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Savior
Salvation is indeed salvation from sin, but we only need to be saved from sin because God is holy. Without a righteous Creator, there is no law to violate, and we would not need to be rescued from His wrath ...Read More
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Secure in the Love of God
When Paul says nothing can separate us from God’s love, he means that even we cannot snatch ourselves from His hand. If we have true faith, we will maintain that faith until the end. Times of doubt may arise ...Read More
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Signs and Seals
We are creatures with both physical and spiritual components. We understand what happens to us physically when we are washed with water and when we eat, and the sacraments portray spiritual realities to us by way of analogies with our ...Read More
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Submitting to Earthly Authorities
Those who are under the authority of others are not allowed to wait for perfect leadership before they honor their supervisors, parents, church elders, and other leaders. Insofar as our leaders do not command us to do something God forbids ...Read More
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Suffering in the Spirit
How long has it been since you experienced any of the groaning Paul refers to in Romans 7 and 8? Is it possible that you have allowed your conscience to become hardened to your own waywardness? Ask the Lord to ...Read More
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Synthetic Justification
Because of the way heretics like to misuse the language of Scripture, theology often uses highly technical terms in order to make sure that doctrine remains faithful to the apostolic writings of the Bible. The use of analytic versus synthetic ...Read More
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The Battle Within
Only the person who has been given a new heart by the Holy Spirit can long for His precepts (Ps. 119:40); therefore, only the regenerate person has a real struggle within when he fails to obey. If you trust ...Read More
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The Calling of God
Though it is not directly mentioned here, each believer has a call to service. Many have been gifted to labor in the world. Others have been gifted to work with men and women, perhaps in the church. God’s call ...Read More
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The Distortion of Lawlessness
Of all the types of antinomianism, we are perhaps most prone to look for loopholes in the law of God. So, for instance, we may excuse certain behaviors because there is no express command in Scripture against them, even though ...Read More
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The Doctrine of Justification
Which doctrinal perspective gives a firmer basis for assurance of salvation? Which more magnifies Christ’s work? Which more accounts for human depravity? Do you truly appreciate the biblical and Protestant doctrine as much as you should? Thank God for ...Read More
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The Doctrine of Reprobation
Many people are put off by the things we have discussed today. Read Romans 9:19–21. Notice how Paul deals with those who objected. The bottom line of Paul’s reply is this: We must bow the knee to ...Read More
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The Golden Chain
That God decided to save His people gives us confidence that “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be ...Read More
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The Great Exchange
If we are in Christ, if we trust in Him alone, we have His righteousness credited to our account. When God looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ and no longer deems us guilty. This is the good ...Read More
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The Inevitability of Judgment
Obedience means submission. If we obey the law because it is God’s law, we are showing trust in Him. If we “do what is right,” ignoring the element of submission, we are acting in pride. Such “good deeds” are ...Read More
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The Insanity of Luther
God’s demand for holiness is absolute. We have to be holy just as He is holy (Lev. 19:2), and we deserve His wrath when we fail. All men merit this judgment (Rom. 3:23), but in His grace ...Read More
