The Theological Problem With Tim Keller’s So-Called Social Justice
By calling charity “justice” and claiming that it is deserved, the implication is that God’s grace in the gospel is deserved.
To accurately picture God’s graciousness to us in the gospel through our giving, the one thing we must never do is claim that the recipient of the gift deserves it; that we are committing an act of justice to them in our giving. For the sake of the integrity of the gospel, gospel giving must... Continue Reading
Against Every Accusation
What to Say When Satan Whispers
At our right hand is our accuser, but at God’s right hand is our Advocate. And for every argument the devil speaks against us, Jesus speaks a greater one. He not only died to remove our sins, and he not only rose with his finished work in hand — glorious events of the ancient past... Continue Reading
Reflections on Job
God permitted his servant to be placed in the crucible so that the true character of his piety might be revealed.
In various different ways piety can lead to suffering. And because of that we can find ourselves facing a particular temptation — the temptation to not aim high; to not aspire after and seek after and labour in prayer after the kind of piety we see in a man like Job; to settle for much... Continue Reading
Solidarity In Repentance
It is not the confession of sin that is wrong but the sitting in judgment over our forefathers’ sins rather than standing in solidarity with them confessing our sin.
We who believe in Jesus Christ, need to use this time in history not to attack other believers, dead or alive, but to proclaim our solidarity with fellow believers which include men like Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel (Hebrews 11), men of faith, who committed grievous sins. We cannot be one... Continue Reading
There is no Such Thing as Private (or Online) Communion
"The physical act of gathering is essential, not incidental, to the ordinance."
A number of people physically meeting at church whilst another group of people stay home and live streaming. Most the people who are staying home want to meet with us but they aren’t able due to age, illness or some other impediment to their coming. Given that we are having communion for those people who... Continue Reading
Jesus in the Gospel of John – the Resurrection and the Life
This 7-part series explores John’s Gospel descriptors of Jesus as the Word, the Lamb of God, the Bread of life, the Light of the world, the good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, and the true Vine.
With everyone staring death in the face and smitten with grief, Jesus turns their eyes to Him and declares Himself to be death’s remedy. To validate His claim, almost as an object lesson, Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead, calling him by name to come to Him. With that call Jesus gave Lazarus the... Continue Reading
The State of Innocence
The image of God gives us a dignity that the animals do not have because we are a reflection of God.
We are uniquely made in God’s creation. We are able to have a personal relationship with God through communication and fellowship with Him. We are created to worship Him and to find our highest purpose in living our lives for His glory. It is important to understand that the world as it was first... Continue Reading
The Rationale for Wrath
Can you say that it is unjust for God to be angry with you?
Are you sure God loves everybody? John the Baptist didn’t think so. He said, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (Jn. 3:36). Why is God justified in having wrath toward you if... Continue Reading
5 Important Things We Can Learn about Repentance from Psalm 51
David felt the pain of his sins against Uriah and Bathsheba.
Psalm 51 is a psalm of repentance and one from which we can learn and even use to model our own confessions. When we feel the pain of conviction—a crushing weight that feels like broken bones—we can run to our Father and cry out to him in repentance. I broke my arm two years... Continue Reading
Word and Deed: The Church’s Mission
Just as loving words are to be found on the lips of God’s people, so too are loving deeds to be found in their hands.
God’s glory is displayed when the good news of His salvation is proclaimed and the good works of His people are carried out. Though they must never be confused with each other, ministries of both word and deed are essential to the ongoing work of God’s kingdom. Jesus announced the purpose of His incarnational... Continue Reading
