Issue
The Great Assurance
Vol. 20, No. 6 • Nov/Dec 2011
We have observed that the risen Lord Jesus corrected the assumptions behind his apostles’ question, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). (1) He gently squelched their curiosity about the timing of God’s kingdom agenda, as such “inside information” was not theirs to know (1:7; see Matt. 24:36; 25:13; […]
All Articles (16)
Acts 6: The Consummation of the Kingdom
We have observed that the risen Lord Jesus corrected the assumptions behind his apostles’ question, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). (1) He gently squelched their curiosity about the timing of God’s kingdom agenda, as such “inside information” was not theirs to know (1:7; see Matt. 24:36; 25:13; […]
Forgotten, Not Forsaken
The apostle Paul often used the word “mystery” in different contexts in his Epistles. The meaning behind the usage of this word remained hidden in the Old Testament, but now has been revealed fully in the New Covenant. One of the places that the word “mystery” appears is in Romans 11:25 in connection to God’s […]
The Impossible Is Possible
This year we have considered Jesus’ issuance of the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Not just part of it, mind you, but all of it, from the initial triumphant “Great Announcement” that all authority has been given to the Son from the Father, to the “Great Commandment” to “go” into all the world to use […]
The Great Assurance
“And behold, I am with you always,even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20) This past year we have unpacked the Great Commission. We began with the “Great An-nouncement” that generates the church’s mandate. Jesus grounds his imperative “Go!” in the indicative announcement that he has already accomplished our redemption. “All authority in heaven […]
Plagiarizing the Lord’s Prayer
Ben Franklin’s oft-repeated motto, “Remember that time is money,” stands in need of a serious twentieth-century upgrade. Today, text is money. Intellectual property rights are the new cash cow, not the time clock. It’s a shame Jesus didn’t have a financial advisor to counsel him on such matters. If only he would have trademarked John […]
The Spirit of Christ and the Apostolic Age
Christ’s promise to be with his church until the end of the age’delivered on the eve of his departure’is one of those gospel promises that comes wrapped in a riddle. Once the riddle is understood, it no longer obscures the truth but rather reveals it all the more profoundly. The profound truth revealed by this […]
Ethics and Culture
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Reacting to Viral Dechurching & Exvangelical Stories
“Here’s what I love about Jesus. Jesus actually knows that the church is broken and imperfect and falls short. But the difference between us and Jesus is we see that and we use that as a justification to abandon the church. Jesus sees the church, as broken as she is, and on the way as […]
Nine of the Most Notorious Heretics
The word heresy is closely associated with the idea of schism, breaking off from the church, and theologians have made a distinction between formal and material heresy. Formal heresy is a stubborn denial of vital Christian doctrine—those who have heard the truth and then rejected it. Material heresy is what happens when a person embraces a false doctrine out of ignorance.
Why Poor Stewardship of the Body Can Be an Act of Unfaithfulness
The beautiful thing about this [sixth commandment] requirement is that it highlights that God cares about you. He cares about your body. He knows you’re made of dust. He knows that we need a good night of rest. We don’t have to feel guilty for getting it. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead shows […]
Imputed Righteousness and Self-Made Identity: The Crisis of Justification in Our Church Culture
This presentation analyzes the crisis of justification in today’s church, tracing its biblical foundations, reformational clarity, and modern challenges.
