The Great Divide
When it comes to defending and promoting the Christian faith, we need to recognize that there’s no neutrality amongst human beings.
An unbeliever might vigorously claim neutrality, but we take God’s Word over the unbeliever’s word. This person is lined up against God. By God’s grace, Christians are on the other side of this great divide. They didn’t place themselves there; God put them there. Through Christ they’ve been reconciled to God, placed in a friendly relationship... Continue Reading
By Streams of Water | Psalm 1:3
What is the significance of a tree being planted by streams of water?
If you do not delight in and meditate upon God’s Word, you are planting yourself in a parched, desert land. You are depriving yourself of the stream of living water granted to you by our triune God. Plant yourself, therefore, beside this stream, and drink deeply each day. planted by streams of water Psalm 1:3... Continue Reading
The Judgment of Charity in Questions of Official Misconduct
To use the judgment of charity is to use a sound teaching in an unsound way. Its failure lies in its imbalance: it overemphasizes the charity element to the neglect of the judgmental element.
…it is not the duty of any listener, much less of the church as governing institution, to perform whatever adjustments are necessary to make a problematic teaching palatable. If someone’s teaching is so unclear or apparently wrong when left to itself that it has to undergo some manner of creative interpretation to be regarded as... Continue Reading
The Abiding Life is the True Christian Life
John 15 gives us the pattern for spiritual growth and effectiveness as believers.
God will entrust much in prayer to those whose minds are being renewed through His Word, for they pray according to His will. Have you learned to live by God’s Word and prayer? “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.” (v.... Continue Reading
7 Brilliant Reasons to Shamelessly Applaud Jesus — Revelation 1:5-8
Jesus loves you personally, perfectly, and permanently.
When the Son of Man returns, the credulous unbelief of the atheist, which he clutches like Gollum’s Precious, will be shown for the errant nonsense that it is. The agnostic will not seem cautiously wise, but cosmically idiotic. The stupidity of those who procrastinated to repent and believe will gnaw at them for eternity, as... Continue Reading
Graciously Making the Case for a Literal Genesis Account of Creation
Jesus Himself had no problem referring to the sixth day of creation or to Adam and Eve as literal people.
Jesus also spoke of Abel (Matt 23:35) and Noah (Matt 24:37-39) not as myths but as real people. “The fact that Jesus was well acquainted with the actual words of Genesis and knew them to be real history is why it is such a powerful statement.”4 I have never wavered in my embrace of a literal... Continue Reading
Church Membership in the PCA
One of the central principles of Presbyterian church government is that the power Christ has given to his church is vested in the church as a whole, and that the elders exercise that power on behalf of the congregation.
The most important rights and privileges of church membership is the shepherding care of the church: “All baptized persons are entitled to the watchful care, instruction and government of the church, even though they are adults and have made no profession of their faith in Christ” (BCO 6-3). All members—communing and non-communing alike—have a right... Continue Reading
Arrows, Aphek, and Affections Toward Sin
God has given us great tools of this spiritual warfare: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer.
God calls us to fight the good fight – with all our might. God by His grace has given us the means to fight sin – word, sacraments, and prayer. God has given us the reason to fight sin – because it is displeasing to God. God has given us the call to fight sin... Continue Reading
A Never-Ending Fear Campaign Is Being Used to Manipulate and Control the Public
Fear, when it takes hold, has a tendency to blind us to reality.
The fear that God commands us to master is the fear that a sovereign, good, and loving God is not in complete control of the universe. To fear is to believe your life is dictated, not by Christ, but by your circumstances. That your fate is ultimately determined by the storm that is around you,... Continue Reading
Favor in God’s Eyes
Low views of sin breed tepid views of the Gospel—views that the modern church is inclined to adopt.
Sin robs all of us of the argument that God is obligated to do us good. Death and judgment is what we deserve. Grace is God’s unmerited favor shown toward us. “Nondum considerasti, quanti ponderis sit peccatum!” wrote Anselm in his famous work on the incarnation, Cur Deus Homo. Translated, it means: “You have... Continue Reading
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