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The Edge of Death
All of us who are adults have had the temptation to pat a child on the head and say something appropriate. When Jacob had spent seventeen years in Egypt with his family and the time of his death drew …Read More
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Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the LORD? (Part 3)
Worship — approaching the living God — is the central concern of Scripture, and a vital aspect of its narrative drama. Who may climb the summit of the LORD’s dwelling place to gaze upon his beauty? Against the backdrop of this …Read More
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Jonathan Edwards on the Covenant of Grace
The student of John H. Gerstner is never adequately designated as a “former student.” Many of us have been instructed and inspired in the classroom and since by this servant of God. It was he who first directed my attention …Read More
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The True Tabernacle
Both the Old Testament tabernacle and the Mosaic covenant were mere shadows of the eternal reality that in due season fulfilled and surpassed them. They were “true shadows” in that they correctly bore a relationship to that which they imaged …Read More
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What’s in Your Mind, Believer?
Since the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century, the question has been asked endlessly: “What is the role of the law of God in light of the Gospel?” The apostle Paul found himself asking it (for example, Gal …Read More
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The Blood of the Covenant
One of the chief points of evangelical Christianity that was most offensive to Protestant Modernists in the great debates against Fundamentalism in the early twentieth century was the centrality of the blood of Christ for salvation. Many a would-be “sophisticated …Read More
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Before the Throne of God
The Epistle to the Hebrews was written to encourage Jewish believers who had professed faith in Christ not to backslide from Him in order to return to the still impressive Temple rituals of pre–A.D. 70 Judaism. What the …Read More
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Redemption Applied
Between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, there exists a perfect coincidence of will and purpose. However distinct may be the works appropriate to each person of the holy Trinity, the love and mutual indwelling (John 14:10 …Read More
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Redemption Accomplished
“Tradition!” sings Tevye. “Without our traditions, our lives would be as unstable as a fiddler on the roof.” As the drama unfolds, this analogy turns from affirmation to lament: Tevye’s daughters marry suitors disapproved by tradition, and in the …Read More
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Redemption Planned
In Reformed circles, we hear much about the covenants. We are a people who place our trust in God’s covenant faithfulness. We hear about the covenant of grace and the covenant of works, but we hear very little about …Read More
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The Redemption of Man
Throughout history we have wrestled with questions about salvation. In our quest to know the truth about salvation, we have searched everywhere possible. In our search, we have constructed entire philosophies in order to find the answers we want. Religions …Read More
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The New Covenant
The Book of Hebrews is a declaration of the absolute supremacy of Jesus Christ. Hebrews tells us that Jesus is superior to the angels (ch. 1–2), superior to Moses (3–4:13), and superior to Aaron (4:14–7 …Read More
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The Birth of Israel
The Scriptures have emphasized the wickedness of mankind since the time of the flood. Humanity is no different than what it was prior to the flood. For instance, the line of Ham demonstrates great selfishness and evil, and a strident …Read More
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One Covenant under God
We are a litigious people. We not only like to sue one another, we like to avoid being sued, and having to sue. That is, we hire lawyers not only to write up contracts, but to help enforce contracts. Handshakes …Read More
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Those Whom God Hath Joined Together
One of the great joys of serving as a pastor is performing weddings. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of performing several wedding ceremonies, and on each occasion I have used the traditional wedding vows found …Read More