Two Conceptions; Two Ways to Live
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise… Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of […]
The Trojan War, the Tax Collector, & Propitiation
During the mythical Trojan War, the goddess Artemis punished Agamemnon, the Greek general, for evil deeds his soldiers committed. On their way to the war, Artemis caused the winds to stir and their ships were knocked violently into one another. Agamemnon learned that the only way to appease the wrath of Artemis was to sacrifice […]
More than “Just as if I have never sinned”
A helpful way to remember the important biblical term “justified” is with the phrase “just as if I’d never sinned.” And that is certainly part of what it means to be justified. All our sins are forgiven, and we stand pure and blameless before God. But “justified” actually means much more than that. Jerry Bridges […]
Creating a Discipleship Culture in the Local Church
The following is a guest post by Pastor Robby Gallaty. He is the author of Growing Up, a book about discipleship, and the senior pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is also a good brother in the Lord, a strong leader, and wisely appreciates good New Orleans seafood like I do. I am grateful for Robby and how […]
Surely Not I, Rabbi?
Judas, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, was filled with information about Jesus, but he proved to have never truly been transformed by Jesus. In Matthew 26, Judas admitted with his own words that he had never been transformed. When evening came, He was reclining at the table with the Twelve. While they were eating, He […]
Repenting of Our “Goodness”
One of Jesus’ strongest rebukes is given against the towns where “most of His miracles were done because they did not repent” (Matthew 11:20). Perhaps when we read, “they did not repent,” we think of overtly wicked people who failed to turn away from their immorality. But Jesus was speaking to a group of people […]
The Drawings of Daughters and the Image of the Invisible God
One fun part of having two little girls is watching them draw pictures of our family. Here is an actual image of our family… It is not an exact representation because it is not three-dimensional, and it won’t respond to you if you talk to the picture. But it is a picture of our family. […]
Through the Risen Christ
Because He is alive, we may live and live in freedom. In his classic work The Finished Work of Christ, Francis Schaeffer reminds us that we live as Christians only through Jesus. We live only through the power of the risen Lord. The law is not enough to save us, and it is not enough to […]
Augustine: The Word Became Flesh
All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever ~ 1 Peter 1:24-25 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ~ John 1:1 The […]
Gospel and Worship
Worship is the most appropriate response to the gospel. When challenging people to worship, both corporately and personally, churches that view discipleship through the gospel lens articulate that attitude. When God gave the Ten Commandments to His people, He first reminded them of the freedom He graciously gave them. I am the Lord your God, […]