Any combat veteran will tell you that to succeed in battle, you have to pay attention. Focus is absolute. Just after identifying faith as the key in the verse quoted above (1J 5.4), John writes, And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?... Continue Reading

You may be surprised to hear me say this, but being more religious—going to more church services, reading more Bible texts, and saying more prayers—is not the answer in itself. Nor will the anodyne and customized “spirituality” of our day meet the moment. Instead, we need what humans have always needed.   Five years ago... Continue Reading

Our new identity in Christ is not something we bring about for ourselves. A key difference from the way people usually talk about “identifying with” a person or group, though, is that this kind of identification is not something we do ourselves—at least not at first. It was God who predestined us to adoption (Eph.... Continue Reading

“But we never can know/the delights of his love/until all on the altar we lay.” Therein lies the chief boon of total submission. To go out into deep waters is to go fishing with Jesus himself. And who could ask for more?   It’s no surprise that I love a good poem. Words have power.... Continue Reading

It’s incomprehensible that any shepherd of God would identify himself by or with sexual immorality.  Claiming to be abstinent is not an issue.  Abstinence does not change the heart. Many single, widowed, or divorced Christian men and women are abstinent without identifying with their desires, lusts, or temptations.    For several years, multiple Reformed churches... Continue Reading

“Rejoi­cing in my enrichment with this exceeding gift, to thee, Almighty God, I owe fresh thanks, such as may almost overwhelm and bury all those preceding, whereof each page of mine holds record. And although my constant devotion, grown too lengthy, has o’erspread its wide limits this while past, and almost calls itself to halt;... Continue Reading

Mr. Rein’s connection to RUF began at Vanderbilt University, where he received a B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering and graduated summa cum laude with Honors. RUF is where his understanding of the Gospel fell into place and he developed a biblical worldview, realizing faith impacts everything. It is also where he “found his people” — his... Continue Reading

Idol worship isn’t harmless. It is abominable. It is demonic. Indeed, the worship of idols is the worship of fallen and malevolent principalities and powers.   To be up front about it, my main point is that false worship is dangerous because false worship is demonic. And we know this because the Bible teaches this.... Continue Reading

The Pew report and other survey data results from recent years clearly indicate that the United States is in a transition period between the trends from the last thirty years and what lies ahead in the near future.    A few weeks ago, the Pew Research Center released the results of its most recent Religious... Continue Reading

We shouldn’t quarrel, but engage others in a kind, gentle, and patient manner as we make an argument. Our goal is to correct mistaken thinking so that others can escape the falsehoods of the enemy and repent.   You’ve heard the cliché: “Never discuss politics or religion.” That’s too bad. Both are important topics that... Continue Reading