In Praise of Penal Substitutionary Atonement

1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no [stately] form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be […]

Omnipotence and Justice

Spectacular Superpowers Superpowers are a very common theme these days in our storytelling. It probably says something about human nature that we are so fascinated with this subject. I’ve noticed a particular common thread concerning superpowers that I’d like to examine in this post. In some shows, there is always one person who has such […]

Loving Yourself

The gospel declares that while we are yet sinners, at our worst, God demonstrates His own love towards us, His greatest and most sacrificial love. It kills the idolatrous faux-God of the judge-self. This is the way in which we are baptized into Christ’s death (Romans 6:3).

Freedom!!!

So what is freedom in the sense of being “free indeed?” I think it is the freedom of being justified.

Judgment and the Schizophrenia of God

Grace overcomes at the exact point where judgment has its power. Under the law, we cannot and must not let go of our capacity to judge. It is the one thing we have which is right! So we see, where judgment thrives, grace wins.

Belief as Transformation

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE […]

God the forgetful will not forget you!

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. – Isaiah 1:18 NASB 25 “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, […]

Digging for Gold – Gospel Astonishment

I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve been doing a lot of stuff though – preaching and pastoring a church, working a “bivocational” full-time job, finishing up a new book, and just taking some time to do some reading and thinking off-line. So, I’m sorry to have been so absent here! Blessings to everyone who […]

Gospel Imperatives

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They […]

The True Message of the Church isn’t Traditional Family Values

15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would […]