Of what does true repentance consist? We tend to focus on actions — sacrifice this, pray that, promise to read the bible every day for a month — and so we jump through our self-prescribed hoops trying to act out repentance. In some ways, action-oriented repentance is easier. We have something tangible to do. We can see our progress; we can check off a box and pat ourselves … [Read more...] about True Repentance
Imputation
"In the same way in which Adam's sins were imputed to us, so God imputed our sins to Christ; that is, he thought of them as belonging to Christ, and, since God is the ultimate judge and definer of what really is in the universe, when God thought of our sins as belonging to Christ then in fact they actually did belong to Christ." (Grudem, 1995, p. 574) That is why Good … [Read more...] about Imputation
Wave Upon Wave
I sit in a borrowed car watching wave upon wave crush the rocky shore of Magnolia Beach. It's raining. The waves surge in and out of time with the windshield wipers. The rolling swells are endless, tireless, massive. The thought occurs to me: "No wonder shores are sandy." How could rocks ever resist such an onslaught over minutes and years? No one wave … [Read more...] about Wave Upon Wave
Tips for Reading the Old Testament
If you're like me, you may struggle through the Old Testament. It seems irrelevant, too distant, too Old. But the Old Testament is the story. We can't let go of it. (Unless of course you're a hardcore dispensationalist…wink) Here's what I try to keep in mind as I read the Old Testament (I hope it helps you): God inspired the Old Testament, and thus we know it will … [Read more...] about Tips for Reading the Old Testament
Unbelief
"'But there are some of you who do not believe.' (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)" - John 6:64 It's interesting here that John equates unbelief with betrayal. Unbelief betrays Jesus. Most people would probably agree with that at a certain level. It makes sense somewhat that an unbeliever is a … [Read more...] about Unbelief