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Apr 2016 28 Apr 28, 2016
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Last week I was reading the daily devotional posted on the Solid Joys app, from Desiring God ministries. The focus was on a somewhat obscure OT passage. Continue reading . . .  Last week I was reading the daily devotional posted on the Solid Joys app, from Desiring God ministries. The focus was on a somewhat obscure OT passage. It reads as follows: “Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched” (1 ...Read More

Apr 2016 27 Apr 27, 2016

Of all the Beatitudes spoken by our Lord, the one that has affected me most through the years is found in Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Continue reading . . .  Of all the Beatitudes spoken by our Lord, the one that has affected me most through the years is found in Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Much might be said of this remarkable statement, but he...Read More

Apr 2016 26 Apr 26, 2016

The Apostle Paul records for us a remarkable prayer in Ephesians 1:15ff. At the heart of this prayer is his request that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,” might give to the saints in Ephesus (and you and me as well!) “the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him” (Eph. 1:17). Continue reading . . .  The Apostle Paul records for us a remarkable prayer in Ephesians 1:15ff. At the heart of this prayer is...Read More

Apr 2016 25 Apr 25, 2016

Today I continue the weekly series on 10 things we should know about specific Christian doctrines. Our focus today is divine election. Continue reading . . .  Today I continue the weekly series on 10 things we should know about specific Christian doctrines. Our focus today is divine election. [This was originally written for Crossway and posted on their blog on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.] 1. Election is a pre-temporal decision by God, a choice he made before any of...Read More

Apr 2016 23 Apr 23, 2016
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With the sudden death of rock music icon Prince, many have wondered whether or not he might have known Jesus Christ as his Savior. Continue reading . . .  With the sudden death of rock music icon Prince, many have wondered whether or not he might have known Jesus Christ as his Savior. I must confess that I never followed the career of Prince and I never intentionally listened to any of his music. I say “intentionally” because somewhere along the way I m...Read More

Apr 2016 21 Apr 21, 2016

The answer to the question, “Is the Church the True Israel of God?” is found at the close of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians (among other places in the NT). Continue reading . . .  The answer to the question, “Is the Church the True Israel of God?” is found at the close of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians (among other places in the NT). He pronounces a blessing that has been the source of seemingly endless controversy. The ESV ren...Read More

Apr 2016 20 Apr 20, 2016
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Celebrity skeptic Bart Ehrman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill continues to produce books that he believes debunk the claims of evangelical believers concerning Jesus and the Bible. Continue reading . . .  Celebrity skeptic Bart Ehrman of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill continues to produce books that he believes debunk the claims of evangelical believers concerning Jesus and the Bible. The list of such books is almost endless, and...Read More

Apr 2016 19 Apr 19, 2016

Some advocates of Hyper-Grace argue that since our salvation is all of grace, there is nothing that Christians can do that displeases the Lord. Continue reading . . .  Some advocates of Hyper-Grace argue that since our salvation is all of grace, there is nothing that Christians can do that displeases the Lord. God is always pleased with us because of who Christ is and what he has done. We can never grieve the Lord except by failing to receive and rely upon his grac...Read More

Apr 2016 18 Apr 18, 2016
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The next installment of our “10 things you should know” series concerns justification. Continue reading . . .  The next installment of our “10 things you should know” series concerns justification. (1) Most Protestant Christians immediately think of the reformer Martin Luther when the subject of justification is raised. Early on Luther believed that, if the sinner would take the initiative by humbly calling on God and “doing what lies...Read More

Apr 2016 14 Apr 14, 2016
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In an earlier article I pointed out what I perceive to be one of the errors in the message that I’m calling Hyper-Grace. It had to do with repentance. Certain authors who promote this doctrine build their concept on the notion that the Holy Spirit will never convict Christians of their sins. Continue reading . . .  In an earlier article I pointed out what I perceive to be one of the errors in the message that I’m calling Hyper-Grace. It had to do with r...Read More

Apr 2016 13 Apr 13, 2016
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Among the many things often heard by advocates of what I’m calling Hyper-Grace is that too many Christians are focused on repenting of their sins. We are excessively “sin-conscious,” so they say, and should instead turn our attention to the finality and sufficiency of God’s saving grace to us in Jesus Christ. Continue reading . . .  Among the many things often heard by advocates of what I’m calling Hyper-Grace is that too many Christia...Read More

Apr 2016 12 Apr 12, 2016

I’ve been slowly working my way through John Piper’s excellent new book, A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness (Crossway). In one of the early chapters Piper asks and answers the question: Which Books Make Up the Old Testament? Continue reading . . .  I’ve been slowly working my way through John Piper’s excellent new book, A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfu...Read More

Apr 2016 11 Apr 11, 2016

We continue the series on 10 things all Christians should know about basic Christian doctrines. Today we look at the Incarnation of Christ. Continue reading . . .  We continue the series on 10 things all Christians should know about basic Christian doctrines. Today we look at the Incarnation of Christ. (1) The word “Incarnation” refers to the idea that Jesus has come to earth “in the flesh" (1 Jn. 4:2; 2 Jn. 7); was “sent in the flesh&rdquo...Read More

Apr 2016 7 Apr 7, 2016

To say that our world at large disregards the gravity of sin is so obvious that one hesitates even to mention it. Continue reading . . .  To say that our world at large disregards the gravity of sin is so obvious that one hesitates even to mention it. Countless men and women go about their daily existence, moment-by-moment drawing breath from the very God whose name they openly blaspheme and whose blessings they so presumptuously take for granted. One shouldn&rsqu...Read More

Apr 2016 6 Apr 6, 2016
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Of all the many promises in the NT, few are as precious and powerful as the one we find in James 4:8. There we are exhorted to “draw near to God” with the corresponding assurance that if we do “he will draw near to you.” Continue reading . . .  Of all the many promises in the NT, few are as precious and powerful as the one we find in James 4:8. There we are exhorted to “draw near to God” with the corresponding assurance that if w...Read More

Apr 2016 5 Apr 5, 2016

We are not by nature submissive people. Our tendency or inclination is to assert ourselves at all costs and require that others yield to our desires and opinions and goals. Running directly contrary to this orientation of our hearts is the command in James 4:7 that we “submit” ourselves “to God.” Continue reading . . .  We are not by nature submissive people. Our tendency or inclination is to assert ourselves at all costs and require that ot...Read More

Apr 2016 4 Apr 4, 2016

We continue our series of articles on ten things you should know about certain biblical doctrines. Today, we look at the subject of grace. Continue reading . . .  We continue our series of articles on ten things you should know about certain biblical doctrines. Today, we look at the subject of grace. (1) Let’s begin with a definition. Herman Bavinck defined the saving grace of God as “his voluntary, unrestrained, unmerited favor toward guilty sinners, ...Read More

Apr 2016 1 Apr 1, 2016

Why do we lie? What makes deceit or misleading speech such a powerful temptation? What do we hope to accomplish by means of a lie that seems to trump all the reasons why we should tell the truth? There are countless answers, no doubt, but I want to focus on four. Continue reading . . . Why do we lie? What makes deceit or misleading speech such a powerful temptation? What do we hope to accomplish by means of a lie that seems to trump all the reasons why we should tell th...Read More