As Chantry writes, “The powerful grace of God alone offers deliverance. Cast yourself upon God’s mercy for salvation. Ask for the Spirit of Grace that he may create a new spirit within you.” And, if God has created a new spirit in you, then embrace, rejoice in, and live out your freedom to love God... Continue Reading

In other words, the Christian life is a dying to self and sin and living to Christ but the outcome is a glorious resurrection—not because we have been good but because God is gracious and graciously at work in us. Resurrection leads to glorification, which is the consummation of the good work that God began... Continue Reading

Just think of all the driveling words, exaggerated tales, oaths never kept, and prolific profanity that we utter. Think of the words that fly from mouth to mouth in rumors. I know one Pastor who recently had to resign because some people started gossiping and complaining about his shortcomings — mainly that the hymns were... Continue Reading

Wilson parodies the arguments of affirming evangelicals by using the same kind of ethical pragmatism to talk about idolatry. Idolatry may sound like it is sinful, Wilson says, but actually there are many Christians who have discovered the love and joy of an idolatrous life. Wilson here intends to parody the approach used by many... Continue Reading

What’s that, mom? You work two jobs, have a hard time affording groceries to put on the table, and you couldn’t even decorate a doll house if your life depended on it? Come on, moms, how on earth do you expect to be able to invite your neighbors – let alone the world – into... Continue Reading

When a congregation certifies a biblically married couple to be also civilly married, the congregation is not affirming the state’s definition of marriage. Instead, the Church is witnessing to the state’s role in recognizing marriage as something that stands before and is foundational to society. We are bearing witness to the fact that these unions... Continue Reading

As I search the Bible I find no first amendment.  What I do find is the responsibility of the civil magistrate to enforce justice and equity as defined by God’s law (Rom. 13).  What I do find is the responsibility of God’s ministers to use the Bible to confront those in power about their lawlessness.... Continue Reading

And then there are the Bible verses that go up. Since your audience usually follows you due to a shared belief system, they aren’t so much meant to be evangelistic as exhorting. Some can be an encouragement, but only the skinny ones can survive. It makes you wonder if it cheapens God’s Word to suspend... Continue Reading

Reformed folks highlight the work of the Spirit in many areas such as regeneration, sanctification, preaching, the sacraments, and more.  But, during the time of the Reformation itself, one area took center stage, name how the Spirit relates to the Scriptures.  The two are so connected, argued the Reformers, that if there was no Holy... Continue Reading

In order to get there, we will need churches that are not divided up along carnal patterns of division—by skin color or ethnicity or economic status. We will need churches that reflect the manifold wisdom of God (Eph. 3:10) in the joining together of those who may have nothing else in common but the image... Continue Reading