Colossians 3:12–13 uses the language of clothing in reference to virtue. In short, we clothe ourselves with Christ (cf. Romans 13:14), and, more specifically, we “put on” virtues like “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” We are also to “put on… bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving… Read More »
Believers enjoy union with Christ in His death and resurrection (Colossians 2:11–12). This union breaks the power of sin, diminishes its practice, empowers righteous living, and ensures progress therein. This transfer of power from sin to Christ is “a once-for-all definitive act,”1 and the believer simultaneously begins his progress in practical sanctification. A number of… Read More »
What follows below is a summary of what of the Gospels say about what happened at the tomb from the perspective of Jesus Himself. In the Tomb: Matthew 27:57–66; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 23:50–56; John 19:38–42 In the evening after the death of Jesus (Friday), Joseph of Arimathea took courage and secretly asked Pilate for the… Read More »
The prophet Isaiah once spoke of Israel and Judah as worthless vineyard with nothing good to show God (Isaiah 5:1–7). God looked for the fruit of justice and righteousness and found the opposite instead (cf. Isaiah 5:7). Among God’s many “woes” against the nation for her sins (Isaiah 5:8–30), God stated, “Woe to those who… Read More »
Being a Christian these days can be a wearying task. We fight indwelling sin, forces of spiritual darkness, and personal trials that come our way. In addition to these difficulties, we have suffered through Covid for multiple years and now watch the effects of a new war, inflation, and whatever else might come. Do you… Read More »
From 1 Corinthians 12:12–26, Ephesians 4:15–16, and Colossians 2:18–19 Once upon a time, there was a heavenly Head. It cleansed a body for itself with blood and would remove the remains of filth in time. The Head guided the body with its authority, spirit, and words. The body listened to the Head, held fast, and… Read More »
A Day to Worship: From Saturday to Sunday In the Old Testament, God created for six days and rested on the seventh. He also blessed this seventh day and made it holy (Genesis 2:1–3). Later, God commanded Israel to remember the Sabbath day by setting it apart for rest and worship, “a Sabbath to the… Read More »
Russia is mauling Ukraine, a painful sight to watch. What should America do? We instinctively desire justice and want to cry to our leaders, “Send in the troops!” But the answer is not so simple. At the moment, many countries are attempting to help Ukraine through negotiations and compromise or are using economic measures to… Read More »
The theology of Praise & Worship music began in the mid- to late-1940s. As a congregation obeyed the command to praise God (Heb 13:15), He would come down and inhabit their praises (Ps 22:3b), just as He inhabited the tabernacles of Moses and David. This theology was continuationist from the outset and expected sign-gifts to… Read More »
Many theologians have attempted to bend one knee to the so-called science of evolution and another to the Bible by somehow fitting millions of years into Genesis 1–2. Some claim that Genesis 1–2 is poetry, fancifully telling us that God created all things. This overarching point is good enough, and the details need not be… Read More »