If the funeral is the mourner’s first significant social event as a new person, we must be a community that accepts them with their pain. Along with pointing them to the hope found in Jesus, the funeral service needs to tell them, “You and your grief belong with us.” We love you as you are.... Continue Reading

Obergefell, the 2016 Dear Colleague letter, and the naked use of the I.R.S. to punish cultural and political opponents together send a strong signal about where the left wants to take the USA. The old liberals retained some vestiges of Christianity and some willingness to tolerate those with whom they disagree. The contemporary left is... Continue Reading

Do not judge God’s faithfulness by the fulfillment of our goals. God promises to meet your need, not our greed. There are times when God will snatch away the things or people you think you need to teach us that we need him not them.   “We come now to what is perhaps the greatest promise in... Continue Reading

What I find most troubling is the huge number of pastors and other Christian leaders who are not partaking of this evil, but who are “on the sidelines” not saying or doing anything about it. However, as the light of the truth is shined by those who know what is really going on into this... Continue Reading

Jesus Christ is the object of saving faith. By faith, we take hold of Christ and all his saving benefits. In Christ, we find that our debt has been paid (Col 2:14). Furthermore, through faith in Jesus, we find his righteousness is our righteousness, not inherently but by imputation. “For his sake I have suffered... Continue Reading

Cancel culture seeks to imitate holiness. It would cut off those who have committed cultural transgressions. But it forgets that holiness has two sides. Yes, there is a sense in which we are cut off from one thing but that doesn’t mean we hang in limbo.  Biblical holiness means being turned toward something else. Holiness... Continue Reading

He came to fulfil the Law and the Prophets, to bring a sword, to preach in the towns, to ransom his people, to seek and save the lost, to bring eternal life, to save the world…    I started thinking a little about Christmas in yesterday’s blog post. Today, I thought I would carry on... Continue Reading

Isaiah prophesies so much about Christ that the book has been called the fifth Gospel. From the virgin birth (Isa 7:14) to the death and resurrection (Isa 53) and enthronement (Isa 6), many biographical details of the Messiah’s person and ministry are found in Isaiah.   Bible study is hard work. Reading and understanding a... Continue Reading

Christian believers have a unique and powerful identity: we are adopted (Gal. 4), justified (Rom. 4; 5; Gal. 2), forgiven (Rom. 8), righteous (2 Cor. 5; Rom. 5) and secure (Rom. 8; John 10). But we also read about the spiritual DNA of those outside of Christ: they are dead in sin (Eph. 2), spiritually... Continue Reading

Ultimately, the full completion of what Psalm 150 portrays is yet to come to pass, when Jesus comes again. On that day, the wicked will not stand. But if you kiss the Son; if you trust in Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, then God will declare you righteous. And on that day,... Continue Reading