The prophecy of Ezekiel is set in the context Judah's exile in Babylon roughly 600 years before the incarnation of Christ. God's chosen people had squandered their privilege and rejected his Lordship over them. As a loyal Father God had disciplined them by appointing king Nebuchadnezzar to invade their land and deport them to Babylon, far from home…

On Mother's Day our culture tends to honor mothers. Good women are told that they are appreciated. But something different often happens on Father's Day. Instead of thanking God for them we are more likely to scold fathers for their failures. One popular satire website reported congress -renaming the holiday 'Toxic Masculinity Awareness Day' and re…

As we enter what has been designated -pride month- it is good to see how God understands pride and what God's children can do in response to the troublesome actions of the proud.-Psalm 94 denounces the proud. It doesn't name gay pride. But every diverse form of pride is related. And whatever its manifestation -The Lord detests all the proud of hear…

The prophecy of Ezekiel is set in the context Judah's exile in Babylon roughly 600 years before the incarnation of Christ. God's chosen people had squandered their privilege and rejected his Lordship over them. As a loyal Father God had disciplined them by appointing king Nebuchadnezzar to invade their land and deport them to Babylon, far from home…

On Mother's Day our culture tends to honor mothers. Good women are told that they are appreciated. But something different often happens on Father's Day. Instead of thanking God for them we are more likely to scold fathers for their failures. One popular satire website reported congress "renaming the holiday 'Toxic Masculinity Awareness Day' and re…

Jesus once asked a question of his apostles that we too must answer- -Who do you say that I am--- -Matt. 16-15-. Is he a great prophet-- Is he the highest of all creatures who became divine through a life of loving sacrifice-- Or is he the only-begotten Son of God who is co-eternal and co-essential with the Father-- A true understanding of him is n…

As we enter what has been designated "pride month" it is good to see how God understands pride and what God's children can do in response to the troublesome actions of the proud.Psalm 94 denounces the proud. It doesn't name gay pride. But every diverse form of pride is related. And whatever its manifestation "The Lord detests all the proud of heart…

Jesus once asked a question of his apostles that we too must answer: "Who do you say that I am?" (Matt. 16:15). Is he a great prophet? Is he the highest of all creatures who became divine through a life of loving sacrifice? Or is he the only-begotten Son of God who is co-eternal and co-essential with the Father? A true understanding of him is not e…

The first part of James 1 is all about trials and temptations. James explains what trials do. They perfect your maturity and prepare you to receive the crown of life. But he also shows the godly posture of steadfast believers. You must remain steadfast under trials. Doing so isn't just a matter of grit, like a boxer who simply stays standing and en…

The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest proof that God is fixing everything that is wrong in the world. Because of sin this world is not as it should be- everything in it groans to be remade. And into this world God sent his son, with a real human body and reasonable soul, like ours. He groaned with the rest of creation. And his groaning became m…

Jesus' entire earthly ministry, up to his resurrection, was shaped by humiliation. In Christ eternal Spirit took on an earthly frame subject to all manner of misery. He was misunderstood and maligned by sinners. People hated him without cause. In the days leading up to his death, his humiliation was amplified. The better we comprehend Jesus' suffer…

James starts his letter assuming the truth of what Jesus promised- -In the world you will have tribulation- -John 16-33-. You will -meet trials of various kinds- -James 1-2-. He's writing to -the twelve tribes in the Dispersion.- This term is used three times in the New Testament to describe God's people scattered in the world. Surely the Lord is s…

The Athanasian Creed summarizes the Christian faith in this way, -We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.- Orthodox Christians affirm that there is only -one simple and spiritual Being- -BC art. 1- who exists in three distinct, though undivided persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three persons are coeternal and coequ…

How should biblical Christians think about Israel-- That question has seldom been as controversial as it is now. But the question is bigger than your view of the current Israel-Hamas war.-Psalm 122 calls people to -pray for the peace of Jerusalem- and to seek her good -6, 9-. Is the Psalm calling us to be politically pro-Israel, as some people inte…

