The ancient church struggled to believe that God could truly become man. A heresy called Gnosticism taught that matter is evil- surely God could not become a physical being. Some people suggested that the incarnation was only an illusion. Jesus only appeared to be human but was, in fact, pure Spirit. Today, the more common view is just the opposite…

For many people who come to God, especially later in life, there is a time when they must first hit -rock bottom.- Dr. Christopher Yuan has a chapter in his memoir called -Rock Bottom.- His parents were Christians. They had been praying for his salvation for years. But he persisted in his sin. He was incarcerated for selling drugs and learned in pr…

The ancient church struggled to believe that God could truly become man. A heresy called Gnosticism taught that matter is evil; surely God could not become a physical being. Some people suggested that the incarnation was only an illusion. Jesus only appeared to be human but was, in fact, pure Spirit. Today, the more common view is just the opposite…

Scripture says, -there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother- -Prov. 18-24-. Such a friend will do at least two things for you. First, he will defend you against enemies. His faithful love is a godsend in adversity -Prov. 17-17-. Second, he will help you become your best self. A true friend wants you to flourish, materially and spiritually.-…

Scripture says, "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Prov. 18:24). Such a friend will do at least two things for you. First, he will defend you against enemies. His faithful love is a godsend in adversity (Prov. 17:17). Second, he will help you become your best self. A true friend wants you to flourish, materially and spiritually.E…

When Jesus' disciples asked him to help them pray, he gave them words to use as they prayed together. Jesus' actions can help us consider the propriety of common prayer. By common prayer is meant pre-written prayers used in personal, family, or congregational worship. Some common prayers are simply texts of Scripture, like the Lord's prayer, or the…

Catastrophes can be awful but they are so much more gut wrenching when they are the results of warnings which were ignored. In this text, Jesus warns his listeners of the coming storm of God's final judgment which can only be survived by relying completely on Jesus himself. To hear these words and act upon them is to trust Christ and obey him as Lo…

When Jesus' disciples asked him to help them pray, he gave them words to use as they prayed together. Jesus' actions can help us consider the propriety of common prayer. By common prayer is meant pre-written prayers used in personal, family, or congregational worship. Some common prayers are simply texts of Scripture, like the Lord's prayer, or the…

We've all been in hopeless situations. Maybe you've gotten lost, or lost a child. Or you've been told you, or someone you love, has a terrible disease. Sometimes bad decisions leave us thinking we have lost our way. We can feel unwanted, uncertain, or washed-up. We try to make things work, but nothing we do fixes the problem. What we most need in t…

We've all been in hopeless situations. Maybe you've gotten lost, or lost a child. Or you've been told you, or someone you love, has a terrible disease. Sometimes bad decisions leave us thinking we have lost our way. We can feel unwanted, uncertain, or washed-up. We try to make things work, but nothing we do fixes the problem. What we most need in t…

The doctrine of creation is a watershed truth. Rain that falls even slightly to one side of a divide will be channeled away from rain that falls on the other side. So belief in either creation or non-creation will lead to entirely different worldviews. If God created the world then it belongs to him. It was made according to a thoughtful design wit…

Like everyone else, your history is complicated. Darkness is mixed in with brightness. You have made poor decisions that caused many tears. Some things have been done to you that changed the course of your life. Some memories are unpleasant. But they are part of you. You can't know yourself without them.-This principle also applies to humanity at l…

The Bible's story moves briskly from the heights of the glory of creation to the depths of the despair of sin and corruption. When Adam exercised his free will contrary to God's will, his descendants fell -into perdition and ruin.--But even at this low point in mankind's brief history God was at work. He had eternally and unchangeably committed to …

The Bible's story moves briskly from the heights of the glory of creation to the depths of the despair of sin and corruption. When Adam exercised his free will contrary to God's will, his descendants fell "into perdition and ruin."But even at this low point in mankind's brief history God was at work. He had eternally and unchangeably committed to s…

Our modern age is confused about sin. We want to both affirm the inherent goodness of people and vilify our opponents. We want to believe that our race is climbing an evolutionary moral ladder. But human evil challenges that theory. The terrible atrocities of others shock and anger us. But even we do things that we hate -Rom. 7-15-. How can people …

The baptism of an infant gives us an opportunity to reflect with thankfulness on God's covenant promise. He is the God of believers and their children.-Covenantal baptisms should also encourage us to thank God for little children. They are, in literal fact, evidence of God's covenant promises.-Sadly, the beauty of children is no longer a given. We …

Our modern age is confused about sin. We want to both affirm the inherent goodness of people and vilify our opponents. We want to believe that our race is climbing an evolutionary moral ladder. But human evil challenges that theory. The terrible atrocities of others shock and anger us. But even we do things that we hate (Rom. 7:15). How can people …

The baptism of an infant gives us an opportunity to reflect with thankfulness on God's covenant promise. He is the God of believers and their children.Covenantal baptisms should also encourage us to thank God for little children. They are, in literal fact, evidence of God's covenant promises.Sadly, the beauty of children is no longer a given. We ar…

One of Scripture's central teachings is a truth about God that many people seem to appreciate least- He is a God of judgment. To be cynical about God's judgment won't change the fact that judgment belongs to God -Ezek. 21-27-. Instead of despising God's judgments we should ensure that through humble faith we are on the Lord's side. Because although…

Grace doesn't always look the way we want it to. Often we want grace to be a free pass. We want to be ourselves and living as we please and face no consequences. We confuse grace for God's unconditional approval of our choices. But that isn't how grace works. Grace is, in fact, the opposite of unconditional approval. Grace is the gift of change. It…

I was recently asked an important question- How can church members fulfill their dual responsibility to -a- submit to their overseers and -b- be Bereans, testing what is taught against the Scripture-- How can we test what we are taught while respecting those who teach and govern us-- These two principles are hard for us to harmonize in real experie…

The Belgic Confession says that the doctrine of providence -affords us unspeakable consolation.- To gain this consolation let's understand and then apply what Scripture says about God's leading and governing according to his holy will everything that happens in this world.

I was recently asked an important question: How can church members fulfill their dual responsibility to (a) submit to their overseers and (b) be Bereans, testing what is taught against the Scripture? How can we test what we are taught while respecting those who teach and govern us? These two principles are hard for us to harmonize in real experienc…

Grace doesn't always look the way we want it to. Often we want grace to be a free pass. We want to be ourselves and living as we please and face no consequences. We confuse grace for God's unconditional approval of our choices. But that isn't how grace works. Grace is, in fact, the opposite of unconditional approval. Grace is the gift of change. It…

Like everyone else, your history is complicated. Darkness is mixed in with brightness. You have made poor decisions that caused many tears. Some things have been done to you that changed the course of your life. Some memories are unpleasant. But they are part of you. You can't know yourself without them.This principle also applies to humanity at la…

One of Scripture's central teachings is a truth about God that many people seem to appreciate least: He is a God of judgment. To be cynical about God's judgment won't change the fact that judgment belongs to God (Ezek. 21:27). Instead of despising God's judgments we should ensure that through humble faith we are on the Lord's side. Because although…

The Belgic Confession says that the doctrine of providence "affords us unspeakable consolation." To gain this consolation let's understand and then apply what Scripture says about God's leading and governing according to his holy will everything that happens in this world.By William Boekestein