is a body/soul union. There is a good, better, best pattern... Continue Reading
Van Mastricht, Edwards, and the Economic Trinity
Where was the scholastic theologian of the Great Awakening influenced by the great scholastic theologian of the Dutch Second Reformation?
As I have been reading through volume 2 of Mastricht’s work, I have been struck by the way in which both men constantly dealt with the importance of the economic Trinity. For instance, Edwards dealt extensively with the idea of the economic Trinity when speaking of the ad extra work of God in redemption. In a... Continue Reading
Is It Wrong to Draw Moral Lessons from OT Figures?
This use of the Old Testament is certainly in keeping with Paul’s view of inspiration and the use of Scripture.
The God-breathed Scriptures are profitable for doctrine (teaching), reproof (exposing our errors—mental and moral), correction (restoring to an upright position), and instruction in righteousness. This last phrase is particularly interesting. The word Paul uses, usually translated as “instruction” or “training,” literally means “child training”—referring to the patient, repetitive, and illustrative manner in which children learn.... Continue Reading
The Proverbs
Proverbs anticipates the One who will vindicate the righteous and reward them for their service.
A single proverb is not designed for every circumstance in this life. We do not expect an uninspired proverb to apply at all times. The same maxim applies to the Spirit-inspired Proverbs of Solomon. Dr. R.C. Sproul uses the English proverbs “look before you leap” and “he who hesitates is lost” to illustrate this point.... Continue Reading
What Is the Bible, Anyway?
The Bible is a lamp that guides us through and out of this world.
The Bible is solid food that strengthens the mature. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food…” (Hebrews 5:12) We Christians spend a lot of time reading the Bible, hearing it... Continue Reading
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