Many of the psalms are about believers in trouble. David often calls on God to defeat his enemies, whether while hiding from King Saul -e.g. Psalm 18- or retreating from Jerusalem after Absalom's coup -Psalm 3-. In all his troubles God is a refuge for his dear one. In fact, the theme of God as a refuge of the faithful occurs repeatedly in the psalm…

The Athanasian Creed summarizes the Christian faith in this way, "We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity." Orthodox Christians affirm that there is only "one simple and spiritual Being" (BC art. 1) who exists in three distinct, though undivided persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three persons are coeternal and coequ…

How should biblical Christians think about Israel? That question has seldom been as controversial as it is now. But the question is bigger than your view of the current Israel-Hamas war.Psalm 122 calls people to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" and to seek her good (6, 9). Is the Psalm calling us to be politically pro-Israel, as some people interp…

We can know from nature that a God exists who is orderly, holy, and good -Rom. 1-19-20-. But to truly know God we need to meet him in the Bible. And what Scripture reveals to us is one God in three persons. Orthodox theologians have settled on the word -Trinity- to describe God's being. So knowing the Trinity is vital to knowing God. -The trinity i…

Have you ever been talking with someone in a crowded room and been distracted by other conversations around you-- You want to honor the person in front of you, but other discussions pique your curiosity. It can be hard to focus on a single voice when other voices compete for our attention.-Something like that happens as we listen to God's word. The…

-Few women realize what great service they are doing for mankind and for the kingdom of Christ when they provide a shelter for the family and good mothering.- The woman who wrote that is exactly right. Motherhood is underappreciated. And its fruit often takes decades to develop. So it is literally hard to realize what is happening. But, as she puts…

We can know from nature that a God exists who is orderly, holy, and good (Rom. 1:19–20). But to truly know God we need to meet him in the Bible. And what Scripture reveals to us is one God in three persons. Orthodox theologians have settled on the word "Trinity" to describe God's being. So knowing the Trinity is vital to knowing God. "The trinity i…

Our text represents the climax of Ezekiel's prophesies against Israel. From here he will pronounce judgment on the nations -ch. 25-32- and prophecy renewal through repentance -ch. 33-48-. Chapter 23 continues the theme of chapter 16 on Israel's spiritual adultery against God. It is graphic and repulsive. In this way it sets up the concluding chapte…

Many of the psalms are about believers in trouble. David often calls on God to defeat his enemies, whether while hiding from King Saul (e.g. Psalm 18) or retreating from Jerusalem after Absalom's coup (Psalm 3). In all his troubles God is a refuge for his dear one. In fact, the theme of God as a refuge of the faithful occurs repeatedly in the psalm…

Have you ever been talking with someone in a crowded room and been distracted by other conversations around you? You want to honor the person in front of you, but other discussions pique your curiosity. It can be hard to focus on a single voice when other voices compete for our attention.Something like that happens as we listen to God's word. The w…

"Few women realize what great service they are doing for mankind and for the kingdom of Christ when they provide a shelter for the family and good mothering." The woman who wrote that is exactly right. Motherhood is underappreciated. And its fruit often takes decades to develop. So it is literally hard to realize what is happening. But, as she puts…

Few Protestants put much thought into the apocrypha. And that's fine.--Still, the confession's article on these books is valuable. It has apologetic value in defending the Protestant canon against the Catholic claim that the reformers eliminated books from the Bible. But perhaps this article's greatest value is its presentation of the doctrine of s…

Few Protestants put much thought into the apocrypha. And that's fine.Still, the confession's article on these books is valuable. It has apologetic value in defending the Protestant canon against the Catholic claim that the reformers eliminated books from the Bible. But perhaps this article's greatest value is its presentation of the doctrine of sol…

Our text represents the climax of Ezekiel's prophesies against Israel. From here he will pronounce judgment on the nations (ch. 25–32) and prophecy renewal through repentance (ch. 33–48). Chapter 23 continues the theme of chapter 16 on Israel's spiritual adultery against God. It is graphic and repulsive. In this way it sets up the concluding chapte…

Christians today need to know what they believe and declare their convictions to a world dominated by secularism and awash in relativism. Paul put it simply- -For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved- -Rom. 10-10-.--The first words of the Belgic Confession capture this urgent need of every age.…