How the Reformation Spread
Luther’s influence spread from Wittenberg around the world in concentric circles—like when a stone is dropped into a pond.
The seeds of the Reformation that were planted in Germany sprouted into full bloom as they made their way into the English empire. To trace the pathway from Wittenberg to London, one must follow a series of circuitous routes, but the origin of that movement in Wittenberg is unmistakable, and its influence continues even to... Continue Reading
Tulip: Total Depravity
Having a right view of our sinfulness is the lynch pin to having a proper grasp of how the Lord saves his people.
Sin is the master of our lives before the Spirit changes our hearts, which means we are in bondage that we cannot will ourselves out of (Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:9-12), partly because we cannot, but also because we love it. Yesterday, I found myself in the enviable position of explaining the difference between reformed theology... Continue Reading
Laying the Foundation…Twice
When we lay out a system of theology, where and how we begin affects everything else that we say.
Few of us will ever be in a position where we’ll need to lay out the details of an entire theological system. Most of the time, we’ll be content to rely on our confessions and the work of good theologians past and present. Where do we begin in our theology? The answer may seem... Continue Reading
The Proof is in the Patterns: How Typology Demonstrates the Trustworthiness of the Bible
The entire Bible hangs together, not only by a common set of doctrines, but also by a series of patterns and biblical types that find their ultimate telos in Christ.
One aspect of Scripture that has repeatedly born witness to its reliability, unity, and even its divine authorship is typology—namely, the way that types and shadows, patterns and persons (in their public actions and offices) are repeated and fulfilled throughout the Bible. In a few weeks, I will be teaching a class on Scripture... Continue Reading
What If Thoughts Can Be Evil?
What if Satan celebrates the fact that many Christians view their thought lives as neutral?
The word of God isn’t just a conceptual comfort; it’s a cutting blade. It cuts through evil. When we’re struggling to fight a particular thought, we need to confront that thought with the power of the truth. If thoughts can be evil, then they can also be wise and righteous; they can be Christ-exalting. ... Continue Reading
The Witness of Truth & Integrity
How can we maintain our witness in today’s culture?
How easily we can overlook our own ability to bring the Word of God to bear in our daily interactions. What if we thought more deeply about our beliefs, responsibilities, and everyday choices as we dwell together before a watching world? We are resident foreigners with an eternal citizenship in heaven (1 Peter 2:11). Remembering... Continue Reading
El Shaddai, The God Who Is More Than Enough
El Shaddai, God Almighty, our all-sufficient God, remains the same and does not change; he is with us and for us.
Spiritual warfare is both real and perpetual. The evil one is either waging battle to prevent unbelievers from coming to salvation and to receiving eternal life or he seeks to render believers disobedient, ineffectual, or undisciplined, thereby, failing to achieve God’s great goal for them, that is, “To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”... Continue Reading
A Secular Sacrament: Why Mandates Violate Liberty of Conscience and Enforce a New Religion
The vaccine mandates are not pure science nor unbiased medicine...it does not take a conspiracy theory to connect the dots.
The Covid vaccine, unlike every other mandated vaccine, has a religious connotation to it. For this reason, Christians in our day need to be instructed by Revelation 13 as much as Romans 13. And I pray this essay might help us to see what is going on and to respond in freedom and faith—whatever that... Continue Reading
Draw Near
Worship—magnifying God’s worth and glory—is the reason God made us.
What should be apparent is that the essence of worship is itself the language of the gospel—a drawing near to God in relationship with him, made impossible because of sin that demands eternal judgment, yet restored through the substitutionary atonement of the God-man for those who place their faith in him. The gospel of Jesus Christ... Continue Reading
Commercialising Church
Facebook is developing tools for churches: a subscription service where users pay to receive exclusive content, and a prayer service.
It is easier—more comfortable, less effort, and less vulnerable—to engage with church content on social media platforms than to do so in person would be. While using the platforms to their upmost could be a helpful step into church for many—and enough so that I think it’s worth engaging in some fashion—the conversion will be... Continue Reading
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