- 05/11/2012
The Double-Reach of Self-Righteousness
There's an equally dangerous form of self-righteousness that plagues the unconventional, the liberal, and the non-religious types. We become self-righteous against those who are self-righteous
18 comments - 04/26/2012
Three Ways We Say 'No' to Law
The Law is shorthand for an accusing standard of performance. Whenever the Law is coming, accusation comes close behind. Whenever an expectation stands before us, we are either condemned by our failure before it, or we become condemners in our fulfillment of it. The Law is unfeeling – it tolerates no excuses, it accepts no shortcuts.
14 comments - 04/22/2012
Hiding From God Behind His Law
There are two ways we can miss the mark of righteousness before God, two ways the relationship can be destroyed. One is more or less obvious: outright sinfulness, unrighteousness, lawlessness, self-indulgence, what the Bible would call "worldliness" or, perhaps in more modern dress, carelessness or heedlessness. In other words, we can just say to God, "No thanks, I don't want it, I'll take my own chances."
66 comments - 04/17/2012
Law and Gospel: Part 3
A confusion of law and gospel is the main contributor to moralism in the church simply because the law gets softened into "helpful tips for practical living", instead of God's unwavering demand for absolute perfection.
22 comments - 04/09/2012
Law and Gospel: Part 2
All of God's Word in the Bible comes to us in two forms of speech: God's word of demand (law) and God's word of deliverance (gospel).
24 comments - 03/30/2012
Law and Gospel: Part 1
Every ounce of confusion regarding justification, sanctification, the human condition, God's grace, how God relates to us, the nature of the Christian life, and so on, is due to our failure to properly distinguish between the law and the gospel.
16 comments - 03/10/2012
One-Way Love
We love living as though "what goes around comes around" conditionality were true. That kind of conditionality makes us feel safe. It's easy to comprehend. It's appropriately formulaic. And best of all, it keeps us in control.
1 comments - 02/22/2012
What Does It Mean to Be Biblically Balanced?
I increasingly hear people talking about the need to be "Biblically balanced" and I think I'm starting to understand what they mean.
27 comments - 02/18/2012
Dying to Live
We Christians have a remarkable tendency to focus almost exclusively on the fruit of the problem. The gospel, on the other hand, always addresses the root of the problem.
7 comments - 02/03/2012
Are Christians Totally Depraved?
Believe it or not, this is an important question. It's not simply a theological question. ur answer will inevitably reveal our understanding of the gospel and reflect our understanding of sin and grace.
14 comments - 01/15/2012
Why I Hate Religion Video Raises Question If 'Religion' Is Opposed to 'Gospel'
A lot of attention has been paid to Jefferson Bethke’s video Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus. Jefferson is a great, humble, teachable brother who loves the gospel. But the response to his video has been varied. Many love it. Others hate it. And still others have raised a caution flag – uncomfortable with the way “religion” is often contrasted with the gospel.
16 comments - 01/14/2012
Where Can I Find Assurance?
Our assurance depends on how certain we are that God will say at the final judgment: “Not guilty!”
10 comments - 01/07/2012
Might as Well Face It, You're Addicted to Law
I’ll never forget hearing Dr. Doug Kelly (one of my theology professors in seminary) saying in class, “If you want to make people mad, preach law. If you want to make them really, really mad preach grace.” I didn’t know what he meant then. But I do now.
26 comments - 01/01/2012
This Is the Year?
Today is the very first day of a brand new year. And for many that means a fresh start. It all starts now. We resolve to turn over a new leaf–and this time we’re serious.
4 comments - 12/30/2011
What Is True Spirituality?
The word spirituality conjures up all sorts of images and ideas. For non-Religious – or secular – people, spirituality is nothing more than “an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being"
27 comments
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