Being “blameless” is a biblical goal for God’s people. Believers are exhorted to live blamelessly as lights in the world (Phil. 2:15), the Hebrew hymnbook declares a blessing upon blameless people (Psalm 119:1), and men who desire to shepherd the church (i.e., elders) and serve … Read More
No Part-Time Sovereignty
There is no part-time sovereignty with God. He is, in every way and every day, in control of everything. Consider the weight this Scripture: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good to those who love God, for those who are called … Read More
A Six-Pack on the Spirit
The first 13 verses of Acts 2 no doubt generate a number of questions. Here are six common ones: Q: In Joel’s prophecy, he describes God pouring out his Spirit on “all men.” Is this really all men, or just believers? A: A better translation, … Read More
The Holy Spirit’s Baptism and the Holy Spirit’s Filling: Is There a Difference?
Two words are often confused when it comes to certain aspects of the work of God the Holy Spirit: His baptism and his filling. In fact, people often wonder about these two activities of the Holy Spirit. They question, “If we are indwelt by the … Read More
The Law: Upholding It Yet Not Depending on It
The Law—an overarching term for God’s demands as revealed in Scripture—can be a difficult thing to grasp. Paul asserts it justifies no one, yet claims God’s people uphold it. Do you ever wonder what he means by both of these seemingly opposite ideas? Essentially, obeying … Read More
We Should Not Make It Difficult
…we should not make it difficult…” (Acts 15:19) Those six words are some of the most moving words any pastor ever spoke. Those words, spoken by James, pastor of the church in Jerusalem and spokesperson at the Jerusalem Council, were the foundation of his reasoning for urging … Read More
Kingdom is Greater than Culture
What marks you as you? Seriously, by what are you primarily known? Is it personality? Location? Ethnicity? Accent? Temperament? Occupation? Frankly, all those things (and more), while not wrong, are simply cultural identifiers. They’re social descriptions that recognize our individual uniqueness, even though we still share those “marks”with … Read More
Here Lies John Doe
Julie and I were recently looking at burial plots. It’s a decision we have to make at some point, so we began checking out local options. In the process, we read a number of headstones. Frankly, it’s quite intriguing to see what some people leave … Read More
Ten Beautiful Words
Romans 12:15 is a collection of 10 beautiful words: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” When we live out those words, we display a beautiful trait far too uncommon among many people: security. You see, only secure people can be glad for someone else; … Read More
In the Image of God: “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made”
About 48 years ago—January of 1973—America’s Supreme Court delivered a ruling that made abortion legal. Not moral or ethical. And surely not biblical. Only legal. Since that time, it is estimated that over 55 million unborn babies have been killed. As I write this, my … Read More