However, I would deny that God appointed Abraham himself or Israel itself as the solution of the problem. Instead, Abraham and Israel functioned as the carrier of the Messiah, who was always intended from the beginning (dated from Genesis 3:15, humanly speaking; from eternity, from God’s perspective) to be the solution to the problem of Adam and Eve’s Fall. This does not result... Continue Reading

“True Word for Tough Times” is almost a survey of the 52 chapters of Jeremiah. The first chapter tackles Jeremiah 1 and the “Astounding Word.” The next takes up Jeremiah 15.10-21, answering the question “Can this prophet be saved?” Then comes material on Jeremiah 27-29, where Davis shows that “The yoke is no joke.” Afterwards... Continue Reading

If you are part of the Reformed hip hop culture. Thank you. God bless you. Do not grow weary in doing good. Do not be discouraged. There are folks, a lot of folks, like me, who deeply appreciate you, have been (and are) blessed by you, who are learning from you and who are rooting... Continue Reading

First, it doesn’t matter whether people self-identify as evangelical if they don’t go to church. Because if they don’t go to church, churches’ income and reason for existing vanish.   Here are titles of three recent books about evangelical Christianity: “The Great Evangelical Recession: Six Factors that Will Crash the American Church … And How... Continue Reading

In a very solid, very readable, very Biblical, very theological, very engaging, and very practical way, Phillips leads us to Genesis 2 which, after all, is the narrative of the creation of the first male, in distinction from the creation of the first female. Phillips focuses on and develops Genesis 2:7, 8, and 15. Man’s distinctive, pre-Eve task: to work and to keep the garden (8).... Continue Reading

One of Piper’s great strengths in representing and defending Calvinistic theology has been in not merely defending this doctrine, but in making it lead to wonder and to worship. “My experience is that clear knowledge of God from the Bible is the kindling that sustains the fires of affection for God. And probably the most... Continue Reading

My concern is with the attitude the Pearls seem to have towards children. While I certainly agree that children need to learn that the universe doesn’t revolve around them, the universe also doesn’t revolve around the parents. According to the Pearls, a three month old child who cries when you walk away is attempting to... Continue Reading

So that’s what’s most disturbing about all this Hunger Games merchandise, the sandwiches and the cosmetics and the theme park (not to mention the lavish premiere party). They’re mere symbols of a story that criticizes those who would look to symbols and surfaces to cover over what’s really going on beneath. It’s as if the... Continue Reading

Jones’ chapter on antinomian rhetoric (where the opening quote above is found) is very helpful.  I agree that there is much moralistic preaching in churches today.  But we have to be careful not to overreact and overemphasize justification at the expense of sanctification.  We have to be careful not to overemphasize Jesus’ work (what he’s... Continue Reading

This sensationalistic impulse naturally leads a documentary to want to prove that the traditional view is mistaken (after all, the traditional view is rather boring and unexciting).  Thus, we are not surprised when we quickly realize that this documentary will not even be trying to present a balanced perspective. It is decidedly geared to disprove the Bible.... Continue Reading