Biblical Studies / Covenants

  • The Aaronic Blessing

    Numbers 6:22–27

    Matthew Henry comments on this passage, saying that “we may take the blessing to ourselves, as if our names were inserted.” Think about it, the Lord our God, the Creator of all that is seen and unseen, seeks to bless ...Read More

  • The Lamb and His Tribes

    Revelation 7

    The prophets looked forward to the day when the Gentiles would worship Abraham’s Lord. However, the prophets did not understand this fully (Eph.3:4–6), nor did they see that these Gentiles would be the ones in God ...Read More

  • Restoration in the North

    Matthew 4:12–17

    The restoration of Israel will be much greater than we could have anticipated. God’s people will include not only those physical sons of Abraham who have faith in Jesus the Messiah but also Gentiles who trust in Him. Both ...Read More

  • One Stick in God’s Hand

    Ezekiel 37:15–28

    Today the church remains a mixed community. The visible church (the church that we can see) is made up of professing believers who, as far as we know, have faith. But many within our churches do not really trust Christ ...Read More

  • Israel’s Sons in Exile

    2 Kings 17:1–23

    “It is time for judgment to begin at the household of God” (1 Peter 4:17). Sometimes God shakes the church when He brings judgment, punishing those who falsely claim to believe and disciplining those who truly confess Jesus as ...Read More

  • Blessing or Curse?

    Galatians 3:10–14

    The fullness of God’s curse is permanent exile from seeing the Lord face-to-face in the new heavens and earth. Consequently, the greatest blessing is to behold His glory for all eternity. We who were once under the curse of ...Read More

  • Assurance for Abraham

    Genesis 22:15–19

    Christians do good works. And in His marvelous grace, our Father “looking upon them in His Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections” (Westminster Confession of Faith, 16.6 ...Read More

  • Abraham Took Ishmael

    Genesis 17:22–27

    Today the church often uses marketing strategies to maximize numerical growth and tailors ministry in order to reach one specific age group or walk of life. Yet the church must be the one institution on earth where race, age, gender ...Read More

  • This Time Next Year

    Genesis 17:20–21

    We are reminded that salvation is wholly from God when we see the many miraculous births in Scripture. Of course, the preeminent example of this is Jesus’ nativity, as He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and ...Read More

  • Call His Name Isaac

    Genesis 17:18–19

    The principles of how we are to act in certain situations are clearly given in Scripture. Yet, like Abraham, we can be guilty of going our own way. When the Lord plainly makes His intent for us known, we must ...Read More

  • Merely in the Flesh

    Jeremiah 9:25–26

    Matthew Henry writes, “The condemnation of unrepentant sinners who are baptized will be as sure as that of unrepentant sinners who are unbaptized.” Regardless of whether we were baptized as adults or children, we shall be judged if we have ...Read More

  • Cut Off

    Genesis 17:14

    The visible/invisible church distinction and the reality toward which circumcision points make this discussion all the more meaningful. Today, consider your thoughts on church discipline. Do you understand the authority elders have to discipline those in flagrant sin? Understand ...Read More

  • Native and Foreigner

    Genesis 17:11–13

    Like the rainbow given after the great flood, circumcision testifies to the Lord’s gracious salvation from judgment. The rainbow guarantees God will never totally flood the earth again and will thus preserve a portion of humanity from destruction. Circumcision ...Read More

  • You and Your Offspring

    Genesis 17:10

    The believer’s children are set apart unto God. They will be the recipients of greater blessings than those outside the church, but they will also be held more accountable for their service to Christ (Luke 12:35–48). Are ...Read More

  • Keep My Covenant

    Genesis 17:8–9

    The New Testament tells us we can be sure we have a persevering faith in Jesus if we maintain right doctrine (1 John 2:22–23), love other Christians (3:14), and obey Christ’s commands (2:3–6). While ...Read More