Ligonier Ministries

Does Romans 7 depict a Jew under the law or a believer struggling with sin?

THOMAS: Dr. Lloyd-Jones had a third alternative that it’s not the unbeliever or the Jew in Romans 7, but the person who has been awakened but isn’t yet a believer. So, he’s under conviction of sin, and he’s near the …Read More

What are the “elementary principles of the world” in Galatians 4:3?

First, you need to put the statement “elementary principles of the world” in its context. The general context is the transition from the Old Testament order to the new order in Christ, which is the new covenant. Paul is looking …Read More

How concerned should we be for the lack of truth taught in the church?

SPROUL: I don’t know how to put a ceiling on that concern. The church is to be the house of truth. The church is to be founded on truth. The church is committed to the distribution and proclamation of the …Read More

How should we approach “living in the world but not of the world”?

We don’t have to worry about how to live in the world without being of the world because it’s where we are. The simple answer is to be in the world but not of the world. Paul answers that question …Read More

What must I do to be saved?

In order to be saved, you need to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s the great message of Scripture. Jesus is the Savior. He has come to do all that needs doing for sinners to be reconciled …Read More

When people say, “Everything happens for a reason,” how do I respond biblically?

It depends on who is saying, “Everything happens for a reason.” There is a sense in which that is true. The Scriptures teach Christians that everything works out for their good. The sad truth is that if you’re outside of …Read More

Is Roman Catholic baptism valid?

The question concerning the validity of Roman Catholic baptism is difficult, and Reformed people are divided upon it. The basic question is this: Was the baptism done in the name of the Trinity, with water, and with the intent to …Read More

How can I become more biblically literate?

You need to be under the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. That begins in a local church with a pastor who preaches the Bible, who has nothing to say except the Bible. Then, you need to do …Read More

What does it mean that Christ “emptied Himself” in Phil. 2:6–7?

Philippians 2:6–7 does not mean that Christ became anything less than He was. It does not mean that He ceased to be God because then He would have ceased to be who He was. It does mean that He submitted …Read More

Why did God promise to give a new heart of flesh to His Old Testament people?

Our natural condition is to have a heart of stone, which means we’re dead to the things of God. When we’re reborn by the Holy Spirit, that which was stony now is flesh—it’s alive. That’s problematic because in the New …Read More

What is the gospel?

The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scripture, that He was buried, and that He was raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:3–4). The heart of the gospel is Jesus Christ Himself—the person and work …Read More

Does the creation account prior to the fall support complementarianism?

Complementarianism is the view that males and females have different roles to play but complement each other. They each have a distinctive purpose. Within the creation narrative, there is a very clear account of male headship—Adam was created first, and …Read More