Jesus in the Gospel of John—the True Vine
Only through faith in Him can we have life and that abundantly.
Jesus wants us to bear fruit that is authentic, arising from union with Him, much fruit that abounds by His workmanship of grace, and lasting fruit that endures to the glory of God. I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser (John 15:1, NKJV). We’ve seen Jesus described as the Word,... Continue Reading
How Can I Know if I’m Saved?
There is much that may go on in our heart that prompts us to experience a lack of assurance.
Though the Bible teaches that we are justified from the moment we believe, we can often place this privilege on the final horizon of our salvation. All too easily we begin to think of God’s declaration concerning our right standing before him as something that is yet to happen—that He will make His decision concerning... Continue Reading
Bread from Heaven
All provision comes from Him.
In Egypt the Israelites were slaves, but their needs of food, shelter, and clothing were met in a society in such a way that it did not make God’s provision apparent to them. Does that sound familiar? Don’t we have the same problem in 21st Century America? Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold,... Continue Reading
Scripture-Formed Music
The liturgies and art forms of Christian worship embody and form certain aspects of Christian discipleship in a way that nothing else can.
What is important about a corporate worship service is not just what is said from the pulpit or the doctrine of the hymns, for there are aspects of Christian piety that are inarticulable…much of Christian piety is learned only through doing; as Mark Twain once quipped, “A man who carries a cat by the tail... Continue Reading
Humanity as the Divine Image in Genesis 1:26–28
Can anyone possibly improve our thinking on the imagio dei?
Recent study undertaken on the primary sources since the publication of the second edition of Kingdom through Covenant in June of 2018 has led me to a better grasp and understanding of the ancient texts. I would like to focus here on the consensus in scholarship today and seek to show what can be improved or needs... Continue Reading
Though God Slay Me: COVID19 and the Believer
These same catastrophic losses that we are facing mirror the biblical story of Job.
The book of Job doesn’t just tell the story of natural disasters but also reveals what was behind the scenes—a very real Devil. At this point, many people may scoff and dismiss the book of Job as outdated. After all, this is a day where we believe in science. Christians do not and should not... Continue Reading
5 Signs Sin Has a Powerful Grip on Your Life
Jesus died for you, he has been faithful to you even as you wandered, and he will not leave you in your time of need.
If any of these five signs apply to your current situation, no matter how involved you are in your church, or how Godly the people around you think you are, you are not in the will of God, and sin is controlling you. It is time to draw up under your Savior. As believers,... Continue Reading
Enjoying God Is a Command
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).
Scripture shows that well-instructed believers develop a determination to rejoice. They will rejoice in the Lord. Habakkuk exemplified this in difficult days (see Hab. 3:17–18). He exercised what our forefathers called “acting faith”—a vigorous determination to experience whatever the Lord commands, including joy, and to use the God-given means to do so. Here are four of these... Continue Reading
Peace as a Fruit of the Spirit
The world desperately desires and speaks longingly of peace, but it can only be found in the God of peace.
God’s providential care frees us from the stress and burdens of life. As His adopted children, we are not left as orphans but are instead entrusted to His care in all things. He is the sovereign God over the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, neither of which fall victim to... Continue Reading
Wickedness and Self-Deception
Our wickedness distorts.
The Bible talks a lot about evidence and self-deception. My favorite passage to go to is Matt 12:38-40. The Pharisees and Scribes ask Jesus for a sign. But here is the kicker: Jesus had been doing signs, in fact, the Pharisees had previously conspired against Jesus because he healed a man on the Sabbath. (Matt... Continue Reading
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