“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:10; NASB) We live in the age of information explosion. More information has been generated in the last three decades than in the previous 5,000 years. Over 4,000 books are published every […]
Read More To know GodAre you happy? Truly happy? Content with your life and circumstances? Are you free from anxiety and worry? Does your sleep pattern reflect that you are resting and trusting in God? The one who is truly happy is ultimately happy with God and His Word (Ps. 119:1-3). We live in a world that craves happiness. […]
Read More Are you happy?I’ve been sick on a pretty regular basis — I’ve gotten a hold of the same “bug” too many times. I have been known to have a good case of the “not-so-holy grumbles.” Have you ever had them? At the time, it seems to feel good to grumble about: hot (or cold, depending on where […]
Read More The Word of life“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21; NASB). Jonathan Edwards was a man who longed for heaven. In one sermon he said, “Labor to obtain such a disposition that you may choose heaven for your inheritance and home, and may earnestly long for it and be willing to […]
Read More Be heavenly mindedAn update from Dan Wallace this morning on the recently found fragment commonly referred to as “Jesus’ Wife:” “News flash: Harvard Theological Review has decided not to publish Karen King’s paper on the Coptic papyrus fragment on the grounds that the fragment is probably a fake.” This from an email Dr. Craig Evans, the Payzant […]
Read More Jesus’ Wife fragment updateThe meaning of Genesis 6:1-5 is much debated. R. C. Sproul, Jr. provides as clear and simple an explanation as I’ve seen in a while: There are several competing theories on this admittedly peculiar text, a few of them fantastic, at least one of them rather pedestrian, ordinary. Some suggest, for instance, that what is […]
Read More Who Are the Sons of God and Daughters of Men in Genesis 6:1-5?The apostle Paul’s letters often conclude with lists of greetings from or encouragements to particular people. The list of generally obscure names in Colossians 4 is typical and reveals the kinds of people God uses to accomplish his purposes. Consider Aristarchus, a captive man. He was from Thessalonica and went with Paul and Tychicus to […]
Read More Who’s who in the early churchThis post is part of a series of posts on the basics of systematic theology. Why do we need theology, and what are the essential truths to know about each doctrine? All the posts are archived under the category “Theology 101.” I was a literature major in college. I love bookstores. New ones. Old ones. […]
Read More One supreme bookColossians 3 says that the believer is to “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth” (v. 2). To ask a question that a three-year-old might ask — Why? Why should we set out minds on God and seek Him (v. 1)? The passage offers five reasons […]
Read More Why seeking God is so importantPsalm 118 begins this way: Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Oh let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Oh let those who fear the LORD say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (vv. 1-4) And it ends […]
Read More God’s lovingkindness is everlastingJesus went to weddings (see John 2) and talked about marriage (see Matthew 5 and 19), but it is clear that Jesus was not married. Yet secular writers (see Dan Brown) often argue that He was married. And another such speculation has arisen in the past week. A small Coptic manuscript was found that purports […]
Read More Jesus and marriageMany believers live day-to-day in discouragement and even despair over their sin. They erringly believe that they cannot escape their sin. They rightly believe that there is forgiveness and cleansing for every sin, but they wrongly believe that their sinful habits and patterns cannot change. In Colossians 2, Paul articulates two glorious truths for the […]
Read More Satan and sin — two defeated foes“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Col 1:24). Too often the misconception that the Christian life is a life of ease and simplicity without trial and […]
Read More The sufferings of Christ — and our sufferingsYou are in a spiritual battle — be aware of the wartime realities. Despite all that Christ has done, the battle against Satan’s influences still rages. That’s why Paul says in Ephesians 6, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that […]
Read More You are in a spiritual battleIt took 38 years of watching the Texas Rangers, but a couple of years ago I finally heard the words that every baseball fan loves to hear about his team: “The Rangers are going to the World Series.” I wanted to hear that so much, I’ve actually made it my ring tone on my cell […]
Read More When God changes a man, he lives to please the Lord
