The holiness without which no one will see the Lord

Sanctification can be a confusing concept to many believers.  With the variety of teachings on holiness ranging from Keswick understandings of a “let go and let God” approach, to strains within evangelicalism leading to passivity or legalism, Sinclair Ferguson’s book, Devoted to God: Blueprints for Sanctification (Banner of Truth, 2016) is more than welcomed.  Though…

Read More

The best commentary on Galatians today

  The church in 2011 is blessed with many excellent New Testament commentaries on the market. Until recently, the letter to the Galatians may not have been numbered among them. A rigorous, faithful, and accessible commentary on the letter has been surprisingly hard to come by, but Schreiner’s recent commentary on Galatians in the ECNT series is…

Read More

What does it mean for God to be our Father?

The verbal images of God in the Bible, just as the various names given him, constitute a significant part of his self-revelation. When Scripture likens God to a lion or rock or shepherd or judge or King it tells us much about who God is and about our relationship to him. One of the most…

Read More

How to Love Visiting Church Members in the Hospital

I can honestly say that I’ve grown to love visiting my church members when they’re staying in the hospital.  I’m surprised to hear myself say that, since there was a time when I positively despised hospital visitation.  I’m a rather shy guy by nature who has a tendency to be awkward around people I don’t…

Read More

Where does dogma come from? (Paul Helm)

Old theological conflicts frequently reappear dressed in a new outfit. So it is with narrative theologies and their theological output. Currently, in the guise of narrative theologies of one sort and another, we are presented with a version of the 19th century conflict between history and dogma in new dress. Not the denial by history…

Read More