Who Is this One Lying in the Manger
He is God’s holy child Jesus, lying in the manger, coming for us his people, for our salvation and the redemption of the groaning cosmos.
The infinite became finite; the eternal and supratemporal entered time and became subject to it. The immutable became mutable. The invisible became visible. The Creator became created. The sustainer of all became dependent. The Almighty became weak. God became man. Christianity displays a supernatural view of the cosmos. The origin of the universe was... Continue Reading
The Past, Present, and Future Aspects of the Lord’s Supper (Sproul)
The Lord’s Supper, as it was initiated, looked not just backward but forward.
Every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we think about the past, and we remember that there is a future for the people of God; that we are having a foretaste at the Lord’s Table of that ultimate fellowship we will have with Him in heaven. The Lord’s Supper is a rich sacrament full... Continue Reading
How John the Baptist Fulfilled God’s Purposes in Utero
An often-overlooked detail in the Gospel of Luke reveals the powerful value God places on preborn life.
While still in her womb, John helped his own mother prepare for the coming of the Lord. She then encouraged Mary in her preparation for the coming of the Lord, the One she was carrying at that time. After Elizabeth’s encouragement, Mary breaks out into song, the Magnificat, uttering words that have not only instructed and encouraged millions of... Continue Reading
The Light of the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ
Those who are in the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ are the living because they possess eternal life in Christ.
Paul does not back away from the truth, and we should not either, that the Gospel is indeed veiled to those who reject it. Those who want a gospel on their own terms reject out of hand the genuine gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we... Continue Reading
No Games, Just Grace
The Judge of all the earth calls you to rise.
Our sin will find us out. There will be no sighs of relief that we escaped the condemnation due us for our transgressions. Our sin that we tried so hard to hide throughout our lives will be laid bare. And there will be no defense that can be made. We stand guilty, our sin exposed.... Continue Reading
By Faith We See In the Dark
Understanding by Faith
According to Hebrews, it is by faith that we understand. And of course, if Christianity is actually true, that understanding requires knowledge of the invisible. By faith we know who God is, the truth that He created all things in the beginning and will judge all things in the future, and even present unseen realities like... Continue Reading
Daily Reading in John Owen
Review: Here is Owen as theologian and pastor, and readers will draw strength and insight from what is recorded for us in this set of daily readings.
He was a man of God’s Word, and hence considered that ‘one Scripture, in its plainness and simplicity, will be of more use for the end I aim at than twenty academic arguments, pressed with never so much accurateness and subtlety’ (April 7). Accordingly, he warns against reading theologians and neglecting the Scriptures, and even... Continue Reading
12 Good Things to Remember When You’re Tempted to Indulge in Self-Loathing
Even though this life is fraught with hardships, God has called his children to a holy calling.
It’s not only the Grinch—the truth is that each one of us knows all too well our own mistakes and shortcomings. And when it comes to finding someone to blame, the easiest person with whom to find fault is usually oneself. It’s not just you—every one of us has messed up. For by works of... Continue Reading
The Great Difference in the Two Advents of Christ
Four ways his second coming will be different from his first.
He came to endure the penalty, he comes to procure the reward. He came to serve, he comes to rule. He came to open wide the door of grace, he comes to shut to the door. He comes not to redeem but to judge; not to save but to pronounce the sentence; not to weep while he invites,... Continue Reading
Seven Differences Between Gifts and Graces
The fruit/grace comes from the priestly work of Christ, whereas the gifts come from His kingly office.
With fruit/grace, the primary benefit is for the immediate recipient, and secondarily other people. With gifts, it is the other way around: gifts are given for the benefit of people other than the recipient first of all, and the recipient only secondarily. I just read this chapter from John Owen this morning, and I... Continue Reading
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 181
- 182
- 183
- 184
- 185
- …
- 1508
- Next Page »