Blessing and Cursing
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“the concept of blessing lies at the very heart of the gospel. The Apostle Paul highlights this in his letter to the Christian believers in Galatia…. ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed’ (Gal. 3:8).” - Ligonier
When You’re Tempted to Hate People, Part 4: Grace
Read the series.
In his foundational self-description, the first thing God tells us about himself is that he’s compassionate. By nature, he feels deeply for the hurts and trials of his creatures—even the animals (Jon 4.11), but most especially those in his image.
He cares.
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Theologically Loaded Catch-Lines, Episode 1: What Does It Mean to “Cease Striving”?
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“With this large sampling of [NT] appeals to be sanctified (1) by striving and (2) in pursuit of approval, where did the idea emerge that we should ‘cease striving’ and eschew ‘approval’?” - DBTS Blog
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If Jesus Triumphed Over Sin and Death, Why Does Our World Still Contain So Much Evil and Suffering?
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“There are varying responses to these excellent questions, and the good ones all require trust that a good, loving, holy, and just God knows what He’s doing.” - Randy Alcorn
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Faith and Providence
This week I made my annual journey back to Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa, for the Refresh Conference.
It was my fourth Refresh, so I realized that, in essence, I have witnessed another class of college students pass through Faith’s doors during these days. To me that time seems like it has just whisked by—as does the entire interval since I was a seminary student at Faith.
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“To see others clearly, we must look at not only what they’ve done, but what’s been done to them.”
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How Do You See Others? - P&D
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Are the ordinances “means of grace”?
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“Have we abandoned the understanding that the two ordinances that Christ has given His church are regular means of grace for our souls? The Scriptures teach it, the early Particular Baptists believed it, and we can benefit from it.” - London Lyceum
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Bewitched?
About once per month, I’m going to slowly write my way through a short commentary on the Letter to the Galatians. I’ll deliberately skip the usual analysis typical of this genre—no “scholarly” questions, text-critical issues, and minimal formal interaction with opposing viewpoints. I’ve taught through the book four times now, and feel I’m in a position to have something competent to say on the matter. My aim is to write for normal Christians who just want to know what the text means. So, here I stand.
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On Divine Down Payment
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“God has given us a down payment of his very person in the Holy Spirit. He’s really serious about his relationship with us. Let us embrace him and anticipate all that is to come.” - Olinger
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Outraged About Outrage? Some Reflections and Confessions
Last Sunday, my son and I visited a nearby Orthodox Presbyterian Church. As a Baptist, I don’t quite fit in there, but then I don’t quite fit in at a lot of Baptist churches either!
I’d visited this church before, some years ago, but my son had never worshiped with Presbyterians. So for him it was an educational field trip, and for me it was a chance to catch up a bit with some friends and former students—and worship together.
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